9692 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices 

public use program. About a third to 

half as many new observation facilities 

(trails, viewing overlooks, etc.) would 

have been added as under Alternative 2, 

due to staffing and funding resources 

being directed toward refuge farming 

activity. The current area closed to 

public access on all three refuges would 

have remained closed, in order to 

provide sanctuary during the wintering 

waterfowl season, except for the 

proposed change at Snag Boat Bend as 

described in Alternative 2 above. 

Fishing access to the Willamette River 

would have been provided through a 

canoe launch at Snag Boat Bend Unit; 

however, bank fishing access would not 

have been provided. 

Deer hunting, threatened and 

endangered species management, 

environmental education, elk 

management, cultural resources, 

subsequent land protection planning, 

and conservation partnership activity 

would have occurred as under 

Alternative 2. 

Comments 

We solicited comments on the draft 

CCP/EA from May 25, 2011, to June 24, 

2011 (76 FR 30382; May 25, 2011). A 

total of 27 separate communications 

from 25 different commenters (two 

commenters submitted two letters each) 

were received regarding the draft CCP/ 

EA. To address public comments, 

responsive changes and clarifications 

were made to the final CCP where 

appropriate. These changes are 

summarized in the FONSI. 

Selected Alternative 

After considering the comments 

received, we have selected Alternative 2 

for implementation. The goals, 

objectives, and strategies under 

Alternative 2 best achieve the purpose 

and need for the CCP while maintaining 

balance among the varied management 

needs and programs. Alternative 2 

addresses the refuge purposes, issues, 

and relevant mandates, and is consistent 

with principles of sound fish and 

wildlife management. 

Dated: October 20, 2011. 

Robyn Thorson, 

Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, 

Oregon. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3759 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R1–R–2011–N228;1265–0000–10137– 

S3] 

Kea ̄lia Pond National Wildlife Refuge 

and Kakahai‘a National Wildlife 

Refuge, Maui County, HI; Final 

Comprehensive Conservation Plans 

and Findings of No Significant Impact 

for the Environmental Assessments 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 

availability of our final comprehensive 

conservation plans (CCPs) and findings 

of no significant impacts for the 

environmental assessments for the 

Kea ̄lia Pond National Wildlife Refuge 

(refuge or NWR) and Kakahai‘a National 

Wildlife Refuge. In the final CCPs, we 

describe how we plan to manage these 

refuges for the next 15 years. 

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain 

copies of the final CCPs and findings of 

no significant impacts (FONSIs) and 

environmental assessments (EAs) by any 

of the following methods. You may 

request a hard copy or CD–ROM. 

Agency Web Site: Download the 

documents at www.fws.gov/pacific/ 

planning. 

Email: 

FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. 

Include ‘‘Kea ̄lia Pond NWR final CCP’’ 

or ‘‘Kakahai‘a NWR final CCP’’ in the 

subject line of the message. 

Mail: Glynnis Nakai, Project Leader, 

Maui National Wildlife Refuge 

Complex, P.O. Box 1042, Kı ̄hei, Hawai‘i 

96753. 

In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 

(808) 875–1582 to make an appointment 

during regular business hours at Maui 

NWR Complex, Milepost 6, Mokulele 

Highway (Hwy. 311), Kı ̄hei, Hawai‘i 

96753. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Glynnis Nakai, Project Leader, Maui 

NWR Complex, phone number (808) 

875–1582. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we announce the 

completion of the CCP processes for 

Kea ̄lia Pond NWR and Kakahai‘a NWR. 

The Service started this process through 

a notice of intent in the Federal Register 

on October 20, 2009 (74 FR 53755). We 

released the draft CCPs/EAs to the 

public, announcing and requesting 

comments in a notice of availability in 

the Federal Register (76 FR 52008; 

August 19, 2011). 

