14042 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2011 / Notices 

Comments may refer to both broad areas 

or may refer to particular blocks. 

6. Information from Call 

Information submitted in response to 

this Call will be used for several 

purposes, including identifying and 

prioritizing areas with potential for oil 

and gas development as well as 

determining possible environmental 

effects and potential conflicts in the Call 

area. The areas nominated in the 

proposed sales, their respective 

rankings, and comments will be 

analyzed to make a preliminary 

determination of the potential 

advantages and disadvantages of oil and 

gas exploration and development to the 

region and the Nation. Comments 

collected will be used to develop 

proposed actions and alternatives in the 

EIS scoping process, to develop lease 

terms and conditions to ensure safe 

offshore operations, and to assess 

potential conflicts between offshore gas 

and oil activities and a State CMP. 

7. Existing Information 

BOEMRE routinely assesses the status 

of information acquisition efforts and 

the quality of the information base for 

potential decisions on tentatively 

scheduled lease sales. As a result of this 

continually ongoing assessment, it has 

been determined that the status of the 

existing and extensive data available for 

planning, analysis, and decision making 

is adequate. 

An extensive environmental studies 

program has been underway in the GOM 

since 1973. The emphasis, including 

continuing studies, has been on 

environmental characterization of 

biologically sensitive habitats, physical 

oceanography, ocean-circulation 

modeling, and ecological effects of oil 

and gas activities. 

A complete listing of available study 

reports, and information for ordering 

copies, can be obtained from the Public 

Information Office referenced above. 

The reports may also be ordered, for a 

fee, from the U.S. Department of 

Commerce, National Technical 

Information Service, 5301 Shawnee 

Road, Springfield, Virginia 22312, or 

telephone (703) 605–6000 or (800) 553– 

6847. In addition, a program status 

report for continuing studies in this area 

can be obtained from the Chief, 

Environmental Sciences Section (MS 

5430), Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management, Regulation and 

Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS 

Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, 

New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394, or 

telephone (504) 736–2752, or via the 

BOEMRE Web site at: http://

www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/

regulate/environ/studiesprogram.html. 

8. Tentative Schedule 

MILESTONES FOR MULTISALE EIS FOR PROPOSED 2012–2017 CENTRAL AND WESTERN GOM PLANNING AREA SALES

Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare a Multisale EIS ........................................................................................................................ February 2011. 

Call for Information and Nominations ........................................................................................................................................... March 2011. 

Comments received on NOI ......................................................................................................................................................... March/April 2011. 

Comments received on Call .......................................................................................................................................................... April 2011. 

Area Identification Decision .......................................................................................................................................................... May/June 2011. 

Draft EIS published ....................................................................................................................................................................... Summer 2011. 

Public Hearings on Draft EIS ........................................................................................................................................................ Fall 2011. 

Final EIS ........................................................................................................................................................................................ Spring 2012. 

9. Sale Milestones 

The following is a list of tentative 

milestone dates applicable to lease sales 

covered by this Call: 

SALE-SPECIFIC MILESTONES FOR PROPOSED 2012–2017 CENTRAL AND WESTERN GOM PLANNING AREA SALES

Request for Information to Begin Lease Sale Specific Process .............................................................. 12 months before each lease sale. 

Environmental Review Completed ............................................................................................................ 5 to 7 months before each lease sale. 

Proposed Notice and CZM Consistency Determination ........................................................................... 5 months before each lease sale. 

Final Notice of Sale ................................................................................................................................... 1 month before each lease sale. 

Finally, the tentative months for GOM 

lease sales during 2012–2017 are: 

Central GOM Sales: March of each 

year. 

Western GOM Sales: November 

2012. August of each year thereafter. 

Dated: February 28, 2011. 

Michael R. Bromwich, 

Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy, 

Management, Regulation and Enforcement. 

