[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 21, 2012)] [Notices] [Pages 50523-50526] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2012-20611] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R2-R-2012-N160; FXRS12610200000S3-123-FF02R06000] Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Matagorda, and Wharton Counties, TX; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment; Correction AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments; correction. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On August 15, 2012, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, published a notice announcing the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and an environmental assessment (EA) for public review and comment. The draft CCP/EA describes our proposal for managing the Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex for the next 15 years. In that notice, we gave an incorrect comment-period end date. We are now republishing the notice with the correct date. If you already submitted a comment, you need not resubmit it. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by September 20, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings in local news media. 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 documents. Please contact Jennifer Sanchez, Project Leader, or Carol Torrez, Lead Planner/R2 NWRS NEPA Coordinator. Email: carol_torrez@fws.gov. Include ``TMC NWR Complex Draft CCP and EA'' in the subject line of the message. Fax: Attn: Carol Torrez, 505-248-6803. U.S. Mail: Carol Torrez, Lead Planner/NWRS NEPA Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NWRS Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103. In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: You may drop off comments during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at 500 Gold Street SW., 4th Floor, Room 4336, Albuquerque, NM, 87102. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Sanchez, Project Leader, Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex, CCP--Project, 5247 CR 316, Brazoria, TX, 77422; phone: 979-964-4011; fax: 979-964-4021. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 15, 2012, we published a Federal Register notice announcing the availability of a draft CCP and EA for the Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. In that notice, we gave an incorrect comment-period end date. We are now republishing the notice with the correct date. If you already submitted a comment in response to our August 15, 2012 (77 FR 49011), notice, you need not resubmit it. Introduction With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Texas Mid- Coast NWR Complex. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (74 FR 29714; June 23, 2009). The Complex is located along the upper Texas Gulf Coast, approximately 50 miles south of Houston, Texas. It is comprised of three refuges: Brazoria NWR, which was established in 1966, and encompasses 44,414 acres; San Bernard NWR, which was established in 1968, and encompasses 52,400 acres; and Big Boggy NWR, which was established in 1983, and encompasses 4,526 acres. These lands provide a vital complex of salt and freshwater marshes, sloughs, ponds, coastal prairies, and bottomland hardwood forests that provide habitat for a wide variety of resident and migratory wildlife. 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- [[Page 50524]] 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 (EA) in the Federal Register on June 23, 2009 (74 FR 29714). The Refuge solicited comments on issues and concerns to aid in CCP development through three open house meetings held in September 2009. An ecoregion-wide coordination meeting was held at the Complex's Discovery Center on December 2, 2009, to gain a better understanding of the issues within the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion, where the Complex is located, and to determine the Complex's role in addressing issues impacting fish, wildlife, and their habitats within the larger landscape. In February 2010, the Complex met with representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to discuss their concerns regarding past management, future management, and issues common to both agencies. Additional public scoping for the Land Protection Planning process was conducted in January 2012. Three open house meetings were held to provide information on the proposed expansion and respond to questions and concerns. The feedback received at the conclusion of the public involvement period identified numerous concerns from a variety of stakeholders. These concerns were organized by five broad issue categories and one administrative category: Ecoregion, Habitat, Wildlife, Visitor Services, and Facilities/Infrastructure Management. CCP Alternatives We Are Considering During the public scoping process with which we started work on this draft CCP, we, other governmental partners, Tribes, and the public, raised multiple issues. Our draft CCP addresses them. A full description of each alternative is in the EA. To address these issues, we developed and evaluated the following alternatives, summarized below. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alternative A--No Alternative B--Proposed Issue topic action action Alternative C ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ecoregion Management Issue 1: Climate Supplement natural Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B Change. forest regeneration plus increase plus increase with restoration restoration efforts; restoration efforts efforts; monitor utilize exchange of above described carbon sequestration; carbon credits; gather levels. conduct education baseline data on programs; and use habitat composition/ ``green'' technologies wildlife diversity; and building products update refuge on all new displays; and increase construction. use of ``green'' technologies. Ecoregion Management Issue 2: Erosion/ Construct/Use a variety Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative A Saltwater Intrusion. of structural and some plus increase the plus increase the restoration techniques types and amounts of types and amounts of at various locations. structural and structural and restoration techniques restoration techniques used. used. Ecoregion Management Issue: 3 Follow direction of Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. Wildland Fire Use. current Fire Management Plan (FMP). Ecoregion Management Issue 4: Work cooperatively with Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. Petroleum Development. companies to minimize impacts to refuge resources. Ecoregion Management Issue 5: Land The Complex will The Complex will Same as Alternative B. Conservation. continue to acquire acquire lands under lands under the 1997 the new Land Austin's Woods Protection Plan up to Conservation Plan 70,000 acres. until the 28,000-acre cap is reached. Habitat Management Issue 1: Gulf Cooperative haying Same as Alternative A, Same as Alternative B Coast Prairie and Marshes-- conducted; wetland and plus increase acreage plus develop seed bank Restoration and Management. farmland of haying, and on prairie restoration rehabilitation. Native increase number of areas. prairie restoration. rehabilitation projects. Increase prairie restoration. Habitat Management Issue 2: Gulf Mechanical, chemical, Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B Coast Prairie and Marshes-- and prescribed fire plus increase the but diversify the Management of Invasive Species use allowed; grazing types and amounts of types of management (Flora). not allowed. management prescriptions used, prescriptions used, including bison including limited grazing. livestock grazing. Habitat Management Issue 3: Gulf Allowed Complex-wide to Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. Coast Prairie and Marshes-- improve habitats and Prescribed Fire Use. reduce hazardous fuels. Habitat Management Issue 4: Gulf Cooperative farming and Same as A, plus Reduce cooperative Coast Prairie and Marshes--Farming force account farming incorporate additional farming acres at Program. occur on all three moist soil units into Brazoria NWR and refuges. farming rotation at eliminate farming at Brazoria NWR. Big Boggy and San Bernard NWRs. Habitat Management Issue 5: Gulf Restore prairie pothole Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B Coast Prairie and Marshes--Water hydrology as plus drill additional plus increase water Management. opportunity arises; wells, and develop new/ availability through use established wells rehabilitate existing the development of to provide freshwater water control partnerships and to moist soil units structures. purchase of water during drought rights; expand periods; and purchase wetlands; and water from various rehabilitate marshes. water authorities annually. [[Page 50525]] Habitat Management Issue 6: Allow natural Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. Bottomland Hardwood Forest-- regeneration; where Restoration. appropriate add supplemental planting of hardwood species; treat invasive species. Habitat Management Issue 7: Restore previously Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. Bottomland Hardwood Forest--Water drained wetlands. Management. Habitat Management Issue 8: Dune and Management of beach Cooperatively work with Same as Alternative B. Beach Management. resources has not been County and General clearly defined due to Land Office (GLO) to recent silting in of provide additional Cedar Lakes Cut and protection on San trespass across upland Bernard Beach vegetation on private restricting type of land to access the Cut. access and activities by visitors that would be compatible with Refuge Purpose. Wildlife Management Issue 1: Implement the Sea Same as A, plus if Same as Alternative B. Threatened and Endangered Species. Turtle Recovery Plan. reintroduction of APC and whooping crane occur, implement APC and whooping crane recovery plans. Wildlife Management Issue 2: Manage a variety of Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. Migratory Bird Species and Species habitats for resting, of Special Management Concern. feeding, and reproductive purposes. Wildlife Management Issue 3: Hunting and trapping Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative A, Management of Invasive Species used to control feral plus release natural but diversify the (Fauna). hogs. Baiting and predators to control types of management broad scale treatments ants. prescriptions used for to control ants. each invasive. Visitor Services Issue 1: Hunting.... Allowed in designated Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B areas for waterfowl, plus provide a youth plus provide a youth deer/feral hog waterfowl hunt; revise population reduction hunt on San Bernard the hunting schedule deer hunt. NWR, and a youth feral at two locations. hog hunt. One permit area and ATV use allowed in designated area for disabled hunters. Visitor Services Issue 2: Fishing.... Allowed on all Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. navigable waters and from designated locations. Visitor Services Issue 3: Wildlife Brazoria and San Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B. Observation. Bernard NWRs open to plus construct wildlife observation; additional photo visitors directed to blinds, new trails, a designated public use boardwalk, and road areas. pull-offs to provide for additional opportunity. Visitor Services Issue 4: Wildlife Photo blind at Hudson Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B. Photography. Woods. plus develop additional photography opportunities. Visitor Services Issue 5: Various programs and Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B. Environmental Education. events conducted. plus increase number of programs conducted and expand programs into additional school districts at San Bernard NWR. Visitor Services Issue 6: One annual 3-day event. Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B. Interpretation. plus expand organized interpretive programs at a variety of Refuge venues on a monthly basis. Visitor Services Issue 7: Historical sites are Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. Preservation of Historic Sites. identified and interpreted in public use areas when appropriate. Visitor Services Issue 8: Entrance No entrance fee Require entrance fee... Provide donation boxes Fee. required. at various public use areas Facilities Issue 1: Visitor Visitor contact station Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative A Orientation. located at Brazoria plus additional plus construct stand- NWR Discovery Center. Visitor Contact alone Visitor Center Station at San Bernard at San Bernard NWR NWR. Field Office. Facilities Issue 2: Visitor Use-- Hiking trail provided Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B. Trails. at Brazoria and San plus construct a new Bernard NWRs. trail at Brazoria NWR Field Office; provide bicycle access at Dow Woods Unit. Facilities Issue 3: Visitor--Non- Canoe/Kayak launches Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative B Motorized Boat Launches Visitor. provided at San plus construct one plus construct two Bernard and Brazoria additional launch. additional launches. NWRs. Facilities Issue 4: Visitor--Signs/ Signs and exhibits at Construct new exhibits Same as Alternative B. Exhibits. Brazoria and San and signs and improve Bernard NWRs. quality and content of existing exhibits and signs. Facilities Issue 5 Visitor--Roadways. Vehicular access Same as Alternative A.. Same as Alternative A. allowed on designated refuge roads. [[Page 50526]] Facilities Issue 6: Administrative-- Recreation vehicle pads Construct new Same as A, plus Volunteer. provided at Brazoria recreation vehicle construct additional and San Bernard NWRs. site at Brazoria NWR, facilities at Brazoria and expand recreation NWR. vehicle sites at San Bernard NWR; include additional facilities at both locations. Facilities Issue 7: Administrative A variety of Construct new Same as Alternative B. Facilities. administrative/ administrative/ maintenance facilities maintenance facilities available at various at various refuges. refuges. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Public Availability of Documents In addition to any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain documents at the following locations:Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters Office, CR 316, Brazoria, TX, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/plansinprogress.html. At the following public libraries: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Library Address Phone number ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brazoria County Library, City 250 Circle Way, Lake 979-297-1271 of Lake Jackson Branch. Jackson, TX 77566. Brazoria County Library, West 518 East Brazos, West 979-345-3394 Columbia Branch. Columbia, TX 77486. Bay City Public Library....... 1100 7th Street, Bay 979-245-6931 City, Texas 77414. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 the comments and address them in the form of a final CCP and 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: August 16, 2012. David Mendias, Regional Director, Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2012-20611 Filed 8-20-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P