Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 113 / Monday, June 15, 2009 / Notices 28271 

Steller sea lions, and 100 northern 

elephant seals. 

The Three Arch Rocks Refuge is 

located a half-mile west of the town of 

Oceanside in Tillamook County, 

Oregon. The Refuge is comprised of 9 

rocks and islands with a total land area 

of 15 acres, and supports one of the 

largest seabird breeding colonies— 

mainly tufted puffins and common 

murre—in Oregon. It is also the only 

breeding site for the threatened Steller 

sea lion on the north coast of Oregon. 

The Refuge is a designated wilderness 

area known as Three Arch Rocks 

Wilderness. 

Draft Alternatives We Are Considering 

We identified and evaluated two 

alternatives for managing the Refuges 

for the next 15 years. Alternative 1 is the 

No Action Alternative, and Alternative 

2 is the Preferred Alternative, which is 

a collaborative approach to protection 

and management of refuge lands. Draft 

compatibility determinations for public 

uses are available for review with the 

Draft CCP/WSP/EA. Brief descriptions 

of the alternatives follow. 

Alternative 1 

This alternative assumes no change 

from current Refuge management 

programs. We would continue to protect 

and maintain habitat for priority 

species, including seabirds and 

pinnipeds. Efforts to prevent wildlife 

disturbance on rocks, reefs, and islands 

would continue, including prohibiting 

public access, posting educational and 

regulatory signs, and deploying buoys 

annually, to delineate the seasonal 500- 

foot watercraft exclusion buffer zone 

around Three Arch Rocks Refuge. 

Habitat management would consist 

primarily of monitoring and treating 

invasive plant infestations as funding 

allows. We would continue to conduct 

regularly scheduled aerial, boat, and 

land surveys of nesting seabirds. 

Existing public uses, including wildlife 

observation and photography, would 

continue at current levels. We would 

continue to partner with Oregon Parks 

and Recreation Department (OPRD) to 

provide quality wildlife viewing 

opportunities at Cape Meares Refuge 

and other parks adjacent to rocks, reefs, 

and islands within Oregon Islands and 

Three Arch Rocks Refuges. 

Alternative 2 

Under the Preferred Alternative, a 

collaborative approach to protection and 

management of the Refuges’ rock, reef, 

island, and old-growth habitats would 

be emphasized over the current staffdirected approach. We would develop a 

Geographic Information System (GIS) 

based inventory and monitoring 

program for pinnipeds, seabirds and 

other migratory birds, terrestrial 

mammals, reptiles, amphibians, 

invertebrates, and plant species, and 

invasive species would be monitored 

and aggressively treated. 

Partners would be actively sought to 

collaborate on research, design, and 

implementation of studies that would 

directly contribute toward maintaining 

or restoring the biological integrity, 

diversity, and environmental health of 

the Refuges. We would establish formal 

agreements with coastal resource 

management agencies to cooperate on 

strategies to protect wildlife. 

New partnerships would also be 

established with public and private 

entities to develop interpretive panels 

and new wildlife viewing opportunities. 

The Refuges’ Volunteer Interpreter 

Program would be expanded to include 

priority sites with heavy visitation and 

prime wildlife viewing opportunities. 

We would also develop a quality 

environmental education program 

focusing on the Refuges’ wildlife. 

Public Availability of Documents 

We encourage you to stay involved in 

the CCP planning process by reviewing 

and commenting on the proposals we 

have developed in the Draft CCP/WSP/ 

EA. 

Copies of the Draft CCP/WSP/EA on 

compact disk are available upon request 

from the Refuge Complex at phone 

number (541) 867–4550. Copies may be 

reviewed at the Oregon Coast National 

Wildlife Refuge Complex, 2127 SE 

Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR. 

The Draft CCP/WSP/EA is also available 

for viewing and downloading on the 

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

oregoncoast/. Printed copies will be 

available for review at the following 

libraries. 

• Chetco Community Public Library, 

405 Alder St., Brookings, OR 97415, 

• Bandon Public Library, 1204 11th 

St. SW., Bandon, OR 97411, 

• Newport Public Library, 35 NW Nye 

St., Newport, OR 97365, 

• Driftwood Public Library, 801 SW 

Hwy 101 #201, Lincoln City, OR 97367, 

• Tillamook County Library, 1716 3rd 

St., Tillamook, OR 97141, and 

• Seaside Public Library, 1131 

Broadway, Seaside, OR 97138. 

Public Comments 

Public comments are requested, 

considered, and incorporated 

throughout the planning process. 

Comments on the Draft CCP/WSP/EA 

will be analyzed by the Service and 

addressed in final planning documents. 

All comments received from individuals 

become part of the official public record 

and may be released. Requests for such 

comments will be handled in 

accordance with the Freedom of 

Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), NEPA 

regulations, and Service and 

Department of the Interior policies and 

procedures. 

Dated: May 11, 2009. 

David J. Wesley, 

Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. 

[FR Doc. E9–13564 Filed 6–12–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R8–R–2009–N0070; 80230–1265– 

0000–53] 

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, 

Modoc County, CA 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability: draft 

comprehensive conservation plan and 

environmental assessment; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 

availability of a draft comprehensive 

conservation plan (CCP) and 

environmental assessment (EA) for 

Modoc National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) 

for public review and comment. In these 

documents, we describe alternatives, 

including our preferred alternative, to 

manage this refuge for the 15 years 

following approval of the final CCP. 

Draft compatibility determinations for 

several public uses are also available for 

review and public comment in the Draft 

CCP/EA. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, we 

must receive your written comments by 

July 30, 2009. We will announce 

upcoming public meeting 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 hard copies 

or a CD–ROM of the documents. 

E-mail: Jackie_Ferrier@fws.gov. 

Include ‘‘Modoc NWR Draft CCP and 

EA’’ in the subject line of the message. 

Fax: Attn: Jackie Ferrier, Refuge 

Planner, (530) 934–7814. 

U.S. Mail: Sacramento NWR Complex, 

752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 

95988. 

In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or 

Pickup: Call (530) 233–3572 to make an 

appointment (necessary for view/pickup 

only) during regular business hours at 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
28272 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 113 / Monday, June 15, 2009 / Notices 

the Modoc NWR, at 5364 County Road 

115, Alturas, CA 96101 during business 

hours. For more information on 

locations for viewing or obtaining 

documents, see ‘‘Public Availability of 

Documents’’ under SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Steve Clay, Project Leader at Modoc 

NWR, (530) 233–3572 (telephone) or 

Jackie Ferrier, Refuge Planner at 

Sacramento NWR Complex at (530) 

934–2801 (telephone). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we continue the CCP 

process for Modoc NWR. We started this 

process through a notice in the Federal 

Register (72 FR 44850; August 9, 2007). 

The 7,021 acre Modoc National 

Wildlife Refuge is located southeast of 

Alturas, California. The Refuge was 

established in 1960 pursuant to the 

Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 

U.S.C. 715d) and the Refuge Recreation 

Act (16 U.S.C. 460k–460 K.4). Lands 

within the Refuge have been set aside 

for use as an inviolate sanctuary, and 

other management purposes, for 

migratory birds, for incidental fish and 

wildlife-oriented recreational 

development, for the protection of 

natural resources, and for the 

conservation of endangered species or 

threatened species. 

Located near the confluence of the 

north and south forks of the Pit River, 

the Refuge conserves, protects, and 

manages a mosaic of freshwater lakes 

and ponds, seasonal wetlands, irrigated 

meadows, grasslands, and sagebrush/ 

juniper upland habitats. These habitats 

provide important resting, feeding, and 

nesting areas for ducks, geese, and other 

migratory birds including the greater 

sandhill crane. 

Background 

The CCP Process 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

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

668dd–668ee) (Improvement Act), 

which amended the National Wildlife 

Refuge System Administration Act of 

1966, 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 wildlifedependent 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 Improvement 

Act. 

Public Outreach 

We started the CCP for Modoc NWR 

in August 2007. At that time and 

throughout the process, public 

comments were requested, considered, 

and incorporated in numerous ways. 

Public outreach has included a public 

scoping meeting, planning updates, a 

CCP Web page, and Federal Register 

notices. Comments we received cover 

topics such as wildlife, habitat, refuge 

management, invasive species 

management, partnerships, and visitor 

services. We have considered and 

evaluated all of these comments, with 

many incorporated into the various 

alternatives addressed in the draft CCP 

and the EA. 

CCP Alternatives We Are Considering 

During the public scoping process 

with which we started work on this 

draft CCP, we, other governmental 

partners, Tribes, and the public raised 

several issues. Our draft CCP addresses 

them. A full description of each 

alternative is in the EA. To address 

these issues, we developed and 

evaluated the following alternatives, 

summarized below. 

