16058 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2012 / Notices 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Authority 

We provide this notice under section 

10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 

Dated: March 9, 2012. 

Richard Hannan, 

Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6533 Filed 3–16–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R1–R–2011–N180; 1265–0000–10137– 

S3] 

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, 

Pacific County, WA; Record of 

Decision for Final Environmental 

Impact Statement 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, announce the 

availability of the Willapa National 

Wildlife Refuge final comprehensive 

conservation plan (CCP) and record of 

decision (ROD). We completed a 

thorough analysis of the environmental, 

social, and economic considerations and 

presented it in our Final CCP and 

environmental impact statement (EIS), 

which we released to the public on 

August 12, 2011. The ROD documents 

our decision to implement Alternative 

2, as it is described in the Final CCP/ 

EIS. 

DATES: The Regional Director, Pacific 

Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

signed the ROD on September 29, 2011. 

We plan to begin implementation of the 

CCP immediately. 

ADDRESSES: You may view or request a 

copy of the CCP/ROD by the following 

methods: 

Agency Web Site: Download the 

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

willapa/CCP/. 

Email: 

FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. 

Include ‘‘Willapa NWR CCP/ROD’’ in 

the subject line of the message. 

Mail: Willapa National Wildlife 

Refuge, 3888 SR 101, Ilwaco, WA 98624. 

In person viewing: Willapa National 

Wildlife Refuge Complex, 3888 SR 101, 

Ilwaco, WA 98624. 

Local Libraries: See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader, (360) 

484–3482 (phone). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we finalize the CCP 

process for the Refuge. We started this 

process through a notice of intent in the 

Federal Register on April 9, 2008 (73 FR 

19238). We announced the availability 

of our draft and final documents in the 

Federal Register as well. Our Draft CCP/ 

EIS was released on January 21, 2011 

(76 FR 3922), and our Final CCP/EIS 

was released on August 12, 2011 (76 FR 

50247). 

The Refuge was established in 1937 to 

protect migrating and wintering 

populations of brant, waterfowl, 

shorebirds, and other migratory birds, 

and for conservation purposes. It 

encompasses over 16,000 acres of 

tidelands, temperate rainforest, ocean 

beaches, sand dunes, rivers, and small 

streams. Remnants of old growth coastal 

cedar forest and habitats for spawning 

wild salmon, migrating shorebirds, and 

threatened and endangered species, 

such as the western snowy plover and 

marbled murrelet, are preserved on the 

Refuge. 

We evaluated three alternatives for 

managing the Refuge’s resources in the 

Final CCP/EIS, identified Alternative 2 

as our preferred alternative, and 

completed a thorough analysis of 

environmental, social, and economic 

considerations. The ROD documents our 

selection of Alternative 2 for 

implementation. Alternative 2 is the 

foundation of our CCP. The CCP will 

guide our management and 

administration of the Refuge for the next 

15 years. In accordance with National 

Environmental Policy Act and its 

implementing regulations (40 CFR 

1506.6(b)), this notice announces the 

availability of our CCP/ROD. 

Background 

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. We 

will review and update the CCP at least 

every 15 years in accordance with the 

Refuge Administration Act. 

CCP Alternatives and Selected 

Alternative 

We identified management issues in 

our Draft and Final CCP/EIS. To address 

these issues, we developed and 

evaluated three alternatives. Alternative 

1 is our no-action alternative; under it, 

current Refuge management programs 

would continue. Under Alternative 2, 

our preferred alternative, current 

management would continue and a 

number of compatible improvements to 

our wildlife, habitat, biodiversity, and 

visitor services management activities 

would be implemented. Under 

Alternative 3, we would continue 

current Refuge management programs, 

and some improvements to wildlife, 

habitat, and visitor services 

management would occur, but to a 

lesser degree than under Alternative 2. 

