Comprehensive conservation plans; availability, etc.: Kern National Wildlife Refuge Complex, CA,

[Federal Register: August 16, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 157)]

[Notices]

[Page 44531-44532]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr16au99-100]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Kern National Wildlife Refuge, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Kern National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Kern and Tulare Counties, California.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Kern National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) Complex. The Service is gathering information necessary to prepare a CCP and EA pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The public is invited to participate in the planning process. The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with the Service CCP policy to accomplish the following:

(1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions;

(2) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the planning documents; and

(3) announce public scoping workshops on August 30 and 31, 1999.

DATES: Public scoping workshops will be held at the following locations beginning at 7:00 pm and ending no later than 9:00 pm on the dates indicated:

Date

Location

August 30, 1999........................... Tulare Community Center Tulare, California. August 31,1999............................ Beale Library (Auditorium) Bakersfield, California.

Interested persons are encouraged to attend the workshops to identify issues, concerns, and opportunities to be addressed in the CCP. To ensure that the Service has adequate time to evaluate and incorporate suggestions and other input into the planning process, comments should be received on or before September 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the EA or CCP or requests to be added to the mailing list to the following address: Planning Team Leader--Kern NWR Complex, California/Nevada Refuge Planning Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-1916, Sacramento, California, 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Pelz, Planning Team Leader, by phone at (916) 414-6504, or email at mark____pelz@fws.gov, or David Hardt, Project Leader, by phone at (661) 725-2767, or email at dave____hardt@fws.gov.

[[Page 44532]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended, mandates that all lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System are to be managed in accordance with an approved CCP. The CCP will guide management decisions by identifying Refuge goals, long-range objectives and management strategies for achieving the Refuge purposes. The planning process will consider many elements, including habitat and wildlife management, habitat protection, wildlife-dependant recreation and other public uses, cultural resources, and environmental effects. Public input into this planning process is important. The CCP will provide other agencies and the public with a clear understanding of the desired conditions for the Refuge and how the Service will manage the Refuge Complex.

The Service is soliciting information from the public via written comments and public meetings. Interested parties are urged to submit their names and addresses to be added to the Service's mailing list. The Service will periodically send out special planning updates to those who are interested in the Refuge Complex. Among other things, these mailings will provide information on how to participate in the CCP planning process. Comments received will be used to identify key issues and to develop goals, objectives, and management strategies. Additional opportunities for public participation will occur throughout the process, which is expected to be completed in mid 2001.

The Kern Refuge Complex is composed of three refuges: Kern, Pixley, and Blue Ridge. Kern Refuge is located 19 miles west of Delano, California at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. It was established in 1960 to provide wintering habitat for waterfowl in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The Kern Refuge consists of a single, 10,618-acre unit owned by the Federal government. The Refuge purpose is to provide ``* * * an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds.'' 16 U.S.C. 715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act).

Pixley Refuge is located approximately 19 miles south of the City of Tulare, northeast of Kern Refuge. This Refuge was set aside in 1959 to provide wintering habitat for waterfowl as well as the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard. Pixley Refuge is composed of a 8,800 acres, of which about 70 percent are owned by the Federal government. The Refuge purposes are: (1) ``* * * a land-conservation and land- utilization program * * *'' 7 U.S.C. 1011 (Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act); (2) ``* * * as refuges for migratory birds and other wildlife: * * *'' Secretarial Order 2843, dated Nov. 17, 1959; and (3)``* * * to conserve (A) fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered species or threatened species * * * or (B) plants * * *'' 16 U.S.C. 1534 (Endangered Species Act of 1973).

Blue Ridge Refuge is located in central Tulare County, northeast of Porterville, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This Refuge was established in 1982 to protect critical roosting habitat for the California condor. The 897 acres in the Blue Ridge Refuge are all owned by the Federal government. The refuge purpose is ``* * * to conserve (A) fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered species or threatened species * * * or (B) plants * * *'' 16 U.S.C. 1534 (Endangered Species Act of 1973).

The outcome of this planning process will be a CCP to guide Refuge management for the next 15 years and accompanying NEPA document. It is estimated that a draft CCP and NEPA document will be made available for public review in the latter part of 2000.

Dated: August 9, 1999. Elizabeth H. Stevens, Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations.

[FR Doc. 99-20946Filed8-13-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P