Final Comprehensive Conservation Plans and Findings of No Significant Impacts for Environmental Assessments for Four Southwestern Refuges (Ozark Plateau and Wichita Mountains, OK; Buffalo Lake and Texas Mid-Coast, TX), 4353-4354 [2014-01471]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4353-4354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01471]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-R-2012-N269; FXRS12610200000S3-134-FF02R06000]


Final Comprehensive Conservation Plans and Findings of No 
Significant Impacts for Environmental Assessments for Four Southwestern 
Refuges (Ozark Plateau and Wichita Mountains, OK; Buffalo Lake and 
Texas Mid-Coast, TX)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of four final comprehensive conservation plans (CCPs) and 
findings of no significant impacts (FONSIs) for the environmental 
assessments (EAs) for Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), 
Ozark Plateau NWR, Texas Mid-coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex 
(NWRC), and Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (WR). Additionally, the 
Texas Mid-coast NWRC final CCP includes a final Land Protection Plan. 
In these final CCPs, we describe how we intend to manage these refuges 
for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You will find the final CCPs and the EAs/FONSIs on the 
planning Web site, at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/plan/plansinprogress.html. Limited numbers of hard copies and CD-ROMs are 
available. You may request one by any of the following methods:
     Email: jose_viramontes@fws.gov. Include ``Final CCPs'' in 
the subject line of the message.
     U.S. Mail: USFWS-NWRS-Division of Strategic Planning and 
Policy, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87102.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose Viramontes, Southwest Regional 
Chief, Division of Strategic Planning & Policy, National Wildlife 
Refuge System, 505-248-6473 or jose_viramontes@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

Buffalo Lake NWR

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Buffalo Lake NWR, 
which we began by publishing a notice of intent in the Federal Register 
(63 FR 33693) on June 19, 1998. For more about the initial process and 
the history of this refuge, see that notice. We released the draft CCP 
and EA to the public, announcing and requesting comments in a notice of 
availability (77 FR 65011) on October 24, 2012. The comment period 
ended on November 23, 2012. A summary of public comments and the agency 
responses is included in the final CCP.

Ozark Plateau NWR

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Ozark Plateau 
NWR, which we began by publishing a notice of intent in the Federal 
Register (63 FR 33693) on June 19, 1998. For more about the initial 
process and the history of this refuge, see that notice. We released 
the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing and requesting comments 
in a notice of availability (78 FR 9410) on February 8, 2013. The 
comment period ended on March 8, 2013. A summary of public comments and 
the agency responses is included in the final CCP.

Texas Mid-Coast NWRC

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Texas Mid-coast 
NWRC, which we began by publishing a notice of intent in the Federal 
Register (74 FR 29714) on June 23, 2009. For more about the initial 
process and the history of this refuge, see that notice. We released 
the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing and requesting comments 
in a notice of availability (77 FR 50523) on August 21, 2012. The 
comment period ended on September 20, 2012. A summary of public 
comments and the agency responses is included in the final CCP.

Wichita Mountains WR

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Wichita Mountains 
WR, which we began by publishing a notice of intent in the Federal 
Register (73 FR 65872) on November 5, 2008. For more about the initial 
process and the history of this refuge, see that notice. We released 
the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing and requesting comments 
in a notice of availability (77 FR 47657) on August 9, 2012. The 
comment period ended on September 10, 2012. A summary of public 
comments and the agency responses is included in the final CCP.

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as 
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 
(16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), requires us to develop a 
CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a CCP 
is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving 
refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), consistent with sound principles of fish 
and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service 
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.
    Each unit of the NWRS was established for specific purposes. We use 
these purposes as the foundation for developing and prioritizing the 
management goals and objectives for each refuge within the NWRS 
mission, and to determine how the public can use each refuge. The 
planning process is a way for us and the public to evaluate management 
goals and objectives that will ensure the best possible approach to 
wildlife, plant, and habitat conservation, while providing for 
wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible with 
each refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of the NWRS.

