Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Liberty County, TX; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment, 64541-64543 [2012-25942]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2012 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R2–R–2012–N142;
FXRS12610200000S3–123–FF02R06000]
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge,
Liberty County, TX; Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Finding of No Significant Impact for
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY:
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
Notice of availability.
ACTION:
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 the
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge). 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 of the following methods. You
may request a hard copy or CD–ROM.
Agency Web Site: Download a copy of
the documents at https://www.fws.gov/
southwest/refuges/Plan/planindex.html.
Email: Joseph_Lujan@fws.gov. Include
‘‘Trinity River NWR final CCP’’ in the
subject line of the message.
Mail: Joseph R. Lujan, Natural
Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Planning,
P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM
87103–1306.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call
505–248–7458 to make an appointment
during regular business hours at 500
SUMMARY:
Gold Avenue SW., Albuquerque, NM
87102 or the Trinity River NWR
Headquarters, 601 FM 1011, Liberty, TX
77575; phone: 936–336–9786.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stuart Marcus, Refuge Manager, Trinity
River NWR, CCP Project, P.O. Box
10015, Liberty, TX 77575; 936- 336–
9786 phone; or 936–336–9847 fax.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP
process for Trinity River NWR. We
started this process through a notice in
the Federal Register (72 FR 45059;
August 10, 2007). 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 18853–18856; March 28,
2012).
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.
We announce our decision and the
availability of the FONSI for the final
CCP for Trinity River NWR in
accordance with 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 EA that
accompanied the draft CCP.
A—No-Action alternative
(Current practices)
Alternatives
The CCP will guide us in managing
and administering Trinity River NWR
for the next 15 years. Alternative C, as
we described in the final CCP, is the
foundation for the CCP.
Background
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 hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation and photography,
and environmental education and
interpretation. We will review and
update the CCP at least every 15 years
in accordance with the Refuge
Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives, Including Selected
Alternative
Our draft CCP/EA (77 FR 18853;
March 28, 2012) addressed several
issues. To address these, we developed
and evaluated the following
alternatives.
B—Improved habitat management
and public use alternative
C—Optimal habitat management
and public use (Proposed action)
alternative
Issues
Habitat and Wildlife Management Issues
1. Native Flora/Fauna Conservation.
2. Invasive Flora/Fauna Management.
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with
3. Wetland Management ................
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:00 Oct 19, 2012
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.
Jkt 229001
PO 00000
Frm 00080
Fmt 4703
Same as Alternative A, plus use
prescribed fire for resource
management and initiate baseline monitoring for flora and
fauna.
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.
Same as Alternative B.
Sfmt 4703
64541
E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM
Same as Alternative B.
22OCN1
64542
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2012 / Notices
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
4. Land Acquisition ........................
Acquire lands from willing sellers
within the approved acquisition
boundary on a case-by-case
basis.
Same as Alternative B.
5. Climate Change .........................
Plant trees to sequester carbon;
use ‘‘green’’ technologies wherever possible, and recycle.
Assign refuge law enforcement officer to patrol 25,000 acres,
backed up by opportunistic observations by other refuge staff.
Update Trinity River Floodplain
Habitat Stewardship Program
and Land Protection Plan to update the acquisition boundary;
assign refuge realty specialist
to Refuge office.
Same as Alternative A, plus gather baseline inventory and monitoring data.
Same as Alternative A, plus add
patrols using other refuges’ law
enforcement officers.
6. Resource Protection ..................
Same as Alternative B.
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 ..................
5. Environmental Education ...........
6. Interpretation ..............................
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.
Do not develop environmental
education programs on the refuge.
Host 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 B, plus open
one additional unit for big game
and upland game hunting at
Palmetto unit.
Same as Alternative A, plus direct
visitors to McGuire and Silver
Lake units when piers are developed.
Same as Alternative A plus open
1 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 B, plus direct
visitors to Brierwood unit once
pier is developed.
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 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 ..................
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with
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 each and one photo
blind each.
Maintain refuge-owned headquarters and storage facility
along FM 1011.
Comments
We solicited comments on the draft
CCP and the EA for the Trinity River
NWR from March 28, 2012, to May 4,
2012 (77 FR 718853; March 28, 2012).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:00 Oct 19, 2012
Jkt 229001
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.
The public was notified of the release of
the draft CCP and the EA through the
NOA, through local media outlets, and
public notices were posted on various
community bulletin boards and
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
postcards were mailed to over 700
individuals identified on the refuge
mailing list. The draft CCP and EA were
made available, online, at the Regional
Office in Albuquerque, at the Refuge,
E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM
22OCN1
64543
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 204 / Monday, October 22, 2012 / Notices
and at four public libraries in
surrounding communities. A public
open house meeting was held on April
10, 2012. The Service received two
comment letters. The comments were
thoroughly reviewed and the CCP did
not change substantially based on
public comment.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we
received, we have selected Alternative C
for implementation. Alternative C was
selected over the other alternatives
because it best meets the Refuge’s vision
for the future, the purposes for which
the Refuge was established, and the
habitat, wildlife and visitor services
goals identified in the CCP. This
alternative is the basis for the CCP and
describes how habitat objectives will be
accomplished through a combination of
management activities to encourage
ecological integrity, promote restoration
of bottomland hardwood forest habitat
along the Trinity River, control invasive
species. This alternative will not
adversely impact trust resources,
including threatened and endangered
species, or their habitat. Opportunities
for wildlife-dependent recreation
activities, such as hunting, fishing,
observation, photography,
environmental education, and
interpretation will be enhanced. Future
management actions will have a neutral
or positive impact on the local economy
and the recommendations in the CCP
will ensure that refuge management is
consistent with the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to the methods in
you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
• At the following libraries:
ADDRESSES,
Library
Address
Phone No.
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 .....................................
936–336–8901
936–258–7060
281–592–3920
281–592–5136
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012–25942 Filed 10–19–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVB01000
L51100000.GN0000.LVEMF12CF010 241A;
NVN–082096; NVN–084632; NVN–091272;
12–08807; MO# 4500039779; TAS: 14X5017]
Notice of Availability of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Mount Hope Project, Eureka
County, NV
Correction
In notice document 2012–25182,
appearing on pages 62256–62257 in the
issue of Friday, October 12, 2012, make
the following correction:
On page 62256, in the second column,
on the twenty-eigth and twenty-ninth
lines, ‘‘Eureka County, NE’’ should read
‘‘Eureka County, Nevada’’.
[FR Doc. C1–2012–25182 Filed 10–19–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1505–01–D
Humboldt Meridian, California
T. 4 S., R. 1 W., dependent resurvey and
survey accepted September 26, 2012.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCA 942000 L57000000 BX0000]
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with
Filing of Plats of Survey: California
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The plats of survey of lands
described below are scheduled to be
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:00 Oct 19, 2012
Jkt 229001
officially filed in the Bureau of Land
Management California State Office,
Sacramento, California, thirty (30)
calendar days from the date of this
publication.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the plats may be
obtained from the California State
Office, Bureau of Land Management,
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento,
California 95825, upon required
payment.
Protest: A person or party who wishes
to protest a survey must file a notice
that they wish to protest with the
California State Director, Bureau of
Land Management, 2800 Cottage Way,
Sacramento, California, 95825.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chief, Branch of Geographic Services,
Bureau of Land Management, California
State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room
W–1623, Sacramento, California 95825,
(916) 978–4310.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These
surveys were executed to meet the
administrative needs of various federal
agencies; the Bureau of Land
Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs
or Bureau of Reclamation. The lands
surveyed are:
Mount Diablo Meridian, California
T. 41 N., R. 10 E., dependent resurvey and
subdivision of sections accepted
September 19, 2012.
T. 18 N., R. 7 W., protraction diagram for
unsurveyed area accepted September 19,
2012.
T. 7 S., R. 32 E., dependent resurvey and
metes-and-bounds survey accepted
September 27, 2012.
