Notice of Availability of the Comprehensive Management Plan for the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Associated Environmental Assessment and Comprehensive Management Plan for the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Comprehensive Management Plan for

the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Associated

Environmental Assessment and Comprehensive Management Plan for the

Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises agencies and the public that the

Comprehensive Management Plan for the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife

Refuge (Refuge) and associated Environmental Assessment are available

from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for public review and comment.

The purpose of the Comprehensive Management Plan is to guide Refuge

management decisions and to identify strategies to meet the goals and

objectives of the Tijuana Slough Refuge and National Wildlife Refuge

System. The Comprehensive Management Plan addresses the following

management issues, functions, and programs: administrative framework;

resource protection, management, and restoration; research and

monitoring; education and interpretation; public involvement, use, and

access; facilities development; appropriate and compatible Refuge uses

determination; and watershed coordination between the United States and

Mexico for the Tijuana Slough Refuge.

The Environmental Assessment evaluates the alternatives and

analyzes the environmental effects of implementing the Comprehensive

Management Plan. The two alternatives evaluated in the Environmental

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Assessment provide different levels of wildlife management and visitor

services opportunities. The Environmental Assessment will be used to

determine whether the implementation of the selected alternative would

have a significant impact upon the quality of the human environment.

The Comprehensive Management Plan for the Tijuana Slough National

Wildlife Refuge was integrated into and coordinated with the update of

the 1986 Management Plan for the Tijuana River National Estuarine

Research Reserve (NERR). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) administers the National Estuarine Research

Reserve System. NOAA requires that each NERR have an approved written

management plan that is periodically updated. The Comprehensive

Management Plan is the first update of the 1986 Tijuana River NERR

Management Plan.

DATES: Written comments should be postmarked or electronically-mailed

no later than June 21, 1999.

ADDRESSES: There are three options for submitting comments on the

Tijuana Slough EA and CMP, mail, fax, or electronic mail. Mail or fax

your comments to Dean Rundle, Manager, San Diego Bay National Wildlife

Refuge Complex, 2736 Loker Avenue West, Suite A, Carlsbad, CA 92008,

phone (760) 930-0168, facsimile (760) 930-0256. You may submit comments

by electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Submit

comments as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and

any form of encryption, and enter ``Tijuana Slough NWR CMP/EA'' in the

subject line.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Availability of Documents

Individuals who want copies of the Comprehensive Management Plan

for the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Associated

Environmental Assessment, should immediately contact Charles Houghten,

Acting Chief, Division of Refuge Planning, 911 NE 11th Avenue,

Portland, Oregon 97232, telephone (503) 231-2231, facsimile (503) 231-

6161. These documents will also be available for viewing on the

following Fish and Wildlife Service webpage www.r1.fws.gov/

plnhome.html.

Background Information

The Tijuana Slough Refuge provides habitat for several endangered,

threatened, and migratory species. The salt marsh, tidal channels,

mudflats, sand beaches, and dunes provide habitat for the endangered

light-footed clapper rail, endangered California least tern, endangered

brown pelican, endangered salt marsh bird's beak, threatened western

snowy plover, State-endangered Belding's savannah sparrow, and many

species of migratory shorebirds and waterfowl. The riparian woodlands

provide habitat for the endangered least Bell's vireo, endangered

southwestern willow flycatcher, and many species of migratory birds.

Two alternatives are analyzed in the Environmental Assessment.

Alternative A (preferred alternative) would implement increased levels

of both wildlife management and visitor services at the Tijuana Slough

Refuge. Alternative B (no action) would implement existing levels of

wildlife management and visitor services at the Tijuana Slough Refuge.

The Environmental Assessment also analyzes the environmental effects of

(1) predator management for the recovery of endangered and threatened

species, (2) construction of new office and classroom space, (3)

acquisition of additional lands along Sea Coast Drive, (4) annual sand

dune maintenance, (5) relocation of damaged trails in the Tijuana River

floodplain, and (6) emergency dredging of the mouths of Oneonta Slough

and Tijuana River.

The environmental review of the Refuge Comprehensive Management

Plan and associated Environmental Assessment will be conducted in

accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508),

National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 as amended

by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16

U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), other appropriate Federal laws and regulations,

and Service policies and procedures for compliance with those

regulations.

Dated: May 17, 1999.

Elizabeth H. Stevens,

Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Sacramento,

California.

[FR Doc. 99-12838 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]

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