[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 27 (Friday, February 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9410-9415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02976]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-R-2012-N277; FXRS1265022CCP0-134-FF02R06000]


Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge; Adair, Cherokee, Craig, 
Delaware, Mayes, Ottawa, and Sequoyah Counties, OK; 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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (Draft CCP) and 
an environmental assessment (EA) for Ozark Plateau National Wildlife 
Refuge (NWR), which is located within the approved acquisition area of 
Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Ottawa, and Sequoyah Counties 
of Oklahoma, for public review and comment. The Draft CCP/EA describes 
our proposal for managing the Refuge for the next 15 years.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
March 8, 2013. Public meetings will be hosted on Monday, February 25th 
at the Delaware County Library, in Jay, OK 74346; Tuesday, February 
26th at the Stilwell Community Center in Stilwell, OK; and Thursday, 
Februay 28th in the Community Ballroom of the Cherokee Nation Tribal 
Headquarters in Tahlequah, OK. All three meetings will begin at 5:30 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more 
information on the Draft CCP/EA by any of the methods listed below. You 
may request hard copies or a CD-ROM of the Draft CCP/EA documents. 
Please contact Sarah Catchot, Lead Planner, or Shea Hammond, Refuge 
Wildlife Specialist.
    Email: [email protected]. Include ``Ozark Plateau NWR Draft 
CCP and EA'' in the subject line of the message.
    U.S. Mail: Sarah Catchot, Lead Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, NWRS Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 
87103.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shea Hammond, Refuge Wildlife 
Specialist of Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge, 16602 County Road 
465, Colcord, OK 74338, Phone: 918-326-0156.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 9411]]

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Ozark Plateau 
National Wildlife Refuge. We started this process through a notice in 
the Federal Register on June 19, 1998 (63 FR 33693).
    The Refuge manages several units scattered throughout its seven-
county (Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, Ottawa, and Sequoyah) 
approved acquisition area in northeastern Oklahoma. Management units of 
Ozark Plateau NWR are identified, acquired, and/or managed based upon 
impact to federally listed threatened or endangered Ozark cave species, 
including cave habitat, groundwater recharge areas, foraging areas, and 
movement corridors important to these species as well as other species 
of concern. In addition, Ozark Plateau NWR's management units play a 
role in conserving continuous tracts of mature oak-hickory or oak-
hickory-pine Ozark forest, beneficial to nesting and migrating 
Neotropical birds as well as cave species.

Background

The CCP Process

    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 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.

Public Outreach

    Formal scoping began with publication of a notice of intent to 
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment 
in the Federal Register on June 19, 1998 (63 FR 33693). The Refuge 
solicited public comments on issues and concerns to aid in CCP 
development through three open house meetings held in December 2009 at 
Tribal Headquarters of the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, the Senior 
Center in Stilwell, and the Delaware County Library in Jay, Oklahoma.
    The Refuge also met on March 3, 2010, with the Cherokee Nation 
Environmental Protection Commission at the Cherokee Nation Headquarters 
to understand issues concerning the tribe and discuss potential ways to 
collaborate on solving issues common to the two agencies. On March 4, 
2010, the Refuge met with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife 
Conservation staff at the Porter Office in Oklahoma also to discuss 
their concerns regarding past management, future management, and issues 
common to both agencies.
    The feedback received at the conclusion of the public scoping 
period identified numerous concerns from a variety of stakeholders. 
These concerns were organized by the following seven broad issue 
categories: Landscape-level, Habitat Management, Wildlife Management, 
Public Use Opportunities, Cultural Resources, Facilities & 
Infrastructure, and Administration.

