St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge, FL; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Environmental Assessment, 60135-60137 [2012-24272]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 2, 2012 / Notices
Identification Card (CBP Form 3078).
This is a proposed extension of an
information collection that was
previously approved. CBP is proposing
that this information collection be
extended with no change to the burden
hours. This document is published to
obtain comments from the public and
affected agencies. This information
collection was previously published in
the Federal Register (77 FR 42753) on
June 20, 2012, allowing for a 60-day
comment period. This notice allows for
an additional 30 days for public
comments. This process is conducted in
accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before November 1, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments on
this information collection to the Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget.
Comments should be addressed to the
OMB Desk Officer for U.S. Customs and
Border Protection, Department of
Homeland Security, and sent via
electronic mail to
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed
to (202) 395–5806.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information
should be directed to Tracey Denning,
U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
Regulations and Rulings, Office of
International Trade, 799 9th Street NW.,
5th Floor, Washington, DC 20229–1177,
at 202–325–0265.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP
invites the general public and affected
Federal agencies to submit written
comments and suggestions on proposed
and/or continuing information
collection requests pursuant to the
Paperwork Reduction Act (Pub. L.104–
13). Your comments should address one
of the following four points:
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency/component,
including whether the information will
have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the
agencies/components estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collections of information on those who
are to respond, including the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
techniques or other forms of
information.
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Title: Application for Identification
Card.
OMB Number: 1651–0008.
Form Number: CBP Form 3078.
Abstract: CBP Form 3078, Application
for Identification Card, is filled out in
order to obtain an Identification Card
which is used to gain access to CBP
security areas. This form is usually
completed by licensed Cartmen or
Lightermen whose duties require
receiving, transporting, or otherwise
handling imported merchandise which
has not been released from CBP custody.
CBP Form 3078 is provided for by 19
CFR Part 112 and is accessible at:
https://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/
CBP_Form_3078.pdf.
Action: CBP proposes to extend the
expiration date of this information
collection with no change to the burden
hours or to CBP Form 3078.
Type of Review: Extension (without
change).
Affected Public: Businesses.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
150,000.
Estimated Number of Total Annual
Responses: 150,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 17
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 42,450.
Dated: September 27, 2012.
Tracey Denning,
Agency Clearance Officer, U.S. Customs and
Border Protection.
[FR Doc. 2012–24243 Filed 10–1–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R4–R–2012–N067;
FXRS12650400000S3–123–FF04R02000]
St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge, FL;
Final Comprehensive Conservation
Plan and Finding of No Significant
Impact for the Environmental
Assessment
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
We, the Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service), announce the
availability of the final comprehensive
conservation plan (CCP) and finding of
no significant impact for the
environmental assessment for St. Johns
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in
Brevard County, Florida. In the final
CCP, we describe how we will manage
this refuge for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of
the CCP by writing to: Ms. Layne
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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60135
Hamilton, c/o Merritt Island National
Wildlife Refuge Complex, P.O. Box
2683, Titusville, FL 32781.
Alternatively, you may download the
document from our Internet Site:
https://southeast.fws.gov/planning under
‘‘Final Documents.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Layne Hamilton, at 321/861–0667
(telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP
process for St. Johns NWR. We started
the process through a notice in the
Federal Register on December 14, 2009
(74 FR 66147). For more about the
process, see that notice.
St. Johns NWR is a unit of and
administered through the Merritt Island
National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
St. Johns NWR was established in
August 1971, to provide protection for
threatened and endangered species and
to enhance native diversity. The refuge
contains two units totaling
approximately 6,422 acres. The
southern or Bee Line Unit occurs about
a mile west of Port St. John, Florida,
while the northern or State Road 50
Unit occurs about 5 miles to the north,
roughly 5 miles west of Titusville,
Florida. St. Johns NWR is closed to
public use, except for those uses
permitted through the special use
permit process. St. Johns NWR contains
some of the last vestiges of inland salt
pan habitat known in Florida—a habitat
dominated by cordgrass, but
disconnected from tidewaters. Saltwater
upwellings, along with periodic fires
and floods, maintain this unique
habitat, which exists as part of a
network of preserves within the Upper
St. Johns River Basin, including natural
areas managed by the State of Florida
and Brevard County.
