Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 77 / Monday, April 23, 2007 / Notices 20133 

DATES: A Record of Decision may be 

signed no sooner than 30 days after 

publication of this notice (40 CFR 

1506.10(b)(2)). 

ADDRESSES: Copies of the CCP are 

available on compact disk or in hard 

copy, and can be obtained by writing: 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, John 

Slown, Division of Planning, P.O. Box 

1306, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Roger DiRosa, Refuge Manager, Cabeza 

Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, 1611 

North Second Street, Ajo, Arizona 

85321; 520–387–4993 or John Slown 

(See ADDRESSES), telephone: 505–248–

7458; or e-mail to john_slown@fws.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge 

is located in Pima and Yuma Counties 

in southwestern Arizona. This 860,010 

acre Refuge is comprised of several 

northwest to southeast trending 

mountain ranges separated by broad 

alluvial valleys. Located in the heart of 

the Sonoran Desert, the Refuge’s 

habitats support a diversity of desert 

wildlife. 

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife 

Refuge was withdrawn from the public 

domain by Executive Order 8038 in 

1939, and set apart ‘‘* * * for the 

conservation and development of 

natural wildlife resources, and for the 

protection and improvement of public 

grazing lands and natural forage 

resources * * * Provided, however, that 

all the forage resources in excess of that 

required to maintain a balanced wildlife 

population within this range or preserve 

should be available for livestock.’’ When 

the last grazing leases on the Refuge 

expired in 1981 the grazing purpose of 

the Refuge was no longer valid. The 

Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990 

designated 803,418 acres of the Refuge, 

or approximately 93 percent of the 

Refuge area, as federal wilderness. 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee et seq.), requires the 

Service to develop a CCP for each 

National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose 

of developing CCPs is to provide refuge 

managers with a 15-year strategy for 

achieving refuge purposes and 

contributing toward the mission of the 

National Wildlife Refuge System, 

consistent with sound principles of fish 

and wildlife science, conservation, legal 

mandates, and Service policies. In 

addition to outlining broad management 

direction on conserving wildlife and 

their habitats, the CCPs identify 

wildlife-dependent recreational 

opportunities available to the public, 

including opportunities for hunting, 

fishing, wildlife observation and 

photography, and environmental 

education and interpretation. These 

CCPs will be reviewed and updated at 

least every 15 years in accordance with 

the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997. 

The availability of Cabeza Prieta 

National Wildlife Refuge’s Draft CCP, 

WSP and EIS for public review and 

comment was announced in the Federal 

Register on March 16, 2005 (70 FR 

12895–12896), the comment period 

closed on August 15, 2005. The Draft 

CCP, WSP and EIS propose and evaluate 

five management alternatives for the 

Refuge. All management alternatives 

implement recovery actions for the 

Endangered Sonoran pronghorn. The 

alternatives differ primarily in the level 

of active management intervention 

proposed to support the desert bighorn 

sheep. The first alternative is ‘‘no 

action’’ or continuance of current 

Refuge management. Under this 

alternative, the Refuge would continue 

to offer a limited desert bighorn sheep 

hunt each year in cooperation with the 

Arizona Game and Fish Department. 

Refuge staff would continue to maintain 

and supply supplemental water to 

existing developed waters in desert 

bighorn sheep habitat. The second 

alternative focuses on limiting 

management interventions within 

Refuge wilderness. Under this 

alternative, developed wildlife waters in 

sheep habitat within the Refuge 

wilderness would not be maintained or 

supplied with supplemental water. The 

desert bighorn sheep hunt would also be 

discontinued. The third alternative 

includes limited management 

intervention in wilderness. Under this 

alternative, the Refuge would supply 

supplemental water to developed waters 

in sheep habitat within Refuge 

wilderness only during periods of 

severe drought. The desert bighorn 

sheep hunt would be continued, but no 

hunting would be allowed during years 

of severe drought. The fourth 

alternative, identified as the Service’s 

preferred alternative, would allow 

continued maintenance and water 

supply to existing developed waters in 

sheep habitat within Refuge wilderness 

and would include projects to increase 

the water collection efficiency of such 

waters. The Refuge desert bighorn sheep 

hunt program would continue 

unchanged under this alternative. The 

fifth alternative would include the 

maximum management intervention 

within Refuge wilderness. Under this 

alternative all existing developed waters 

in Refuge wilderness would be 

maintained and supplied with water, 

and new developed waters would be 

created. The desert bighorn sheep hunt 

program would continue unchanged 

under this alternative. 