[FR Doc. 2011–5953 Filed 3–14–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R6–R–2011–N014]; 60138–1265– 

6CCP–S3] 

San Luis Valley National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex, Alamosa, CO; 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 

Environmental Impact Statement 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), intend to 

prepare a Comprehensive Conservation 

Plan (CCP) and an Environmental 

Impact Statement (EIS) for the San Luis 

Valley National Wildlife Refuge 

Complex (Complex) in Alamosa, 

Colorado. The Complex comprises Baca, 

Monte Vista, and Alamosa National 

Wildlife Refuges (NWRs).We provide 

this notice in compliance with our CCP 

policy to advise other Federal and State 

agencies, Tribes, and the public of our 

intentions, and to obtain suggestions 

and information on the scope of issues 

to consider in the planning process. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, please 

send your written comments by April 

29, 2011. Submit comments by one of 

the methods under ADDRESSES. We will 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2011 / Notices 14043 

announce opportunities for public input 

in local news media throughout the CCP 

process. 

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or 

requests for more information by any of 

the following methods. 

E-mail: SLVrefuges@fws.gov. Include 

‘‘San Luis Valley National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex CCP’’ in the subject line 

of the message. 

Fax: Attn: Laurie Shannon, Planning 

Team Leader, 303/236–4792. 

U.S. Mail: Laurie Shannon, Planning 

Team Leader, Division of Refuge 

Planning, P.O. Box 25486, Denver, CO 

80225–0486. 

In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off 

comments during regular business hours 

at the above address, or at the San Luis 

Valley National Wildlife Refuge 

Complex administrative office located at 

8249 Emperius Road, Alamosa, CO 

81101. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Laurie Shannon, 303/236–4317 (phone) 

or laurie_shannon@fws.gov (e-mail); or 

David C. Lucas, Chief, Division of 

Planning, 303/236–4366 (phone), P.O. 

Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, 

Denver, CO 80225–0486. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we initiate our 

process for developing a CCP for the San 

Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge 

Complex in Alamosa, CO. This notice 

complies with our CCP policy to (1) 

advise other Federal and State agencies, 

Tribes, and the public of our intention 

to conduct detailed planning on this 

refuge and (2) to obtain suggestions and 

information on the scope of issues to 

consider in the environmental 

document and during development of 

the CCP. 

Background 

The CCP Process 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

(16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee) 

(Administration Act) 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 

(NWRS), 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 wildlifedependent recreational opportunities 

available to the public, including, where 

appropriate, 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 

Administration Act. 

Each unit of the NWRS was 

established for specific purposes. We 

use these purposes as the foundation for 

developing and prioritizing the 

management goals and objectives for 

each refuge within the NWRS and to 

determine how the public can use each 

refuge. The planning process is a way 

for us and the public to evaluate 

management goals and objectives that 

will ensure the best possible approach 

to wildlife, plant, and habitat 

conservation, while providing for 

wildlife-dependent recreation 

opportunities that are compatible with 

each refuge’s establishing purposes and 

the mission of the NWRS. 

Our CCP process provides 

participation opportunities for Tribal, 

State, and local governments; agencies; 

organizations; and the public. At this 

time we encourage input in the form of 

issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions 

for the future management of the San 

Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge 

Complex. 

We will conduct the environmental 

review of this project and develop an 

EIS in accordance with the requirements 

of the National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA regulations 

(40 CFR parts 1500–1508 and 43 CFR 

part 46); other appropriate Federal laws 

and regulations; and our policies and 

procedures for compliance with those 

laws and regulations. 

San Luis Valley National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex 

The San Luis Valley National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex is composed of three 

national wildlife refuges (NWRs): Monte 

Vista, Alamosa, and Baca. These NWRs 

are located in the San Luis Valley, a 

high mountain basin located in Rio 

Grande, Alamosa, and Saguache 

Counties, Colorado. Monte Vista NWR, 

authorized in 1952, and Alamosa NWR, 

authorized in 1962, were set aside under 

the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 

U.S.C. 715D) for ‘‘use as inviolate 

sanctuaries, or for any other 

management purpose, for migratory 

birds.’’ Baca NWR was authorized in 

2000 with passage of Public Law 106– 

530, also known as the ‘‘Great Sand 

Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 

2000.’’ In 2008, Congress amended the 

act and established the purposes of the 

Baca NWR to ‘‘restore, enhance, and 

maintain wetland, upland, riparian, and 

other habitats for native wildlife, plant, 

and fish species in the San Luis Valley.’’ 

