Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2012 / Notices 13139 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R1–R–2011–N210; 1265–0000–10137– 

S3] 

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, 

Harney County, OR; Draft 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 

availability of a draft comprehensive 

conservation plan (CCP) and draft 

environmental impact statement (EIS) 

for the Malheur National Wildlife 

Refuge (NWR or refuge), located in 

Harney County, Oregon, for public 

review and comment. In the draft CCP 

and EIS, we describe alternatives, 

including our preferred alternative, for 

managing the refuge for the 15 years 

following approval of the final CCP. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, please 

send your written comments by May 4, 

2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

or requests for copies or more 

information by any of the following 

methods. You may request hard copies 

or a CD–ROM of the documents. 

Email: 

FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. 

Include ‘‘Malheur NWR DCCP/EA’’ in 

the subject line. 

Fax: Attn: Tim Bodeen, Project 

Leader, (541) 493–2405. 

U.S. Mail: Tim Bodeen, Project 

Leader, Malheur National Wildlife 

Refuge, 36391 Sodhouse Lane, 

Princeton, OR 97221. 

Agency Web Site: Download a copy of 

the document at http://www.fws.gov/ 

pacific/planning. 

In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 

(541) 493–2612 to make an appointment 

(necessary for viewing or pickup only) 

during regular business hours at 

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, 

36391 Sodhouse Lane, Princeton, OR 

97221. 

For more information on locations for 

viewing the documents, see ‘‘Public 

Availability of Documents’’ under 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim 

Bodeen, Project Leader, Malheur 

National Wildlife Refuge, phone (541) 

493–2612. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we continue the CCP 

process for Malheur NWR. We started 

this process through a notice in the 

Federal Register (74 FR 31046; June 29, 

2009). 

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was 

established on August 18, 1908, by 

President Theodore Roosevelt as the 

Lake Malheur Bird Reservation. The 

refuge was originally set aside to 

prevent plume hunters from decimating 

colonial nesting bird populations. It 

protected unclaimed lands 

encompassed by Malheur, Mud, and 

Harney Lakes ‘‘as a preserve and 

breeding ground for native birds.’’ The 

refuge was expanded to include the 

Blitzen Valley in 1935 and the DoubleO Unit in 1941. Refuge purposes 

include ‘‘* * * a refuge and breeding 

ground for migratory birds and other 

wild life * * *’’ and ‘‘* * * for use as 

an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other 

management purpose, for migratory 

birds.’’ 

The refuge consists of over 187,000 

acres of open water (marsh, river, and 

stream), wetlands, springs, riparian 

areas, irrigated meadows and grain 

fields, and shrub-steppe uplands. 

With its abundance of water in an 

otherwise arid landscape, the refuge 

attracts a significant portion of the 

Pacific Flyway’s bird population during 

spring migration. The refuge is named 

under several flyway and regional bird 

conservation plans and is designated as 

an Important Bird Area. Populations of 

breeding waterfowl and waterbirds on 

Malheur Lake and other refuge wetlands 

have dropped substantially compared to 

historic levels, a decline that is widely 

attributed to the high populations of 

non-native common carp now living in 

the lake and adjacent water bodies. 

We announce the availability of the 

Malheur NWR draft CCP/EIS in 

accordance with National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

(40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We 

prepared an environmental analysis of 

impacts, which we included in the draft 

CCP/EIS. 

Background 

The CCP Process 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee) (Refuge 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 compatible 

wildlife-dependent recreational 

opportunities available to the public, 

including opportunities for compatible 

hunting, fishing, wildlife observation 

and photography, environmental 

education and interpretation. We will 

review and update the CCP at least 

every 15 years in accordance with the 

Refuge Administration Act. 

CCP Alternatives We Are Considering 

We are considering three CCP 

alternatives for managing the refuge. 

The draft CCP/EIS provides a full 

description of each alternative, 

summarized below. 

Alternative 1 (No Action) 

Under Alternative 1, the refuge would 

continue current practices. Malheur, 

Harney, and Mud Lakes would continue 

to remain largely unmanaged, allowed 

to flood and retreat according to annual 

weather fluctuations, and subject to 

degradation caused by large carp 

populations. Other lake and wetland 

habitats in the Blitzen Valley and 

Double-O Units would be managed 

using rotational flooding and 

dewatering to enhance productivity for 

waterfowl and to control carp. 

Together with the six dams that assist 

in water diversions, existing fish screens 

and ladders on the Blitzen River would 

remain in place. Native fish passage 

structures, maintenance of existing carp 

barriers, and riparian vegetative 

rehabilitation efforts would continue. 

