80 FR 52056 - Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Adams County, CO; Environmental Impact Statement
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 166 (August 27, 2015)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 166 (August 27, 2015)
| Page Range | 52056-52058 | |
| FR Document | 2015-21234 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 52056-52058] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-21234] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R6-R-2015-N128; FXRS1265066CCP0-156-FF06R06000] Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Adams County, CO; Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; final environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (refuge) in Adams County, Colorado. In the final environmental impact Statement we describe alternatives, including our preferred alternative, to manage the refuge for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP. ADDRESSES: You may request copies or more information by one of the following methods. You may request hard copies or a CD-ROM of the documents. Email: [email protected]. Include ``Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge final EIS'' in the subject line of the message. U.S. Mail: Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader, Branch of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225-0486. Fax: Attn: Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader, 303-236-4792. To view comments on the final CCP-EIS from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or for information on EPA's role in the EIS process, see EPA's Role in the EIS Process under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader, 303-236-4377 (phone) or [email protected] (email). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we announce the availability of the final EIS for the refuge. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 48183; August 7, 2013). Following a lengthy scoping and alternatives development period, we published a second notice in the Federal Register (80 FR 26084; May 6, 2015) announcing the availability of the draft CCP and draft EIS and our intention to hold public meetings, and requested comments. In addition, EPA published a notice announcing the draft CCP and EIS (80 FR 27950; May 15, 2015), as required under section 309 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). We now announce the final EIS. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA also will announce the final EIS via the Federal Register. This notice complies with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of the availability of the final EIS for this refuge. EPA's Role in the EIS Process The EPA is charged under section 309 of the Clean Air Act to review all Federal agencies' EISs and to comment on the adequacy and the acceptability of the environmental impacts of proposed actions in the EISs. EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs prepared by Federal agencies and provides notice of their availability in the Federal Register. The EIS database provides information about EISs prepared by Federal agencies, as well as EPA's comments concerning the EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which publishes a notice of availability on Fridays in the Federal Register. The notice of availability is the start of the 45-day public comment period for draft EISs, and the start of the 30-day ``wait period'' for final EISs, during which agencies are generally required to wait 30 days before making a decision on a proposed action. For more [[Page 52057]] information, see http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/eisdata.html. You may search for EPA comments on EISs, along with EISs themselves, at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/action/eis/search. About the Refuge In 1992 Congress passed the act that established the refuge to (1) conserve and enhance populations of fish, wildlife, and plants within the refuge, including populations of waterfowl, raptors, passerines, and marsh and water birds; (2) conserve species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act and species that are candidates for such listing; (3) provide maximum fish and wildlife- oriented public uses at levels compatible with the conservation and enhancement of wildlife and wildlife habitat; (4) provide opportunities for compatible scientific research; (5) provide opportunities for compatible environmental and land use education; (6) conserve and enhance the land and water of the refuge in a manner that will conserve and enhance the natural diversity of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats; (7) protect and enhance the quality of aquatic habitat within the refuge; and (8) fulfill international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats. The refuge is surrounded by the cities of Commerce City and Denver, along the Colorado Front Range. It encompasses nearly 16,000 acres and is home to more than 468 plant species and 350 wildlife species, including bison, deer, a wide variety of resident and migratory birds and raptors, amphibians, reptiles, fishes, and insects. The refuge's habitats include short and mixed grass prairie, interspersed with native shrubs, riparian corridors, lacustrine habitats on the refuge reservoirs, and woodlands planted by settlers around historic homesteads. Background The CCP Process The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act) 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 (NWRS), 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 wildlife- dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including, where appropriate, 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 as necessary in accordance with the Administration Act. Public Outreach We started the public outreach process in June 2013. At that time and throughout the process, we requested public comments and considered them in numerous ways. Public outreach has included holding eight public meetings, mailing planning updates, maintaining a project Web site, and publishing press releases. We have considered and evaluated all the comments we have received throughout this process. CCP Alternatives We Considered During the public scoping process with which we started work on the draft CCP and draft EIS, we, our Federal and State partners, and the public identified several issues. Our final EIS addresses both the scoping comments and the comments we received on the draft CCP and draft EIS. A full description of each alternative