Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, San Luis Obispo County, CA, 70696-70697 [2016-24737]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 198 (Thursday, October 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70696-70697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24737]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2016-N005; FXRS12610800000-167-FF08R0000]


Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, San Luis Obispo 
County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: final comprehensive conservation plan.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes 
National Wildlife Refuge. The CCP/EA, prepared under the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the 
Service proposes to manage the Refuge for the next 15 years. 
Compatibility determinations for three existing and proposed uses are 
also included with the Final CCP.

DATES: The CCP and FONSI are available now. The FONSI was signed on 
July 29, 2016, allowing for implementation of the CCP.

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI by 
any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy.
    Agency Web site: Download a copy of the document(s) at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/.
    Email: hoppermountain@fws.gov. Include ``Guadalupe CCP'' in the 
subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Michael Brady, (805) 644-1732.
    U.S. Mail: Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 2493 
Portola Road, Suite A, Ventura, CA 93003.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Copies of the Final CCP and FONSI may 
also be viewed at the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 
2493 Portola Road, Suite A, Ventura, CA 93003 (805-644-5185).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Winnie Chan, Refuge Planner, at (510) 
792-0222, or Michael Brady, Project Leader, at (805) 644-5185 or 
hoppermountain@fws.gov

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge was established in 
2000 under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1537) to 
preserve and conserve Central California coastal dune and associated 
wetlands habitats and assist in the recovery of native plants and 
animals that are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The 
2,553-acre Refuge is bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean, lands 
owned by private agricultural interests to the east, Oso Flaco Lake 
Natural Area (a management unit of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular 
Recreation Area) to the north, and Chevron Guadalupe Restoration 
Project (former Guadalupe Oil Fields) to the south.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the 
final CCP for Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes 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 environmental assessment (EA) that accompanied 
the draft CCP. This notice is in addition to our announcement of the 
completion of the CCP process on the refuge's Web site.
    The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), which amended the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966, requires the Service to develop a CCP for 
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in 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, environmental 
education and interpretation. We will review and update the CCP at 
least every 15 years in accordance with the Improvement Act.
    Our Draft CCP and EA were available for a 45-day public review and 
comment period, which we announced via several methods, including press 
releases, updates to constituents, and a Federal Register notice (81 FR 
10882, March 2, 2016). The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated three 
alternatives for managing the Refuge for the next 15 years.
    Under Alternative A (no action alternative), the current management 
actions, including habitat management, wildlife management, and public 
use opportunities, would be continued. Habitat and wildlife management 
activities would focus on wildlife surveys and invasive weed 
management. Guided interpretive walks would continue to be offered. 
Current staffing and funding would remain the same.
    Alternative B includes those actions in Alternative A. In addition, 
we would moderately expand wildlife and habitat management while 
incrementally increasing visitor service and environmental education 
activities. Additional wildlife management activities include improving 
western snowy plover hatch rate by reducing invasive weeds and 
predation. A feral swine control and monitoring plan would be 
implemented to protect the western snowy plover, California least tern, 
California red-legged frog, La Graciosa thistle, and marsh sandwort 
habitat. Habitat and monitoring would be improved for the listed La 
Graciosa thistle, marsh sandwort, and red-legged frog. Of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System's priority public uses--wildlife observation, 
photography, interpretation, and environmental education--would all be 
enhanced on the Refuge. Public access through snowy plover breeding 
habitat to the back dunes of the Refuge would also be limited to a 
marked trail corridor (five-year pilot) to limit human disturbance. 
Refuge staff would develop a dedicated volunteer crew to support Refuge 
management and outreach. Additional staff and funding would be needed 
to implement this alternative.
    Under Alternative C, we would reduce wildlife and habitat 
management in light of forecasted declining National Wildlife Refuge 
System budgets. The Refuge would also be closed to the public. Wildlife 
management activities would be primarily focused on monitoring of the 
listed species present on the Refuge: western snowy plover, La Graciosa 
thistle, and marsh sandwort. Like Alternative B, a feral swine control 
and monitoring plan would be implemented. Fencing would be installed or 
maintained where listed plant species are present. Due to the 
forecasted declining budgets, no visitor services would be provided to 
instead focus on wildlife and habitat.
    We received 39 letters and 50 oral comments on the Draft CCP and EA 
during the review and comment period. We incorporated comments we 
received into the CCP when appropriate, and we responded to the 
comments in an appendix to the CCP. In the FONSI, we selected a 
modified Alternative A for implementation. The FONSI documents our 
decision and is based on the

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information and analysis contained in the EA.
    Under the selected alternative, we would continue most current 
management activities, but also include components from Alternative B 
including implementing the feral swine control plan and developing and 
implementing a predator management plan to protect western snowy plover 
and California least tern. Public access, guided interpretive walks, 
and environmental education would continue to be offered.
    The selected alternative provides guidance for achieving the 
Refuge's purpose, vision, and goals; forwards the Refuge System 
mission; addresses the significant issues and relevant mandates; and is 
consistent with principles of sound fish and wildlife management. Based 
on the associated environmental assessment, this alternative is not 
expected to result in significant environmental impacts and therefore 
does not require an environmental impact statement.

Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2016-24737 Filed 10-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P