Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Liberty County, TX; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment, 18853-18856 [2012-7400]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2012 / Notices
Alternative A, Current Management
(No Action)
Alternative A is the no-action
alternative, which represents the current
management of the refuge. This
alternative provides the baseline against
which to compare the other alternatives.
It also fulfills the requirement in the
National Environmental Policy Act that
a no-action alternative be addressed in
the analysis process.
Under alternative A, management
activity currently conducted by the
Service would remain the same. The
Service would continue to manage and
monitor refuge habitats at current levels.
The Bitterroot River would continue to
migrate through the refuge, eroding
some levees and trails. Invasive species
would be treated primarily with
mechanical and chemical methods as
resources become available. Water
supply and management structures
would be inadequate to properly
manage many of the wetland
impoundments. Cattail monocultures
would be treated. The current staff of
five would perform limited, issuedriven research and monitor only longterm wildlife and vegetation changes.
Visitor services programs and facilities
would be maintained or expanded as
resources become available. Funding
and staff levels would follow annual
budget allocations provided for refuge
operations on Service lands.
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Alternative B (Proposed Action)
This alternative focuses on the
expansion and restoration of native
plant communities on the refuge,
including grasslands, shrublands, and
gallery and riverfront forests. Some
areas that are currently part of wetland
impoundments would be restored to
native communities, including forest
and shrubland. A significant focus of
restoration proposals would be
controlling invasive species and
preventing further spread. Grasses and
shrubs native to the uplands, including
the alluvial fans, would begin to be
restored to provide habitat for native
wildlife, including grassland-dependent
migratory birds. Some wetland
impoundments and Service (nonpublic)
roads would be removed or reduced in
size to allow for river migration and to
restore native gallery and riverfront
forest for riparian-dependent wildlife.
The remaining impoundments would be
managed to mimic natural conditions
for wetland-dependent migratory birds.
The Service would expand and
improve the refuge’s compatible
wildlife-dependent public use
programs, in particular the wildlife
observation, environmental education,
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and interpretation programs. The visitor
contact area would be expanded into a
visitor center, with new displays and a
combination conference room and
environmental education classroom.
New displays would be professionally
planned and produced. The refuge
would work with Ravalli County staff to
designate the county road in the refuge
as an auto tour route, which would
include pulloffs and some form of
interpretation. A seasonal hiking trail
would be added, and current trails
would be improved for wildlife
observation and photography.
Interpretation and environmental
education programs would be
expanded, using added staff and
volunteers. All public use programs
would provide visitors a consistent
message about the purposes and values
of the refuge and the mission of the
Refuge System. The refuge staff would
be expanded to include an assistant
refuge manager, two biological science
technicians (one full time and one
career seasonal), and a visitor services
specialist who would serve as a visitor
center manager and volunteer
coordinator.
Increased research and monitoring,
staff, funding, infrastructure, and
partnerships would be required to
accomplish the goals, objectives, and
strategies associated with this
alternative. Additional staff and funding
would be added depending on the
regional priorities for those funds
allocated to the Service for management
of lands and waters within the Refuge
System.
Alternative C
Alternative C contains many of the
elements found in alternative B related
to expanding visitor service programs
and facilities. However, habitat
management would be focused on
maintaining the wetland impoundments
and attempting to restrict the
movements of the Bitterroot River
throughout the refuge. Habitat efforts
would be primarily focused on
providing waterfowl and other
waterbird habitat.
Public Meeting
A public meeting, to be held at the
refuge headquarters in Stevensville, MT,
will be announced through the local
media and the refuge’s Web site
www.fws.gov/leemetcalf.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we
will analyze the comments and address
them in the form of a final CCP and
NEPA finding.
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18853
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: February 29, 2012.
Matt Hogan,
Acting Deputy Regional Director, MountainPrairie Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–7398 Filed 3–27–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R2–R–2012–N019;
FXRS12610200000S3–123–FF02R06000]
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge,
Liberty County, TX; Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Environmental
Assessment
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
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
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge, NWR), located approximately
50 miles northeast 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 May 4,
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 Stuart Marcus, Refuge Manager,
or Joseph Lujan, Natural Resource
Planner.
Email: Joseph_Lujan@fws.gov. Include
‘‘Trinity River NWR draft CCP and EA’’
in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Joseph Lujan, 505–248–
6803.
U.S. Mail: Joseph Lujan, Natural
Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
SUMMARY:
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18854
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2012 / Notices
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.
