Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Austin and Colorado Counties, TX; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment, 77245-77247 [2011-31808]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 238 / Monday, December 12, 2011 / Notices
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jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
II. Data
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Affected Public: DOI customers. We
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resources, products, and services.
Partners are those groups, individuals,
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Dated: December 6, 2011.
Benjamin Simon,
Assistant Director, Office of Policy Analysis,
U.S. Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2011–31750 Filed 12–9–11; 8:45 am]
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77245
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R2–R–2011–N186;
FXRS12610200000S3–123–FF02R06000]
Attwater Prairie Chicken National
Wildlife Refuge, Austin and Colorado
Counties, TX; Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Environmental
Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments.
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive
conservation plan (CCP) and an
environmental assessment (EA) for
Attwater Prairie Chicken National
Wildlife Refuge (Refuge, NWR), located
approximately 60 miles west of
Houston, Texas, for public review and
comment. The Draft CCP/EA describes
our proposal for managing the refuge for
the next 15 years.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by January
23, 2012. We will announce upcoming
public meetings in local news media.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
or requests for copies or more
information by any of the following
methods. You may request hard copies
or a CD–ROM of the documents. Please
contact Terry Rossignol, Refuge
Manager, or Monica Kimbrough, Natural
Resource Planner.
Email: Monica_Kimbrough@fws.gov.
Include ‘‘Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR
draft CCP and EA’’ in the subject line of
the message.
Fax: Attn: Monica Kimbrough, (505)
248–6803.
U.S. Mail: Monica Kimbrough,
Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, NWRS Division of
Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque,
NM 87103.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or
Pickup: In-Person Drop-off: You may
drop off comments during regular
business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at
500 Gold Street SW., 4th Floor, Room
4019, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Terry Rossignol, Refuge Manager,
Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, CCP—
Project, P.O. Box 519, Eagle Lake, TX
77434; phone: (979) 234–3021; fax:
(979) 234–3278.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP
process for the Attwater Prairie Chicken
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77246
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 238 / Monday, December 12, 2011 / Notices
NWR. We started this process through a
notice in the Federal Register (73 FR
65871; November 5, 2008).
The Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR,
which consists of 10,538 acres located
approximately 60 miles west of
Houston, Texas, is one of the largest
remnants of coastal prairie habitat
remaining in southeast Texas. The
Refuge was officially established on July
1, 1972, to preserve and restore coastal
prairie habitat for the endangered
Attwater’s prairie-chicken
(Tympanuchus cupido attwateri).
consistent with sound principles of fish
and wildlife management, conservation,
legal mandates, and our policies. In
addition to outlining broad management
direction on conserving wildlife and
their habitats, CCPs identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities
available to the public, including
opportunities for 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.
Background
Public Outreach
Formal scoping began with
publication of a notice of intent to
prepare a comprehensive conservation
plan and environmental assessment
(EA) in the Federal Register on
November 5, 2008 (73 FR 65871). In
December 2008, a letter was sent to
individuals at Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department (TPWD) formally inviting
them to participate in the development
of the CCP. We received input from
TPWD in January 2009. Information
sheets were sent to the public, and news
releases were sent to four area
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,
newspapers and published in two of the
local newspapers (Colorado County
Citizen and Eagle Lake Headlight). The
news release also aired on KULM Radio
in Columbus. Three public open house
meetings were held. Despite advertising
for these open houses, turnout was poor.
Additional written comments were
received prior to these open house
meetings. The meetings were held at
three locations in the area on three
separate days between 10 a.m. and
6 p.m. A variety of stakeholders
contributed feedback at the open house
meetings and via written comments; we
used the feedback in development of the
CCP.
CCP Alternatives We Are Considering
During the public scoping process
with which we started work on this
draft CCP, we, other governmental
partners, Tribes, and the public, raised
multiple issues. Our draft CCP
addresses them. A full description of
each alternative is in the EA. To address
these issues, we developed and
evaluated the following alternatives,
summarized below.
A—No action alternative
B—Optimal habitat management and public use
(proposed action) alternative
C—Maximal habitat
management and public
use alternative
Habitat Management Issue
1: Prairie Restoration.
Combination of planting native
grasses, grazing, burning,
hydrologic restoration.
Same as Alternative B;
except establish seed
harvest and production
on the Refuge; grazing
bison only.
Habitat Management Issue
2: Land/Property Acquisition.
Same as Alternative A; plus explore partnership
options to produce native grass seed increase the number of restoration acres; expand monitoring for grazing and burning effects; remove infrastructure, including two
manmade wetland impoundments, restoring a
functional level of hydrology.