We announce our CCP decisions and 

the availability of the FONSIs for the 

EAs in accordance with the National 

Wildlife Refuge System Administration 

Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee) 

(Refuge Administration Act) and 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) 

requirements. We prepared a thorough 

analysis of impacts, which we included 

in the EAs that accompanied the draft 

CCPs. 

The CCPs will guide us in managing 

and administering the refuges for the 

next 15 years. Alternative C, as 

described in the draft CCPs for each 

refuge, is the basis for the CCPs. 

Background 

The Refuge Administration Act, as 

amended by the National Wildlife 

Refuge System Improvement Act of 

1997, requires us to develop a CCP for 

each 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 compatible 

wildlife-dependent recreational 

opportunities available to the public, 

including 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 

Refuge Administration Act. 

The Kea ̄lia Pond and Kakahai‘a NWRs 

are part of the Maui NWR Complex. 

Kea ̄lia Pond Refuge, located along the 

southern shore of the island of Maui, 

was established in 1992 for the purpose 

of providing habitat for endangered 

Hawaiian waterbirds, specifically the 

endangered Hawaiian stilt (ae‘o) and 

endangered Hawaiian coot (‘alae 

ke‘oke‘o). The refuge is administered 

under a perpetual conservation 

easement provided by Alexander and 

Baldwin, Inc., and encompasses open 

water, marsh, mudflat, upland shrub, 

and coastal beach strand habitats. The 

refuge has one of the largest 

concentrations of wetland birds in 

Hawai‘i, and is an important breeding, 

foraging, and resting area for the ae‘o 

and ‘alae ke‘oke‘o. In addition, Kea ̄lia 

Pond NWR provides a strategic landfall 

for migratory birds coming from Alaska, 

Siberia, and Asia, including Northern 

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices 9693 

pintail (koloa ma ̄pu), Northern shoveler 

(koloa moha ̄), lesser scaup, Pacific 

golden-plover (ko ̄lea) and ruddy 

turnstone (‘akekeke). A majority of the 

refuge is closed to general public access; 

however, trails, overlooks, and 

educational programs provide the 

public with opportunities to view some 

of Hawai‘i’s endangered and migratory 

wildlife. 

Kakahai‘a NWR, located on the 

southeastern coast of the island of 

Moloka‘i, was established in 1976 to 

protect and provide habitat for 

endangered species. Habitats found on 

this refuge include freshwater marsh, 

grassland, dry forest, and coastal strand. 

The refuge has the potential to provide 

breeding, foraging, and resting areas for 

endangered waterbirds, a variety of 

migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and 

other wetland birds. Some of the more 

common migrants are koloa ma ̄pu and 

ko ̄lea. Kakahai‘a NWR is closed to the 

general public; however, 

nongovernmental organizations 

occasionally conduct wetland education 

programs. 

During the CCP planning process, 

many elements were considered, 

including wildlife management and 

habitat protection, compatible wildlifedependent recreational opportunities, 

on- and off-site environmental 

educational opportunities, and 

coordination with State and Federal 

agencies and other interested groups. 

The draft CCPs and EAs identified 

and evaluated three alternatives for 

managing each refuge. These were 

available for a 30-day public review and 

comment period, which included two 

open house public meetings. The 

Service incorporated or responded to 

the comments on the Kea ̄lia Pond NWR 

draft CCP and Kakahai‘a NWR draft CCP 

in the final CCPs. 

Selected Alternative for Each Refuge 

All actions in the selected alternative 

for each refuge are subject to funding 

and any other compliance requirements. 

After considering the comments we 

received, we have selected each refuge’s 

Alternative C for implementation. 

Implementing Alternative C for the 

CCPs will encompass the following key 

actions: 

Kea ̄lia Pond NWR 

The Service will remove the most 

aggressive invasive plants and control 

pickleweed on the flats. Planned 

projects include constructing a water 

control structure, developing new wells 

to deliver water to target areas, and 

recontouring topography to maintain 

water on the flats. We expect an 

increased capability to dewater and 

flood the Main Pond will enhance our 

dust, midge, and tilapia control efforts. 