The Draft EA/CCP presents an 

evaluation of the environmental effects 

of four alternatives for managing the 

Modoc Refuge for the next 15 years. The 

Service proposes to implement 

Alternative C, as described in the EA. 

Alternative C best achieves the Refuge’s 

purposes, vision, and goals; contributes 

to the Refuge System mission; addresses 

the significant issues and relevant 

mandates; and is consistent with 

principles of sound fish and wildlife 

management. This alternative is 

described in more detail in the CCP. 

There are many features of proposed 

Refuge management that are common to 

all four alternatives. Features common 

to all alternatives include invasive 

species management, habitat 

management and restoration, 

implementation of a hunting and fishing 

program, and providing wildlife 

observation, photography, 

environmental education, and 

interpretation opportunities. There are 

also many features of each alternative 

that are distinct. 

Alternative A, the no action 

alternative, assumes no change from 

current management programs and is 

considered the baseline to compare 

other alternatives against. Under 

Alternative A, the primary management 

focus of the Refuge would continue to 

be providing habitat for migrating and 

nesting migratory and resident birds 

with an emphasis on migratory birds by 

restoring and maintaining wetland, 

riparian, and grassland habitats. The 

Refuge would continue to offer wildlifedependent recreation including wildlife 

observation, photography, 

environmental education, interpretative 

programs, fishing and hunting, with 

emphasis on youth and disabled 

hunters. 

Under Alternative B, the Refuge 

would emphasize management for 

biological resources. Biological 

opportunities would be maximized to 

allow optimum wildlife and habitat 

management throughout the majority of 

the Refuge. The Refuges would continue 

its current focus of providing migratory 

and nesting habitat for migratory birds. 

Habitat and invasive species 

management programs would be 

expanded. Environmental education, 

interpretation, wildlife observation, 

wildlife photography, fishing, and 

hunting, programs would be reduced. 

Under Alternative C, the Refuge 

would achieve an optimal balance of 

biological resource objectives and 

visitor services opportunities. Habitat 

management and associated biological 

resource monitoring would be 

improved. Visitor service opportunities 

would focus on quality wildlifedependant recreation distributed 

throughout the Refuge. In addition, 

environmental education, 

interpretation, wildlife observation, 

photography, fishing, and hunting 

programs would be expanded beyond 

Alternative A. 

Under Alternative D, the Refuge 

would emphasize management for 

visitor services. Wildlife-dependant 

recreational opportunities would be 

expanded on the Refuge. Opportunities 

for the six priority public uses: hunting, 

fishing, wildlife observation, 

photography, environmental education, 

and interpretation, would be expanded 

beyond Alternatives A, B, and C. 

Public Availability of Documents 

In addition to any methods in 

ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain 

documents at the following locations: 

• Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/ 

modoc. 

• Public Libraries: Modoc County 

Library 212 West Third Street Alturas, 

CA 96101, Cedarville Branch Library 

460 Main Street, Cedarville, CA 96104, 

Conservation Library, USFWS–NCTC, 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 113 / Monday, June 15, 2009 / Notices 28273 

698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, 

WV 25443 during regular library hours. 

Next Steps 

After this comment period ends, we 

will analyze the comments and address 

them in the form of a final CCP. 

Public Availability of Comments 

Before including your address, phone 

number, e-mail address, or other 

personal identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—may 

be made publicly available at any time. 

While you can ask us in your comment 

to withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Dated: June 2, 2009. 

Margaret T. Kolar, 

Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest 

Region, Sacramento, California. 

[FR Doc. E9–13303 Filed 6–12–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

General Management Plan; Devils 

Postpile National Monument; Mono 

County, CA; Notice of Intent To 

Prepare an Environmental Impact 

Statement 

SUMMARY: In accordance with 102(2)(C) 

of the National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969, the National Park Service— 

in cooperation with Inyo National 

Forest—is undertaking a conservation 

planning and environmental impact 

analysis process for creating a new 

General Management Plan (GMP) for 

Devils Postpile National Monument 

(monument), California. The GMP is 

intended to set forth the basic 

management philosophy for this unit of 

the National Park System and provide 

the strategies for addressing issues and 

achieving identified management 

objectives for that unit. The GMP will 

serve as a ‘‘blueprint’’ to guide 

management of natural and cultural 

resources and visitor use during the 

next 15–20 years. 

In addition to identifying an 

‘‘environmentally preferred’’ alternative, 

one or more development concept 

plans, which guide more detailed, sitespecific preservation and development, 

may also be included with the GMP. 

