[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5196-5198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1299]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2010-N208; 20131-1265-2CCP-S3]
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Aransas, Calhoun, and
Refugio Counties, TX; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding
of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental
assessment (EA) for the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex
(NWRC). In this final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge
for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI/EA
by any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD-ROM.
Agency Web Site: Download a copy of the document(s) at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/index.html.
E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Aransas final CCP'' in
the subject line of the message.
Mail: Roxanne Turley, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service, Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM
87103-1306.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 505-248-6636 to make an
appointment during regular business hours at 500 Gold Avenue SW.,
Albuquerque, NM 87102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Alonso, Refuge Manager, Aransas
NWRC, P.O. Box 100, Austwell, TX 77050; by phone, 361-286-3559; or by
e-mail, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for the Aransas NWRC.
We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register August
30, 2002 (67 FR 55862).
Aransas NWRC is located in Aransas, Calhoun, and Refugio Counties,
Texas, and encompasses 115,931 acres of coastal prairie, oak woodland
and savannah, barrier island, and salt and freshwater marshes.
Management efforts focus on protecting, enhancing, and restoring Refuge
habitats and water management for the benefit of important fish and
wildlife resources. The Refuge is world renowned for hosting the
largest wild flock of endangered whooping cranes each winter. Other
native species on the Refuge include the American alligator, javelina,
roseate spoonbill, armadillo, and wildflowers.
Aransas NWRC was established ``as a refuge and breeding grounds for
birds'', by Executive Order No. 7784 on December 31, 1937. The
authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 712d)
establishes that each refuge in the system is ``for use as an inviolate
sanctuary, or any other management purpose, for migratory birds.'' The
Refuge Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 460-1) states that each refuge in the
system is ``suitable for incidental fish and wildlife-oriented
recreational development, the protection of natural resources, and the
conservation of endangered or threatened species.'' Additionally,
Aransas NWRC contains critical habitat for the whooping crane (43 FR
20938, May 15, 1978).
We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the
final CCP for the Aransas NWRC 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 EA that accompanied the draft CCP.
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering the Aransas
National Wildlife Refuge Complex for the next 15 years. Alternative B,
with modifications as described in Appendix J (Response to Public
Comments), is selected as the management direction for the Final Plan.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge 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. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Refuge Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives, Including Selected Alternative
Our draft CCP and our EA (75 FR 6872) addressed several issues. To
address these, we developed and evaluated the following alternatives.
[[Page 5197]]
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B: Optimal habitat
A: No-action management and public C: Maximal habitat
alternative use (proposed action) management and public-
alternative use alternative
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Issue 1: Habitat Management Biological program and Ecosystem-level Intensive management to
Activities. habitat management management actions to achieve a
would continue under better protect and predetermined amount
existing plans, with preserve the natural of woodlands,
the emphasis remaining diversity of unique wetlands, croplands,
primarily on migratory habitats and sensitive grasslands,
birds, waterfowl, and wildlife, through a shrublands, and water
Federally listed holistic, partnered, impoundments to
species; the status and publically benefit the highest
quo would prevail involved approach, variety of plants and
without the benefit of would be implemented; wildlife would be
holistic, long-term, current and future implemented.
and comprehensive long-term benefits for
guidance. migratory and resident
birds, wildlife and
their habitats, and
the recovery of
threatened and
endangered species
would be provided.
Issue 2: Improvements to Public Use Current public use An optimal, quality All priority public
Opportunities. under existing plans experience for the uses (hunting,
would continue; any public. Priority fishing, wildlife
expansions would occur wildlife-dependent observation,
opportunistically. uses would be photography, and
emphasized, and other environmental
existing public uses education and
would be allowed where interpretation) would
appropriate. be expanded above
current levels.
Visitor facilities and
interpretive and
environmental
education programs
would be improved or
developed.
Issue 3: Refuge Land and Boundary Currently, there is no Same as Alternative A; Same as Alternative A.
Protection. active land however, additional
acquisition or land land protection to
protection plan. address whooping crane
However, any future flock expansion in the
acquisitions would be vicinity of the Refuge
based on an approved would be considered.
land protection plan, The emphasis would
developed as a step- remain on protecting
down plan of the CCP. whooping cranes and
Any additional lands available acres of
added to the Refuge existing wetland or
would be purchased restorable wetland
from willing sellers habitat and adjacent
as opportunities and uplands in portions of
funding arise. Aransas, Calhoun, and
Refugio Counties.
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Comments
We solicited comments on the draft CCP and the EA for the Aransas
NWRC from February 12, 2010, to April 13, 2010 (75 FR 7862).
Subsequently, the Draft Plan/EA was made available for public review
starting on February 12, 2010, at the Refuge, online, and at the
Regional Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Two open house meetings
were held in communities near the Refuge in March 2010. In all,
approximately 30 individuals attended the open house meetings and a
total of 73 comments were submitted in writing or phoned in to the
Refuge/Regional Office. Additionally, one State agency, two Federal
agencies, and four nongovernmental organizations responded prior to the
end of the 60-day public comment period.
Based on the comments received, the Draft Plan/EA was changed to
include an improved assessment of effects to air and water resources,
inclusion of wildlife observed at the refuge, added strategies for
wildlife-dependent recreation, and updates or added supplemental
information throughout the document.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, we have selected
Alternative B for implementation. This alternative describes how
habitat objectives will be accomplished through a combination of
management activities to encourage ecological integrity, promote
restoration of coastal prairie habitats, control invasive plant
species, and provide long-term benefits for migratory and resident
birds and the recovery of threatened and endangered species. This
alternative was selected because it best meets refuge purposes and
goals of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This action will
not adversely impact threatened or endangered species or their habitat.
Opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation activities, such as
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental
education, and interpretation, will be enhanced. Future management
actions will have a neutral or positive impact on the local economy,
and the recommendations in the Plan will ensure that Refuge management
is consistent with the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to the methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/STRC/laguna/Index_Laguna.html.
At the following libraries:
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Library Address Phone number
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Victoria Public Library....... 302 N Main St., 361-572-2701
Victoria, TX 77901.
Parkdale Branch Library....... 1230 Carmel Pkwy., 361-853-9961
Corpus Christi, TX
78411.
Calhoun County Public Library. 200 West Mahan St., 361-552-7323
Port Lavaca, TX 77979.
Aransas County Public Library. 701 E Mimosa St., 361-790-0153
Rockport, TX 78382.
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[[Page 5198]]
Dated: January 19, 2011.
Joy Nicholopoulor.
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 2011-1299 Filed 1-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P