After considering public comments, 

we selected Alternative 2, as it is 

described in the Final CCP/EIS, for 

implementation. Alternative 2 will best 

achieve Refuge purposes, and contribute 

toward the mission of the National 

Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with 

the sound principles of fish and wildlife 

science and conservation, legal 

mandates, and Service policies. Current 

wildlife and habitat management will 

continue under Alternative 2, including 

maintaining freshwater wetlands on the 

Tarlatt Unit and implementing our 

forest management plan. The following 

improvements will be implemented 

over time. 

• The Refuge’s intensively managed 

pastures and impoundments will be 

restored to historic estuarine conditions, 

increasing open water, intertidal flats, 

and salt marsh habitats by 621 acres. 

• Avian and mammalian predators on 

the Leadbetter Point Unit will be 

controlled as necessary, to help meet 

western snowy plover population 

recovery goals. 

• We will manage 93 acres of shortgrass fields as foraging habitat for 

Canada geese, elk, and other wildlife, on 

the Riekkola Unit. Grassland restoration 

will include establishing the early-blue 

violet host plant on 33 acres, which will 

serve the future reintroduction of the 

endangered Oregon silverspot butterfly. 

• We will expand the approved 

Refuge acquisition boundary by 6,809 

acres in the Nemah, Naselle, South Bay, 

and East Hills areas, and divest the 

Shoalwater and Wheaton Units (941 

acres) from the Refuge. 

• We will develop an interpretive 

trail and observation deck along the 

South Bay that will tie into our 

proposed Tarlatt Unit visitor/ 

administrative facility. 

• After the proposed estuarine 

restoration is completed, we will 


emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 53 / Monday, March 19, 2012 / Notices 16059 

expand the waterfowl hunting area to 

5,570 acres. 

• We will provide an additional 100 

acres, and develop three blinds for 

goose hunting, including a barrier-free 

blind. Two blinds for waterfowl 

hunting, including a barrier-free blind, 

will also be developed. Walk-in hunters 

will access the blinds on a first-comefirst-served basis. 

• We will develop a year-round 

cartop boat launch, parking area, and 

0.6-mile Porter Point Trail, to access the 

South Bay. 

• A special-permit elk hunt is 

planned on the Leadbetter Point Unit. 

Elk and deer hunting are proposed 

during State seasons on the South Bay 

and East Hills Units. 

Public Availability of Documents 

In addition to options listed under 

ADDRESSES, you can view our CCP/ROD 

at the following libraries. 

• Ilwaco Timberland Library, 158 1st 

Ave. North, Ilwaco, WA 98624. 

• South Bend Timberland Library, 

1216 West 1st St., South Bend, WA 

98586. 

• Ocean Park Timberland Library, 

1308 256th Place, Ocean Park, WA 

98640. 

• Astoria Public Library, 450 10th St., 

Astoria, OR 97103. 

Dated: March 7, 2012. 

Richard R. Hannan, 

Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, 

Portland, Oregon. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6532 Filed 3–16–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R7–R–2011–N273; 

FXRS12650700000U4–123–FF07R06000] 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement; 

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land 

Exchange/Road Corridor, Cold Bay, AL 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability and 

request for comments; announcement of 

public meetings. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 

availability of a draft environmental 

impact statement (DEIS) for the Izembek 

National Wildlife Refuge proposed land 

exchange/road corridor for public 

review and comment. In the DEIS, we 

describe the purpose and need, the 

proposed action, alternatives, and 

impact analysis for the proposed land 

exchange/road corridor of certain lands 

owned by the United States and 

managed by the Service, certain lands 

owned by the State of Alaska, and 

certain lands owned by the King Cove 

Corporation. The DEIS also evaluates a 

proposed road corridor through the 

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and 

the Izembek Wilderness Area. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, please 

send your written comments by May 18, 

2012. We will hold public meetings in 

the five communities within and near 

the Refuge, and also in the city of 

Anchorage, in Alaska. We will 

announce these upcoming public 

meetings in local news media. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

or requests for copies or more 

information by any of the following 

methods. You may request a summary 

of the DEIS, or a CD–ROM containing 

the summary and full DEIS. 

Agency Web Site: Download a copy of 

the summary or full DEIS document at 

http://izembek.fws.gov/EIS.htm. 

Email: izembek_eis@fws.gov; include 

‘‘Izembek National Wildlife Refuge 

DEIS’’ in the subject line of the message. 

Fax: Attn: Stephanie Brady, Project 

Team Leader, (907) 786–3965. 

U.S. Mail: Stephanie Brady, Project 

Team Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, 1011 East Tudor Rd., MS–231, 

Anchorage, AK 99503. 

In-Person Pickup or Drop-off: You 

may pick up a copy or drop off 

comments during regular business hours 

at the address listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Stephanie Brady, (907) 786–3357, or at 

the addresses above. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we continue the EIS 

process for the Izembek National 

Wildlife Refuge land exchange/road 

corridor proposal. We started this 

process with notices of intent in the 

Federal Register (74 FR 39336; August 

6, 2009; 75 FR 8396; February 24, 2010), 

indicating the beginning of the scoping 

period and publishing the dates and 

locations of the scoping meetings. 

The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge 

(417,533 acres) and the North Creek 

(8,452 acres) and Pavlof (1,447,264 

acres) units of the Alaska Peninsula 

National Wildlife Refuge are located at 

the westernmost tip of the Alaska 

Peninsula. To the north of the Izembek 

Refuge is the Bering Sea; to the south is 

the Pacific Ocean. The Alaska Peninsula 

is dominated by the rugged Aleutian 

Range, part of the Aleutian arc chain of 

volcanoes. Landforms include 

mountains, active volcanoes, U-shaped 

valleys, glacial moraines, low tundra 

wetlands, lakes, sand dunes, and 

lagoons. Elevations range from sea level 

to the 9,372-foot Shishaldin Volcano. 

Shishaldin Volcano is a designated 

National Natural Landmark. Alaska 

Maritime National Wildlife Refuge 

stretches from the Arctic Ocean to the 

southeast panhandle of Alaska and 

protects breeding habitat for seabirds, 

marine mammals, and other wildlife on 

more than 2,500 islands, spires, rocks, 

and coastal headlands. 

Background 

On December 6, 1960, Public Land 

Order 2216 established the 498,000-acre 

Izembek National Wildlife Range, which 

included Izembek Lagoon and its entire 

watershed near the tip of the Alaska 

Peninsula as ‘‘a refuge, breeding ground 

and management area for all forms of 

wildlife.’’ Eighty-four thousand, two 

hundred acres of this national wildlife 

range, including Izembek Lagoon, are 

state lands under the Submerged Lands 

Act, 43 U.S.C. 1312. The State of Alaska 

established the Izembek State Game 

Refuge to continue protecting the rare 

resources of Izembek Lagoon in 1972. In 

December 1980, the Alaska National 

Interest Lands Conservation Act 

(ANILCA; Pub. L. 96–487) was enacted. 

Section 303(3) redesignated the existing 

Izembek National Wildlife Range, 

containing the 417,533-acre watershed 

surrounding Izembek Lagoon, as the 

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. 

As described in ANILCA, Izembek 

Refuge purposes include the following: 

(i) To conserve fish and wildlife 

populations and habitats in their natural 

diversity * * *; 

(ii) To fulfill the international treaty 

obligations of the United States with 

respect to fish and wildlife and their 

habitats; 

(iii) To provide, in a manner 

consistent with the purposes set forth in 

subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the 

opportunity for continued subsistence 

uses by local residents; and 

(iv) To ensure, to the maximum extent 

practicable and in a manner consistent 

with the purposes set forth in paragraph 

(i), water quality and necessary water 

quantity within the refuge. 

Section 702(6) of ANILCA also 

designated 300,000 acres (72%) of the 

Izembek Refuge Unit as wilderness. The 

Wilderness Act creates additional 

purposes for designated wilderness 

areas within refuge boundaries. 

Specifically, these areas are to be 

managed ‘‘for the use and enjoyment of 

the American people in such manner as 

will leave them unimpaired for future 

use and enjoyment as wilderness, and 

so as to provide for the protection of 

these areas, the preservation of their 


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