is in the final EIS. Alternative C, Urban Refuge, was selected as the preferred alternative. To address these issues, we developed and evaluated the following alternatives, summarized below. Alternative A: No Action Alternative A is the no-action alternative, which represents the current management of the refuge. This alternative provides the baseline against which to compare the other alternatives. Under this alternative, management activity conducted by the Service would remain the same. The Service would not develop any new management, restoration, or education programs at the refuge. Current habitat and wildlife practices would not be expanded or changed. Funding and staff levels would remain the same, with little change in overall trends. Programs would follow the same direction, emphasis, and intensity as they do now. We would continue implementing the habitat restoration and management objectives set in the refuge's habitat management plan and other approved plans to provide for a wide variety of resident and migratory species. Alternative B: Traditional Refuge This alternative focuses on providing traditional refuge visitor uses and conveying the importance of conservation, wildlife protection, and the purposes of the Refuge System. Access to the refuge would remain more limited than in alternatives C and D. Wildlife-dependent recreation and community outreach would be minimally expanded. We would continue to manage the refuge's habitat and wildlife as in Alternative A, and would reintroduce to the refuge black-footed ferrets, and self- sustaining populations of greater prairie-chicken and sharp-tailed grouse. We would maintain the same levels of access and transportation as under Alternative A, but would enhance the main refuge entrance, improve visitor services facilities, and seek to improve trail accessibility. Alternative C: Urban Refuge (Preferred Alternative) The emphasis of this alternative is to increase the visibility of the refuge within the Denver metropolitan area and to welcome many more nontraditional visitors to the refuge. Through an expanded visitor services program, an abundance of instructional programming, and widespread outreach, we would endeavor to connect more people with nature and wildlife. In this alternative, the refuge would be made more accessible to outlying communities with the opening of additional access points and the development of enhanced transportation system. We would work with nontraditional users' trusted avenues of communication to increase outreach success. We would expand our conservation education in surrounding communities and schools, develop youth- specific outreach, and employ social marketing to broaden our agency's reach. We would manage the refuge's habitat and wildlife as in Alternative B, but the reintroduction of greater prairie-chicken and sharp-tailed grouse would be attempted regardless of whether these species' populations are likely to become self-sustaining. Alternative D: Gateway Refuge The emphasis of this alternative is to work with partners to increase the visibility of the refuge, the Refuge System, and other public lands in the area. There will be less visitor services programming at the refuge and efforts to engage with the public will be extended to off-site locations. We would work with Denver International Airport to improve physical connections between [[Page 52058]] the refuge and the airport. The trail system within the refuge would be more extensive than under Alternative C. Working with our partners, we would manage access to the perimeter trail and promote trail linkages to the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail and other regional trails. We would manage the refuge's habitat and wildlife as in Alternative B and we would work with neighboring landowners and state agencies to extend the range of native species. Comments We solicited comments on the draft CCP and draft EIS from May 6, 2015, through July 6, 2015. During the comment period, we thoroughly evaluated and considered all the comments we received verbally or via letters, email, and electronic forms from the public. Our responses to comments are included in the final EIS. Changes to the Final EIS We made the following changes in the final EIS from the draft CCP and draft EIS:Several comments pointed out the need to increase the number of law enforcement officers in the refuge to better cope with the increased visitation and new access to the refuge. Thus the Final EIS reflects our desire to seek more than one full-time law enforcement officer for the refuge under Alternatives C and D. As necessary, we updated maps, corrected errors, and provided additional clarification throughout the final EIS. Public Availability of Documents In addition to any one method in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain documents at the following locations: Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/planning/ccp/co/rkm/rkm.html. Public libraries: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Library Address Phone number ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aurora Central Public Library. 14949 E Alameda (303) 739-6600. Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012. Commerce City Public Library.. 7185 Monaco Street, (303) 287-0063. Commerce City, CO 80022. Denver Central Library........ 10 W Fourteenth (720) 865-1111. Avenue, Denver, CO 80204. Montbello Public Library...... 12955 Albrook Drive, (720) 865-0200. Denver, CO 80239. Rangeview Library District.... 327 E Bridge Street, (303) 405-3230. Brighton, CO 80601. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Next Steps We will document the final decision in a record of decision, which will be published in the Federal Register after a 30-day ``wait period'' that begins when EPA announces this final EIS. For more information, see EPA's Role in the EIS Process. Dated: August 3, 2015. Matt Hogan, Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2015-21234 Filed 8-26-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
![52056 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Notices
species. We also take into account the • The accuracy of our estimate of the U.S. Mail: Bernardo Garza, Planning
efforts being made by other entities. burden for this collection of Team Leader, Branch of Refuge
States or other entities often formalize information; Planning, P.O. Box 25486, Denver
conservation efforts in conservation • Ways to enhance the quality, utility, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225–0486.