The refuge was home to the last
remaining families of the dusky seaside
sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus
nigrescens), a species that despite
Federal protection and the best efforts of
a consortium of partners was declared
extinct in 1990. Today, the refuge is
home to four federally listed species,
including the wood stork (Mycteria
americana), the eastern indigo snake
(Drymarchon couperi), the crested
caracara (Caracara cheriway), and the
American alligator (Alligator
mississippiensis). As a result of the
refuge’s importance to resident and
migratory birds, seven species of birds
have been designated species of
management concern, including the
black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) and
the eastern meadowlark (Sturnella
E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM
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60136
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 2, 2012 / Notices
magna). The refuge is also home to a
host of State-listed species and offers
refugia and prey opportunities for
wading birds, including the little blue
heron (Egretta caerulea), snowy egret
(Egretta thula), and tri-colored heron
(Egretta tricolor).
We announce our decision and the
availability of the final CCP and FONSI
for St. Johns NWR in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b))
requirements. We completed a thorough
analysis of impacts on the human
environment, which we included in the
draft comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment (Draft
CCP/EA).
The CCP will guide us in managing
and administering St. Johns NWR for
the next 15 years. Alternative C is the
foundation for the CCP.
The compatibility determinations for
research, environmental education and
interpretation, wildlife observation and
photography, bicycling, commercial
photography, and commercial tours and
guiding are included in the CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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
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.
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 July 7, 2011 (76 FR 39890).
We provided more than 60 copies of the
Draft CCP/EA to those individuals or
organizations that requested a copy. A
total of ten individuals, organizations,
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Jkt 229001
and government agencies provided
comments on the Draft CCP/EA by U.S.
mail or email. Comments were received
from the St. Johns River Water
Management District, Brevard County
Environmentally Endangered Lands
Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, Defenders of
Wildlife, Space Coast Audubon,
Modern, Inc., and local citizens.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we
received and based on our professional
judgment, we selected Alternative C for
implementation. This alternative will
focus on enhancing all native wildlife
and habitat diversity on the refuge. We
will determine our role in regional and
national species conservation plans.
Concerning the suite of residing,
wintering, and summering birds on the
refuge, Alternative C will represent an
expansion of management. Through
prescribed burning and utilizing
ecological indicators, we will promote
an ecologically based fire return interval
to maintain early successional
ecological stages of all fire-maintained
habitats. In addition, the hydrologic
setting will be restored to as close to
pre-drainage conditions as possible to
benefit refuge wildlife. Under
Alternative C, we will expand
management of wood storks and Statelisted wading birds. In conjunction with
State-listed wading bird nesting surveys,
we will opportunistically remove fill
and dike features from peninsulas in the
State Road 50 Unit borrow ponds, to
provide additional artificial islands. On
behalf of the northern crested caracara,
Alternative C will maintain open habitat
with a minimum of woody vegetation.
We will also evaluate the use of
mowing, grazing, and/or other forms of
vegetation control to help maintain
open prairie for crested caracara at the
Bee Line Unit, while minimizing
impacts to secretive marsh birds.
Through discussions with the State, we
will stay abreast of Cape Sable seaside
sparrow reintroduction.
Under Alternative C, management of
hydrology, including groundwater,
surface water, and water quality, will be
expanded. We will coordinate with the
St. Johns River Water Management
District (SJRWMD) to develop a better
understanding of the hydrology of the
refuge. To help fill in the information
gaps, and by utilizing experts, we will
develop a hydrologic study to
understand the relationships of water
quality, water quantity, and timing of
flows within and across the refuge. We
will increase control of invasive/feral
animals and will reduce invasive plants
to a maintenance level. We will
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coordinate with local cooperative
invasive species management areas to
develop an early detection and alert
network to help control invasive
animals. We will use permittees and
partners for the feral hog control effort,
but may also use public hunts if, after
evaluation, hunting is determined to be
an effective tool to control feral hog
populations. Under Alternative C,
management of all vegetation
communities on the refuge will expand.
We will focus habitat management on
maintaining and supporting a wide
array of native wildlife using the refuge.
