[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40895-40897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16901]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2012-N107; FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000]


Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, PR; Draft Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and 
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Culebra National Wildlife 
Refuge (NWR) in the municipality of Culebra, Puerto Rico, for public 
review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we describe the alternative 
we propose to use to manage this refuge for the 15 years following 
approval of the final CCP.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by August 10, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the Draft CCP/EA by contacting Ms. 
Ana Rom[aacute]n, via U.S. mail at P.O. Box 510, Boquer[oacute]n, PR 
00622. Alternatively, you may download the document from our Internet 
Site at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning under ``Draft Documents.'' 
Comments on the Draft CCP/EA may be submitted to the above postal 
address or by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ana Rom[aacute]n at 787/851-7258 
(telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    Culebra NWR is located within the municipality of Culebra, Puerto 
Rico, and consists of several units on the main island of Culebra and 
numerous small islands surrounding Culebra. With this notice, we 
continue the CCP process for Culebra NWR. We started the process 
through a notice in the Federal Register on December 19, 2008 (73 FR 
77827). For more about the refuge, please see that notice.

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, wildlife photography, and 
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update 
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration 
Act.

Issues

    During the development of the Draft CCP/EA, we identified issues 
that we felt were most significant to the refuge and the public. These 
issues included: (1) Managing invasive species; (2) protecting and 
managing sea turtle nesting beaches; (3) monitoring and managing 
seabird colonies; (4) cleaning of contamination and unexploded ordnance 
from prior military activities; (5) accessing and utilizing beaches; 
(6) developing plans for repair and re-utilization of the old 
Observation Post at Punta Flamenco; (7) developing hiking trails; (8) 
completing boundary verification; and (9) developing renewable energy 
projects.

CCP Alternatives, Including Our Proposed Alternative

    We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge 
(Alternatives A, B, and C), with Alternative C as our proposed 
alternative. A full description of each alternative is in the Draft 
CCP/EA. We summarize each alternative below.

Alternative A: Current Management (No Action)

    Under this alternative, we would continue with periodic efforts to 
survey and manage for seabird populations. In cooperation with 
partners, we would also continue surveys and protection of nesting 
hawksbill, green, and leatherback sea turtles and their nests/eggs. 
There would, however, be no active program for resident and migratory 
birds.
    We would continue to protect habitat and conduct periodic surveys 
for the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican boas and giant anoles. For 
listed plants, we would continue to protect and monitor existing 
populations of Pepperomia wheelerii and Leptocereus grantianus. We 
would also protect land and

[[Page 40896]]

resources on offshore cays and conduct limited invasive species 
removal.
    Culebra NWR would maintain its existing boundaries with no further 
acquisition. We would continue to work informally with the Puerto Rico 
Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) and other 
partners, and restore the law enforcement officer position to protect 
refuge resources.
    The refuge would maintain its current schedule, under which it is 
open to the public during daylight hours only. Currently closed areas, 
such as the Observation Post, would remain closed to the public. Access 
to open areas by water taxis under special use permits would continue. 
We would continue to provide for opportunistic wildlife observation and 
photography. Existing signage and interpretive materials would be 
maintained. We would continue to operate the refuge without a visitor 
center or friends group. Cooperation with agencies, the municipality, 
education institutions, non-governmental organizations, and volunteers 
assisting with refuge management would continue.

