# Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Comanche County, OK; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
**AGENCY:**
Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
**ACTION:**
Notice of availability; request for comments.
**SUMMARY:**
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and an environmental assessment (EA) for Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (Refuge, WMWR), located approximately 25 miles northwest of Lawton, Oklahoma, for public review and comment. The Draft CCP/EA describes our proposal for managing the Refuge for the next 15 years.
**DATES:**
To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by September 10, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings in local news media.
**ADDRESSES:**
You may submit comments or requests for copies or more information on the Draft CCP/EA by any one of the methods listed below. You may request hard copies or a CD-ROM of the documents. Please contact Tony Booth, Refuge Manager, or Roxanne Turley, Natural Resource Planner.
*Email: [email protected].* Include “Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge draft CCP and EA” in the subject line of the message.
*Fax:* Attn: Roxanne Turley, 505-248-6803.
*U.S. Mail:* Roxanne Turley, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NWRS Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103.
*In-Person Drop-off:* You may drop off comments during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at 500 Gold Street SW., 4th Floor, Room 4342, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Tony Booth, Refuge Manager, Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, CCP Project, 32 Refuge Headquarters, Indiahoma, OK 73552; phone: (580) 429-3222; fax: (580) 429-9323.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Introduction**
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. We started this process through a notice in the *Federal Register* (73 FR 65872; November 5, 2008).
The Refuge encompasses 59,020 acres of mixed-grass prairie and crosstimbers habitats, with granite rock outcroppings. The Refuge, which is a remnant of what was once a much larger natural area, consists of lakes, streams, canyons, mountains, woodlands, and grasslands, creating an oasis for both wildlife and people in southwestern Oklahoma.
The land was originally established as a Forest Reserve by President William McKinley in 1901. By proclamation of President Theodore Roosevelt, dated June 2, 1905, and based on a special act of Congress approved January 24, 1905, the land was further designated as a National Game Preserve “for the protection of game animals and birds and shall be recognized as a breeding place thereof.” The land was administered by the U.S. Forest Service until 1936, when it was transferred to the Bureau of Biological Survey, one of the predecessor agencies of the present day U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Shortly thereafter, the area was renamed the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge for administration under the National Wildlife Refuge System.
**Background**
**The CCP Process**
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. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will review and, as necessary, update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Refuge Administration Act.
**Public Outreach**
Formal scoping began with publication of a notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (EA) in the *Federal Register* on November 5, 2008 (73 FR 65872). The Refuge solicited comments on issues and concerns to aid in CCP development through four open house meetings held in January and February 2009.
An ecoregion-wide coordination meeting was held at the Refuge Environmental Education Center on December 2, 2009, to gain a better understanding of the issues within the Central Mixed-Grass Prairie ecoregion, where the Refuge is located, and to determine the Refuge's role in addressing issues impacting fish, wildlife, and their habitats within the larger landscape.
In February 2010, Refuge staff met with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to identify their concerns to address in the CCP. Also at that time a letter was sent to local tribes to inform them of the planning process and provide information on how to be involved. One tribal meeting was scheduled as a result.
In addition to the scoping meetings, the Refuge held an open house at the Refuge Visitor Center on January 25, 2011. The purpose of this open house was to introduce the new Refuge Manager and to give the public an opportunity to discuss various Refuge projects and programs, including the planning process.
The feedback received at the conclusion of the public involvement period identified numerous concerns from a variety of stakeholders. These concerns were organized by five broad issue categories and one administrative category: Ecoregion, Habitat, Wildlife, Public Use, Facilities, and Administrative Areas.
**CCP Alternatives We Are Considering**
During the public scoping process multiple issues were raised by us, other governmental partners, Tribes, and the public. 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.
| Issue topic | Alternative A—no action | Alternative B—proposed action | Alternative C |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Issue 1: Ecoregion | Improve efficiency of Refuge fleet and facilities | Same as Alternative A, plus: | Same as Alternative B. |
| Issue 2: Habitat Management | Maintain Special Use Area (SUA) and continue prohibition on unrestricted public access and use | Same as Alternative A, plus: | Same as Alternative B, with the exception of the SUA, which would be managed as in Alternative A, but with allowance of more general, although controlled, public access and use. |
| Issue 3: Wildlife Management | Manage native fauna (elk, deer, and bison) at or near carrying capacity. Hold public auctions (bison) and hunts (elk and deer) to manage population levels. Manage black-capped vireo according to recovery plan | Manage populations at levels targeted to allow for habitat variability. | Manage native fauna the same as Alternative B, plus evaluate the feasibility of pronghorn antelope and wolf reintroductions. |
| Issue 4: Public Use | Administer hunts to achieve population management objectives for white-tailed deer and elk | Same as Alternative A, plus: | Review and revise administration of hunts. Consider turkey and feral hog hunts. |
| Issue 5: Facilities | Maintain Visitor Center, EE Center, headquarters building and quarters, roads, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, fishing piers, boat ramps, dams, fences, corrals, etc. | Same as Alternative A, plus: | Manage administrative facilities the same as Alternative B, plus install emergency phones along roadways. |
| Issue 6: Administrative Areas | Manage Holy City according to a 5-year SUP to allow for management and administration of events | Same as Alternative A, plus: | Remove Holy City facilities and structures. |
| Issue 7: Cultural Resources | Protect known archaeological sites. Protect and maintain designated sites or those sites eligible for designation to preserve historic character. | Same as Alternative A, plus: | Same as Alternative B, plus: |
**Public Availability of Documents**
In addition to any methods in *ADDRESSES* , you can view or obtain documents at the following locations:
• Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Headquarters Office, 32 Refuge Headquarters, Indiahoma, OK 73552 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Our Web site: *http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/Plan/planindex.html.*
• At the following public libraries:
| Library | Address | Phone number |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lawton Public Library | 110 SW 4th Street, Lawton, OK 73501 | 580-581-3450 |
| Cameron University Library | 2800 West Gore Blvd., Lawton, OK 73505 | 580-581-2957 |
| Southern Prairie Library System | 421 N. Hudson Street, Altus, OK 73521 | 580-477-2890 |
**Submitting Comments/Issues for Comment**
We consider comments substantive if they:
• Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the information in the document;
• Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the environmental assessment (EA);
• Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented in the EA; and/or
• Provide new or additional information relevant to the assessment.
**Next Steps**
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and address them in the form of a final CCP and finding of no significant impact.
**Public Availability of Comments**
Before including your address, phone number, email 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: August 3, 2012.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Regional Director, Southwest Region.