Continue to acquire land within acquisition
boundary, proactively seek out land protection options and diversify those options.
Acquire acres within approved
acquisition boundary; not
proactively seeking out additional land protection options.
Treatments include a combina- Same as Alternative A; plus conduct one-time
tion of chemical, mechanical,
systematic chemical invasive species control
and prescribed fire.
for entire refuge, unit by unit; afterward, treatment is expected to be required every 2–3
years as invasive species are re-established.
Continue
to
implement Same as Alternative A ........................................
Attwater’s
Prairie-Chicken
Recovery Plan.
Eliminate feral hogs and nutria Same as Alternative A; plus work with adjacent
based on sighting and/or
land owners to control feral hog population;
documented damage; treat
remove brush and other elements of hog
nest sites and conduct removement corridors; depending on results of
search on impacts of red imcurrent research of red imported fire ants, exported fire ants on insect
pand treated area to full extent of refuge and
community.
work with adjacent landowners to expand
treatment off refuge.
Manage three food plots total- Same as Alternative A; plus explore additional
ing up to 150 acres.
ways to provide supplemental food to
Attwater’s prairie-chicken, including capability
to irrigate and addition of food plots when the
species’ populations expand.
Provide wildlife observation Same as Alternative A; plus realign auto-tour
and photography to include
route; exclude cattle from public hiking trails;
auto-tour route and two hikestablish a new platform and hiking trail
ing trails.
around Horseshoe Lake; remove Pipit Trail;
increase guided van tours.
Issue topic
Habitat Management Issue
3: Invasive Species Control
(Flora).
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Wildlife Management Issue
1: Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken
Recovery.
Wildlife Management Issue
2: Invasive Species Control
(Fauna).
Wildlife Management Issue
3: Wildlife Food Plots (Farming Program).
Visitor Services Issue 1: Wildlife
Observation and Wildlife Photography.
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Same as Alternative B.
Same as Alternative B.
Same as Alternative A.
Same as Alternative B.
Eliminate wildlife food
plots.
Same as Alternative B.
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 238 / Monday, December 12, 2011 / Notices
77247
A—No action alternative
B—Optimal habitat management and public use
(proposed action) alternative
C—Maximal habitat
management and public
use alternative
Visitor Services Issue
2: Environmental Education.
Provide environmental education as requested and as
staff time permits.
Develop an environmental education program
and promote in local school districts.
Visitor Services Issue
3: Interpretation.
Facilities Issue 1: Roads ...........
Host annual Attwater’s PrairieChicken Festival; interpretive
signage at headquarters and
along auto-tour route.
Cooperate with county maintenance personnel for refuge
entrance road, and maintain
other refuge roads.
Facilities Issue 2: Development
of Administrative Complex.
Administrative operations conducted out of three portable
structures.
Same as Alternative A; plus add interpretive
signage and kiosk to new auto-tour route and
new trail; expand interpretive opportunities
using recent technologies.
Same as Alternative A; plus acquire jurisdiction
and maintenance responsibilities of existing
refuge entrance road and widen to two full
lanes; bury powerline along entrance road;
evaluate and remove services roads where
necessary.
Develop and approve site plan for new integrated administrative complex.
Develop an outdoor classroom through partnerships with local schools,
volunteers, and friends
group.
Same as Alternative B.
Issue topic
• Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR
Headquarters Office, 1206 APCNWR
Road, Eagle Lake, TX 77434 between the
hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to any methods in
you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
ADDRESSES,
Same as Alternative B.
Same as Alternative B.
• Our Web site: https://www.fws.gov/
southwest/refuges/Plan/
publicinvolvement.html.
• At the following public libraries:
Library
Address
Phone No.
Eula and David Wintermann Library ........................................
Nesbitt Memorial Library ...........................................................
Virgil and Josephine Gordon Memorial Library ........................
101 North Walnut Ave., Eagle Lake, TX 77434 ......................
529 Washington Street, Columbus, TX 78934 ........................
917 North Circle Dr., Sealy, TX 77474 ....................................
(979) 234–5411
(979) 732–3392
(979) 885–7469
Submitting Comments/Issues for
Comment
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
We consider comments substantive if
they:
• Question, with reasonable basis, the
accuracy of the information in the
document;
• Question, with reasonable basis, the
adequacy of the environmental
assessment (EA);
• Present reasonable alternatives
other than those presented in the EA;
and/or
• Provide new or additional
information relevant to the assessment.