CCP Alternatives We Are Considering

    During the public scoping process with which we started work on 
this Draft CCP, we, other Federal agencies, Tribal Nations, State 
agencies, and the public raised multiple issues. Our Draft CCP 
addresses them. A full description of each alternative is in the EA 
(see Appendix A). To address these issues, we developed and evaluated 
the following alternatives, summarized in the table below.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Alternative B:
            Issue                Alternative A:        proposed future
                               current management        management
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Landscape-Level Management    Acquire land from     Alternative (Alt) A
 Issue 1: Ozark Habitat Loss   willing sellers or    + partner with the
 & Fragmentation.              enter into            FWS southwestern,
                               agreements for        midwestern,
                               conservation          southeastern and
                               easements; maintain   mountain-prairie
                               strong landscape-     regions to expand
                               level partnerships;   acquisition
                               maintain 4,000        boundaries in the
                               acres of forested     Ozark ecoregion;
                               habitat; restore 70   maintain, conserve,
                               acres of              and restore up to
                               agricultural land     15,000 acres of
                               to forested habitat   acquired lands to
                               at Beck Unit;         native forest
                               refrain from          habitat.
                               developing new
                               roads or
                               infrastructure.
Landscape-Level Management    Monitor baseline      Alt A + implement
 Issue 2: Climate Change.      data on cave          long-term Anabat
                               microclimate          monitoring stations
                               changes; use energy-  to monitor climate
                               efficient heating/    change impacts to
                               cooling system and    bat species; expand
                               water filtration      data loggers for
                               system on Looney      climate info;
                               facility.             install weather
                                                     stations; install
                                                     solar panels on
                                                     Refuge facilities;
                                                     sequester carbon by
                                                     restoring up to
                                                     15,000 acres of
                                                     acquired lands to
                                                     native forest
                                                     habitat.
Landscape-Level Management    Survey groundwater    Alt A + partner with
 Issue 3: Surface and          recharge areas;       U.S. Geological
 Groundwater Quality &         acquire land and      Services (USGS) and
 Quantity.                     conservation          local universities
                               easements from        to implement a
                               willing sellers to    permanent water
                               restore forest and    quality and
                               control run-off;      quantity monitoring
                               partner with          program.
                               adjacent and nearby
                               landowners; sample
                               water quality.
Landscape-Level Management    Implement actions in  Alt A + coordinate/
 Issue 4: White-nose           WNS National Plan;    partner to
 Syndrome (WNS).               close caves to the    implement permanent
                               public; partner to    monitoring program
                               monitor for WNS on    to monitor species
                               and off Refuge;       at risk, track
                               take recommended      movement and
                               preventative          occurrence of WNS,
                               measures in           and search for
                               decontamination of    physical signs in
                               staff caving gear;    Ozark ecoregion;
                               perform public        develop a Refuge-
                               outreach; gain Law    specific WNS
                               Enforcement (LE)      contingency plan;
                               support from          identify migration
                               Sequoyah NWR.         corridors; increase
                                                     LE support;
                                                     investigate
                                                     feasibility of
                                                     installing alarms
                                                     inside caves.

[[Page 9412]]