The GMP will also include an eligibility 

assessment for wild and scenic river 

designation for the upper Middle Fork 

San Joaquin River, as required by NPS 

Management Policies 2006 for rivers 

and river segments in the National Park 

System. 

The National Park Service (NPS) will 

serve as lead agency and the U.S. Forest 

Service shall assume the role of 

cooperating agency in preparing the 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 

Devils Postpile National Monument is 

working in cooperation with the Inyo 

National Forest on this GMP so as to 

seamlessly address visitor opportunities 

within the valley (such as facilities, 

transit, and overall visitor experience) 

and resource management issues in the 

upper Middle Fork San Joaquin River 

watershed (such as watershed 

management, biodiversity, and response 

to climate change). For any actions that 

the Forest Service determines would be 

necessary to be undertaken on Forest 

Service lands, the Forest Service would 

approve appropriate compliance 

separately. 

Background Information: Devils 

Postpile National Monument was 

established in 1911 by presidential 

proclamation. The 798-acre monument 

rests along the Middle Fork San Joaquin 

River on the Sierra Nevada’s western 

slope and was established to preserve 

the columnar formation, Devils Postpile, 

and 101-foot Rainbow Falls. The 

formation Devils Postpile ranks as one 

of the world’s finest examples of 

columnar jointing. Its columns tower 60 

feet high and display an unusual 

symmetry. The monument also 

preserves natural mountain scenery and 

serves as a portal to the High Sierra 

backcountry. Both the John Muir Trail 

and Pacific Crest Trail pass through the 

monument. 

Originally administered by the U.S. 

Forest Service, the monument was 

transferred to the national park system 

in 1934. After the transfer, the 

monument was managed as a satellite 

unit first by Yosemite and then by 

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National 

Parks before becoming an independent 

unit of the national park system. 

Congress also included 747 acres of the 

monument in the Ansel Adams 

Wilderness in 1984, consequently over 

90% of the monument is designated as 

Wilderness. 

The National Park Service oversees 

the 798-acre Devils Postpile National 

Monument, while the U.S. Forest 

Service manages the lands surrounding 

the monument. These two Federal 

agencies work as partners to manage 

public lands in this area. Access to 

Devils Postpile is primarily via a 

mandatory bus system managed by the 

Forest Service. Hiking trails wind 

seamlessly in and out of the monument 

and onto the adjacent national forest. 

Both agencies are also responsible for 

wilderness areas. The Devils Postpile 

trailhead provides one of three main 

access points to the Pacific Crest and 

John Muir trails as well as portals to the 

Ansel Adams and John Muir 

Wildernesses. Wilderness permits for 

the national forest may be obtained 

through the monument. 

Preliminary Issues: A comprehensive 

management plan that provides a broad, 

long-term vision for management of 

Devils Postpile National Monument has 

never been developed. Management 

direction was previously provided 

through Yosemite and Sequoia and 

Kings Canyon National Parks. 

Programmatic strategies to protect, 

maintain or restore resources and 

address visitor access, services, and 

development specific to the monument 

are needed. 

Consistent with NPS Planning 

Program Standards, this GMP will: (1) 

Describe the monument’s purpose, 

significance, and primary interpretive 

themes; (2) identify the fundamental 

resources and values of the monument, 

its other important resources and 

values, and describe the condition of 

these resources; (3) describe desired 

conditions for cultural and natural 

resources and visitor experiences 

throughout the monument; (4) develop 

management zoning to support these 

desired conditions; (5) develop 

alternative applications of these 

management zones to the monument’s 

landscape (i.e. zoning alternatives); (6) 

address user capacity; (7) analyze 

potential boundary modifications; (8) 

ensure that management 

recommendations are developed in 

consultation with interested 

stakeholders and the public and 

adopted by NPS leadership after an 

adequate analysis of the benefits, 

environmental impacts, and economic 

costs of alternative courses of action; (9) 

develop cost estimates for implementing 

each of the alternatives; and (10) 

identify and prioritize subsequent 

detailed studies, plans and actions that 

may be needed to implement the GMP, 

including further wild and scenic river 

planning or Wilderness management 

planning that may be required. 

Scoping Process: The purpose of this 

scoping outreach effort is to elicit early 

public feedback regarding potential 

issues and concerns, the nature and 

extent of potential environmental 

impacts (and as appropriate, mitigation 

measures), and alternative concepts 

which should be addressed in 

developing the monument’s first plan. 

Through the outreach activities planned 

in the scoping phase, the NPS welcomes 

information and suggestions from the 


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