Additional Information

    For each refuge, the final CCP includes detailed information about 
the refuge unit itself, the planning process, issues, and the 
management alternative selected. The Web site also includes the EAs and 
FONSIs, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) (43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Each EA/FONSI includes a 
discussion of alternatives for refuge management options. The Service's 
selected alternatives are reflected in the final CCP for each refuge.

Selected Alternatives for Each Refuge

    The selected alternative in each of the CCPs best meets the vision 
for the future for that refuge; the purposes for which the refuge was 
established; and the habitat, wildlife, and visitor services

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goals identified in the CCP. The selected alternative is the basis for 
the CCP. 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 and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A 
detailed description of objectives and actions included in this 
selected alternative is found in chapter 4 of each final CCP.

Buffalo Lake NWR

    Under the selected alternative, an expansion of habitat management 
and restoration activities, combined with expanded public use and 
infrastructure, will promote short-grass prairies. This alternative is 
based on increased efforts of wildlife inventories and habitat 
condition, in an attempt to benefit wildlife by using adaptive 
management strategies that promote short grass prairies throughout the 
entire ecoregion. The Service will continue to develop additional 
visitor service programs, by expanding the environmental education and 
interpretation programs, as well as by using outreach efforts to meet 
increasing visitation and interest in Refuge resources.

Ozark Plateau NWR

    Under the selected alternative, habitat objectives will be 
accomplished through a combination of management activities to 
encourage ecological integrity of caves, springs, streams, wetlands, 
watersheds, forests, and groundwater recharge areas; improve or 
maintain habitats for native and migratory wildlife; and provide for 
environmental education and recreational opportunities. This 
alternative is based on successful pre-existing management strategies 
and has incorporated ecological principles that apply to Bailey's 
Central Interior Broadleaf Forest ecoregion province and the Ozark 
Highlands ecoregion section. The Service would continue to work with 
conservation partners and increase collaboration and partnerships at a 
landscape level on public and private lands, working toward maintaining 
the integrity of this isolated and threatened ecosystem.

Texas Mid-Coast NWRC

    Under the selected alternative, habitat objectives will be 
accomplished through a combination of management activities to 
encourage ecological integrity, improve or maintain habitats for native 
and migratory wildlife, and provide for recreational opportunities. In 
accordance with the 2013 Land Protection Plan (Appendix I in CCP), the 
Service would acquire and conserve lands of up to 70,000 acres within 
the Columbia Bottomland Ecosystem. Conserved lands may include 
bottomland forest, riparian, open water, and coastal prairie habitats 
within the original Austin's Woods Conservation Project Area Boundary. 
The Service will continue to work with conservation partners, working 
toward maintaining the integrity of this isolated and threatened 
ecosystem.

Wichita Mountains WR

    Under the selected alternative, habitat objectives will be 
accomplished through a combination of management activities to 
encourage ecological integrity, control invasive species, and improve 
or maintain habitats. Through a revised Habitat Management Plan, the 
refuge would evaluate increasing the bison herd to a genetically 
effective population size. The refuge also would continue to implement 
the Department of the Interior Bison Initiative model. The refuge would 
evaluate decreasing or moving the longhorn herd to an alternate 
location for the purpose of increasing the bison herd. The refuge would 
redesignate the Special Use Area as a Research Natural Area to 
formalize this area's management and better protect it in perpetuity. 
The refuge would improve opportunities for the six priority wildlife-
dependent public uses through increases in facilities improvement, 
information, signage, and facilitation by refuge staff. Both the 
Treasure Lake Job Corps and Holy City would continue to be managed on 
the refuge. The refuge would consider partnership opportunities with 
Job Corps for Refuge projects. Holy City's use would be monitored to 
determine if effects to refuge resources are occurring and whether 
management needs to be adapted.

Benjamin Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-01471 Filed 1-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P