4305, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stuart Marcus, Refuge Manager, Trinity
River NWR, CCP—Project, P.O. Box
10015, Liberty, TX 77575; phone: 936–
336–9786; fax: 936–336–9847.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP
process for the Trinity River NWR. We
started this process through a notice in
the Federal Register (72 FR 45059;
August 10, 2007).
The Trinity River NWR, which
consists of over 25,000 acres, is located
approximately 50 miles northeast of
Houston, and 40 miles west of
Beaumont Texas. The primary purpose
of the refuge is to protect a remnant of
the bottomland hardwood forest
ecosystem along the Trinity River. The
refuge was officially established on
January 4, 1994, and continues to
acquire, restore, and preserve
bottomland hardwood forests.
Alternatives
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 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.
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 August
A—No action alternative (current
practices)
10, 2007 (72 FR 45059). In September
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, and have continued to
involve them throughout the planning
process. Information sheets were sent to
the public, and news releases were sent
to a variety of media outlets. The news
release also aired on KSHN 99.9 FM
Radio in Liberty, Texas. Three public
open house meetings were held from
November 30 through December 2,
2009. Additional written comments
were received prior to these open house
meetings. The meetings were held at
three locations in the area, on three
separate evenings. 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.
C—Optimal habitat management
and public use (proposed action) alternative
B—Improved habitat management
and public use alternative
Issues
Habitat and Wildlife Management Issues
1. Native Flora/Fauna Conservation.
2. Invasive Flora/Fauna
Management.
3. Wetland Management ......
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4. Land Acquisition ...............
5. Climate Change ...............
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Conserve/restore bottomland hardwood forests. Restore native
flora; reintroduce native fauna;
manage native nuisance flora/
fauna.
Remove exotic and invasive flora/
fauna as resources permit; prevent reintroduction of exotic and
invasive flora/fauna as resources
permit.
Maintain the integrity of water control structures/levees; conduct
water-quality sampling and fish
surveys.
Acquire lands from willing sellers
within the approved acquisition
boundary on a case-by-case
basis.
Plant trees to sequester carbon;
use ‘‘green’’ technologies wherever possible, and recycle.
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Same as Alternative A, plus use
prescribed fire for resource management and initiate baseline
monitoring for flora and fauna.
Same as Alternative B.
Same as Alternative A, plus develop invasive species strike
team and map ‘‘hotspots’’ to
prioritize management efforts.
Same as Alternative B.
Same as Alternative A, plus conduct small-scale restoration of
hydrological flow at Champion
Lake South unit.
Update Trinity River Floodplain
Habitat Stewardship Program and
Land Protection Plan to update
the acquisition boundary; assign
refuge realty specialist to Trinity
River NWR.
Same as Alternative A, plus gather
baseline inventory and monitoring
data.
Same as Alternative B.
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Same as Alternative B.
Same as Alternative B.
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2012 / Notices
18855
Alternatives
A—No action alternative (current
practices)
B—Improved habitat management
and public use alternative
C—Optimal habitat management
and public use (proposed action) alternative
6. Resource Protection .........
Assign refuge law enforcement officer to patrol 25,000 acres,
backed up by opportunistic observations by other refuge staff.
Same as Alternative A, plus add patrols using other refuges’ law enforcement officers.
Same as Alternative B, plus add an
additional officer to patrol up to
80,000 acres.
Visitor Services Issues
1. Hunting .............................
2. Fishing ..............................
3. Wildlife Observation .........
4. Wildlife Photography ........
Designate units open to hunting by
permit only, for big game, upland
game, and waterfowl, as is currently the case in eight units.
Direct visitors to Champion Lake
and Pickett’s Bayou.
Open refuge to wildlife observation;
direct visitors to eight public use
areas.
Open refuge to photography; direct
visitors to eight public use areas.
5. Environmental Education
Do not develop environmental education programs on the refuge.
6. Interpretation ....................
The refuge hosts two on-refuge annual festivals, on Earth Day and
on Free Family Fishing Day; host
approximately six off-refuge annual events, such as county jubilee and various public speaking
events.
Same as Alternative A, plus open
one additional unit for big game
hunting at Champion Lake South
unit.
Same as Alternative A, plus direct
visitors to McGuire and Silver
Lake units when piers are developed.
Same as Alternative A plus open
one additional area at Champion
Lake South unit.
Same as Alternative A plus construct photo blind at Brierwood
unit.