 
Landscape-Level Management    Monitor baseline      Alt A + identify bat
 Issue 5: Wind Energy Farms.   data of bird/bat      migration
                               populations           corridors; use GIS
                               affected by wind      to delineate high-
                               turbines and          risk areas;
                               determine locations   quantify impacts;
                               to minimize impacts.  investigate
                                                     mitigation
                                                     measures.
Habitat Management Issue 1:   Build and repair      Alt A + increase LE
 Degradation of Cave,          cave gates on- and    presence; install
 Stream, and Forest Habitat.   off-Refuge; post      alarm systems and
                               signs prohibiting     infrared cameras at
                               entry of caves;       caves; search for
                               maintain              unknown caves with
                               confidentiality of    partners; outreach
                               cave locations;       to landowners.
                               gain LE support
                               ``on call'' from
                               Sequoyah NWR;
                               partner with
                               landowners; survey
                               and mark
                               boundaries;
                               implement fire
                               management plans
                               for Looney and
                               Sally Bull Hollow
                               Units.
Habitat Management Issue 2:   Perform cave bio-     Alt A + partner to
 Lack of Detailed Scientific   inventories; survey   develop habitat
 Cave Habitat Data.            bat hibernacula and   suitability indexes
                               maternity sites;      for cave species;
                               survey cavefish and   research effects of
                               cave crayfish; map    prescribed burning/
                               subterranean extent   thinning on cave
                               of caves.             habitats and
                                                     wildlife; implement
                                                     acoustic monitor
                                                     program for non-
                                                     listed species;
                                                     survey
                                                     macroinvertebrates
                                                     and other cave
                                                     fauna.
Habitat Management Issue 3:   Remove with           Alt A + work with
 Invasive Flora.               handtools,            partners to
                               chainsaws, and mow    identify, document,
                               on 10 acres;          and monitor all
                               partner for burns     plant species
                               and invasive          occurring on the
                               control; inventory    Refuge; assess
                               vegetation with       changes in
                               Oklahoma State        vegetation over
                               University; (see      time; use
                               Fire Management,      mechanical
                               below).               treatments and if
                                                     necessary, use
                                                     herbicide spot-
                                                     treatment a maximum
                                                     of one to three
                                                     applications per
                                                     year, March-
                                                     November (see Fire
                                                     Management, below).
Habitat Management Issue 4:   Coordinate response   Alt A + develop a
 Fire Management.              to all wildfires      Refuge-wide Fire
                               based on              Management Plan to
                               ecological, social,   increase use of
                               and legal             prescribed fire to
                               consequences of       \1/3\ of Refuge's
                               fire; implement       total acreage/year
                               Fire Management       every 3-5 years;
                               Plans for Looney      establish
                               and Sally Bull        agreements with
                               Hollow Units,         landowners to
                               including             increase use of
                               prescribed burns of   prescribed fire
                               400 acres/year        surrounding the
                               every 3-5 years.      Refuge; monitor
                                                     effects of
                                                     prescribed fire and
                                                     midstory thinning
                                                     on habitats and
                                                     species.
Wildlife Management Issue 1:  Continue annual bio-  Alt A + establish
 Threatened and Endangered     inventorying          permanent,
 (T&E) Species and Species     research of cave      stationary acoustic
 of Concern.                   fauna; monitor        monitors in and
                               surveys of bat        around caves on all
                               populations,          Units; establish
                               activity, guano       permanent acoustic
                               measurements, and     survey program on
                               cavefish/crayfish     designated routes;
                               counts; monitor       develop a habitat
                               emergence/foraging/   suitability index
                               migration of bat      model for T&E cave
                               species using radio   species; increase
                               telemetry, infrared   genetic research;
                               video, and thermal    install permanent
                               imaging; partner      cameras in caves;
                               with universities     increase prescribed
                               for genetic           fires to all Units
                               research.             (see Fire
                                                     Management).
Wildlife Management Issue 2:  Conduct bird counts   Alt A + identify all
 Migratory and Resident Bird   during migration      migratory bird
 Species.                      seasons; use          species occurring
                               prescribed fire on    on or near the
                               Looney and Sally      Refuge (spring and
                               Bull Hollow Units;    fall); conduct
                               enforce limited       seasonal nesting
                               public use.           studies and MAPS
                                                     banding of birds
                                                     monthly for 6
                                                     months each year;
                                                     increase prescribed
                                                     fires to all Units
                                                     (see Fire
                                                     Management).
Wildlife Management Issue 3:  Conduct mobile        Alt A + establish
 Resident Non-T&E Species.     acoustic monitoring   permanent,
                               once or twice a       stationary acoustic
                               month from spring     monitors in and
                               through fall from     around caves on all
                               roadways and cave     Units; establish
                               entrances; perform    permanent acoustic
                               bio-inventories in    survey program on
                               2-3 caves every 5     designated routes;
                               years.                perform annual
                                                     count surveys of
                                                     non-listed cavefish
                                                     and mark recapture
                                                     of cave crayfish;
                                                     survey all wildlife
                                                     species occurring
                                                     on Refuge; increase
                                                     genetic research of
                                                     cave species;
                                                     install permanent
                                                     cameras in caves;
                                                     increase prescribed
                                                     fires to all Units
                                                     (see Fire
                                                     Management).
Wildlife Management Issue 4:  No management for     Partner to identify,
 Invasive Fauna Species and    invasive fauna        document, and
 Pest Management.              species and/or        monitor all species
                               pests.                occurring on the
                                                     Refuge; conduct a
                                                     feral hog, feral
                                                     cat, and hothouse
                                                     millipede survey;
                                                     research
                                                     eradication
                                                     strategies; if
                                                     necessary, develop
                                                     an Integrated Pest
                                                     Management Plan.
Public Use Management Issue   No hunting permitted  Develop a Hunt Plan
 1: Hunting.                                         to allow walk-in-
                                                     only, open-access
                                                     hunting on the
                                                     Sally Bull Hollow
                                                     Unit, adjacent to
                                                     the State-managed
                                                     Ozark Plateau
                                                     Wetlands Management
                                                     Area (WMA).