Additional riverine enhancement would 

consist of isolated, small-scale, instream improvements when resources 

are available. Much of the carp control 

effort would continue to be focused on 

information gathering under this 

Alternative. 

Habitat management in meadows, 

marshes, and uplands would continue 

as currently practiced. Current meadow 

and marsh habitat objectives address the 

needs of various waterbirds, shorebirds, 

and waterfowl by providing conditions 

necessary for nesting, pairing, and 

migration. Flood irrigation with 

diversions from the river March 1 

through July 25 would continue to be 

practiced on meadow habitats. Plant 

litter, which becomes detrimental to 

some wildlife species needs over time, 

would continue to be reduced through 

the use of prescribed burning, haying on 

or after August 10, and rakebunch 

grazing occurring on or after September 

1. Approximately 40 percent of 

meadows would continue to be hayed or 

grazed annually. The current trend of 


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13140 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2012 / Notices 

emergent vegetation encroachment into 

wet meadows would continue due to 

the favorable conditions that extended 

flood irrigation creates for common and 

hybrid cattails. 

Public uses, including compatible 

wildlife observation, photography, 

interpretation, environmental 

education, hunting, and fishing would 

continue with the current facilities and 

programs in place. No new public use 

facilities would be developed. Areas 

currently closed to public access, which 

include nearly all areas not on the main 

roads, would remain closed in order to 

provide sanctuary. 

Cultural resources, specifically 

archaeological resources, would 

continue to be considered during project 

planning for all refuge programs. 

Historic resources would continue to be 

stabilized and restored as funding 

becomes available. Paleontological 

resources would continue to be 

protected; interpretation of 

archaeological and historic resources 

would remain the same. 

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) 

Habitat Management: Under 

Alternative 2, our preferred alternative, 

the primary focus and top priority 

would be to improve the aquatic health 

of lakes and wetlands, primarily 

through aggressive control of common 

carp. As turbidity decreases, the 

submergent vegetation and associated 

invertebrate species become more 

abundant, benefitting a variety of 

waterbirds, waterfowl, and shorebirds. 

A variety of assessment and control 

tools may be used with the aid of 

partners to strive to meet a reduced carp 

population objective of 100 pounds per 

acre in Malheur, Harney, and Mud 

Lakes. 

Under Alternative 2, the refuge would 

initiate steps toward a comprehensive 

riverine/wetland rehabilitation plan. As 

funding becomes available, the refuge 

would complete necessary assessments 

and pilot projects. If, during the life of 

this CCP, our carp threshold objective of 

100 pounds per acre is met and 

maintained, more staff time and 

resources would be directed to river 

rehabilitation efforts. 

Wetlands and terrestrial habitats 

would be managed for the life history 

needs of focal species (identified in the 

plan), with a strong emphasis on 

flexibility. Tools would include, but not 

be limited to, late summer haying and 

autumn/winter rakebunch grazing in 

order to meet the foraging needs of 

early-arriving wildlife species. In the 

warm growing season, tools would 

include highly prescriptive grazing, 

mowing, farming, and extended 

dewatering to reclaim acres lost to 

invasive plants, such as common cattail 

and reed canarygrass, or to rehabilitate 

communities that have transitioned 

beyond desired conditions. 

Public Uses: Viewing overlooks, 

elevated viewing platforms, and 

photography blinds would be upgraded 

and developed. The refuge would 

maintain and replant cottonwood trees 

and other trees and shrubs at six historic 

sites for rare and incidental passerine 

habitat, an important part of the viewing 

experience for advanced birders. Trails 

would be added; several trails would be 

upgraded or built to promote 

accessibility. Docent-led tours would 

occur approximately monthly at 

different locations on the refuge, and 

would include opportunities for guided 

kayak and canoe tours on Malheur Lake. 

A stronger emphasis would be placed 

on modern media for interpretation. The 

George Benson Memorial Museum 

would be enhanced, and additional 

outdoor interpretive panels would be 

developed and sited. Special events and 

public presentations by staff and 

volunteers would be expanded. An 

outdoor environmental education 

shelter and learning area at Refuge 

Headquarters would be built. 

Increased vehicle access would be 

provided under this Alternative. 

Visitors would be permitted to drive 

year-round to Krumbo Reservoir. Up to 

eight outdoor welcome and orientation 

panels would be provided to guide 

visitors. Visitor amenities, such as 

picnic tables, shelters, and vault toilets, 

would be upgraded and provided in 

new locations. An enlarged visitor 

contact station and gift shop at 

Headquarters and a seasonal contact 

station at P Ranch would be built to 

improve contact between visitors and 

refuge staff and volunteers. 