agreements, conservation plans, and clarity of the information to be Fax: Attn: Bernardo Garza, Planning
management plans, or similar collected; and Team Leader, 303–236–4792.
documents. The conservation efforts • Ways to minimize the burden of the To view comments on the final CCP–
recommended or called for in such collection of information on EIS from the Environmental Protection
documents could prevent some species respondents. Agency (EPA), or for information on
from becoming so imperiled that they Comments that you submit in EPA’s role in the EIS process, see EPA’s
meet the definition of a threatened or response to this notice are a matter of Role in the EIS Process under
endangered species under the ESA. public record. Before including your SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
The Policy for Evaluation of address, phone number, email address, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Conservation Efforts When Making or other personal identifying Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader,
Listing Decisions (PECE) (68 FR 15100, information in your comment, you 303–236–4377 (phone) or bernardo_
March 28, 2003) encourages the should be aware that your entire garza@fws.gov (email).
development of conservation comment, including your personal
identifying information, may be made SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
agreements/plans and provides certainty
about the standard that an individual publicly available at any time. While Introduction
conservation effort must meet in order you can ask OMB in your comment to
With this notice, we announce the
for us to consider whether it contributes withhold your personal identifying
availability of the final EIS for the
to forming a basis for making a decision information from public review, we
refuge. We started this process through
about the listing of a species. PECE cannot guarantee that it will be done.
a notice in the Federal Register (78 FR
applies to ‘‘formalized conservation Dated: August 24, 2015. 48183; August 7, 2013). Following a
efforts’’ that have not been implemented Tina A. Campbell, lengthy scoping and alternatives
or have been implemented but have not Chief, Division of Policy, Performance, and development period, we published a
yet demonstrated if they are effective at Management Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife second notice in the Federal Register
the time of a listing decision. Service. (80 FR 26084; May 6, 2015) announcing
Under PECE, formalized conservation [FR Doc. 2015–21253 Filed 8–26–15; 8:45 am] the availability of the draft CCP and
efforts are defined as conservation BILLING CODE 4310–55–P draft EIS and our intention to hold
efforts (specific actions, activities, or public meetings, and requested
programs designed to eliminate or comments. In addition, EPA published
reduce threats or otherwise improve the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR a notice announcing the draft CCP and
status of a species) identified in a EIS (80 FR 27950; May 15, 2015), as
conservation agreement, conservation Fish and Wildlife Service
required under section 309 of the Clean
plan, management plan, or similar [FWS–R6–R–2015–N128; Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). We now
document. To assist us in evaluating a FXRS1265066CCP0–156–FF06R06000] announce the final EIS. Under the Clean
formalized conservation effort under Air Act, EPA also will announce the
PECE, we collect information such as Rocky Mountain Arsenal National final EIS via the Federal Register. This
conservation plans, monitoring results, Wildlife Refuge, Adams County, CO; notice complies with our CCP policy to
and progress reports. The development Environmental Impact Statement advise other Federal and State agencies,
of such agreements/plans is voluntary. AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Tribes, and the public of the availability
There is no requirement that the Interior. of the final EIS for this refuge.