[[Page 9413]]

 
Public Use Management Issue   Partner to offer      Alt A + increase
 2: Environmental Education    place-based EE        visitation to 50-
 (EE).                         programs on the       100 people per
                               Looney Unit and at    week, 3-4 times per
                               the Mary & Murray     week in spring,
                               Looney Education &    summer, and fall
                               Research Center       and 10-20 people
                               (MMLERC), by permit   per week, 1-2 times
                               only, limited to 10-  per week in winter;
                               20 people, 2-3        expand programs to
                               times per month in    include after- and
                               spring and fall, 1-   home- school,
                               2 times per month     teacher continuing
                               in summer and 1 per   education,
                               month in winter.      gardening program,
                                                     tribal-lead; train
                                                     other FWS and
                                                     partner agencies in
                                                     effective EE
                                                     methods; if
                                                     necessary, develop
                                                     a Visitor Services
                                                     Plan.
Public Use Management Issue   Partner to conduct    Alt A + offer
 3: Interpretation.            interpretation        interpretive
                               programs on the       programs to include
                               Looney Unit and       permaculture
                               MMLERC, by permit     gardening, showcase
                               only, for             Refuge use of
                               approximately 25      sustainable/green
                               people per month on-  technologies; if
                               site and to 5 to      necessary, develop
                               100s of people per    a Visitor Services
                               month off-site.       Plan.
Public Use Management Issue   Provide               Alt A + allow walk-
 4: Wildlife Observation &     opportunities by      in access of
 Photography.                  permit only on the    wildlife
                               Looney Unit, in       observation and
                               conjunction with      photography on
                               interpretive and/or   Sally Bull Hollow
                               EE programs.          Unit, aside from
                                                     hunting season;
                                                     explore additional
                                                     opportunities on
                                                     acquired lands;
                                                     prohibit use in
                                                     caves; install
                                                     photography blinds
                                                     and 3 primitive
                                                     overlook areas on
                                                     Looney Unit trails
                                                     and potentially
                                                     newly acquired
                                                     lands.
Public Use Management Issue   Prohibit wood         Permit wood
 5: Wood Harvesting.           harvesting by the     harvesting by the
                               public.               public of downed-
                                                     trees as Refuge
                                                     forest and wildlife
                                                     management needs
                                                     dictate.
Public Use Management Issue   Maintain              Create a flier/
 6: Public Outreach.           confidentiality to    brochure to
                               protect Refuge        advertise Visitor
                               resources (no         Services
                               pamphlets/fliers      opportunities and
                               available).           update Refuge
                                                     websites to include
                                                     contact info; work
                                                     with volunteers to
                                                     establish an
                                                     official Friends
                                                     group to assist
                                                     with public
                                                     outreach.
Cultural/Historical           Keep sites            Alt A + increase LE
 Resources Management Issue    confidential;         from Sequoyah NWR
 1: Historical Sites.          partner with State    to secure known
                               Historic              sites; partner to
                               Preservation Office   preserve and
                               (SHPO) to preserve    perform studies on
                               sites.                known sites and
                                                     newly discovered
                                                     sites.
Cultural/Historical           Keep sites            Alt A + increase LE
 Resources Management Issue    confidential;         from Sequoyah NWR
 2: Archeological and          partner with SHPO,    to secure known
 Paleontological Sites.        Sam Noble Museum      sites; partner to
                               archeologists, and    preserve and survey
                               paleontologists to    known sites and
                               preserve sites.       newly discovered
                                                     sites.
Facilities/Infrastructure     Operate and maintain  Alt A + renovate
 Management Issue 1: Mary &    MMLERC (1,200 sq.     roof; insulate
 Murray Looney Education &     ft.) facility;        basement and attic;
 Research Center (MMLERC).     maintain Americans    renovate cabin
                               with Disability Act   exterior; renovate
                               (ADA) accessibility.  porch; renovate
                                                     front door to be
                                                     ADA-accessible;
                                                     renovate one
                                                     bathroom to be ADA-
                                                     accessible; install
                                                     monitored alarm
                                                     system; replace
                                                     plumbing system;
                                                     replace electrical
                                                     system; replace
                                                     propane gas lines;
                                                     install energy-
                                                     efficient windows;
                                                     maintain water
                                                     filter; install
                                                     rainwater
                                                     collection system;
                                                     build raised garden
                                                     beds and re-
                                                     landscape with
                                                     native plants;
                                                     install solar
                                                     panels; use energy-
                                                     efficient heating
                                                     and cooling system
                                                     and appliances;
                                                     install A/V
                                                     technology; remove
                                                     small cabin
                                                     adjacent to MMLERC
                                                     and replace with a
                                                     800 sq. ft. outdoor
                                                     pavilion studio
                                                     space and bridge.
Facilities/Infrastructure     Maintain a 0.25-mile  Alt A + improve
 Management Issue 2: Access    unpaved and           roads and parking
 Roads.                        unimproved access     areas, including:
                               road to the MMLERC,   widen MMLERC access
                               with a gate;          drive/parking area
                               maintain an unpaved   by 2 feet and
                               parking area for      improve with
                               approximately 10      gravel; improve
                               vehicles; excess      road with gravel
                               parking near the      from county road to
                               maintenance shop.     maintenance shop;
                                                     improve parking
                                                     area surfaces with
                                                     gravel; improve 0.3
                                                     miles of gravel
                                                     road on Beck Unit;
                                                     improve and/or
                                                     maintain roads on
                                                     newly acquired
                                                     lands, if
                                                     necessary.