In administering the Baca NWR, the 

Service is required to the maximum 

extent practicable to emphasize 

migratory bird conservation; take into 

consideration the role of the refuge in 

broader landscape conservation efforts; 

and, subject to any other agreement or 

the purposes of the refuge, use decreed 

water rights on the refuge in 

approximately the same manner that the 

water rights have been used historically. 

A wide variety of habitats are found 

across the three refuges, including wet 

meadows, playa wetlands, riparian areas 

within the flood plain of the Rio 

Grande, desert shrublands and 

grasslands, and croplands. Totaling 

about 106,000 acres, the refuges are an 

important stopover for numerous 

migratory birds. The refuges support 

many groups of nesting, migrating, and 

wintering birds, including grebes, 

herons, ibis, ducks, geese, hawks, 

eagles, falcons, shorebirds, owls, 

songbirds, and others. Nearly 20,000 

sandhill cranes spend several weeks in 

the San Luis Valley during the spring 

and fall migrations, feeding and resting 

to replace critical fat reserves. Among 

the cranes that make a stopover are 

about 95 percent of the Rocky Mountain 

population of greater sandhill cranes 

and a portion of the midcontinent 

population of sandhill cranes. The 

Federally endangered southwestern 

willow flycatcher, a small neo-tropical 

bird species, is found fairly frequently 

in the willow-cottonwood corridor 

along the Rio Grande on Alamosa NWR. 

Additionally, there are several other 

Federal and State species of concern, 

including the Rio Grande sucker, Rio 

Grande chub, the Northern leopard frog, 

and other species that are found within 

or adjacent to the refuges. Many species 

of mammals also use the refuges, 

including elk, deer, coyote, porcupine, 

and other small mammals. 

Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, 

and Opportunities 

There are a number of issues, 

concerns, and opportunities for the San 

Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge 

Complex. A few of these are briefly 

described. 

Although Congress significantly 

expanded the Service’s acquisition 

authority and subsequent management 

responsibilities in the San Luis Valley, 

to date, funding for operation of the 

Baca NWR has been limited. This has 

posed a number of challenges for the 

refuge staff in the management of refuge 

operations across the complex. The 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
14044 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2011 / Notices 

Service will identify ways to increase 

management efficiencies, prioritize, and 

look for creative solutions during the 

planning process. 

Since the late 1980s, increasing 

numbers of elk have been using Monte 

Vista and Alamosa NWRs during the fall 

and winter months. Similarly, elk 

numbers on the Baca NWR and adjacent 

Federal and private lands have been an 

ongoing concern in the valley. The 

Colorado Division of Wildlife estimates 

the elk population in game management 

unit 82 to be about 5,000 elk. Generally 

this population travels between Baca 

NWR, neighboring National Park 

Service lands, and The Nature 

Conservancy lands, both inside and 

outside the authorized boundary of Baca 

NWR, along with other surrounding 

private lands and Federal lands. 

Although it is unclear to what extent 

biological carrying capacities are being 

reached or exceeded, there has been 

substantial impact occurring on riparian 

areas along with crop depredation on 

private lands. Many stakeholders agree 

that a coordinated approach is needed 

for elk management. 

There has also been interest in the 

reintroduction of bison on Baca NWR. 

Whether the refuge could support freeroaming bison without negatively 

affecting other species will need to be 

evaluated and determined during the 

CCP process. 

All the refuges were set aside largely 

for the protection of migratory birds; 

therefore water management has been 

an important tool in providing food and 

cover for birds. Climate change data is 

showing a pattern of decreasing 

precipitation and increasing 

temperatures in the San Luis Valley. 

This pattern may shift habitats, 

requiring greater flexibility in future 

land management of the refuges. Water 

management, including quantity, 

quality, and movement of water, is a 

complex issue that needs to be 

addressed. 