Develop off-refuge environmental
education curricula, working with
local schools to meet State requirements.
Same as Alternative A, plus host
approximately 10 additional offrefuge events, as requested; develop and provide self-guided interpretative materials at Champion Lake and Brierwood units.
Same as Alternative B, plus open
one additional unit for big game
and upland game hunting at Palmetto unit.
Same as Alternative B, plus direct
visitors to Brierwood unit once
pier is developed.
Same as Alternative B, plus open
one additional area at Palmetto
unit.
Same as Alternative B, plus construct photo blind at McGuire unit.
Same as Alternative B, plus develop on-refuge program, upon
the completion of the educational
facility at Champion Lake Public
Use Area.
Same as Alternative B, plus develop interpretive programs at visitor center; develop and provide
kiosks in all areas with public use
facilities.
Facilities Issues
1. Public Use Access ...........
2. Public Use Facilities .........
3. Administrative Facilities ....
Allow vehicular on designated unpaved roads; allow walk-in-only
access on eight designated units;
allow boating access on Pickett’s
Bayou and Champion Lake.
Maintain current limited facilities at
Champion Lake Public Use Area,
including fishing pier, butterfly
garden, parking, and portable toilet Seven other public use areas
have only one parking lot and
one photo blind each.
Maintain
refuge-owned
headquarters and storage facility along
FM 1011.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to using any methods in
you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
ADDRESSES,
Same as Alternative A, plus improve road to McGuire Pond; establish canoe/kayak launch site at
Brierwood unit.
Same as Alternative B, plus open
trail at Champion Lake South
unit.
Rehabilitate the Lodge at Champion
Lake Public Use Area, pave the
road at Champion Lake Public
Use Area, and construct fishing
pier at McGuire unit.
Construct visitor center adjacent to
headquarters; construct fishing
piers at Brierwood unit; construct
full-service bathroom at Champion Lake Public Use Area.
Construct a maintenance shop at
Champion Lake equipment storage area.
Rehabilitate the two-room log cabin
at Champion Lake for use for
staff and volunteer offices.
• Trinity River NWR Headquarters
Office, 601 FM 1011, Liberty, TX 77575,
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.
• The following public libraries:
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Library
Address
Liberty Municipal Library ...............................................................
Dayton Library ...............................................................................
Austin Memorial Library ................................................................
Tarkington Community Library ......................................................
1710 Sam Houston Ave., Liberty, TX 77575 ...........
307 W. Houston, Dayton, TX 77535 .......................
220 S. Bonham, Cleveland, TX 77327 ....................
3032 FM 163 Rd., Cleveland, TX 77327 .................
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Phone No.
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936–336–8901
936–258–7060
281–592–3920
281–592–5136
18856
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2012 / Notices
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: January 31, 2012.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting, Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012–7400 Filed 3–27–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R4–R–2011–N–170; 40136–1265–
0000–S3]
Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge,
LA; Final Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Finding of No
Significant Impact for Environmental
Assessment
AGENCY:
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
We, the Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive
conservation plan (CCP) and finding of
no significant impact (FONSI) for the
environmental assessment for
Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR) in St. Martin and Iberville
Parishes, Louisiana. In the final CCP, we
describe how we will manage this
refuge for the next 15 years.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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You may obtain a copy of
the CCP by writing to: Mr. Daniel
Breaux, Southeast Louisiana National
Wildlife Refuge Complex, Bayou
Lacombe Centre, 61389 Highway 434,
Lacombe, LA 70445. Alternatively, you
may download the document from our
Internet Site: https://southeast.fws.gov/
planning/ under ‘‘Final Documents.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Daniel Breaux, at 985/882–2030
(telephone), 985/882–9133 (fax), or
Daniel_breaux@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental
education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least
every 15 years in accordance with the
Administration Act.
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP
process for Atchafalaya NWR. We
started this process through a notice in
the Federal Register on January 9, 2009
(74 FR 915). For more about the refuge,
see that notice.
Atchafalaya NWR is one of eight
refuges managed as part of the Southeast
Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge
Complex (Complex). Atchafalaya NWR
is located in the lower Atchafalaya
Basin Floodway System. Atchafalaya
NWR is bounded on the north by U.S.
Highway 190, on the south by Interstate
10, on the west by the Atchafalaya
River, and on the east by the East
Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee.