[[Page 9414]]

 
Facilities/Infrastructure     Utilize and maintain  Alt A + Establish a
 Management Issue 3: Nature    trails around the     0.25-mile primitive
 Trails and Overlooks.         Refuge, including:    trail to connect
                               deteriorating path    the MMLERC trail to
                               from the MMLERC to    maintenance shop
                               the pavilion, small   trail; build a 2-
                               path from the         mile primitive
                               parking area to the   trail around the
                               MMLERC, \1/4\-mile    perimeter of the
                               trail from MMLERC     Looney Unit; repave
                               to Spavinaw Creek,    the 0.1-mile
                               \1/8\-mile trail      concrete path from
                               from MMLERC to the    the MMLERC cabin to
                               old garden area at    the pavilion;
                               top of hill, 150-     improve the 0.25-
                               yard trail from       mile trail with
                               Guess house to the    gravel from the
                               MMLERC, and \1/4\-    Looney maintenance
                               mile trails near      shop to the MMLERC;
                               the Guess house; no   improve the 0.1-
                               established           mile primitive
                               overlook areas.       trail with gravel
                                                     from the parking/
                                                     camping area on top
                                                     of the hill down to
                                                     the MMLERC.
Facilities/Infrastructure     No public use signs   Construct and post a
 Management Issue 4: Public    or interpretive       sign for the MMLERC
 Use Signs and Interpretive    signs posted on any   and new HQ site;
 Displays.                     Refuge units,         install directional
                               except for outside    MMLERC sign at the
                               of caves stating      county road
                               that they are         entrance; install
                               closed to the         signs at all cave
                               public.               entrances to
                                                     prohibit public
                                                     entry and also to
                                                     inform them about
                                                     White-nose Syndrome
                                                     (WNS); install
                                                     limited
                                                     interpretive
                                                     signage on Looney
                                                     Unit.
Facilities/Infrastructure     No centralized HQ     Acquire up to 15,000
 Management Issue 5: Refuge    site--each staff      acres of land and
 Headquarters (HQ) Site.       member works out of   conservation
                               the Oklahoma ES       easements from
                               Office in Tulsa,      willing sellers
                               the MMLERC            within the approved
                               (Refuge), and/or      acquisition
                               Sequoyah NWR.         boundary and
                                                     utilize an acquired
                                                     building(s), if
                                                     appropriate, for
                                                     new centralized HQ
                                                     site; or build a
                                                     new HQ site on
                                                     centralized
                                                     acquired site.
Facilities/Infrastructure     Maintain and repair   Alt A + Contract
 Management Issue 6:           60 miles of Unit      surveyors to survey
 Boundaries.                   boundaries with a     and mark all un-
                               total of over 4       surveyed/un-marked
                               miles of fencing      Unit boundaries on
                               and 11 gates.         the Refuge;
                                                     maintain new
                                                     markers.
Facilities/Infrastructure     Utilize and maintain  Alt A + build an
 Management Issue 7:           three maintenance     additional 50 x 100
 Maintenance Shops and         shops: Beck Unit      ft metal building
 Service Buildings.            Shop--50 x 30 ft      on concrete pad
                               metal building on     maintenance shop at
                               concrete pad,         new HQ site;
                               Looney Unit: 50 x     construct
                               30 ft metal           additional
                               building on           decontamination and
                               concrete pad, and     storage facility at
                               Guess House Shop.     new HQ, with
                                                     ventilation
                                                     building; outfit
                                                     facilities;
                                                     construct a fueling
                                                     station for Refuge
                                                     vehicles and
                                                     equipment at new
                                                     HQ; reconstruct
                                                     existing pole barn
                                                     on the Beck Unit.
Facilities/Infrastructure     Provide Refuge        Alt A + once HQ is
 Management Issue 8: Refuge    housing for Refuge    established,
 Housing.                      staff at the Guess    convert existing
                               House and one         Refuge office to a
                               bedroom for staff,    second guest room
                               volunteers, guests,   at the MMLERC; new
                               etc. at the MMLERC    HQ plan would
                               cabin (Looney         include kitchen/
                               Unit); maintain       bath facilities;
                               agreement with        construct two
                               Leslie Krause.        Recreational
                                                     Vehicle (RV) pads
                                                     at the new HQ site;
                                                     construct RV pad on
                                                     the Looney Unit;
                                                     when agreement with
                                                     Leslie Krause is
                                                     terminated
                                                     (donation),
                                                     renovate Krause
                                                     residence for
                                                     Refuge housing.
Administration Management     Receive funding and   Same as Alt A.
 Issue 1: Funding and          staffing for
 Staffing.                     operations,
                               infrastructure, and
                               maintenance,
                               determined by
                               Congress and
                               allocated to
                               refuges by the
                               Southwest Regional
                               Office of the U.S.
                               Fish and Wildlife
                               Service; seek
                               additional funding
                               such as applying
                               for grants and
                               working with Non-
                               Government
                               Organizations
                               (NGOs) in order to
                               leverage funds.
Administration Management     No official Friends   Alt A + coordinate
 Issue 2: Volunteers/Friends   group established     with unofficial
 Program.                      (support from         Friends group and/
                               National              or dedicated
                               Speleological         volunteer members
                               Society local         to encourage
                               chapters);            formation of
                               approximately 5,000   official Friends
                               to 10,000 volunteer   Group; perform
                               hours total per       outreach to
                               year.                 increase part-time,
                                                     non-resident
                                                     volunteers to
                                                     approximately
                                                     10,000 to 20,000
                                                     volunteer hours per
                                                     year; educate and
                                                     train volunteers.