individual conservation efforts included ACTION: Notice of availability; final
in such documents be designed to meet EPA’s Role in the EIS Process
environmental impact statement.
the standard in PECE. The PECE policy The EPA is charged under section 309
is posted on our Candidate Conservation SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and of the Clean Air Act to review all
Web site at http://www.fws.gov/ Wildlife Service, announce the Federal agencies’ EISs and to comment
endangered/esa-library/pdf/PECE- availability of a final environmental on the adequacy and the acceptability of
final.pdf. impact statement (EIS) for the the environmental impacts of proposed
comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) actions in the EISs.
Comments Received and Our Responses
for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal EPA also serves as the repository (EIS
Comments: On June 19, 2015, we National Wildlife Refuge (refuge) in database) for EISs prepared by Federal
published in the Federal Register (80 Adams County, Colorado. In the final agencies and provides notice of their
FR 35391) a notice of our intent to environmental impact Statement we availability in the Federal Register. The
request that OMB renew authority for describe alternatives, including our EIS database provides information about
this information collection. In that preferred alternative, to manage the EISs prepared by Federal agencies, as
notice, we solicited public comments refuge for the 15 years following well as EPA’s comments concerning the
for 60 days, ending August 18, 2015. We approval of the final CCP. EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which
did not receive any comments. ADDRESSES: You may request copies or publishes a notice of availability on
Request for Public Comments more information by one of the Fridays in the Federal Register.
rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
following methods. You may request The notice of availability is the start
We again invite comments concerning hard copies or a CD–ROM of the of the 45-day public comment period for
this information collection on: documents. draft EISs, and the start of the 30-day
• Whether or not the collection of Email: rockymountainarsenal@ ‘‘wait period’’ for final EISs, during
information is necessary, including fws.gov. Include ‘‘Rocky Mountain which agencies are generally required to
whether or not the information will Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge final wait 30 days before making a decision
have practical utility; EIS’’ in the subject line of the message. on a proposed action. For more
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![52058 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 / Notices
the refuge and the airport. The trail through July 6, 2015. During the Final EIS reflects our desire to seek
system within the refuge would be more comment period, we thoroughly more than one full-time law
extensive than under Alternative C. evaluated and considered all the enforcement officer for the refuge under
Working with our partners, we would comments we received verbally or via Alternatives C and D.
manage access to the perimeter trail and letters, email, and electronic forms from • As necessary, we updated maps,
promote trail linkages to the Rocky the public. Our responses to comments corrected errors, and provided
Mountain Greenway Trail and other are included in the final EIS. additional clarification throughout the
regional trails. We would manage the final EIS.
Changes to the Final EIS
refuge’s habitat and wildlife as in
We made the following changes in the Public Availability of Documents
Alternative B and we would work with
neighboring landowners and state final EIS from the draft CCP and draft In addition to any one method in
agencies to extend the range of native EIS: ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
species. • Several comments pointed out the documents at the following locations:
need to increase the number of law • Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/
Comments enforcement officers in the refuge to mountain-prairie/planning/ccp/co/rkm/
We solicited comments on the draft better cope with the increased visitation rkm.html.
CCP and draft EIS from May 6, 2015, and new access to the refuge. Thus the • Public libraries:
Library Address Phone number
Aurora Central Public Library .................. 14949 E Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012 ..................................................... (303) 739–6600.
Commerce City Public Library ................ 7185 Monaco Street, Commerce City, CO 80022 .................................................. (303) 287–0063.
Denver Central Library ............................ 10 W Fourteenth Avenue, Denver, CO 80204 ........................................................ (720) 865–1111.
