Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Klickitat County, WA; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment, 255 [2014-30406]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30406]



[[Page 255]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-R-2014-N157]; [12560-0000-10137 S3]


Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Klickitat County, WA; 
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 comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and finding 
of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental assessment (EA) 
for Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The CCP will guide 
Refuge management for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You may view, download, or request printed or CD-ROM copies 
of the CCP and FONSI by the following methods:
    Agency Web site: Download the documents at www.fws.gov/refuge/conboy_lake/.
    Email: mcriver@fws.gov. Include ``Conboy Lake NWR CCP'' in the 
subject.
    Fax: Attn: Conboy Lake NWR CCP, (509) 546-8303.
    U.S. Mail and In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Conboy Lake National 
Wildlife Refuge, 100 Refuge Rd., Glenwood, WA 98619. For more document 
viewing locations, see ``Public Availability of Documents'' under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Albers, Refuge Manager, (509) 
546-8317 (phone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for the Refuge. We 
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (76 FR 
41286; July 13, 2011). We also released the draft CCP/EA to the public 
and requested comments in a notice in the Federal Register (79 FR 2862; 
January 16, 2014).
    We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI and the 
final CCP in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 
1506.6(b)) requirements. We completed an analysis of impacts on the 
human environment in the draft CCP/EA.
    The Refuge was established in 1965 as a sanctuary for migratory 
birds, primarily waterfowl. The CCP will guide us in managing and 
administering the Refuge for the next 15 years. We selected Alternative 
2 for implementation, as it is described in the final CCP. We made 
changes and clarifications to the final CCP, where appropriate, to 
address public comments we received on the draft CCP/EA. A summary of 
the public comments is included in the final CCP with our responses.

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 compatible 
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public. 
We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance 
with the Refuge Administration Act.

Selected Alternative

    Under our selected alternative, we will control reed canarygrass 
through water management, haying, mowing, and grazing; prolonged 
flooding and dewatering will also be used to control reed canarygrass 
and the bullfrog and bullhead populations. We will create forest 
openings for target species and prescribed fires, and snags for Lewis 
woodpeckers and other insectivore and cavity-nesting species.
    More areas will open for hiking and wildlife observation under our 
selected alternative, and more facilities will be developed, such as 
blinds, to enhance wildlife observation and photography. We will 
emphasize our interpretive program on the Willard Springs Trail, and 
the trail will be realigned and lengthened. Environmental education and 
interpretation media will increase. Hunting will continue to be 
provided with little change. Hunting will be changed by closure of a 
little used area for deer hunting. We will establish new tribal 
partnerships, evaluate archeological sites for National Register of 
Historic Places eligibility, develop an inadvertent discovery plan, and 
complete a cultural resources overview. The educational emphasis on the 
existing National Register of Historic Places site--the Whitcomb-Cole 
Hewn Log House--will increase. The details of our selected alternative 
and management actions can be found in the CCP.

Public Availability of Documents

    You can view documents at the following libraries:
     Hood River Library, 502 W State St., Hood River, OR 97301.
     White Salmon Valley Community Library, 77 NE Wauna Ave., 
White Salmon, WA 98672.
     Foley Center Library, Gonzaga University, 502 E Boone 
Ave., Spokane, WA 99258.

    Dated: December 3, 2014.
Hugh Morrison,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2014-30406 Filed 1-2-15; 9:37 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P