Dated: November 14, 2011.
Joy Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region.
Next Steps
Lewis and Clark National Wildlife
Refuge and Julia Butler Hansen
Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed
Deer, Wahkiakum County, WA, and
Clatsop and Columbia Counties, OR;
Record of Decision for Final
Environmental Impact Statement
After this comment period ends, we
will analyze the comments and address
them in the form of a final CCP and
finding of no significant impact.
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, email 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
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15:55 Dec 09, 2011
Jkt 226001
[FR Doc. 2011–31808 Filed 12–9–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R1–R–2010–N243; 1265–0000–10137–
S3]
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the record of decision
(ROD) for the final environmental
impact statement (EIS) for the Lewis and
Clark National Wildlife Refuge and Julia
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Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian
White-tailed Deer (Refuges). We
completed a thorough analysis of the
environmental, social, and economic
considerations and presented it in our
final EIS, which we released to the
public on August 13, 2010.
DATES: The Acting Regional Director,
Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, signed the ROD on September
23, 2010. We can implement the CCP
immediately.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain
copies of the final CCP and ROD by any
of the following methods:
Agency Web Site: Download a copy of
the document(s) at https://www.fws.gov/
pacific/planning/.
Email:
FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov.
Include ‘‘Lewis and Clark and Julia
Butler Hansen ROD’’ in the subject line
of the message.
Mail: Willapa National Wildlife
Refuge Complex, 3888 SR 101, Ilwaco,
WA 98624.
Fax: (360) 484–3109.
In person viewing: Copies of the final
CCP/EIS may be viewed at the Willapa
National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 3888
SR 101, Ilwaco, WA 98624; and the Julia
Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 238 (Monday, December 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77245-77247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31808]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2011-N186; FXRS12610200000S3-123-FF02R06000]
Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Austin and
Colorado Counties, TX; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and an
environmental assessment (EA) for Attwater Prairie Chicken National
Wildlife Refuge (Refuge, NWR), located approximately 60 miles west of
Houston, Texas, for public review and comment. The Draft CCP/EA
describes our proposal for managing the refuge for the next 15 years.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
January 23, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings in local
news media.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more
information by any of the following methods. You may request hard
copies or a CD-ROM of the documents. Please contact Terry Rossignol,
Refuge Manager, or Monica Kimbrough, Natural Resource Planner.
Email: Monica_Kimbrough@fws.gov. Include ``Attwater Prairie
Chicken NWR draft CCP and EA'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Monica Kimbrough, (505) 248-6803.
U.S. Mail: Monica Kimbrough, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, NWRS Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306,
Albuquerque, NM 87103.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: In-Person Drop-off: You may
drop off comments during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
at 500 Gold Street SW., 4th Floor, Room 4019, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Rossignol, Refuge Manager,
Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, CCP--Project, P.O. Box 519, Eagle Lake,
TX 77434; phone: (979) 234-3021; fax: (979) 234-3278.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Attwater
Prairie Chicken
[[Page 77246]]
NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register
(73 FR 65871; November 5, 2008).
The Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, which consists of 10,538 acres
located approximately 60 miles west of Houston, Texas, is one of the
largest remnants of coastal prairie habitat remaining in southeast
Texas. The Refuge was officially established on July 1, 1972, to
preserve and restore coastal prairie habitat for the endangered
Attwater's prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri).
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, conservation, legal mandates, and our
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including
opportunities for 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
Formal scoping began with publication of a notice of intent to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment
(EA) in the Federal Register on November 5, 2008 (73 FR 65871). In
December 2008, a letter was sent to individuals at Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department (TPWD) formally inviting them to participate in the
development of the CCP. We received input from TPWD in January 2009.
Information sheets were sent to the public, and news releases were sent
to four area newspapers and published in two of the local newspapers
(Colorado County Citizen and Eagle Lake Headlight). The news release
also aired on KULM Radio in Columbus. Three public open house meetings
were held. Despite advertising for these open houses, turnout was poor.
Additional written comments were received prior to these open house
meetings. The meetings were held at three locations in the area on
three separate days between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. A variety of
stakeholders contributed feedback at the open house meetings and via
written comments; we used the feedback in development of the CCP.