Overall, however, in Alternative C, the
relative percentages and composition of
major habitat types on the refuge will
not change; the aim will be to increase
the quality rather than quantity of the
various habitat types. Management of
mammals will expand. We will strive to
maintain emergent marsh and open
waters for a diversity of mammals, such
as white-tailed deer and round-tailed
muskrat. We will also conduct a
mammal inventory during the 15-year
life of the CCP.
With regard to climate change, we
will partner with SJRWMD in adaptive
management efforts to manage habitats,
ecosystems, and wildlife affected by
climate change. We will investigate
opportunities to participate in regional
climate change initiatives to better
understand the role climate change may
have on refuge resources, and will adapt
management based on discovery of
climate change-related impacts.
Under the preferred alternative, we
will work with partners to consolidate
and secure ownership in the
checkerboard area of the Bee Line Unit
to create functional management areas.
We will consider fee-title acquisitions
based on a willing-seller approach, land
swaps, management agreements, and
conservation easements to protect these
sites. We will work with Brevard
County to vacate or abandon rights-ofway, as well as add right-of-way access
to accommodate public use.
Additionally, the preferred alternative
identifies a minor expansion proposal of
less than 10 percent (625 acres) of the
refuge’s approved acquisition boundary,
to connect lands and develop naturalarea corridors to the State Road 50 Unit.
We will increase our law enforcement
staff and coordinate with governmental
partners and landowners to increase the
number of patrols to deter and prevent
destructive illegal activities. With regard
to cultural, historical, and
archaeological resources, we will
continue to implement Section 106 of
the National Historic Preservation Act to
provide protection for these resources.
In addition, we will complete and begin
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 2, 2012 / Notices
to implement a Cultural Resources
Management Plan within the 15-year
period of the CCP.
One of the centerpieces of the
preferred alternative includes
expanding visitor services and public
use. To expand opportunities for
interpretation, we will work with
partners to evaluate a range of access
alternatives for the refuge. Working with
Brevard County, we will seek to develop
facilities such as a trailhead and kiosk
from the county’s Fay Lake Park to our
Bee Line Unit, and will consider
developing an interpretive trail and
kiosk on the State Road 50 Unit. We will
explore opportunities, based on
potential and varied acquisition
opportunities from willing sellers, to
provide public access to the State Road
50 Unit from the county’s Fox Lake Park
Sanctuary through the Fox Lake tract. In
conducting outreach, this alternative
will expand with a wildlife and habitat
diversity focus and will include
messaging that targets ethical behavior.
Alternative C will expand
environmental education efforts. We
will work with partners to develop
curriculum-based environmental
education programs related to wildlife
and climate change. We will also work
with local schools to conduct on-site
environmental education. In addition,
we will open the refuge to wildlife
observation and photography, and will
provide facilities to enhance the visitor
experience (e.g., marked foot trails,
kiosks at trailheads, and a safe parking
area). We will establish foot traffic on
existing dikes and roads and will
evaluate potential connectivity to
regional trail networks. The refuge and
any future trails will remain subject to
closure for administrative purposes.
Commercial photography and tours/
guides will be available on a case-bycase basis, permitted through the special
use permit process. Access for uses
determined to be appropriate and
compatible will be by walking, hiking,
and bicycling. Bicycling that does not
support appropriate and compatible
uses, such as mountain biking and offtrail biking, will not be considered an
appropriate form of access. Staff will
work with partners to evaluate the
potential for a primitive weapons’ hunt
(e.g., bow and muzzle-loader) and for a
youth hunt. Species to be considered for
hunts will include white-tailed deer and
feral hogs.
Administration will expand under the
preferred alternative. When the
preferred alternative is fully
implemented, it will provide for new
shared positions with Merritt Island
NWR, including a law enforcement
officer, maintenance worker, and a
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Jkt 229001
ranger. A full-time biological technician
will be hired, for a total of 2.5 new
positions. The volunteer program will
expand as we will utilize volunteers for
environmental education and
interpretation activities and programs,
trail maintenance, outreach, wildlife
surveys, expanded exotic control, and
cleanups. Facilities and equipment will
be added and we will consider
developing kiosks, trails, and associated
parking to provide safe and secure
access from existing county parks to
refuge lands. We will also add one or
two vehicles and more equipment for
exotic plant control activities.
Authority
This notice is published under the
authority of the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of
1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.).
Dated: June 22, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2012–24272 Filed 10–1–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R6–2012–N197; FF06R06000–
FXRS1265066CCP0S2–123]
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge,
Ravalli County, MT; Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Finding of No Significant Impact for
Environmental Assessment
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. 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 (EA) for Lee
Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
Complex (refuge), Stevensville, MT. In
this final CCP, we describe how we will
manage this refuge for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain
copies of the final CCP and FONSI/EA
by any one of the following methods.
Agency Web Site: Download a copy of
the document at from https://mountainprairie.fws.gov/planning;
Email: leemetcalf@fws.gov. Include
‘‘Lee Metcalf final CCP’’ in the subject
line of the message;
U.S. mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Division of Refuge Planning,
P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, CO 80225; or
SUMMARY:
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60137
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call
406–777–5552 to make an appointment
during regular business hours at 4567
Wildfowl Lane, Stevensville, MT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura King, 406–644–2211, ext. 210;
leemetcalf@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP
process for Lee Metcalf National
Wildlife Refuge. We started this process
through a notice in the Federal Register
(74 FR 50235; September 30, 2009). We
released the draft CCP and the EA to the
public, announcing and requesting
comments in a notice of availability in
the Federal Register (77 FR 18852;
March 28, 2012).
Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
was established February 4, 1964, and
has two purposes:
(1) ‘‘[F]or use as an inviolate
sanctuary, or for any other management
purpose, for migratory birds’’ (Migratory
Bird Conservation Act); and
(2) ‘‘for (a) incidental fish and wildlife
oriented recreational development, (b)
the protection of natural resources,
[and] (c) the conservation of endangered
species or threatened species’’ (Refuge
Recreation Act).
This refuge is located in Ravalli
County, one of the fastest growing
counties in the State of Montana, 2
miles north of Stevensville and 25 miles
south of Missoula. Although it is one of
the nation’s smaller refuges,
encompassing 2,800 acres, it is one of
the few remaining undeveloped areas in
the Bitterroot Valley. The refuge lies
along the meandering Bitterroot River
and is comprised of wet meadow and
gallery and riverfront forest habitats and
has created and modified wetlands.
Riverfront forest includes early
succession tree species such as black
cottonwood and sandbar willow that are
present near the active channel of the
Bitterroot River and next to floodplain
drainages. Gallery forest is dominated
by cottonwood and ponderosa pine and
is present on higher floodplain
elevations along natural levees. Over
140,000 visitors come to this refuge
annually to view and photograph
wildlife, archery deer hunt, walk the
refuge trails, or participate in
interpretive programs in the indoor and
outdoor classrooms. The Refuge
provides habitat for raptors, including
ospreys, and numerous songbird and
waterbird species.
We announce our decision and the
availability of the FONSI for the final
CCP for Lee Metcalf National Wildlife
Refuge in accordance with National
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60135-60137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24272]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2012-N067; FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000]
St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge, FL; Final Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for the
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact for the environmental assessment for
St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Brevard County, Florida. In
the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next
15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by writing to: Ms. Layne
Hamilton, c/o Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, P.O. Box
2683, Titusville, FL 32781. Alternatively, you may download the
document from our Internet Site: https://southeast.fws.gov/planning
under ``Final Documents.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Layne Hamilton, at 321/861-0667
(telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for St. Johns NWR. We
started the process through a notice in the Federal Register on
December 14, 2009 (74 FR 66147). For more about the process, see that
notice.
St. Johns NWR is a unit of and administered through the Merritt
Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
St. Johns NWR was established in August 1971, to provide protection
for threatened and endangered species and to enhance native diversity.
The refuge contains two units totaling approximately 6,422 acres. The
southern or Bee Line Unit occurs about a mile west of Port St. John,
Florida, while the northern or State Road 50 Unit occurs about 5 miles
to the north, roughly 5 miles west of Titusville, Florida. St. Johns
NWR is closed to public use, except for those uses permitted through
the special use permit process. St. Johns NWR contains some of the last
vestiges of inland salt pan habitat known in Florida--a habitat
dominated by cordgrass, but disconnected from tidewaters. Saltwater
upwellings, along with periodic fires and floods, maintain this unique
habitat, which exists as part of a network of preserves within the
Upper St. Johns River Basin, including natural areas managed by the
State of Florida and Brevard County.
The refuge was home to the last remaining families of the dusky
seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens), a species that
despite Federal protection and the best efforts of a consortium of
partners was declared extinct in 1990. Today, the refuge is home to
four federally listed species, including the wood stork (Mycteria
americana), the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi), the crested
caracara (Caracara cheriway), and the American alligator (Alligator
mississippiensis). As a result of the refuge's importance to resident
and migratory birds, seven species of birds have been designated
species of management concern, including the black rail (Laterallus
jamaicensis) and the eastern meadowlark (Sturnella
[[Page 60136]]
magna). The refuge is also home to a host of State-listed species and
offers refugia and prey opportunities for wading birds, including the
little blue heron (Egretta caerulea), snowy egret (Egretta thula), and
tri-colored heron (Egretta tricolor).
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for St. Johns NWR in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We completed a
thorough analysis of impacts on the human environment, which we
included in the draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental
assessment (Draft CCP/EA).
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering St. Johns NWR
for the next 15 years. Alternative C is the foundation for the CCP.
The compatibility determinations for research, environmental
education and interpretation, wildlife observation and photography,
bicycling, commercial photography, and commercial tours and guiding are
included in the CCP.
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 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
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.
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 July 7, 2011
(76 FR 39890). We provided more than 60 copies of the Draft CCP/EA to
those individuals or organizations that requested a copy. A total of
ten individuals, organizations, and government agencies provided
comments on the Draft CCP/EA by U.S. mail or email. Comments were
received from the St. Johns River Water Management District, Brevard
County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program, Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, Defenders of Wildlife, Space Coast
Audubon, Modern, Inc., and local citizens.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received and based on our
professional judgment, we selected Alternative C for implementation.
This alternative will focus on enhancing all native wildlife and
habitat diversity on the refuge. We will determine our role in regional
and national species conservation plans. Concerning the suite of
residing, wintering, and summering birds on the refuge, Alternative C
will represent an expansion of management. Through prescribed burning
and utilizing ecological indicators, we will promote an ecologically
based fire return interval to maintain early successional ecological
stages of all fire-maintained habitats. In addition, the hydrologic
setting will be restored to as close to pre-drainage conditions as
possible to benefit refuge wildlife. Under Alternative C, we will
expand management of wood storks and State-listed wading birds. In
conjunction with State-listed wading bird nesting surveys, we will
opportunistically remove fill and dike features from peninsulas in the
State Road 50 Unit borrow ponds, to provide additional artificial
islands. On behalf of the northern crested caracara, Alternative C will
maintain open habitat with a minimum of woody vegetation. We will also
evaluate the use of mowing, grazing, and/or other forms of vegetation
control to help maintain open prairie for crested caracara at the Bee
Line Unit, while minimizing impacts to secretive marsh birds. Through
discussions with the State, we will stay abreast of Cape Sable seaside
sparrow reintroduction.
Under Alternative C, management of hydrology, including
groundwater, surface water, and water quality, will be expanded. We
will coordinate with the St. Johns River Water Management District
(SJRWMD) to develop a better understanding of the hydrology of the
refuge. To help fill in the information gaps, and by utilizing experts,
we will develop a hydrologic study to understand the relationships of
water quality, water quantity, and timing of flows within and across
the refuge. We will increase control of invasive/feral animals and will
reduce invasive plants to a maintenance level. We will coordinate with
local cooperative invasive species management areas to develop an early
detection and alert network to help control invasive animals. We will
use permittees and partners for the feral hog control effort, but may
also use public hunts if, after evaluation, hunting is determined to be
an effective tool to control feral hog populations. Under Alternative
C, management of all vegetation communities on the refuge will expand.
We will focus habitat management on maintaining and supporting a wide
array of native wildlife using the refuge. Overall, however, in
Alternative C, the relative percentages and composition of major
habitat types on the refuge will not change; the aim will be to
increase the quality rather than quantity of the various habitat types.
Management of mammals will expand. We will strive to maintain emergent
marsh and open waters for a diversity of mammals, such as white-tailed
deer and round-tailed muskrat. We will also conduct a mammal inventory
during the 15-year life of the CCP.
With regard to climate change, we will partner with SJRWMD in
adaptive management efforts to manage habitats, ecosystems, and
wildlife affected by climate change. We will investigate opportunities
to participate in regional climate change initiatives to better
understand the role climate change may have on refuge resources, and
will adapt management based on discovery of climate change-related
impacts.
Under the preferred alternative, we will work with partners to
consolidate and secure ownership in the checkerboard area of the Bee
Line Unit to create functional management areas. We will consider fee-
title acquisitions based on a willing-seller approach, land swaps,
management agreements, and conservation easements to protect these
sites. We will work with Brevard County to vacate or abandon rights-of-
way, as well as add right-of-way access to accommodate public use.
Additionally, the preferred alternative identifies a minor expansion
proposal of less than 10 percent (625 acres) of the refuge's approved
acquisition boundary, to connect lands and develop natural-area
corridors to the State Road 50 Unit. We will increase our law
enforcement staff and coordinate with governmental partners and
landowners to increase the number of patrols to deter and prevent
destructive illegal activities. With regard to cultural, historical,
and archaeological resources, we will continue to implement Section 106
of the National Historic Preservation Act to provide protection for
these resources. In addition, we will complete and begin
[[Page 60137]]
to implement a Cultural Resources Management Plan within the 15-year
period of the CCP.
One of the centerpieces of the preferred alternative includes
expanding visitor services and public use. To expand opportunities for
interpretation, we will work with partners to evaluate a range of
access alternatives for the refuge. Working with Brevard County, we
will seek to develop facilities such as a trailhead and kiosk from the
county's Fay Lake Park to our Bee Line Unit, and will consider
developing an interpretive trail and kiosk on the State Road 50 Unit.
We will explore opportunities, based on potential and varied
acquisition opportunities from willing sellers, to provide public
access to the State Road 50 Unit from the county's Fox Lake Park
Sanctuary through the Fox Lake tract. In conducting outreach, this
alternative will expand with a wildlife and habitat diversity focus and
will include messaging that targets ethical behavior. Alternative C
will expand environmental education efforts. We will work with partners
to develop curriculum-based environmental education programs related to
wildlife and climate change. We will also work with local schools to
conduct on-site environmental education. In addition, we will open the
refuge to wildlife observation and photography, and will provide
facilities to enhance the visitor experience (e.g., marked foot trails,
kiosks at trailheads, and a safe parking area). We will establish foot
traffic on existing dikes and roads and will evaluate potential
connectivity to regional trail networks. The refuge and any future
trails will remain subject to closure for administrative purposes.
Commercial photography and tours/guides will be available on a case-by-
case basis, permitted through the special use permit process. Access
for uses determined to be appropriate and compatible will be by
walking, hiking, and bicycling. Bicycling that does not support
appropriate and compatible uses, such as mountain biking and off-trail
biking, will not be considered an appropriate form of access. Staff
will work with partners to evaluate the potential for a primitive
weapons' hunt (e.g., bow and muzzle-loader) and for a youth hunt.
Species to be considered for hunts will include white-tailed deer and
feral hogs.
Administration will expand under the preferred alternative. When
the preferred alternative is fully implemented, it will provide for new
shared positions with Merritt Island NWR, including a law enforcement
officer, maintenance worker, and a ranger. A full-time biological
technician will be hired, for a total of 2.5 new positions. The
volunteer program will expand as we will utilize volunteers for
environmental education and interpretation activities and programs,
trail maintenance, outreach, wildlife surveys, expanded exotic control,
and cleanups. Facilities and equipment will be added and we will
consider developing kiosks, trails, and associated parking to provide
safe and secure access from existing county parks to refuge lands. We
will also add one or two vehicles and more equipment for exotic plant
control activities.
Authority
This notice is published under the authority of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et
seq.).
Dated: June 22, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-24272 Filed 10-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
