[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10882-10883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04571]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2015-N244; FXRS12610800000-167-FF08R00000]


Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, San Luis Obispo 
County, CA: Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/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 (CCP) and 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National 
Wildlife Refuge for review and comment. The CCP/EA, prepared under the 
National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the 
Service proposes to manage the refuge for the next 15 years. Draft 
compatibility determinations for uses proposed under one or more of the 
alternatives are also available for review and public comment.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by April 18, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any 
of the following methods.
    Email: [email protected]. Include ``GND CCP'' in the subject 
line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: GND CCP, (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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Refuge Planner at (916) 414-6500 or 
[email protected]. Further information may also be found at 
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/what_we_do/planning.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), which amended the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966, requires the Service to develop a CCP for 
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in 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 also evaluate the potential for providing 
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities 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 Improvement Act.
    We initiated the CCP/EA for Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes in December 
2013. We hosted two public meetings, one in Grover Beach on December 
11, 2013, and one in Guadalupe on December 12, 2013. Our public 
outreach included a Federal Register notice of intent, published on 
December 6, 2013 (78 FR 73557), two planning updates, two scoping 
meetings, and a CCP Web page, which can be found at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/what_we_do/planning.html. The scoping 
comment period ended on February 4, 2014. The refuge received several 
comments at the scoping meetings and two comments via email.

Background

    Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge was established in 
2000 under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531) to 
preserve and conserve Central California coastal dune and associated 
wetlands habitats and assist in the recovery of native plants and 
animals that are federally listed as threatened or endangered. Refuge 
goals include (1) protecting restoring and enhancing native habitat to 
aid in the recovery of federally listed and special status species and 
critical habitat; (2) protecting and restoring coastal dune and other 
natural communities to support the diverse species of the central 
California coast; and (3) providing safe and high-quality opportunities 
for compatible wildlife-dependent educational and recreational 
activities to foster public appreciation of the natural heritage of the 
region. The 2,553-acre Refuge consists of one parcel that is bordered 
on its western edge by the Pacific Ocean, agricultural lands to the 
east, Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area to the north, and Rancho Guadalupe 
Dunes County Park to the south.

Alternatives

    The Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates three alternatives for 
managing the refuge for the next 15 years. Each alternative proposes a 
different level of management and public use. The Final CCP will 
identify the proposed action, which may look very similar to one of the 
three alternatives, or could include a combination of components from 
two or more of the alternatives presented. This decision will be based 
on the analysis presented in the Draft CCP/EA, comments received from 
other agencies, Tribal governments, nongovernmental organizations, and/
or individuals during the public comment period, and forecasted budgets 
for the National Wildlife Refuge System.
    Under Alternative A (no action alternative), the current management 
actions, including habitat management, wildlife-dependent recreation 
opportunities, and environmental education, would be continued at the 
refuge. Habitat and wildlife management activities would continue to be 
focused on conservation of listed species, invasive weed control, 
barrier fencing, planting native vegetation, and baseline surveys. 
Limited guided tours and self-guided access to support wildlife 
observation and photography would also continue under Alternative A. 
Volunteers would continue to be an important component of the Citizen 
Science research program, where they would help with vegetation surveys 
and manual weed removal. The refuge would continue to be closed to the 
public during the western snowy plover breeding season.
    Alternative B proposes a moderate increase in wildlife and habitat 
management over Alternative A, as well as an incremental increase in 
visitor services and environmental education, including opening the 
refuge year round to support these uses. Outreach and education during 
the plover breeding season would be conducted, and a loop trail would 
be constructed to direct the public away from plover nesting habitat. A 
draft feral swine control and monitoring plan has been prepared as an 
appendix to the draft CCP/EA and two future step-down plans (i.e., 
Integrated Pest Management Plan, Predator Management Plan) are proposed 
for development following the completion of the Final CCP. An invasive 
plant early detection and rapid response program to address the 
introduction of new invasive weeds on the refuge would also be 
developed. This alternative also proposes the future

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establishment of a visitor contact station or office at or near the 
refuge.
    Alternative C, which was developed to take into consideration the 
forecasted decline in budgets for the National Wildlife Refuge System, 
proposes to reduce or eliminate many of the current management 
activities occurring on the refuge, as well as to close the refuge to 
all public access. Under Alternative C, the Service's management 
actions would be limited to the minimum necessary to meet statutory 
responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997.

Public Meetings

    The locations, dates, and times of public meetings will be listed 
in a planning update distributed to the project mailing list and posted 
on the refuge planning Web site, at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/what_we_do/planning.html.

Review and Comment

    Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained by writing to the refuge 
planner (see ADDRESSES). Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be viewed at 
the same address and the following local libraries; Guadalupe Branch of 
the Santa Maria Public Library, 4719 W. Main Street, Guadalupe, CA 
93434; and the Santa Maria Public Library (Main Library), 421 S. 
McClelland Street, Santa Maria, California 93454. The Draft CCP/EA will 
also be available for viewing and downloading online, at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Guadalupe-Nipomo_Dunes/what_we_do/planning.html.
    Comments on the Draft CCP/EA should be addressed to the refuge 
planner (see ADDRESSES).
    At the end of the review and comment period for the Draft CCP/EA, 
comments will be analyzed by the Service and addressed in the Final 
CCP/EA. 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: February 1, 2016.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2016-04571 Filed 2-29-16; 11:15 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-15-P