Atchafalaya NWR was established in
1986, when 15,255 acres were
purchased from the Iberville Land
Company, as directed by Public Law
98–548. The Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
have also purchased fee title land
adjacent to and within the Atchafalaya
NWR, which brings the current acreage
to approximately 44,000. The USACE
has authority to purchase additional
lands within the Atchafalaya Basin
Floodway System.
Approximately 12 percent of the
refuge is inundated open water, with
isolated cypress trees and willow
stands. Bottomland hardwood forest is
the primary habitat.
Comments
We made copies of the Draft CCP/EA
available for a 30-day public review and
comment period via a Federal Register
notice on May 24, 2011 (76 FR 30190).
A news release was sent out to four
local, state, and regional newspapers,
six online media outlets, and two local
radio networks. Copies of the Draft CCP/
EA were posted at refuge headquarters
and on the Service’s Internet Web site
and more than 100 copies were
distributed to local landowners; the
general public; and local, state, and
federal agencies. Respondents
representing the following submitted
comments: LDWF; Louisiana
Department of Culture, Recreation, and
Tourism; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians;
National Park Service; Audubon
Society; Friends of the Atchafalaya; The
Nature Conservancy; Gulf Restoration
Network; Atchafalaya Basinkeeper;
Louisiana Crawfish Producers
Association—West; Sierra Club—Delta
Chapter; Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper;
Louisiana Environmental Action
Network; and local citizens.
ADDRESSES:
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C.
668dd–668ee) (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
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Selected Alternative
The Draft CCP/EA identified and
evaluated three alternatives for
managing the refuge over the next 15
years. After considering the comments
we received and based on the
professional judgment of the planning
team, we selected Alternative B for
implementation. Alternative B best
signifies the vision, goals, and purposes
of the refuge. Under Alternative B,
emphasis will be on restoring and
improving the resources needed for
wildlife and habitat management and
providing appropriate and compatible
wildlife-dependent public use
opportunities, while addressing key
issues and refuge mandates.
The compatibility determinations for
(1) Wildlife observation/photography;
(2) recreational fishing; (3) recreational
hunting; (4) environmental education
and interpretation; (5) walking, hiking,
and jogging; (6) forest management; (7)
scientific research; (8) kayaking,
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18853-18856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7400]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2012-N019; FXRS12610200000S3-123-FF02R06000]
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Liberty County, 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 Trinity River National Wildlife
Refuge (Refuge, NWR), located approximately 50 miles northeast 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
May 4, 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 Stuart Marcus,
Refuge Manager, or Joseph Lujan, Natural Resource Planner.
Email: Joseph_Lujan@fws.gov. Include ``Trinity River NWR draft CCP
and EA'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Joseph Lujan, 505-248-6803.
U.S. Mail: Joseph Lujan, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
[[Page 18854]]
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. 4305, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stuart Marcus, Refuge Manager, Trinity
River NWR, CCP--Project, P.O. Box 10015, Liberty, TX 77575; phone: 936-
336-9786; fax: 936-336-9847.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Trinity River
NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register
(72 FR 45059; August 10, 2007).
The Trinity River NWR, which consists of over 25,000 acres, is
located approximately 50 miles northeast of Houston, and 40 miles west
of Beaumont Texas. The primary purpose of the refuge is to protect a
remnant of the bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem along the Trinity
River. The refuge was officially established on January 4, 1994, and
continues to acquire, restore, and preserve bottomland hardwood
forests.
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 August 10, 2007 (72 FR 45059). In
September 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, and have continued to involve them throughout the planning
process. Information sheets were sent to the public, and news releases
were sent to a variety of media outlets. The news release also aired on
KSHN 99.9 FM Radio in Liberty, Texas. Three public open house meetings
were held from November 30 through December 2, 2009. Additional written
comments were received prior to these open house meetings. The meetings
were held at three locations in the area, on three separate evenings. 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C--Optimal habitat
A--No action alternative B--Improved habitat management and public
Alternatives (current practices) management and public use (proposed action)
use alternative alternative
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Habitat and Wildlife Management Issues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Native Flora/Fauna Conserve/restore Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
Conservation. bottomland hardwood plus use prescribed
forests. Restore native fire for resource
flora; reintroduce management and initiate
native fauna; manage baseline monitoring for
native nuisance flora/ flora and fauna.
fauna.
2. Invasive Flora/Fauna Remove exotic and Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
Management. invasive flora/fauna as plus develop invasive
resources permit; species strike team and
prevent reintroduction map ``hotspots'' to
of exotic and invasive prioritize management
flora/fauna as resources efforts.
permit.