Montbello Public Library .......................... 12955 Albrook Drive, Denver, CO 80239 ............................................................... (720) 865–0200.
Rangeview Library District ...................... 327 E Bridge Street, Brighton, CO 80601 ............................................................... (303) 405–3230.
Next Steps a telecommunications device for the 929, was accepted June 2, 2015. This
We will document the final decision deaf (TDD) may call the Federal survey was executed to meet certain
in a record of decision, which will be Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– administrative needs of the Bureau of
published in the Federal Register after 800–877–8339 to contact the above Land Management.
a 30-day ‘‘wait period’’ that begins when individual during normal business 3. The Plat of Survey of the following
EPA announces this final EIS. For more hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a described lands was officially filed at
information, see EPA’s Role in the EIS day, 7 days a week, to leave a message the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Process. or question with the above individual. Nevada State Office, Reno, Nevada on
You will receive a reply during normal June 4, 2015:
Dated: August 3, 2015. The plat, in 1 sheet, representing the
business hours.
Matt Hogan, dependent resurvey of a portion of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie 1. The Plat of Survey of the following east boundary, a portion of the north
Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. boundary and a portion of the
described lands was officially filed at
[FR Doc. 2015–21234 Filed 8–26–15; 8:45 am] the BLM Nevada State Office, Reno, subdivisional lines, and the subdivision
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Nevada on April 17, 2015. of section 1, Township 4 South, Range
The plat, in 2 sheets, representing the 60 East, Mount Diablo Meridian,
dependent resurvey of a portion of the Nevada, under Group No. 929, was
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR north boundary and a portion of the accepted June 2, 2015. This survey was
subdivisional lines, the subdivision of executed to meet certain administrative
Bureau of Land Management
section 2 and metes-and-bounds surveys needs of the Bureau of Land
[LLNV952000 in section 2, Township 4 South, Range Management.
L14400000.BJ0000.LXSSF2210000.241A; 60 East, of the Mount Diablo Meridian, 4. The Plat of Survey of the following
13–08807; MO# 4500082763; TAS: 15X1109] Nevada, under Group No. 914, was described lands was officially filed at
accepted April 16, 2015. This survey the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Filing of Plats of Survey; NV
was executed to meet certain Nevada State Office, Reno, Nevada on
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, administrative needs of the Bureau of June 25, 2015:
Interior. Land Management. The plat, in 3 sheets, representing the
ACTION: Notice. 2. The Plat of Survey of the following dependent resurvey of a portion of the
described lands was officially filed at south boundary, a portion of the
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) subdivisional lines, and portions of
to inform the public and interested State Nevada State Office, Reno, Nevada on Mineral Survey Nos. 4892 and 4893,
and local government officials of the June 4, 2015: and a metes-and-bounds survey in
filing of Plats of Survey in Nevada. The plat, in 1 sheet, representing the sections 35 and 36, Township 13 North,
DATES: Unless otherwise stated filing is dependent resurvey of a portion of the Range 26 East, Mount Diablo Meridian,
effective at 10:00 a.m. on the dates south boundary and a portion of the Nevada, under Group No. 941, was
rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
indicated below. subdivisional lines, the subdivision of accepted June 12, 2015. This survey was
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: sections 35 and 36, and a metes-and- executed to facilitate the conveyance of
Michael O. Harmening, Chief, Branch of bounds survey of the centerline of certain public land to the municipality
Geographic Sciences, Bureau of Land Nevada State Route 318 through a of Yerington, Nevada, as authorized by
Management, Nevada State Office, 1340 portion of section 35, Township 3 Public Law 113–291.
Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502–7147, South, Range 60 East, Mount Diablo 5. The Plat of Survey of the following
phone: 775–861–6490. Persons who use Meridian, Nevada, under Group No. described lands was officially filed at
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:53:23
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:53:23
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability; final environmental impact statement. | |
| Contact | Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader, 303-236-4377 (phone) or [email protected] (email). | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 52056 |
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