[[Page 9415]]

 
Administration Management     No management         Coordinate with the
 Issue 3: Coordinate Beyond    agreement in place    State of Arkansas
 FWS Regional Boundaries to    to coordinate         and FWS Region 4 to
 More Effectively Manage       across FWS Regional   manage or co-manage
 Federally Listed Cave         boundaries to         Logan Cave NWR as a
 Species on a Landscape        manage cave habitat   Unit of Ozark
 Level.                        and species.          Plateau NWR;
                                                     coordinate with the
                                                     State of Missouri
                                                     and FWS Region 3 to
                                                     manage or co-manage
                                                     Cavefish NWR and
                                                     Pilot Knob NWR as
                                                     Units of Ozark
                                                     Plateau NWR;
                                                     coordinate with the
                                                     State of Kansas and
                                                     FWS Region 6 for
                                                     Ozark Plateau NWR
                                                     to cooperate
                                                     management of
                                                     federally listed
                                                     Ozark cave species;
                                                     expand and
                                                     establish new
                                                     acquisition areas
                                                     within the Ozark
                                                     landscape across
                                                     multiple State and
                                                     Regional
                                                     boundaries.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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    In addition to any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain 
documents at the following locations:
     Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/plansinprogress.html.
     At the following public libraries:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Library                    Address            Phone number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware County Library......  429 South 9th St.,           918-253-8521
                                Jay, OK 74346.
Stilwell Public Library......  5 N 6th St.,                 918-696-7512
                                Stilwell, OK 74960.
Tahlequah Public Library.....  120 S College Ave.,          918-456-2581
                                Tahlequah, OK 74464.
Miami Public Library.........  200 N. Main, Miami,          918-542-3064
                                OK 74354.
Stanley Tubbs Memorial         101 E Cherokee Ave.,         918-596-7897
 Library.                       Sallisaw, OK 74955.
Central Library..............  400 Civic Ctr.,              918-596-7897
                                Tulsa, OK 74103.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Submitting Comments/Issues for Comment

    We consider comments substantive if they:
     Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the 
information in the document;
     Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the 
environmental assessment (EA);
     Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented 
in the EA; and/or
     Provide new or additional information relevant to the 
assessment.

Next Steps

    After this comment period ends, we will analyze each comment and 
address them in an appendix form of the Final CCP along with a finding 
of no significant impact.

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.

    Dated: November 30, 2012.
Joy Nicholopoulos,
Regional Director, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-02976 Filed 2-6-13; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P