[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17430-17431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7353]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2010-N026; 80230-1265-0000-S3]


Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National Wildlife 
Refuges, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, and Ventura Counties, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan 
and environmental assessment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to 
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental 
assessment (EA) for the Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge 
National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) located in Kern, San Luis Obispo, 
Tulare, and Ventura counties of California. We provide this notice in 
compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal, State, and 
local agencies; Tribes; and the public of our intentions, and to obtain 
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the 
planning process.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
May 21, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any 
of the following methods.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Hopper CCP'' in the 
subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Sandy Osborn, (916) 414-6497.
    U.S. Mail: Pacific Southwest Region, Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825.
    In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments at the Hopper 
Mountain NWR Complex Headquarters in Ventura, California, during 
regular business hours; please call (805) 644-5185 for directions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Osborn, Planning Team Leader, at 
(916) 414-6503 or Marc Weitzel, Project Leader, at (805) 644-5185 or 
[email protected]. Further information may also be found at 
http://www.fws.gov/cno/refuges/planning/ccp.cfm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for 
Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge NWRs in Kern, San Luis 
Obispo, Tulare, and Ventura Counties, California. This notice complies 
with our CCP policy to (1) advise other Federal and State agencies, 
Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on 
this refuge and (2) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of 
issues to consider in the environmental document and during development 
of the CCP.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (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 wildlife-dependent recreational 
opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for 
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and 
environmental education and interpretation where compatible with refuge 
purposes. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in 
accordance with the Administration Act.
    Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System was established 
for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for 
developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for 
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System, and to 
determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a 
way for us and the public to evaluate management goals, objectives, and 
strategies that will ensure the best possible approach to wildlife, 
plant, and habitat conservation, while providing for wildlife-dependent 
recreation opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's 
establishing purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System.
    Our CCP process provides opportunities for participation by Tribal, 
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public. 
We will be contacting identified

[[Page 17431]]

stakeholders and individuals at this time for initial input. If you 
would like to meet with planning staff or would like to receive 
periodic updates, please contact us (see ADDRESSES). We anticipate 
holding public meetings for initial comments and also when we have 
identified alternative management scenarios. At this time we encourage 
comments in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for 
the future management of Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge 
NWRs.
    We will conduct the environmental review of this project in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws 
and regulations; and our policies and procedures for compliance with 
those laws and regulations.

Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge

    Hopper Mountain NWR is in Ventura County, approximately 6 miles 
north of the community of Fillmore. Hopper Mountain NWR was established 
in 1974 to protect the endangered California condor, its habitat, and 
other wildlife resources. The refuge encompasses 2,471 contiguous acres 
owned in fee title by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This refuge 
is currently closed to public use.

Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge

    Bitter Creek NWR is located approximately 80 miles north of Los 
Angeles and approximately 10 miles southwest of the community of 
Maricopa in the arid foothills, primarily in Kern County. The 
legislatively approved refuge boundary also falls within parts of San 
Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. Bitter Creek NWR was established in 
1985 to provide safe roosting and foraging habitat for California 
condors. The refuge encompasses nearly 14,097 acres owned in fee title 
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Bitter Creek NWR Grassland 
Habitat Management and Restoration Plan Environmental Assessment and 
Compatibility Determination is ongoing. This refuge is currently closed 
to public use.

Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuge

    Blue Ridge NWR is located in central Tulare County in the foothills 
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 11 miles north of Springville and 17.5 
miles northeast of Porterville, California. Blue Ridge NWR was 
established in 1982 to protect critical habitat for the California 
condor. Blue Ridge NWR encompasses 897 acres owned in fee title by the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This refuge is currently closed to 
public use.

Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities

    We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities 
that we may address in the CCP. These include: Wildlife management, 
habitat management, wildlife-dependent recreation, environmental 
education, and cultural resources. During public scoping, we may 
identify additional issues.

Public Meetings

    We will give the public an opportunity to provide input at public 
meetings. You can obtain the schedule from the planning team leader or 
project leader (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You may also 
submit comments or request a meeting during the planning process by 
mail, e-mail, or fax (see ADDRESSES). There will be additional 
opportunities to provide public input once we have prepared a draft 
CCP.

Public Availability of Comments

    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: March 26, 2010.
Ken McDermond,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2010-7353 Filed 4-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P