[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53086-53087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26396]


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DEPARMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Issue 2 Final Comprehensive Conservation 
Plans, Associated Environmental Assessments, and Findings of No 
Significant Impact for 2 National Wildlife Refuges in the Southwest 
Region

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) has prepared Final Comprehensive Conservation Plans 
(CCP), associated Environmental Assessments (EA), and Findings of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Bitter Lake National Wildlife 
Refuge, Roswell, New Mexico, and San Andres National Wildlife Refuge, 
Las Cruces, New Mexico pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997, and National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
and its implementing regulations. The Regional Director, Southwest 
Regional Office, upon issuing a FONSI for both the San Andres NWR EA 
and the Bitter Lake NWR EA considered ranges of alternatives for each 
document.
    Approval of the Bitter Lake NWR CCP formalizes six goals which will 
result in: (1) Restoration, enhancement, and protection of biological 
diversity, land, wildlife and habitat; (2) Restoration of hydrological 
resources and improvements to water quality; (3) Provision of 
compatible recreational uses; (4) Protection of cultural resources; (5) 
Strengthening and maintenance of effective relationships with other 
governmental agencies and stakeholders; (6) Improvements to refuge 
staffing and funding. Some of the specific changes to the existing 
program changes include but are not necessarily limited to the 
following strategies:
     A restoration of 250 acres of Research Natural Areas and 
1000 acres in other areas by removal and control of non-native salt 
cedar;
     Restoration of over story vegetation near the refuge 
headquarters (10 acres) and providing appropriate irrigation;
     Restoration of 140 acres of abandoned agricultural fields 
as grasslands;
     Enhance promotion of environmental education in area 
schools and organizations on the value of short grass prairie 
ecosystems;
     Acquire identified land parcels as appropriate as they 
become available on a willing seller basis;
     Restoration of 100 acres of habitat associated with 25 
gypsum sinkholes;
     Conversion of non-productive farmlands to seasonal 
wetlands/moist soil units;
     Construction and upgrade of all-weather road for wildlife 
tour route.
    Approval of the San Andres NWR CCP constitutes the definition of 
appropriate management approaches and establishment of refuge goals, 
objectives and strategies leading to the achievement of the refuge's 
purposes and mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The CCP 
formalizes six goals which will result in: (1) Restoration, 
enhancement, and protection of biological diversity, land, wildlife and 
habitat; (2) Protection of archeological and cultural resources; (3) 
Provision of increased wildlife education and interpretation 
initiatives; (4) Strengthening and maintenance of effective 
relationships with other governmental agencies and stakeholders; (5) 
Improvements to refuge staffing and funding. Approval of the San Andres 
NWR CCP establishes a management program inclusive of the following 
objectives:
     Enhancing refuge baseline biological data collection;
     Establishing and protecting an augmentable scabies free 
desert bighorn population;
     Reducing and eliminating non-native plant and animal 
species:
     Implementing cost effective fire management strategies for 
habitat protection and enhancement;
     Continuing cultural resource inventory and monitoring 
efforts;
     Continuing effective educational outreach;
     Improving coordination efforts with other agencies and 
stakeholders; and,
     Improving use of internal budgetary reporting mechanisms 
to achieve effecting staffing and facilities levels.
    In order to achieve the above objectives, the San Andres NWR CCP 
establishes the following strategies:
     Continue herpetofauna surveys;
     Continue to mist net and band neotropical migratory birds;
     Conduct point count surveys of neotropical migratory 
birds;
     Conduct small mammals surveys to improve baseline data;
     Conduct annual mule deer and mountain lion surveys to 
determine population trends and effects on bighorn sheep habitat;
     Continue cooperative efforts with WSMR regarding Land 
Condition Trend Analysis program transects;
     Gather air quality data from air quality stations on the 
refuge;
     Participate with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in 
efforts

[[Page 53087]]

to transplant and track radio collared sentinel rams;
     Conduct and promote research on scabies mite in the San 
Andres Mountains;
     Determine effects of ungulate encroachment and consider 
establishment of special depredation hunts;
     Reduce salt cedar refuge-wide by at least 20% using 
various methods of extraction;
     Develop prescribe burn proposals for portions of Bennett 
Mountain, Black Brushy Mountain and San Andres Mountain approximately 
5,000 acres);
     Monitor and evaluate effects of burning strategies;
     Engage in public outreach to foster better understandings 
of refuge fire management efforts;
     Conduct Global Positioning System (GPS) survey of known 
archeological and historic sites;
     Construct shelters for historical sites in jeopardy from 
natural degradation;
     Participate in cooperative effort with state and federal 
agencies to establish an off site visitor center that would emphasize 
refuge resources and those of other jurisdictions;
     Construct an information kiosk and associated interpretive 
information at the San Augustine Pass parking area;
     Improve interagency coordinating efforts; and,
     Secure needed staffing, funding, and facilities to assist 
in the implementation efforts to achieve plan goals and objectives.
    Based on a review and evaluation of the information contained in 
the CCP and EA for Bitter Lake NWR and San Andres NWR, the Regional 
Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has 
determined that the approval of the individual or cumulative approaches 
reflected in the respective Proposed Alternatives and CCP Goals, 
Objectives and Strategies, is not deemed to constitute a major Federal 
action which would significantly affect the quality of the human 
environment within the meaning of Section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Therefore, an Environmental Impact 
Statement is not required. However, it is the intent of the Service to 
revisit questions of potential significant environmental consequences 
in accordance with NEPA upon consideration of the implementation of 
site specific proposals called for and discussed in the final plan 
document.

ADDRESSES: Copies may be obtained by writing to: Mr. Tom Baca, Natural 
Resource Planner, Division of Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
P. O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103-1306.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is Service policy to have all lands 
within the National Wildlife Refuge System managed in accordance with 
an approved CCP. The CCP guides management decisions and identifies 
refuge goals, long-range objectives, and strategies for achieving 
refuge purposes. The planning process has considered many elements, 
including habitat and wildlife management, habitat protection and 
acquisition, public and recreational uses, and cultural resources. 
Public input into this planning process has assisted in the development 
of these documents. The CCP will provide other agencies and the public 
with a clear understanding of the desired conditions for the Refuges 
and how the Service will implement management strategies.
    The Service considered comments and advice generated in response to 
draft documents issued July 1998. The Service is furnishing this notice 
in compliance with Service CCP policy to advise other agencies and the 
public of the availability of the final documents.

    Dated: September 25, 1998.
Nancy M. Kaufman,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 98-26396 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
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