The Service is also proposing to study 

the potential for a landscape-level 

strategic habitat conservation initiative 

within the Southern Rockies Landscape 

Conservation Cooperative, a network of 

partnerships working in unison to 

ensure the sustainability of America’s 

land, water, wildlife and cultural 

resources. The study would analyze the 

potential protection of about 430,000 

acres primarily through conservation 

easements and limited fee-title 

acquisition in the San Luis Valley. 

We request input on these issues and 

other concerns affecting refuge 

management or public use during the 

planning process. We are especially 

interested in receiving public input in 

the following areas: 

(a) What suggestions do you have for 

managing migratory birds on the refuges 

in the face of climate change and 

declining precipitation? 

(b) What ideas do you have regarding 

visitor services and wildlife-dependent 

public uses on the refuges, particularly 

Baca NWR, which is currently closed to 

any public use? 

(c) What changes, if any, would you 

like to see in the management of 

Alamosa and Monte Vista NWRs? 

(d) What concerns do you have 

regarding the additional protection of 

wildlife and wetland habitat in the San 

Luis Valley? Can the use of conservation 

easements protect important wildlife 

resources in the valley? 

(e) What concerns do you have 

regarding ungulate management on the 

refuges or the reintroduction of species 

such as bison? 

We provide the above questions for 

your optional use. We have no 

requirement that you provide 

information; however, any comments 

the planning team receives will be used 

as part of the planning process. 

Public Meetings 

We will give the public an 

opportunity to provide input at a public 

meeting. You can obtain the schedule 

from the planning team leader (see 

ADDRESSES). We will announce 

opportunities for public input in local 

news media throughout the CCP 

process. You may also send comments 

anytime during the planning process by 

U.S. mail, e-mail, or fax (see 

ADDRESSES). There will be additional 

opportunities to provide public input 

once we have prepared a draft CCP. 

Public Availability of Comments 

Any comments we receive will 

become part of the administrative record 

and may be available to the public. 

Before submitting comments that 

include your address, phone number, 

e-mail address, or other personal 

identifying information, you should be 

aware that your entire comment, 

including your personal identifying 

information, may be made publicly 

available at any time. While you may 

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 15, 2011. 

Noreen E. Walsh, 

Deputy Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie 

Region, Denver, CO. 

[FR Doc. 2011–5924 Filed 3–14–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R8–FHC–2011–N044; 81331–1334– 

8TWG–W4] 

Trinity Adaptive Management Working 

Group 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Trinity Adaptive 

Management Working Group (TAMWG) 

affords stakeholders the opportunity to 

give policy, management, and technical 

input concerning Trinity River 

(California) restoration efforts to the 

Trinity Management Council (TMC). 

The TMC interprets and recommends 

policy, coordinates and reviews 

management actions, and provides 

organizational budget oversight. This 

notice announces a TAMWG meeting, 

which is open to the public. 

DATES: TAMWG will meet from 9:30 

a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 

2011. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Trinity County Library, 351 Main 

Street, Weaverville, CA 96093. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Meeting Information: Randy A. Brown, 

TAMWG Designated Federal Officer, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1655 

Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521; 

telephone: (707) 822–7201. Trinity River 

Restoration Program (TRRP) 

Information: Jennifer Faler, Acting 

Executive Director, Trinity River 

Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, 

1313 South Main Street, Weaverville, 

CA 96093; telephone: (530) 623–1800; 

e-mail: jfaler@usbr.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 

section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), this 

notice announces a meeting of the 

TAMWG. The meeting will include 

discussion of the following topics: 

• Annual flow release schedule, 

• New TAMWG charter, 

• Acting Executive Director’s Report, 

• Channel rehabilitation policies, 

• TRRP performance measures, 

• Membership update, 

• Election of TAMWG chair and vicechair for 2011, and 

• TAMWG bylaws. 

Completion of the agenda is 

dependent on the amount of time each 

item takes. The meeting could end early 

if the agenda has been completed. 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES