[Federal Register: July 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 135)]
[Notices]
[Page 40360-40361]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14jy08-83]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2008-N0101; 80230-1265-0000-S3]
Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Santa Cruz County, CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intend to
prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge
located in Santa Cruz County of California. We provide this notice in
compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State
agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the
planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by August 13, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods.
E-mail: sfbaynwrc@fws.gov. Include ``Ellicott Slough CCP'' in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Winnie Chan, (510) 792-5828.
U.S. Mail: San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 9500
Thornton Avenue, Newark, California 94560.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular
business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Winnie Chan, Refuge Planner, or Diane
Kodama, Refuge Manager, at (510) 792-0222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Ellicott Slough NWR in Santa Cruz County, CA.
[[Page 40361]]
This notice complies with our CCP policy to (1) Advise other Federal
and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct
detailed planning on this refuge and (2) obtain suggestions and
information on the scope of issues to consider in the environmental
document and during development of the CCP.
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 wildlife-
dependent 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.
Congress established each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge
System for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation
for developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to
determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a
way for us and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives
that will ensure the best possible approach to wildlife, plant, and
habitat conservation, while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's establishing
purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
We will be contacting identified stakeholders and individuals at this
time for initial input. If you would like to meet with planning staff
or would like to receive periodic updates, please contact us (see
ADDRESSES section). We anticipate holding a public meeting once
alternative management scenarios have been identified. At this time we
encourage comments in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and
suggestions for the future management of Ellicott Slough NWR.
We will conduct the environmental review of this project in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws
and regulations; and our policies and procedures for compliance with
those laws and regulations.
Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1975
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1537) and the
Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 3901b). The nearly
300-acre Ellicott Slough National Wildlife Refuge, located in Santa
Cruz County, California, consists of three non-contiguous units within
and adjacent to Ellicott Slough and associated watersheds. The Refuge
was established to protect the endangered Santa Cruz long-toed
salamander by supporting two of the twenty known breeding populations
of the salamander. Due to the sensitivity of the habitat, the Refuge is
closed to the public. Through this CCP process, we will determine
whether any wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities should be
made available to the public.
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: July 7, 2008.
Ken McDermond,
Acting Regional Director, California and Nevada Region, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. E8-15916 Filed 7-11-08; 8:45 am]
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