Alternative B: Wildlife Management Emphasis

    Under this alternative, we would conduct expanded seasonal surveys 
to determine seabird abundance, and provide for research on nesting 
success and nesting habitat quality. We would also manipulate 
vegetation to improve seabird nesting habitat, and implement control of 
invasive predators that prey on seabirds.
    In cooperation with partners, we would also continue surveys and 
protection of sea turtles and their nests/eggs. To benefit resident and 
migratory birds, annual surveys would be developed and implemented at 
selected locations throughout the refuge. We would also implement 
habitat management strategies to benefit target species of birds and 
cooperate with Puerto Rico DNER to conduct regular surveys and manage 
habitat for listed animal species. This alternative provides for the 
establishment of additional populations of two species of listed 
plants--Pepperomia wheelerii and Leptocereus grantianus.
    Alternative B would provide for the restoration of hydrology to 
specified areas of degraded mangrove habitat, as well as restoration of 
dry forest through selective invasive species removal and planting of 
propagated trees. This alternative would intensify efforts at invasive 
species control and eradication, and pursue opportunities for habitat 
restoration on offshore cays.
    Under this alternative, we would clearly delineate all refuge 
boundaries and pursue opportunities for boundary expansion with 
acquisitions from willing sellers. Partnerships with Puerto Rico DNER 
and others would be strengthened and formalized, and we would restore 
the law enforcement officer position to protect refuge resources.
    The refuge would maintain its current schedule, under which it is 
open to the public during daylight hours only. The Observation Post and 
other currently closed areas would remain closed. Access to offshore 
cays would continue by water taxis under special use permits. 
Opportunistic wildlife observation and photography on open areas would 
continue. We would continue to operate the refuge without a visitor 
center.
    In addition to the staff provided under Alternative A, we would add 
a full-time biologist position and one full-time and one half-time 
biological technician position. Under Alternative B, we would continue 
coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers to remove hazardous 
materials and unexploded ordnance from the refuge.
    We would also facilitate the formation of a friends group with 5 
years of approval of the comprehensive conservation plan, and increase 
cooperation with partners focused on wildlife management by 
establishing formal agreements where appropriate.

Alternative C: Expansion of Wildlife and Habitat Management, With 
Increased Public Use Opportunities (Proposed Alternative)

    This alternative expands both wildlife and habitat management and 
public use activities.
    To recover special status plants and animal species, Alternative C 
is virtually identical to Alternative B. It provides for expanded 
seasonal surveys to determine seabird abundance, research on nesting 
success, nesting habitat quality, manipulation of vegetation to improve 
nesting habitat, and control of invasive predators.
    We would also continue surveys and protection of sea turtles and 
develop and implement annual surveys for resident and migratory birds, 
and establish additional populations of two species of listed plants--
Pepperomia wheelerii and Leptocereus grantianus.
    This alternative also calls for restoring hydrology to areas of 
degraded mangrove habitat, and restoring dry forest through selective 
invasive species removal and planting of propagated trees. We would 
also intensify efforts at invasive species control and eradication and 
pursue habitat restoration on offshore cays.
    Within 5 years of approval of the comprehensive conservation plan, 
we would clearly delineate all refuge boundaries, pursue opportunities 
for boundary expansion with acquisitions from willing sellers, and work 
to resolve boundary issues. We would also complete and begin to 
implement a cultural resources management plan for the refuge.
    The refuge would maintain its current schedule, under which it is 
open to the public during daylight hours only. Working with the Army 
Corps of Engineers to determine safety of areas cleared of unexploded 
ordnance, we would evaluate the potential for opening additional areas 
to the public, considering both safety and biological factors. We would 
continue to permit water taxis under special use permit for access to 
cays. We would also develop partnerships to restore and reopen the 
Observation Post for environmental research and/or education purposes.
    We would continue to provide for opportunistic wildlife observation 
and photography opportunities. We would develop additional public use 
facilities, such as trails, towers, boardwalks, and blind, to increase 
opportunities for wildlife observation and photography. We would also 
develop environmental education and interpretation programs and 
materials (e.g., curriculum, teacher training) to be used both on and 
off the refuge.
    In addition to current staff, we would add one public use 
specialist position, one biologist position, one and one-half 
biological technician positions, and one maintenance worker position.
    This alternative provides for the maintenance of all current 
equipment and facilities, including two boats and the office and 
residence buildings. It also provides for the development and 
maintenance of additional trails, towers, boardwalks, blinds, and the 
construction of a new headquarters/visitor contact station.
    We would also facilitate the formation of a friends group, increase 
cooperation with partners in habitat and wildlife management and public 
use, and establish formal agreements.
    Contingent upon adding a public use specialist, within 5 years of 
CCP approval, we would develop and begin to implement a communications 
plan.

Next Step

    After the comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and 
address them.

[[Page 40897]]

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email 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.

Authority

    This notice is published under the authority of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et 
seq.).

    Dated: June 11, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-16901 Filed 7-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P