The upland game hunt would open 

the fourth Saturday of October, 

approximately 3 weeks earlier than the 

current program. The northern part of 

Malheur Lake and the Buena Vista hunt 

unit would remain open under existing 

regulations. New waterfowl hunt areas 

would be provided (approximately 

doubling or tripling the existing hunt 

area) by opening a portion of the southcentral area of Malheur Lake, adding a 

new boat launch at headquarters, and by 

opening the Buena Vista Unit to 

waterfowl hunting. The season for the 

new waterfowl hunt units would extend 

from the fourth Saturday of October to 

the end of the State waterfowl season. 

The existing youth hunt would be 

promoted, and improvements would be 

made to the Saddle Butte access. In 

partnership with potential users, the 

refuge would also support adding 

accessible facilities for disabled 

waterfowl hunters in the Buena Vista 

hunt unit. 

Existing fishing opportunities at 

Krumbo Reservoir, along the upper 

Blitzen River, the southern portion of 

East Canal, and Mud and Bridge Creeks 

would continue, and the expanded 

vehicle access mentioned above would 

provide greater accessibility to fishing 

sites. In addition, the refuge would 

create a new pedestrian crossing at 

Bridge Creek and a new late summer 

bank fishing opportunity on the Blitzen 

River from Sodhouse Lane to the bridge 

on the Boat Landing Road. Orientation 

and information would be added to 

fishing areas. At Krumbo Reservoir, 

stocking of triploid rainbow trout would 

continue, and a genetic introgression 

study on redband trout conducted. 

The Service would pursue a land 

exchange with BLM to help consolidate 

land management between the agencies 

for areas within and immediately 

adjacent to the Malheur Refuge. The 

refuge would continue to rely heavily 

on volunteers, with an emphasis on 

increasing recruitment and retention. 

Cultural and Paleontological Resource 

Management: These programs would be 

strengthened by the development, in 

cooperation with partners, of step-down 

management plans for historic, 

archaeological, and paleontological 

resources. Interpretation of historic sites 

would be expanded. Opportunities for 

Native Americans to collect plant 

materials for traditional uses would be 

expanded. Monitoring and inventory of 

archaeological resources would 

increase. 

Sustainable Practices: The refuge 

would seek to become energy 

independent and carbon neutral, and 

would continue to emphasize 

partnerships to maximize adaptive 

management. 

Inventory and Monitoring: Step-down 

inventory and monitoring plans would 

be developed, emphasizing focal species 

and national monitoring efforts. A 

geodatabase would be created to track 

data collected under these plans. 

Alternative 3 

Habitat Management: Alternative 3 

would enact nearly all of the same 

habitat management practices as 

Alternative 2. The primary difference is 

that the refuge would place a co-equal 

emphasis on both aquatic health (carp 

control) and completing a 

comprehensive riverine/wetland 

rehabilitation plan. The intended 

eventual outcomes of the riverine plan 

and implementation actions would be 

enhanced habitat for native fishes, 

enhanced water quality within the river, 


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2012 / Notices 13141 

greater floodplain connectivity, and 

improved extent and quality of riparian 

habitat. A detailed assessment of the 

geomorphology, ecology, hydrology, and 

management function of the Blitzen 

River would occur for the first 7 years. 

The next 5 years would be used for 

implementing and monitoring pilot 

projects to gain a better understanding 

of system response to enhancement 

activities. Using results from the pilot 

projects, a comprehensive plan would 

be crafted to guide river rehabilitation 

efforts. Because the river effort would 

proceed slowly and would likely not be 

fully implemented until the end of the 

15-year timeframe, no discernible 

difference would exist between 

Alternatives 2 and 3 with regard to the 

management of other wetland and 

terrestrial habitats within the Blitzen 

Valley and Double-O Units. 

Public Uses: Management under 

Alternative 3 for compatible wildlife 

viewing, photography, and welcome 

and orientation would be similar to 

Alternative 2, but there would be less 

emphasis on developed facilities and 

more emphasis on self-guided and offtrail experiences. 

