[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 24 (Friday, February 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6301-6302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2009]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2008-N0293; 80230-1265-0000-S3]


Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Humboldt and Del 
Norte Counties, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments: Draft 
comprehensive conservation plan/environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental 
Assessment (CCP/EA) for Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex 
for public review and comment. The Humboldt Bay National Wildlife 
Refuge Complex is composed of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge 
(NWR) and Castle Rock NWR. The CCP, 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 will manage the Refuges for the next 15 years. Draft 
compatibility determinations for several public uses are also available 
for review and public comment in the Draft CCP/EA.

DATES: Written comments must be received at the address below on or 
before March 23, 2009.

ADDRESSES: For more information on obtaining documents and submitting 
comments, see ``Review and Comment'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 
For public meeting location see ``Public Meetings'' under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric T. Nelson, Project Leader, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 576, Loleta, CA 95551-9633, phone 
(707) 733-5406 or Sandy Osborn, Refuge Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825, phone (916) 
414-6503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 us 
to develop a comprehensive conservation plan (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

[[Page 6302]]

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.
    The CCP for the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex was 
initiated in January 2007. At that time and throughout the process, 
public comments were requested, considered, and incorporated in 
numerous ways. Public outreach has included public scoping meetings, 
planning updates, a CCP Web page, and Federal Register notices. We 
announced the notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation 
Plan and Environmental Assessment in the Federal Register (72 FR 4020, 
January 29, 2007).

Background

    Humboldt Bay NWR is located on Humboldt Bay on the northwest 
California coast near Eureka and Arcata. In 1971, the Humboldt Bay NWR 
was established to conserve coastal habitats for a great diversity of 
animals and plants, especially migratory birds. In later years the 
Service added the Lanphere and Ma-le'l Dunes Units, to help conserve 
the most pristine remaining dune ecosystem on the west coast of North 
America. The Refuge Complex also includes Castle Rock NWR, a 14-acre 
island located in Del Norte County, less than a mile northwest of 
Crescent City. This refuge hosts one of the largest and most diverse 
colonies of breeding seabirds on the Pacific coast and provides a roost 
for approximately 20,000 Aleutian cackling geese during their 
migration.

Alternatives

    The Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates three alternatives for 
managing Humboldt Bay and Castle Rock Refuges for the next 15 years. 
One alternative for each Refuge has been identified as the preferred 
alternative. The preferred alternatives were identified based on the 
analysis presented in the Draft CCP/EA, which may be modified following 
the completion of the public comment period based on comments received 
from other agencies, tribal governments, non-governmental 
organizations, or individuals.

Alternatives for the Humboldt Bay NWR

    Under Alternative A (the ``No Action'' Alternative), the Service 
would continue the current management of Humboldt Bay NWR at 
approximately the same level it has in the recent past. There would be 
continued work on the most substantive refuge issues including: 
Maintenance of facilities and existing programs, Salmon Creek and other 
habitat restoration, control of invasives (especially Spartina, or non-
native cordgrass), habitat management for salmonids, Aleutian cackling 
geese management, and public use initiatives.
    Under Alternative B, the Service would make a number of 
improvements to Humboldt Bay NWR management including substantial 
native habitat restoration, moderate enhancement of Aleutian cackling 
goose habitat, substantial restoration of Salmon Creek, substantial 
enhancements of other wetland and dune habitats, an increase in visitor 
services, a slight reduction in hunt opportunities, and proactive 
cultural resource management.
    Alternative C, the preferred alternative, would include all of the 
features of Alternative B plus more native habitat restoration, more 
restoration of Salmon Creek, more enhancements of other wetland and 
dune habitats; and a slight increase in hunt opportunities compared to 
Alternative A.

Alternatives for the Castle Rock NWR

    Under Alternative A (the ``No Action'' Alternative), the Service 
would continue to manage Castle Rock NWR as it has in the recent past.
    Under Alternative B, the Service would make a number of changes to 
Castle Rock NWR management including: Restricting any monitoring and 
research to off-island; increasing educational outreach and 
interpretation; and increasing coordination with tribal entities.
    Under Alternative C, the preferred alternative, the Service would 
improve management of Castle Rock NWR by: Expanding surveys for flora 
and fauna; improving research with remote controlled recording devices; 
increasing educational outreach and interpretation in collaboration 
with local entities; increasing coordination with tribal entities; and 
recommending Castle Rock NWR for wilderness designation and completing 
the associated legislative environmental impact statement.

Public Meetings

    The locations, dates, and times of public meetings will be listed 
in a planning update distributed to the project mailing list and posted 
on the Refuge Complex Web site at http://www.fws.gov/humboldtbay/ccp.html.

Review and Comment

    Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained by writing to the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Sandy Osborn, Refuge Planner, 2800 
Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825-1846. Copies of the Draft 
CCP/EA may be viewed at this address or at the Humboldt Bay National 
Wildlife Refuge Complex, 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta, CA 95551-9633. The 
Draft CCP/EA will also be available for viewing and downloading online 
at http://www.fws.gov/humboldtbay/ccp.html. Printed documents will also 
be available for review in the Government Collection sections at the 
following libraries: Arcata Library, 500 7th Street, Arcata, CA 95521; 
College of the Redwoods Library, 7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka, CA 
95501; Del Norte County Library, 190 Price Mall, Crescent City, CA 
95331; Fortuna Library, 753 14th Street, Fortuna, CA 95540; Humboldt 
County Library, 1313 3rd Street, Eureka, CA 95501; Humboldt State 
University Library, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA 95521; and Conservation 
Library, USFWS-NCTC, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, WV 25443.
    Comments on the Draft CCP/EA should be addressed to: Sandy Osborn, 
Refuge Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-
1832, Sacramento, CA 95825-1846; or via electronic mail, [email protected]. Comments may also be faxed to (916) 414-6497.
    At the end of the review and comment period for this Draft CCP/EA, 
we will analyze comments and address them in our Final CCP. Before 
including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: October 31, 2008.
Toni M. Deery,
Acting Regional Director, California and Nevada Region, Sacramento, 
California.

    Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the 
Federal Register on Tuesday, January 27, 2009.

[FR Doc. E9-2009 Filed 2-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P