PO 00000
Frm 00082
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
T. 10 N., R 10 E., dependent resurvey,
subdivision of section, and metes-andbounds survey accepted September 27,
2012.
Authority: 43 U.S.C., Chapter 3.
Dated: October 10, 2012,
Lance J. Bishop,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor, California.
[FR Doc. 2012–25950 Filed 10–19–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNM940000. L1420000.BJ0000]
Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey, New
Mexico
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of filing of Plats of
Survey.
AGENCY:
The plats of survey described
below are scheduled to be officially
filed in the New Mexico State Office,
Bureau of Land Management, Santa Fe,
New Mexico, thirty (30) calendar days
from the date of this publication.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Indian Meridian, Oklahoma (OK)
The plat, representing the dependent
resurvey and survey in Township 20
North, Range 10 East, of the Indian
Meridian, accepted September 6, 2012,
for Group 208 OK.
The plat, representing the dependent
resurvey and survey in Township 14
North, Range 25 East, of the Indian
Meridian, accepted September 6, 2012,
for Group 198 OK.
E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM
22OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64541-64543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25942]
[[Page 64541]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2012-N142; FXRS12610200000S3-123-FF02R06000]
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Liberty County, TX; Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact
for Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: 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 the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge). 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 of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD-ROM.
Agency Web Site: Download a copy of the documents at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/planindex.html.
Email: Joseph_Lujan@fws.gov. Include ``Trinity River NWR final
CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Joseph R. Lujan, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM
87103-1306.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 505-248-7458 to make an
appointment during regular business hours at 500 Gold Avenue SW.,
Albuquerque, NM 87102 or the Trinity River NWR Headquarters, 601 FM
1011, Liberty, TX 77575; phone: 936-336-9786.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stuart Marcus, Refuge Manager, Trinity
River NWR, CCP Project, P.O. Box 10015, Liberty, TX 77575; 936- 336-
9786 phone; or 936-336-9847 fax.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Trinity River
NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register
(72 FR 45059; August 10, 2007). 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 18853-18856; March 28,
2012).
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.
We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the
final CCP for Trinity River NWR in accordance with 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 EA that accompanied the draft CCP.
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Trinity River
NWR for the next 15 years. Alternative C, as we described in the final
CCP, is the foundation for the CCP.
Background
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 hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Refuge Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives, Including Selected Alternative
Our draft CCP/EA (77 FR 18853; March 28, 2012) addressed several
issues. To address these, we developed and evaluated the following
alternatives.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C--Optimal habitat
A--No-Action B--Improved habitat management and public
Alternatives alternative (Current management and public use (Proposed action)
practices) use alternative alternative
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Habitat and Wildlife Management Issues
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Native Flora/Fauna Conservation... Conserve/restore Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B
bottomland hardwood plus use prescribed
forests. Restore fire for resource
native flora; management and
reintroduce native initiate baseline
fauna; manage native monitoring for flora
nuisance flora/fauna. and fauna.
2. Invasive Flora/Fauna Management... Remove exotic and Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
invasive flora/fauna plus develop invasive
as resources permit; species strike team
prevent reintroduction and map ``hotspots''
of exotic and invasive to prioritize
flora/fauna as management efforts.
resources permit.
3. Wetland Management................ Maintain the integrity Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
of water control plus conduct small-
structures/levees; scale restoration of
conduct water-quality hydrological flow at
sampling and fish Champion Lake South
surveys. unit.
[[Page 64542]]
4. Land Acquisition.................. Acquire lands from Update Trinity River Same as Alternative B.
willing sellers within Floodplain Habitat
the approved Stewardship Program
acquisition boundary and Land Protection
on a case-by-case Plan to update the
basis. acquisition boundary;
assign refuge realty
specialist to Refuge
office.
5. Climate Change.................... Plant trees to Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B.
sequester carbon; use plus gather baseline
``green'' technologies inventory and
wherever possible, and monitoring data.
recycle.