CCP Alternatives We Are Considering
During the public scoping process with which we started work on
this draft CCP, we, other governmental partners, Tribes, and the
public, raised multiple issues. Our draft CCP addresses them. A full
description of each alternative is in the EA. To address these issues,
we developed and evaluated the following alternatives, summarized
below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--Optimal habitat
A--No action management and public use C--Maximal habitat
Issue topic alternative (proposed action) management and public
alternative use alternative
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Habitat Management Issue 1: Prairie Combination of Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B;
Restoration. planting native explore partnership except establish seed
grasses, grazing, options to produce native harvest and
burning, hydrologic grass seed increase the production on the
restoration. number of restoration Refuge; grazing bison
acres; expand monitoring only.
for grazing and burning
effects; remove
infrastructure, including
two manmade wetland
impoundments, restoring a
functional level of
hydrology.
Habitat Management Issue 2: Land/ Acquire acres within Continue to acquire land Same as Alternative B.
Property Acquisition. approved acquisition within acquisition
boundary; not boundary, proactively seek
proactively seeking out land protection
out additional land options and diversify
protection options. those options.
Habitat Management Issue 3: Treatments include a Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B.
Invasive Species Control (Flora). combination of conduct one-time
chemical, mechanical, systematic chemical
and prescribed fire. invasive species control
for entire refuge, unit by
unit; afterward, treatment
is expected to be required
every 2-3 years as
invasive species are re-
established.
Wildlife Management Issue 1: Continue to implement Same as Alternative A...... Same as Alternative A.
Attwater's Prairie-Chicken Attwater's Prairie-
Recovery. Chicken Recovery Plan.
Wildlife Management Issue 2: Eliminate feral hogs Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B.
Invasive Species Control (Fauna). and nutria based on work with adjacent land
sighting and/or owners to control feral
documented damage; hog population; remove
treat nest sites and brush and other elements
conduct research on of hog movement corridors;
impacts of red depending on results of
imported fire ants on current research of red
insect community. imported fire ants, expand
treated area to full
extent of refuge and work
with adjacent landowners
to expand treatment off
refuge.
Wildlife Management Issue 3: Manage three food Same as Alternative A; plus Eliminate wildlife
Wildlife Food Plots (Farming plots totaling up to explore additional ways to food plots.
Program). 150 acres. provide supplemental food
to Attwater's prairie-
chicken, including
capability to irrigate and
addition of food plots
when the species'
populations expand.
Visitor Services Issue 1: Wildlife Provide wildlife Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B.
Observation and Wildlife observation and realign auto-tour route;
Photography. photography to exclude cattle from public
include auto-tour hiking trails; establish a
route and two hiking new platform and hiking
trails. trail around Horseshoe
Lake; remove Pipit Trail;
increase guided van tours.
[[Page 77247]]
Visitor Services Issue 2: Provide environmental Develop an environmental Develop an outdoor
Environmental Education. education as education program and classroom through
requested and as promote in local school partnerships with
staff time permits. districts. local schools,
volunteers, and
friends group.
Visitor Services Issue 3: Host annual Attwater's Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B.
Interpretation. Prairie-Chicken add interpretive signage
Festival; and kiosk to new auto-tour
interpretive signage route and new trail;
at headquarters and expand interpretive
along auto-tour route. opportunities using recent
technologies.
Facilities Issue 1: Roads.......... Cooperate with county Same as Alternative A; plus Same as Alternative B.
maintenance personnel acquire jurisdiction and
for refuge entrance maintenance
road, and maintain responsibilities of
other refuge roads. existing refuge entrance
road and widen to two full
lanes; bury powerline
along entrance road;
evaluate and remove
services roads where
necessary.
Facilities Issue 2: Development of Administrative Develop and approve site Same as Alternative B.
Administrative Complex. operations conducted plan for new integrated
out of three portable administrative complex.
structures.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR Headquarters Office, 1206
APCNWR Road, Eagle Lake, TX 77434 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday.
Our Web site: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/publicinvolvement.html.
At the following public libraries:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Library Address Phone No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eula and David Wintermann 101 North Walnut Ave., (979) 234-5411
Library. Eagle Lake, TX 77434.
Nesbitt Memorial Library...... 529 Washington Street, (979) 732-3392
Columbus, TX 78934.
Virgil and Josephine Gordon 917 North Circle Dr., (979) 885-7469
Memorial Library. Sealy, TX 77474.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submitting Comments/Issues for Comment
We consider comments substantive if they:
Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the
information in the document;
Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the
environmental assessment (EA);
Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented
in the EA; and/or
Provide new or additional information relevant to the
assessment.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them in the form of a final CCP and finding of no significant
impact.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email 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 that we will be
able to do so.
Dated: November 14, 2011.
Joy Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-31808 Filed 12-9-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
