Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, Pacific County, WA, 3922-3924 [2011-887]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3922-3924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-887]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-R-2010-N083; 1265-0000-10137-S3]


Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, Pacific County, WA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: Draft comprehensive conservation plan 
and draft environmental impact statement; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of our draft comprehensive conservation plan and draft 
environmental impact statement (Draft CCP/EIS) for the Willapa National 
Wildlife Refuge (refuge) for public review and comment. In the Draft 
CCP/EIS, we described our alternatives, including our preferred 
alternative, for managing the refuge for 15 years following approval of 
the final CCP.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by March 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, request a copy of the Draft CCP/
EIS, or request more information by any of the following methods.
    E-mail: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Willapa CCP'' in the 
subject line of the message.
    U.S. Mail: Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader, Willapa National 
Wildlife Refuge Complex, 3888 SR 101, Ilwaco, WA 98624.
    Web site: https://www.fws.gov/willapa; select ``Contact Us.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader, 
(360) 484-3482.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 to 
protect migrating and wintering populations of Brant, waterfowl, 
shorebirds, and other migratory birds, and for conservation purposes. 
The refuge encompasses approximately 16,000 acres of tidelands, 
temperate rainforest, ocean beaches, sand dunes, rivers, and small 
streams. It also preserves several rare remnants of old growth coastal 
cedar forest, and habitat for spawning wild salmon, hundreds of 
thousands of migrating shorebirds, and threatened and endangered 
species such as the Western snowy plover and Marbled murrelet. This 
notice announces the availability of the refuge's Draft CCP/EIS.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to 
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for 
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for 
achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of 
fish and wildlife management and conservation, legal mandates, and our 
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction for 
conserving

[[Page 3923]]

wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent 
recreational opportunities available to the public, including 
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will 
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with 
the Refuge Administration Act.

Public Outreach

    In March 2008, we distributed Planning Update 1 to our project 
mailing list and public outlets located near the refuge. We announced 
the initiation of our planning process, provided background information 
on the refuge, requested comments on refuge management issues, and 
invited the public to open house meetings in the update. We also 
announced the public open house meetings in a press release and on 
Service Web sites. We held the meetings on March 25 and 26, 2008, in 
South Bend and Ilwaco, Washington, respectively, to obtain comments on 
refuge management issues. In April 2008 we published a Notice of Intent 
in the Federal Register (73 FR 19238; April 9, 2008), announcing our 
intention to complete a CCP/EIS and inviting public comments. We 
distributed Planning Updates 2 and 3 in August 2008 and July 2009, 
respectively. In the updates we summarized public comments and 
management goals, and displayed our draft preliminary alternatives.

Draft CCP Alternatives We Are Considering

    We are considering three CCP alternatives for managing the refuge; 
brief descriptions follow.

Alternative 1 (No Action)

    Under Alternative 1 the current refuge management programs and 
operations would not change. The refuge would continue to maintain, and 
where feasible restore, habitats, including forest stand improvements, 
wetlands enhancements, and beach dune enhancements. Habitat 
improvements for imperiled species, State or federally listed as 
threatened or endangered, would continue. Existing public uses, 
including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, 
interpretation, environmental education, and boating and camping would 
continue.

Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative)

    Under Alternative 2, the Service's preferred alternative, current 
wildlife and habitat management programs would continue, plus this 
alternative includes the highest level of refuge habitat improvement of 
the three alternatives. Intensively managed pastures and impoundments 
would be restored to historic estuarine habitats, and approximately 749 
acres of open water, intertidal flats, and salt marsh would be created. 
On the refuge's Leadbetter Point Unit, a predator management program 
would be implemented to manage avian and mammalian predators and 
increase the Western snowy plover population to meet recovery plan 
goals for the species. Grassland restoration on up to 33 acres would 
include establishment of the early-blue violet; this host plant would 
serve the future reintroduction of the endangered Oregon silverspot 
butterfly.
    Improvements to the wildlife-dependent public use program would 
include: A new interpretive trail and wildlife observation deck along 
the South Bay, connected to the proposed visitor-center/office/
maintenance facility to be located on the Tarlett Unit. Waterfowl 
hunting opportunities, in accordance with the State's season, would 
expand to include approximately 6,058 acres after the proposed 
estuarine restoration is completed. A boat launch access point (car-top 
boats only) would be developed to access the South Bay. An expanded, 
special-permit-only elk hunt would occur on the Leadbetter Point Unit. 
Elk and deer hunting would expand in South Bay units in accordance with 
the State's seasons.
    An expansion of the refuge's land acquisition boundary is proposed 
to include 1,908 acres in the Nemah and Naselle areas; 561 acres in 
South Bay; and 4,334 acres in the East Hills. We would also consider 
divesting the Cape Shoalwater and Wheaton properties from the refuge.

Alternative 3

    Under Alternative 3, intensively managed pastures and impoundments 
would be restored to historic estuarine habitats, creating 
approximately 429 acres of open water, intertidal flats, and salt marsh 
on the refuge. The proposed estuarine restoration project would occur 
on the Lewis and Porter Point units only. Approximately 30 acres of 
managed freshwater wetlands would remain on the Riekkola and Tarlatt 
units. Predator management for protection of the threatened Western 
snowy plover on the Leadbetter Point Unit would occur on an as needed 
basis to control avian predators only. Grassland restoration on up to 
33 acres would include the successful establishment of the early-blue 
violet; this host plant would serve the future reintroduction of the 
endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly.
    Wildlife-dependent public use activities under Alternative 3 would 
include expanded waterfowl hunting in accordance with the State's 
season, after estuarine restoration efforts are completed. A new 
interpretive trail and wildlife observation deck along the South Bay 
would be connected to the proposed visitor-center/office/maintenance 
facility to be located on the Tarlett Unit. Expansion of hunting 
opportunities would occur at the Leadbetter Point Unit to include a 
permit-only regulated elk hunt. Elk and deer hunting opportunities 
would occur in the South Bay units in accordance with the State's 
seasons.
    An expanded land acquisition boundary is proposed to include: 561 
acres in South Bay and 4,334 acres in the East Hills. We would also 
consider divesting the Cape Shoalwater and Wheaton properties from the 
refuge.

Public Availability of Documents

    You can request copies of the Draft CCP/EIS on CD-ROM from Charlie 
Stenvall, Project Leader, Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, 3888 SR 
101, Ilwaco, WA 98624; phone (360) 484-3482. The Draft CCP/EIS will 
also be available for viewing and downloading on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/lc. Printed copies of the Draft CCP/EIS may be reviewed at 
the refuge and at the following libraries.
     Ilwaco Timberland Regional Library, 158 1st Ave. North, 
Ilwaco, WA 98624.
     South Bend Timberland Library, West 1st and Pacific, South 
Bend, WA 98586.
     Ocean Park Timberland Library, 1308 256th Pl., Ocean Park, 
WA 98640.
     Astoria Public Library, 450 10th St., Astoria, OR 97103.

Next Steps

    After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and 
address them in the form of a final CCP/EIS.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee we will be able to 
do so.


[[Page 3924]]


    Dated: January 6, 2011.
David Patte,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-887 Filed 1-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P