New vegetated blinds will provide 

better wildlife viewing opportunities, 

and public interpretation and 

environmental education programs will 

be expanded. Internships will be 

provided for up to five students. 

Wildlife monitoring on the proposed 

Molokini Unit will include up to six 

visits during the period running March 

through November, and we will initiate 

a native plant restoration plan. 

Kakahai‘a NWR 

If funded, we will restore the 15-acre 

Old Pond and 5.5 acres of New Pond by 

removing California bulrush and other 

aggressive nonnative species, dredging 

accumulated sediment, recontouring 

topography, removing radial levees, 

reconstructing perimeter levees, 

replacing the water control structure, 

and replacing the pump between the 

two ponds. A well, pump, water 

distribution line, and control outlet for 

New Pond will be constructed, and 

levees will be rebuilt. All monitoring 

activities will resume as part of the 

wetland restoration. A predator-proof 

fence will be installed to protect 

wetland habitat and species. The coastal 

strand will be restored and protected 

from further erosion to provide a 

protective barrier to the refuge wetlands 

and highway. A cultural resources 

survey will be completed for the entire 

refuge. Opportunities for visitors to 

engage in compatible wildlifedependent recreation may expand with 

new staffing. At a minimum, a kiosk 

will be constructed along the refuge 

entrance road and volunteer groups will 

be developed to assist refuge staff with 

restoration and maintenance activities. 

Dated: November 9, 2011. 

Robyn Thorson, 

Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, 

Oregon. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3648 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R6–R–2011–N212; FF06R06000– 

FXRS1265066CCP0S2–123] 

Establishment of Flint Hills Legacy 

Conservation Area, Kansas 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public 

that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(Service) has established the Flint Hills 

Legacy Conservation Area, the 555th 

unit of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System. The Service established the 

Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area on 

September 28, 2011, with the donation 

of a conservation easement in 

Chautauqua County, Kansas. 

ADDRESSES: A map depicting the 

approved Refuge boundary and other 

information regarding the Refuge is 

available on the Internet at http:// 

www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/ 

planning/. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Thornburg, Planning Team Leader, 

USFWS, Division of Refuge Planning, 

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

80225. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Service established the Flint Hills 

Legacy Conservation Area, which covers 

all or part of 21 counties in eastern 

Kansas. Today, less than 4 percent of 

the once-vast tallgrass prairie remains, 

most (80 percent) of which lies within 

the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and 

northeastern Oklahoma. The Service 

will work to conserve tallgrass prairie 

and the wildlife resources in the 

conservation area primarily through the 

purchase of perpetual easements from 

willing sellers in Kansas. These 

conservation easements will protect 

native grassland birds, as well as over 

80 species of native fish, and native 

mollusks that depend on the pristine 

streams that are found in the Flint Hills 

region. 

The Service recognizes the 

importance of protecting and fostering 

traditional cultural values, including 

ranching lifestyles and economies, in 

concert with habitat conservation 

interests. Ranching has historically 

played a major role in preserving the 

tallgrass ecoregion—and by extension, 

conserving valuable fish and wildlife 

habitat. Based on anticipated levels of 

landowner participation, objectives for 

the conservation area are to protect up 

to 1.1 million acres of tallgrass prairie 

habitat. The conservation area is a 

landscape-scale effort to conserve 

populations of native grassland birds, 

which are among the most consistently 

declining species in the United States. 

Therefore, it is important to incorporate 

the elements of strategic habitat 

conservation (SHC) to ensure effective 

conservation. SHC entails strategic 

biological planning and conservation 

design, and integrated conservation 

delivery, monitoring, and research at 

ecoregional scales. 

This conservation area allows the 

Service to purchase perpetual 

conservation easements, using the 

acquisition authority of the Fish and 

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