3. Wetland Management............ Maintain the integrity of Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
water control structures/ plus conduct small-
levees; conduct water- scale restoration of
quality sampling and hydrological flow at
fish surveys. Champion Lake South
unit.
4. Land Acquisition.............. Acquire lands from Update Trinity River Same as Alternative B.
willing sellers within Floodplain Habitat
the approved acquisition Stewardship Program and
boundary on a case-by- Land Protection Plan to
case basis. update the acquisition
boundary; assign refuge
realty specialist to
Trinity River NWR.
5. Climate Change................ Plant trees to sequester Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
carbon; use ``green'' plus gather baseline
technologies wherever inventory and
possible, and recycle. monitoring data.
[[Page 18855]]
6. Resource Protection........... Assign refuge law Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
enforcement officer to plus add patrols using plus add an additional
patrol 25,000 acres, other refuges' law officer to patrol up to
backed up by enforcement officers. 80,000 acres.
opportunistic
observations by other
refuge staff.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visitor Services Issues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Hunting....................... Designate units open to Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
hunting by permit only, plus open one plus open one
for big game, upland additional unit for big additional unit for big
game, and waterfowl, as game hunting at game and upland game
is currently the case in Champion Lake South hunting at Palmetto
eight units. unit. unit.
2. Fishing....................... Direct visitors to Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
Champion Lake and plus direct visitors to plus direct visitors to
Pickett's Bayou. McGuire and Silver Lake Brierwood unit once
units when piers are pier is developed.
developed.
3. Wildlife Observation.......... Open refuge to wildlife Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B,
observation; direct plus open one plus open one
visitors to eight public additional area at additional area at
use areas. Champion Lake South Palmetto unit.
unit.
4. Wildlife Photography.......... Open refuge to Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B,
photography; direct plus construct photo plus construct photo
visitors to eight public blind at Brierwood unit. blind at McGuire unit.
use areas.
5. Environmental Education....... Do not develop Develop off-refuge Same as Alternative B,
environmental education environmental education plus develop on-refuge
programs on the refuge. curricula, working with program, upon the
local schools to meet completion of the
State requirements. educational facility at
Champion Lake Public
Use Area.
6. Interpretation................ The refuge hosts two on- Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
refuge annual festivals, plus host approximately plus develop
on Earth Day and on Free 10 additional off- interpretive programs
Family Fishing Day; host refuge events, as at visitor center;
approximately six off- requested; develop and develop and provide
refuge annual events, provide self-guided kiosks in all areas
such as county jubilee interpretative with public use
and various public materials at Champion facilities.
speaking events. Lake and Brierwood
units.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facilities Issues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Public Use Access............. Allow vehicular on Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
designated unpaved plus improve road to plus open trail at
roads; allow walk-in- McGuire Pond; establish Champion Lake South
only access on eight canoe/kayak launch site unit.
designated units; allow at Brierwood unit.
boating access on
Pickett's Bayou and
Champion Lake.
2. Public Use Facilities......... Maintain current limited Rehabilitate the Lodge Construct visitor center
facilities at Champion at Champion Lake Public adjacent to
Lake Public Use Area, Use Area, pave the road headquarters; construct
including fishing pier, at Champion Lake Public fishing piers at
butterfly garden, Use Area, and construct Brierwood unit;
parking, and portable fishing pier at McGuire construct full-service
toilet Seven other unit. bathroom at Champion
public use areas have Lake Public Use Area.
only one parking lot and
one photo blind each.
3. Administrative Facilities..... Maintain refuge-owned Construct a maintenance Rehabilitate the two-
headquarters and storage shop at Champion Lake room log cabin at
facility along FM 1011. equipment storage area. Champion Lake for use
for staff and volunteer
offices.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to using any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or
obtain documents at the following locations:
Trinity River NWR Headquarters Office, 601 FM 1011,
Liberty, TX 77575, 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.
The following public libraries:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Library Address Phone No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liberty Municipal Library.... 1710 Sam Houston 936-336-8901
Ave., Liberty,
TX 77575.
Dayton Library............... 307 W. Houston, 936-258-7060
Dayton, TX
77535.
Austin Memorial Library...... 220 S. Bonham, 281-592-3920
Cleveland, TX
77327.
Tarkington Community Library. 3032 FM 163 Rd., 281-592-5136
Cleveland, TX
77327.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 18856]]
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: January 31, 2012.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting, Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-7400 Filed 3-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
