[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 208 (Monday, October 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63721-63723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25496]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-R-2008-N0149; 20131-1265-2LPP]


Texas Chenier Plain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Chambers, 
Jefferson, and Galveston Counties, TX

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: Record of decision.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
decision and availability of the record of decision (ROD) for the final 
environmental impact statement (EIS), comprehensive conservation plan 
(CCP), and land protection plan (LPP) for the Texas Chenier Plain 
National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Refuge Complex). We completed a 
thorough analysis of the environmental, social, and economic 
considerations and presented it in our final EIS, which we released to 
the public through a Federal Register notice on June 30, 2008. The ROD 
documents our decision to adopt and implement Refuge Management 
Alternative D and Refuge Boundary Expansion Alternative C. Refuge 
Management Alternative D is adopted as the CCP for the Refuge Complex 
and will direct the management activities on the Refuge Complex for the 
next 15 years. Refuge Boundary Expansion Alternative C is adopted as 
the LPP for the Refuge Complex and authorizes land acquisition from 
willing sellers within a designated 64,260-acre expansion area.

DATES: The Acting Regional Director, Region 2, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, signed the ROD on September 16, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the ROD by any of the 
following methods:
    Agency Web Site: Download a copy of the document at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/docs/LINKS.pdf.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``TX Chenier Plain NWR 
Complex ROD'' in the subject line of the message.

[[Page 63722]]

    Mail: Doug St. Pierre, Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, 
Albuquerque, NM 87103.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 409-267-3337 to make an 
appointment during regular business hours at Texas Chenier Plain NWR 
Complex Headquarters, 509 Washington Street, Anahuac, TX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug St. Pierre, 505-248-6636.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP and LPP process for Moody, 
Anahuac, McFaddin, and Texas Point National Wildlife Refuges. We 
started this process in a Federal Register notice (64 FR 56800, October 
21, 1999). We released the draft EIS/CCP/LPP to the public, announcing 
and requesting comments in a notice of availability in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 61063; October 17, 2006). We announced the availability 
of the final EIS/CCP/LPP in the Federal Register (73 FR 36890) on June 
30, 2008.
    The Refuge Complex is located along the upper Texas Gulf Coast 
between Houston, Texas, and the Louisiana border. This coastal 
ecosystem includes important freshwater, estuarine marshes, tallgrass 
prairie with small depressional wetlands, and coastal woodlots. These 
habitats are an important part of the primary wintering area for 
Central Flyway ducks and geese, and, additionally, are critical staging 
areas for neotropical landbirds migrating to and from Central and South 
America.
    In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 
1506.6(b)) requirements, this notice announces our decision and the 
availability of the ROD for the final EIS/CCP/LPP for the Refuge 
Complex. We completed a thorough analysis of the environmental, social, 
and economic considerations, which we included in the final EIS/CCP/
LPP. The ROD documents our selection of Refuge Management Alternative 
D, the Preferred Alternative, for the CCP; and, our selection of Refuge 
Boundary Alternative C, the Preferred Alternative, for the LPP.
    The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Moody, Anahuac, 
McFaddin, and Texas Point National Wildlife Refuges for the next 15 
years. Refuge Management Alternative D, as we described in the final 
EIS/CCP/LPP, is the foundation for the CCP. The LPP authorizes 
acquisition of land or interests in land from willing sellers within 
the expanded boundaries of Moody, Anahuac, McFaddin, and Texas Point 
National Wildlife Refuges. Refuge Boundary Expansion Alternative C, as 
we described in the final EIS/CCP/LPP, is the foundation for the LPP, 
which outlines the expanded boundaries and lists the tracts/ownerships 
within these boundaries.

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, 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 Improvement Act.

CCP/LPP Alternatives and the Two Selected Alternatives

    Our draft EIS/CCP/LPP (71 FR 200) addressed several issues. To 
address these, we developed and evaluated the two following sets of 
alternatives:

Refuge Management Alternatives

    Alternative A: (NEPA no action alternative) Continuation of current 
management.
    Alternative B: Emphasis on intensifying management of wetland 
habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and other wetland-
dependent migratory birds.
    Alternative C: Emphasis on native habitat restoration and 
addressing major threats to the ecosystem.
    Alternative D: Emphasis on an integrated management approach 
combining (1) Expanded habitat management and restoration programs, (2) 
new research and wildlife population monitoring, and (3) increased 
efforts to address major threats to the ecosystem.
    Alternative E: Emphasis on a passive management approach.

Refuge Boundary Expansion Alternatives

    Alternative A: (NEPA no action alternative) No expansion, current 
status.
    Alternative B: Total 33,590-acre expansion.
    Alternative C: Total 64,260-acre expansion.
    Alternative D: Total 104,120-acre expansion.
    After considering the comments we received, we have selected Refuge 
Management Alternative D for the CCP. It documents our decision, based 
on the information contained in the final EIS and the entire 
administrative record. The Service believes that Refuge Management 
Alternative D (Preferred Alternative) represents the most desirable 
approach to meet the establishment purposes of the refuges in the 
Refuge Complex, the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and 
the conservation of Trust fish and wildlife species including migratory 
birds and Threatened and Endangered species, while recognizing the need 
to address emerging threats to biological integrity, biological 
diversity, and ecosystem health. This alternative focuses on protecting 
and enhancing existing wetland and upland habitats on the Refuge 
Complex through active management, continues and expands efforts to 
enhance and restore native tallgrass coastal prairie and woodland 
habitat on suitable sites, continues and expands efforts to address 
major ecosystem threats, uses additional scientific monitoring and 
studies to guide an adaptive management approach with increased 
emphasis on declining or sensitive species, and expands wildlife-
dependent recreational uses with an emphasis on enhancing the quality 
of the refuge visitor experience.
    Also, after considering the comments we received, we have selected 
Refuge Boundary Expansion Alternative C for the LPP. It documents our 
decision, based on the information contained in the final EIS and the 
entire administrative record. In selecting its Refuge Boundary 
Expansion Alternative, the Service considered ecological values, 
benefits to management of existing refuges, levels of threat, and 
feasibility as affected by land ownership patterns and projected 
availability of funding. The newly approved refuge boundaries would 
contain the largest remaining tracts of native coastal prairie on the 
upper Texas coast, in addition to important areas of coastal marsh 
adjacent to existing refuges.

[[Page 63723]]

Public Availability of Documents

    In addition to the methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain 
documents at the following location:
     Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/docs/LINKS.pdf.

    Dated: October 20, 2008.
Brian Millsap,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, 
New Mexico.
[FR Doc. E8-25496 Filed 10-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P