Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2012 / Notices 18857 

canoeing, and paddling; (9) all-terrain 

vehicle use; (10) bicycling; and (11) 

boating are also available within the 

CCP. 

Alternative B will focus on 

augmenting wildlife and habitat 

management to identify, conserve, and 

restore populations of native fish and 

wildlife species, with an emphasis on 

migratory birds and threatened and 

endangered species. This objective will 

partially be accomplished by increased 

monitoring of waterfowl, other 

migratory and resident birds, and 

endemic species, in order to assess and 

adapt management strategies and 

actions. Additionally, information gaps 

will be addressed by the initiation of 

baseline surveying, periodic monitoring, 

and ultimately adding adaptive habitat 

management. 

Habitat management programs for 

impoundments, greentree reservoir, 

wetlands, open waters, forested habitats, 

scrub/shrub habitat, grasslands, and 

open lands will be reevaluated, and 

step-down management plans will be 

developed to meet the foraging, nesting, 

and breeding requirements of priority 

species. Additionally, monitoring and 

adaptive habitat management will be 

implemented to potentially counteract 

the impacts associated with long-term 

climate change and sea level rise. 

The control of invasive and exotic 

plant species will be more aggressively 

managed by implementing a 

management plan, completing a 

baseline inventory, supporting research, 

and controlling with strategic 

mechanical and chemical means. 

Additionally, the Complex will utilize 

this management plan and monitoring 

to enhance efforts to control/remove 

invasive, exotic, and/or nuisance 

wildlife on the refuge. 

Alternative B will enhance our visitor 

services opportunities by: (1) Improving 

the quality of fishing opportunities; (2) 

implementing an environmental 

education program component that 

utilizes volunteers and local schools as 

partners; (3) enhancing wildlife viewing 

and photography opportunities by 

implementing blinds, a swamp trail 

boardwalk, and additional observational 

areas; (4) developing and implementing 

a visitor services management plan, (5) 

working with partners to develop a 

Complex visitor center, including a law 

enforcement office and maintenance 

facility with an attached visitor contact 

station; and (6) enhancing personal 

interpretive and outreach opportunities. 

Volunteer programs and friends groups 

also would be expanded to enhance all 

aspects of management and to increase 

resource availability. 

In addition to the enforcement of all 

Federal and State laws to protect 

archaeological and historical sites, we 

will identify and develop a plan to 

protect all known sites. The 

development of an onsite office for law 

enforcement officers will not only better 

provide security for these resources, but 

will also ensure visitor safety and public 

compliance with refuge regulations. 

Land acquisitions within the 

approved acquisition boundary will be 

based on the importance of the habitat 

for wildlife, management, and access. 

Alternative B also will develop a 

preliminary land protection proposal to 

achieve a congressionally authorized 

refuge boundary expansion of 

approximately 17,000 acres within the 

Atchafalaya Basin Floodplain to 

improve buffer conditions, contribute to 

biological objectives, close gaps between 

existing tracts, and improve public 

access. Administration plans will stress 

the need for increased maintenance of 

existing infrastructure and construction 

of new facilities. Funding for new 

construction projects will be balanced 

between habitat management and public 

use needs. Additional staff will be 

required to accomplish the goals of this 

alternative. Personnel priorities will 

include adding a visitor services 

specialist, assistant manager, biological 

technician, forestry technician, 

maintenance worker, and law 

enforcement officer to the staff. The 

increased budget and staffing levels will 

better enable us to meet the obligations 

of wildlife stewardship, habitat 

management, and public use. 

Authority 

This notice is published under the 

authority of the National Wildlife 

Refuge System Improvement Act of 

1997, Public Law 105–57. 

Dated: September 27, 2011. 

Mark J. Musaus, 

Acting Regional Director. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7403 Filed 3–27–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R4–ES–2012–N063; 40120–1112– 

0000–F2] 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

and Record of Decision for Alabama 

Beach Mouse General Conservation 

Plan for Incidental Take on the Fort 

Morgan Peninsula, Baldwin County, AL 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service 

(Service), announces the availability of 

a final environmental impact statement 

(EIS), which analyzes the environmental 

impacts associated with issuing, in 

accordance with the proposed General 

Conservation plan (GCP), incidental 

take permits requested under the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), 

as amended, for take of Alabama beach 

mouse (Peromyscus polionotus 

ammobates). For record of decision 

(ROD) availability, see DATES. 

DATES: The ROD will be available no 

sooner than April 27, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Documents and other 

information submitted with the 

applications are available for review, 

subject to the requirements of the 

Privacy Act and Freedom of Information 

Act, by any party who submits a written 

request for a copy of such documents to 

either of the following offices within 30 

days of the date of publication of this 

notice: David Dell, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, 1875 Century 

Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 

30345; or Field Supervisor, Fish and 

Wildlife Service, 1208–B Main Street, 

Daphne, AL 36526. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

David Dell, Regional HCP Coordinator 

(See ADDRESSES), telephone: (404) 679– 

7313; or Ms. Shannon Holbrook, Field 

Office Project Manager, at the Daphne 

Field Office (See ADDRESSES), telephone: 

(251) 441–5871. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final 

EIS analyzes the consequences of the 

proposed action, take of the Alabama 

beach mouse incidental to construction 

of up to 500 single-family developments 

potentially affecting an estimated total 

of 75 acres of Alabama beach mouse 

habitat, and alternatives to the proposed 

action. Individual land owners who 

would need incidental take permits 

(ITP) for single-family developments, 

and whose development proposal fits 

within limits evaluated in the GCP, 

could apply for ITPs using the GCP 

provisions instead of producing their 

own habitat conservation plans. The 

GCP evaluates issuance of ITPs with up 

to 50-year terms under section 

10(a)(1)(B) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

seq.). The GCP describes the mitigation 

and minimization measures proposed to 

address the effects on the species. On 

August 9, 2011, we published a notice 

of availability for a draft EIS (76 FR 

48879) for a 90-day public comment 

period. For ROD availability, see DATES. 

