[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68858-68859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27405]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2012-N115; 81683-1265-0000-S3]


Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, Orange County, CA; Final 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact

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 Seal Beach National 
Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). In the CCP, we describe how we will manage 
the Refuge for the next 15 years.

DATES: The CCP and FONSI are available now. The FONSI was signed on 
September 30, 2011. The Final CCP was signed on May 18, 2012 and 
implementation of the CCP is underway.

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/refuge/Seal_Beach/what_we_do/planning.html.
    Email: [email protected]. Include ``Seal Beach CCP'' in 
the subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Victoria Touchstone, (619) 476-9150, extension 103.
    Mail: Victoria Touchstone, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, San 
Diego NWR Complex, P.O. Box 2358, Chula Vista, CA 91912.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Copies of the Final CCP and FONSI may 
also be viewed at the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 1080 
Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910 (call 619-476-9150, 
extension 103, for directions and hours).
    Local Library: The full document is also available at the Seal 
Beach/Mary Wilson Library, 707 Electric Avenue, Seal Beach, CA 90740.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Touchstone, Refuge Planner, 
at 619-476-9150, extension 103 (see ADDRESSES), or Kirk Gilligan, 
Refuge Manager, at 562-598-1024.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Legislation authorizing the establishment of the Seal Beach 
National Wildlife Refuge was signed by

[[Page 68859]]

President Richard M. Nixon on August 29, 1972. The Refuge boundaries, 
which are located entirely within Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, 
were determined by the Secretary of the Interior with the advice and 
consent of the Secretary of the Navy. In accordance with the 
authorizing legislation, the Refuge is to be managed pursuant to the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended, 
and pursuant to plans that are mutually acceptable to the Secretary of 
the Interior and the Secretary of the Navy. The 956-acre Refuge was 
officially established on July 11, 1974, following approval of a 
general management plan for the Refuge by the Service and the Navy. 
Refuge purposes include preservation and management of habitat for 
endangered species (i.e., light-footed clapper rail, California least 
tern) and preservation of habitat to support migratory waterfowl, 
shorebirds, and other water birds.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the 
final CCP for the Seal Beach NWR 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 environmental assessment (EA) that accompanied 
the draft CCP.
    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, environmental 
education and interpretation. We intend to review and update the CCP at 
least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration Act.
    Our draft CCP and EA were available for a 45-day public review and 
comment period, which we announced via several methods, including press 
releases, updates to constituents, and a Federal Register notice (76 FR 
16634; March 24, 2011). The draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated three 
alternatives for managing the Refuge for the next 15 years.
    Under Alternative A (No Action), management would continue 
unchanged. Under Alternative B, the Service would expand current 
management to include evaluation of current Refuge baseline data for 
fish, wildlife, and plants; identification of data gaps; implementation 
of species surveys to address data gaps; restoration of intertidal and 
native upland habitat; implementation of an integrated approach to pest 
management; and support for new research projects that would benefit 
Refuge resources and Refuge management. Alternative C, which was 
identified as the preferred alternative, would implement the majority 
of the management activities proposed in Alternative B and expand 
opportunities for wildlife observation on the Refuge. The primary 
differences in habitat management between Alternatives B and C relate 
to the extent of intertidal restoration proposed in Alternative B 
versus the extent of upland and wetland/upland transitional habitat 
restoration proposed in Alternative C.
    We received five letters on the draft CCP and EA during the review 
and comment period. Comments focused on constituents of concern related 
to past activities on Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, mosquito 
management, and habitat management and restoration. We incorporated 
comments we received into the CCP when appropriate, and we responded to 
the comments in an appendix to the CCP. In the FONSI, we selected 
Alternative C for implementation. The FONSI documents our decision and 
is based on information and analysis contained in the EA.
    Under the selected alternative, the Service will expand both 
natural resource management and opportunities of wildlife observation 
on the Refuge. Wildlife and habitat management actions will be 
implemented to support listed species, coastal habitats, and migratory 
birds; native upland and wetland/upland transitional habitat will be 
restored to provide refugia for rails and shorebirds during high tide; 
and existing visitor serving facilities will be improved.
    The selected alternative most effectively achieves Refuge's 
purposes, goals, and objectives, particularly those related to the 
recovery and protection of federally listed species and the enhancement 
of public appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of Refuge 
resources; contributes to the Refuge System mission; and is consistent 
with principles of sound fish and wildlife management. Based on the 
associated environmental assessment, this alternative is not expected 
to result in significant environmental impacts and therefore does not 
require the preparation of an environmental impact statement.

Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-27405 Filed 11-14-13; 8:45 am]
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