[Federal Register: September 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 174)]
[Notices]
[Page 52063-52064]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08se08-85]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2008-N0173, 80230-1265-0000-S3]
San Luis and Merced National Wildlife Refuges and Grasslands
Wildlife Management Area, Merced 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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare
a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment
(EA) for San Luis and Merced National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) and the
Grasslands Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in Merced County,
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 October 23, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods.
E-mail: Sandy_Osborn@fws.gov. Include ``San Luis CCP'' in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Ms. Sandy Osborn, (916) 414-6497.
U.S. Mail: California and Nevada Region, Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, California
95825.
In-Person Drop off: You may drop off comments during regular
business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at San Luis
NWR Complex Headquarters, 947 West Pacheco Blvd., Suite C, Los Banos,
California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandy Osborn, Planning Team
Leader, at (916) 414-6503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
San Luis and Merced NWRs and the Grasslands WMA in Merced County, CA.
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.
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established 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.
At this time we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas,
and suggestions for the future management of San Luis and Merced NWRs
and the Grasslands WMA.
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.
San Luis and Merced NWRs and Grasslands WMA
The San Luis and Merced NWRs and Grasslands WMA are in Merced
County, California, adjacent to the communities of Los Banos and
Merced. They are situated within the San Joaquin River watershed in the
San Joaquin Valley.
Collectively, these three units of the National Wildlife Refuge
System contain one of the largest contiguous freshwater wetlands
remaining in California, which provides important winter habitat for
millions of migratory birds, as well as assemblages of other
[[Page 52064]]
native wetland- and grassland-dependent wildlife.
The Merced NWR was established in 1951 and consists of 10,262
acres. The San Luis NWR was established in 1967 and consists of 26,878
acres. The Grasslands WMA was established in 1979 and contains more
than 190 privately-owned parcels under Service conservation easements
totaling approximately 90,000 acres, within an approved acquisition
boundary of 230,000 acres.
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: August 18, 2008.
Richard F. Kearney,
Acting Regional Director, California and Nevada Region, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. E8-19488 Filed 9-5-08; 8:45 am]
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