The EIS analyzes the preferred 

alternative, as well as a full range of 

reasonable alternatives, and the 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
18858 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 60 / Wednesday, March 28, 2012 / Notices 

associated impacts of each. Alternative 

3 (Preferred Alternative) would 

implement the GCP as proposed. 

Authority: The environmental review 

of this project is being conducted in 

accordance with the requirements of the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 

seq.) and its implementing regulations 

(40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and 

with other appropriate Federal laws and 

regulations, policies, and procedures of 

the Service for compliance with those 

regulations. 

Dated: February 17, 2012. 

Mark J. Musaus, 

Acting Regional Director. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7370 Filed 3–27–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLNML00000 L12200000.DF0000] 

Notice of Public Meeting, Las Cruces 

District Resource Advisory Council 

Meeting, New Mexico 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act and the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM), Las Cruces 

District Resource Advisory Council 

(RAC), will meet as indicated below. 

DATES: The meeting date is April 11 

2012, at the BLM Las Cruces District 

Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las 

Cruces, NM 88005, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 

The public may send written comments 

to the RAC at the above address. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rena Gutierrez, BLM Las Cruces 

District, 1800 Marquess Street, Las 

Cruces, NM 88005, 575–525–4338. 

Persons who use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 

Federal Information Relay Service 

(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8229 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 with the above 

individual. You will receive a reply 

during normal business hours. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 10- 

member RAC advises the Secretary of 

the Interior, through the BLM, on a 

variety of planning and management 

issues associated with public land 

management in New Mexico. 

Planned agenda items include 

opening remarks from the District 

Manager, access issues, illegal trash 

dumps, and the Social-Economic 

Strategic Plan. 

A half-hour public comment period 

during which the public may address 

the Council will begin at 2:30 p.m. on 

April 11, 2012. All RAC meetings are 

open to the public. 

Depending on the number of 

individuals wishing to comment and 

time available, the time for individual 

oral comments may be limited. 

Bill Childress, 

District Manager, Las Cruces. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7408 Filed 3–27–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–VC–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Remanded Biological Opinions on the 

Coordinated Long-Term Operation of 

the Central Valley Project and State 

Water Project: Notice of Intent To 

Prepare an Environmental Impact 

Statement and Notice of Scoping 

Meetings 

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent and scoping 

meetings. 

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation 

intends to prepare an environmental 

impact statement for modifications to 

the continued long-term operation of the 

Central Valley Project, in a coordinated 

manner with the State Water Project, 

that are likely to avoid jeopardy and 

destruction or adverse modification of 

designated critical habitat. We are 

seeking suggestions and information on 

the alternatives and topics to be 

addressed and any other important 

issues related to the proposed action. 

DATES: Submit written comments on the 

scope of the environmental impact 

statement by May 29, 2012. 

Four public scoping meetings will be 

held to solicit public input on 

alternatives, concerns, and issues to be 

addressed in the environmental impact 

statement: 

1. Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 6 p.m. 

to 8 p.m., Madera, CA. 

2. Thursday, April 26, 2012, 6 p.m. to 

8 p.m., Diamond Bar, CA. 

3. Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 2 p.m. to 

4 p.m., Sacramento, CA. 

4. Thursday, May 3, 2012, 6 p.m. to 

8 p.m., Marysville, CA. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 

Janice Pin ̃ ero, Endangered Species 

Compliance Act Specialist, Bureau of 

Reclamation, Bay-Delta Office, 801 I 

Street Suite 140, Sacramento, CA 

95814–2536; fax to (916) 414–2439; or 

email at jpinero@usbr.gov. 

The scoping meetings will be held at 

the following locations: 

1. Madera—Madera County Mail 

Library, Blanche Galloway Room, 121 

N. G Street, Madera, CA 93637. 

2. Diamond Bar—South Coast Air 

Quality Management District, Room 

CC6, 21865 Copley Dr., Diamond Bar, 

CA 91765. 

3. Sacramento—Federal Building, 650 

Capitol Mall, Stanford Room, 

Sacramento, CA 95814. 

4. Yuba County Government Center, 

Board of Supervisors Chambers, 915 

Eighth St., Marysville, CA 95901. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Janice Pin ̃ ero at (916) 414–2428; or 

email at jpinero@usbr.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Agencies Involved 

II. Why We Are Taking This Action 

III. Results of Litigation 

IV. Purpose and Need for Action 

V. Project Area 

VI. Alternatives To Be Considered 

VII. Statutory Authority 

VIII. Request for Comments 

IX. Public Disclosure 

X. How To Request Reasonable 

Accommodation 

I. Agencies Involved 

We, the Bureau of Reclamation, are 

the lead Federal agency. We will invite 

the following agencies to participate as 

cooperating agencies for preparation of 

the environmental impact statement 

(EIS) in accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as 

amended: 

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS), 

• National Marine Fisheries Service 

(NMFS), 

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and 

• U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

We have also identified other Federal, 

State, and local agencies (e.g., California 

Department of Water Resources, 

California Department of Fish and 

Game, State and Federal Contractors 

Water Agency, etc.) as potential 

cooperating agencies, and we will invite 

them to participate as such in the near 

future. 

II. Why We Are Taking This Action 

The Central Valley Project (CVP) is 

the largest Federal Reclamation project. 

We operate the CVP in coordination 

with the State Water Project (SWP), 

under the Coordinated Operation 

Agreement between the Federal 

government and the State of California 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES