[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51205-51206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20234]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2013-N058; FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000]
Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, PR; Final Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for the
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the final comprehensive conservation plan and finding
of no significant impact for the environmental assessment (Final CCP/
FONSI) for Culebra National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in the municipality
of Culebra, Puerto Rico. In the Final CCP/FONSI, we describe how we
will manage this refuge for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the Final CCP/FONSI by writing to:
Ms. Ana Rom[aacute]n, via U.S. mail at P.O. Box 510, Boquer[oacute]n,
PR 00622. Alternatively, you may download the document from our
Internet Site at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning under ``Final
Documents.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ana Rom[aacute]n, at 787/851-7258
(telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Culebra NWR. We
started the process through a notice in the Federal Register on
December 19, 2008 (73 FR 77827). For more about the refuge and planning
process, please see that notice.
Culebra NWR is located within the municipality of Culebra, Puerto
Rico, and consists of several units on the main island of Culebra and
numerous small islands surrounding Culebra.
Background
The CCP Process
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, wildlife photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration
Act.
Comments
We made copies of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment (Draft CCP/EA) available for a 30-day public
review and comment period via a Federal Register notice on July 11,
2012 (77 FR 40895). We received comments on the Draft CCP/EA from two
Federal agencies, nine non-governmental organizations, and eight
members of the general public. Some of the comments we received dealt
with the following: (1) Controlling access and utilization of Culebrita
beaches; (2) ensuring a consistent policy for special use permits; (3)
clarifying all unresolved boundary issues; (4) developing plans to
repair the Observation Point at Punta Flamenco; (5) increasing funding
for sea turtle projects; (6) controlling or eliminating invasive
species; (7) developing hiking trails; and (8) permitting the
development of renewable energy projects (i.e., particularly wind
energy) on the refuge.
CCP Alternatives, Including Our Preferred Alternative
We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge
(Alternatives A, B, and C), with Alternative C selected for
implementation. This alternative expands both wildlife and habitat
management and public use activities.
The preferred alternative provides for expanded seasonal surveys to
determine seabird abundance, research on nesting success, manipulation
of vegetation to improve nesting habitat, and control of invasive
predators.
We will also continue surveys and protection of sea turtles,
develop and implement annual surveys for resident and migratory birds,
and establish additional populations of two species of listed plants--
Pepperomia wheelerii and Leptocereus grantianus.
This management action also calls for restoring hydrology to areas
of degraded mangrove habitat and restoring dry forest through selective
invasive species removal and planting of propagated trees. We will also
intensify efforts at invasive species control and eradication and
pursue habitat restoration on offshore cays.
Within 5 years of the date of the Final CCP/FONSI, we will clearly
delineate all refuge boundaries, work to resolve boundary issues, and
pursue opportunities for boundary expansion through acquisitions from
willing sellers. We will also complete and begin to implement a
cultural resources management plan.
We will maintain our current schedule of being open to the public
during daylight hours only. Working with the Army Corps of Engineers to
determine safety of areas cleared of unexploded ordnance, we will
evaluate the potential for opening additional areas to the public,
considering both safety and biological factors. We will continue to
permit water taxis under special use permit for access to cays. We will
also develop partnerships to restore and reopen the Observation Post
for
[[Page 51206]]
environmental research and/or education purposes.
We will continue to provide for opportunistic wildlife observation
and photography opportunities. We will develop additional public use
facilities, such as trails, towers, boardwalks, and blinds, to increase
opportunities for wildlife observation and photography. We will also
develop environmental education and interpretation programs and
materials (e.g., curriculum, teacher training) to be used both on and
off the refuge.
Based on the availability of funding, we will add the following
positions: Public use specialist, biologist, one full-time and one
part-time biological technician, and maintenance worker.
This management action provides for the maintenance of all current
equipment and facilities, including two boats and the office and
residence buildings. It also provides for the development and
maintenance of additional trails, towers, boardwalks, blinds, and the
construction of a new headquarters/visitor contact station.
We will facilitate the formation of a friends group, increase
cooperation with partners in habitat and wildlife management and public
use, and establish formal agreements.
Contingent upon adding a public use specialist, we will develop and
begin to implement a communication's plan.
Authority
This notice is published under the authority of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et
seq.).
Dated: April 25, 2013.
Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-20234 Filed 8-19-13; 8:45 am]
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