The Blitzen Valley auto tour route 

(Center Patrol Road) would be 

seasonally closed to vehicle access 

(August 15 to the fourth Friday of 

October in the Buena Vista unit, and 

August 15 to March 1 in the P Ranch 

unit) and would be redesigned into two 

or three year-round shorter auto tour 

routes. Walk-in free-roam access along 

the closed portions of the Center Patrol 

Road and dike tops in both units would 

be allowed during the periods listed 

above to provide opportunities for selfguided and off-trail experiences. Vehicle 

access to Krumbo Reservoir would be 

seasonal; walk-in access would be 

allowed November 1 to the fourth 

Friday of April. Year-round vehicle 

access would be allowed on the Boat 

Landing Road near Refuge Headquarters 

to the Malheur Lake elevated viewing 

platform. Spur and loop trails of one 

mile or more and a number of specific 

viewing facilities such as overlooks and 

platforms would be added with limited 

investment. Existing trails would be 

upgraded to promote accessibility. 

The historic Audubon photography 

blind at Refuge Headquarters Display 

Pond would be restored. In free-roam 

areas, temporary photography blinds 

would be permitted. The refuge would 

maintain and replant trees and shrubs at 

four historic sites to provide habitat 

used by rare and incidental passerines. 

The upland game and the waterfowl 

hunts would be managed as under 

Alternative 2, except a Buena Vista 

waterfowl hunt would not be permitted. 

However, a youth hunt opportunity on 

the State-designated weekend would be 

explored for the Double-O unit. 

Fishing opportunities and 

management would be the same as 

Alternative 2, but less vehicle access to 

fishing areas compared to Alternative 2 

may limit the number of people 

engaging in this use. 

Environmental education, 

interpretation (including docent-led 

tours), volunteer programs, potential 

land exchange with BLM, cultural and 

paleontological management, energy 

independence, and inventory and 

monitoring would be managed the same 

as under Alternative 2. 

Public Availability of Documents 

In addition to the information in 

ADDRESSES, printed copies of the 

document will be available for review at 

the following libraries: 

• Harney County Library, 80 West 

‘‘D’’ Street, Burns, OR 97720. 

• Bend Public Library, 601 NW Wall 

Street, Bend, OR 97701. 

Next Steps 

After this comment period ends, we 

will analyze the comments and address 

them in the final CCP/EIS. A record of 

decision will follow the final CCP/EIS. 

Public Availability of Comments 

Before including your address, phone 

number, email address, or other 

personal identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—may 

become publicly available at any time. 

While you can ask us in your comment 

to withhold your identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Dated: Nov 8, 2011. 

Robyn Thorson, 

Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, 

Oregon. 

[FR Doc. 2012–5297 Filed 3–2–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLUTY01000.L16100000.DP0000] 

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Master 

Leasing Plan, Amendments to the 

Resource Management Plans for the 

Moab and Monticello Field Offices, and 

an Associated Environmental Impact 

Statement 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969, as amended, and the Federal Land 

Policy and Management Act of 1976 

(FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM), Moab and 

Monticello Field Offices, Utah, intend to 

prepare a Master Leasing Plan (MLP), 

amendments to the 2008 Moab and 

Monticello Resource Management Plans 

(RMPs), and a single environmental 

impact statement (EIS) to consider 

leasing for oil and gas and potash on 

about 783,000 acres of public lands. By 

this notice, the BLM is announcing the 

beginning of the scoping process to 

solicit public comments and identify 

issues. 

DATES: This notice initiates the public 

scoping process for the MLP/plan 

amendments and associated EIS. 

Comments on issues may be submitted 

in writing prior to the end of the 

scoping period which is 60 days after 

the date of publication of this notice in 

the Federal Register. During the scoping 

period, it is anticipated that scoping 

meetings will be held in Moab, 

Monticello, and Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The date(s) and locations(s) of the 

scoping meetings will be announced at 

least 15 days in advance through local 

media, newspapers, and the BLM Web 

site at: http://www.blm.gov/21jd. 

Additional opportunities for public 

participation will be provided upon 

publication of the Draft EIS. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

related to the Master Leasing Plan and 

plan amendments by any of the 

following methods: 

• Email: 

BLM_UT_Comments_2@blm.gov 

• Mail: BLM, Moab Field Office, 82 

East Dogwood, Moab, Utah 84532, 

Attention: Brent Northrup 

• Fax: (435) 259–2106 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

further information and/or to have your 

name added to our mailing list, contact 

Brent Northrup, Project Manager, BLM 

Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, 

Moab, UT 84532, telephone (435) 259– 

2151 or email Brent_Northrup@blm.gov. 

Persons who use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 

Federal Information Relay Service 

(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the 

above individual during normal 

business hours. The FIRS is available 24 

hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a 

message or question for the above 

individual. You will receive a reply 

during normal business hours. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM 

will prepare a MLP in accordance with 


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