Dated: August 3, 2006. 

Larry G. Bell, 

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

This document was received at the Office 

of the Federal Register on April 18, 2007. 

[FR Doc. E7–7643 Filed 4–20–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Notice of Availability of Final 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

(CCP) for Salt Plains National Wildlife 

Refuge, Jet, OK 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Department of the Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (Service) announces that the 

Final CCP is available for Salt Plains 

National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). This 

CCP was prepared pursuant to the 

National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997, and the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969. Goals and objectives in the CCP 

describe how the Service intends to 

manage the Refuge over the next 15 

years. 

ADDRESSES: Copies of the CCP are 

available on compact disk or in hard 

copy, and can be obtained by writing: 

Chris Perez, Natural Resource Planner, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Route 2, 

Box 202A, Alamo, Texas 78516. The 

CCP may also be available for viewing 

or downloaded online at: http:// 

www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/plan/ 

index.html. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon 

M. Brock, Refuge Manager, Salt Plains 

National Wildlife Refuge, Route 1, P.O. 

Box 76, Jet, Oklahoma 73749: telephone: 

580–626–4794; or Chris Perez (See 

ADDRESSES), telephone: 956–784–7553; 

e-mail: chris_perez@fws.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Salt 

Plains National Wildlife Refuge is 

located on the Salt Fork of the Arkansas 

River at the Great Salt Plains Lake in 

north-central Oklahoma. This 32,028 

acre refuge is roughly equal parts of 

upland, open water, and salt flats at the 


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20134 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 77 / Monday, April 23, 2007 / Notices 

confluence of several streams and rivers 

making it one of the most important 

migratory bird stopover, wintering, and 

nesting habitats in the Central Great 

Plains region. Three federally listed 

species use the Refuge on a seasonal 

basis. Federally endangered whooping 

cranes use the Refuge as a key migratory 

stopover and feeding area and the 

Refuge is designated critical habitat for 

the crane (43 FR 20938, May 15, 1978). 

Least terns nest in large numbers every 

year on the salt flats and threatened bald 

eagles winter on the Refuge. It was 

originally established on March 26, 

1930 by Executive Order No. 5314 

‘‘* * * as a refuge and breeding 

grounds for birds.’’

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee et seq.), requires the 

Service to develop a CCP for each 

national wildlife refuge. The purpose of 

developing CCPs is to provide refuge 

managers with a 15-year strategy for 

achieving refuge purposes and 

contributing toward the mission of the 

National Wildlife Refuge System, 

consistent with sound principles of fish 

and wildlife science, conservation, legal 

mandates, and Service policies. In 

addition to outlining broad management 

direction on conserving wildlife and 

their habitats, the CCPs identify 

wildlife-dependent recreational 

opportunities available to the public, 

including opportunities for hunting, 

fishing, wildlife observation and 

photography, and environmental 

education and interpretation. These 

CCPs will be reviewed and updated at 

least every 15 years in accordance with 

the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997, and the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969. 

The availability of the Draft CCP and 

Environmental Assessment (EA) for a 

60-day public review and comment 

period was announced in the Federal 

Register on November 21, 2005 (70 FR 

70089). The Draft CCP/EA identified 

and evaluated three alternatives for 

managing the Refuge for the next 15 

years. Alternative A, the No Action 

Alternative, would have continued 

current management of the Refuge. 

Alterative B, the Preferred Alternative, 

emphasized an updated and integrated 

approach to protecting, maintaining, 

and restoring native habitats for 

migratory birds, waterfowl, federally 

listed species, and resident wildlife. The 

public use program would be improved 

by providing increased opportunities for 

public uses, environmental education, 

and interpretation. This alternative also 

called for expanding partnership 

opportunities to help accomplish the 

vision and goals of the Refuge. 

