[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53086-53087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26396]
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DEPARMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Intent To Issue 2 Final Comprehensive Conservation
Plans, Associated Environmental Assessments, and Findings of No
Significant Impact for 2 National Wildlife Refuges in the Southwest
Region
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) has prepared Final Comprehensive Conservation Plans
(CCP), associated Environmental Assessments (EA), and Findings of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Bitter Lake National Wildlife
Refuge, Roswell, New Mexico, and San Andres National Wildlife Refuge,
Las Cruces, New Mexico pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997, and National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,
and its implementing regulations. The Regional Director, Southwest
Regional Office, upon issuing a FONSI for both the San Andres NWR EA
and the Bitter Lake NWR EA considered ranges of alternatives for each
document.
Approval of the Bitter Lake NWR CCP formalizes six goals which will
result in: (1) Restoration, enhancement, and protection of biological
diversity, land, wildlife and habitat; (2) Restoration of hydrological
resources and improvements to water quality; (3) Provision of
compatible recreational uses; (4) Protection of cultural resources; (5)
Strengthening and maintenance of effective relationships with other
governmental agencies and stakeholders; (6) Improvements to refuge
staffing and funding. Some of the specific changes to the existing
program changes include but are not necessarily limited to the
following strategies:
A restoration of 250 acres of Research Natural Areas and
1000 acres in other areas by removal and control of non-native salt
cedar;
Restoration of over story vegetation near the refuge
headquarters (10 acres) and providing appropriate irrigation;
Restoration of 140 acres of abandoned agricultural fields
as grasslands;
Enhance promotion of environmental education in area
schools and organizations on the value of short grass prairie
ecosystems;
Acquire identified land parcels as appropriate as they
become available on a willing seller basis;
Restoration of 100 acres of habitat associated with 25
gypsum sinkholes;
Conversion of non-productive farmlands to seasonal
wetlands/moist soil units;
Construction and upgrade of all-weather road for wildlife
tour route.
Approval of the San Andres NWR CCP constitutes the definition of
appropriate management approaches and establishment of refuge goals,
objectives and strategies leading to the achievement of the refuge's
purposes and mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The CCP
formalizes six goals which will result in: (1) Restoration,
enhancement, and protection of biological diversity, land, wildlife and
habitat; (2) Protection of archeological and cultural resources; (3)
Provision of increased wildlife education and interpretation
initiatives; (4) Strengthening and maintenance of effective
relationships with other governmental agencies and stakeholders; (5)
Improvements to refuge staffing and funding. Approval of the San Andres
NWR CCP establishes a management program inclusive of the following
objectives:
Enhancing refuge baseline biological data collection;
Establishing and protecting an augmentable scabies free
desert bighorn population;
Reducing and eliminating non-native plant and animal
species:
Implementing cost effective fire management strategies for
habitat protection and enhancement;
Continuing cultural resource inventory and monitoring
efforts;
Continuing effective educational outreach;
Improving coordination efforts with other agencies and
stakeholders; and,
Improving use of internal budgetary reporting mechanisms
to achieve effecting staffing and facilities levels.
In order to achieve the above objectives, the San Andres NWR CCP
establishes the following strategies:
Continue herpetofauna surveys;
Continue to mist net and band neotropical migratory birds;
Conduct point count surveys of neotropical migratory
birds;
Conduct small mammals surveys to improve baseline data;
Conduct annual mule deer and mountain lion surveys to
determine population trends and effects on bighorn sheep habitat;
Continue cooperative efforts with WSMR regarding Land
Condition Trend Analysis program transects;
Gather air quality data from air quality stations on the
refuge;
Participate with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in
efforts
[[Page 53087]]
to transplant and track radio collared sentinel rams;
Conduct and promote research on scabies mite in the San
Andres Mountains;
Determine effects of ungulate encroachment and consider
establishment of special depredation hunts;
Reduce salt cedar refuge-wide by at least 20% using
various methods of extraction;
Develop prescribe burn proposals for portions of Bennett
Mountain, Black Brushy Mountain and San Andres Mountain approximately
5,000 acres);
Monitor and evaluate effects of burning strategies;
Engage in public outreach to foster better understandings
of refuge fire management efforts;
Conduct Global Positioning System (GPS) survey of known
archeological and historic sites;
Construct shelters for historical sites in jeopardy from
natural degradation;
Participate in cooperative effort with state and federal
agencies to establish an off site visitor center that would emphasize
refuge resources and those of other jurisdictions;
Construct an information kiosk and associated interpretive
information at the San Augustine Pass parking area;
Improve interagency coordinating efforts; and,
Secure needed staffing, funding, and facilities to assist
in the implementation efforts to achieve plan goals and objectives.
Based on a review and evaluation of the information contained in
the CCP and EA for Bitter Lake NWR and San Andres NWR, the Regional
Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has
determined that the approval of the individual or cumulative approaches
reflected in the respective Proposed Alternatives and CCP Goals,
Objectives and Strategies, is not deemed to constitute a major Federal
action which would significantly affect the quality of the human
environment within the meaning of Section 102(2)(c) of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Therefore, an Environmental Impact
Statement is not required. However, it is the intent of the Service to
revisit questions of potential significant environmental consequences
in accordance with NEPA upon consideration of the implementation of
site specific proposals called for and discussed in the final plan
document.
ADDRESSES: Copies may be obtained by writing to: Mr. Tom Baca, Natural
Resource Planner, Division of Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
P. O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103-1306.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is Service policy to have all lands
within the National Wildlife Refuge System managed in accordance with
an approved CCP. The CCP guides management decisions and identifies
refuge goals, long-range objectives, and strategies for achieving
refuge purposes. The planning process has considered many elements,
including habitat and wildlife management, habitat protection and
acquisition, public and recreational uses, and cultural resources.
Public input into this planning process has assisted in the development
of these documents. The CCP will provide other agencies and the public
with a clear understanding of the desired conditions for the Refuges
and how the Service will implement management strategies.
The Service considered comments and advice generated in response to
draft documents issued July 1998. The Service is furnishing this notice
in compliance with Service CCP policy to advise other agencies and the
public of the availability of the final documents.
Dated: September 25, 1998.
Nancy M. Kaufman,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 98-26396 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