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
backed up by enforcement officers. to 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 plus open one plus open one
only, for big game, additional unit for additional unit for
upland game, and big game hunting at big game and upland
waterfowl, as is Champion Lake South game hunting at
currently the case in unit. Palmetto unit.
eight units.
2. Fishing........................... Direct visitors to Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
Champion Lake and plus direct visitors plus direct visitors
Pickett's Bayou. to McGuire and Silver to Brierwood unit once
Lake units when piers pier is developed.
are developed.
3. Wildlife Observation.............. Open refuge to wildlife Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B,
observation; direct plus open 1 additional plus open one
visitors to eight area at Champion Lake additional area at
public use areas. South unit. Palmetto 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 blind at Brierwood blind at McGuire unit.
public use areas. unit.
5. Environmental Education........... Do not develop Develop off-refuge Same as Alternative B,
environmental environmental plus develop on-refuge
education programs on education curricula, program, upon the
the refuge. working with local completion of the
schools to meet State educational facility
requirements. at Champion Lake
Public Use Area.
6. Interpretation.................... Host two on-refuge Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B,
annual festivals, on plus host plus develop
Earth Day and on Free approximately 10 interpretive programs
Family Fishing Day; additional off- refuge at visitor center;
host approximately six events, as requested; develop and provide
off-refuge annual develop and provide kiosks in all areas
events, such as county self-guided with public use
jubilee and various interpretative facilities.
public speaking events. materials at Champion
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; Champion Lake South
only access on eight establish canoe/kayak unit.
designated units; launch site at
allow boating access Brierwood unit.
on Pickett's Bayou and
Champion Lake.
2. Public Use Facilities............. Maintain current Rehabilitate the Lodge Construct visitor
limited facilities at at Champion Lake center adjacent to
Champion Lake Public Public Use Area, pave headquarters;
Use Area, including the road at Champion construct fishing
fishing pier, Lake Public Use Area, piers at Brierwood
butterfly garden, and construct fishing unit; construct full-
parking, and portable pier at McGuire unit. service bathroom at
toilet. Seven other Champion Lake Public
public use areas have Use Area.
only one parking lot
each and one photo
blind each.
3. Administrative Facilities......... Maintain refuge-owned Construct a maintenance Rehabilitate the two-
headquarters and shop at Champion Lake room log cabin at
storage facility along equipment storage area. Champion Lake for use
FM 1011. for staff and
volunteer offices.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments
We solicited comments on the draft CCP and the EA for the Trinity
River NWR from March 28, 2012, to May 4, 2012 (77 FR 718853; March 28,
2012). The public was notified of the release of the draft CCP and the
EA through the NOA, through local media outlets, and public notices
were posted on various community bulletin boards and postcards were
mailed to over 700 individuals identified on the refuge mailing list.
The draft CCP and EA were made available, online, at the Regional
Office in Albuquerque, at the Refuge,
[[Page 64543]]
and at four public libraries in surrounding communities. A public open
house meeting was held on April 10, 2012. The Service received two
comment letters. The comments were thoroughly reviewed and the CCP did
not change substantially based on public comment.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, we have selected
Alternative C for implementation. Alternative C was selected over the
other alternatives because it best meets the Refuge's vision for the
future, the purposes for which the Refuge was established, and the
habitat, wildlife and visitor services goals identified in the CCP.
This alternative is the basis for the CCP and describes how habitat
objectives will be accomplished through a combination of management
activities to encourage ecological integrity, promote restoration of
bottomland hardwood forest habitat along the Trinity River, control
invasive species. This alternative will not adversely impact trust
resources, including threatened and endangered species, or their
habitat. Opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation activities,
such as hunting, fishing, observation, photography, environmental
education, and interpretation will be enhanced. Future management
actions will have a neutral or positive impact on the local economy and
the recommendations in the CCP will ensure that refuge management is
consistent with the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to the methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
At the following libraries:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Library Address Phone No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liberty Municipal Library......... 1710 Sam Houston Ave 936-336-8901
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-25942 Filed 10-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