Alternative C proposed to provide a 

greater emphasis on expanding public 

uses such as all types of hunting, hiking, 

and necessary facilities such as 

additional roads and trails for optimal 

access. Based on this assessment and 

comments received, the Preferred 

Alternative (Alternative B) was selected 

for implementation. This alternative 

was selected because it best meets the 

purposes and goals of the Refuge, as 

well as the goals of the National 

Wildlife Refuge System. Management of 

the Refuge for the next 15 years will 

focus on encouraging ecological 

integrity, restoring habitats such as 

native prairie, controlling invasive plant 

species, protecting federally listed 

species such as the whooping crane, 

least tern, and bald eagle, and 

enhancing habitat for grassland birds, 

waterfowl, and other resident wildlife. 

Opportunities for wildlife-dependent 

activities such as hunting, fishing, 

wildlife observation, photography, 

environmental education, and 

interpretation will be enhanced. 

Partnerships with county, State, and 

Federal agencies, private landowners, 

and conservation groups will also 

enable the refuge to achieve its goals 

and objectives, minimize costs, and 

bridge relationships with other 

stakeholder. 

Dated: August 3, 2006. 

Larry G. Bell, 

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

This document was received at the Office 

of the Federal Register on April 18, 2007. 

[FR Doc. E7–7635 Filed 4–20–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 

and Plants; 5-Year Reviews of 24 

Southwestern Species 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of reviews. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (Service) announces 5-year 

reviews of 24 southwestern species 

listed under the Endangered Species Act 

of 1973 (Act). The purpose of reviews 

conducted under this section of the Act 

is to ensure that the classification of 

species as threatened or endangered on 

the List of Endangered and Threatened 

Wildlife and Plants is accurate. The 5- 

year review is an assessment of the best 

scientific and commercial data available 

at the time of the review. 

DATES: To allow adequate time to 

conduct this review, information 

submitted for our consideration must be 

received on or before July 23, 2007. 

However, we will continue to accept 

new information about any listed 

species at any time. 

ADDRESSES: Information submitted on 

these species should be sent to the 

Service at the following addresses. 

Information received in response to this 

notice of review will be available for 

public inspection by appointment, 

during normal business hours, at the 

same addresses. 

Information regarding the Bee Creek 

Cave harvestman (reddelli), Bone Cave 

harvestman (reyesi), Coffin Cave mold 

beetle, Kretschmarr Cave beetle, Tooth 

Cave pseudoscorpion, Tooth Cave 

spider, Devils River minnow, Largefruited sand verbena, and Texas 

snowbells should be sent to the Field 

Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin 

Ecological Services Field Office, 10711 

Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 

78758. The office phone number is 512–

490–0057. 

Information regarding Attwater’s 

prairie chicken should be sent to the 

Refuge Manager, Attention 5-year 

Review, Attwater Prairie Chicken 

National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 519, 

Eagle Lake, Texas 77434. The office 

phone number is 979–234–3278, and 

web address is: http:// 

southwest.fws.gov/refuges/texas/ 

attwater/. 

Information regarding the Chiricahua 

leopard frog, New Mexico ridge-nosed 

rattlesnake, Gila topminnow, Loach 

minnow, Spikedace, Arizona cliffrose, 

Nichol Turk’s head cactus, San 

Francisco Peaks groundsel, and Sentry 

milkvetch should be sent to the Field 

Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona 

Ecological Services Field Office, 2321 

West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, 

Phoenix, AZ 85021. The office phone 

number is 602–242–0210. 

Information regarding Walker’s 

manioc should be sent to the Field 

Supervisor, Attention 5-year Review, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service c/o 

TAMU–CC, Ecological Services, 6300 

Ocean Drive, Unit 5837, Corpus Christi, 

TX 78412. The office phone number is 

361–994–9005. 

Information regarding the Ouachita 

rock-pocketbook clam should be sent to 

the Field Supervisor, Attention 5-year 


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