[Federal Register: October 29, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 210)]
[Notices]
[Page 64363]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29oc08-86]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0217; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, Anson and Richmond Counties, NC
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: Final comprehensive conservation plan
and finding of no significant impact.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for Pee Dee National Wildlife
Refuge. In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge
for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP may be obtained by writing to: Jeffrey
Bricken, Refuge Manager, Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, 5770 U.S.
Highway 52 North, Wadesboro, NC 28170. The CCP may also be accessed and
downloaded from the Service's Internet Site: http://southeast.fws.gov/
planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Bricken; telephone: 704/694-
4424.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Pee Dee National
Wildlife Refuge. We started this process through a notice of intent in
the Federal Register on November 7, 2006 (71 FR 65122). For more about
the process, see that notice.
Established in 1963, Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge is located
approximately 48 miles east of Charlotte, North Carolina, in Anson and
Richmond Counties. The 8,433-acre refuge includes a diversity of
habitats consisting of bottomland hardwoods, upland pine forests,
croplands, open fields, moist-soil units, and mixed-pine hardwoods.
These areas support a variety of wildlife and plant species, including
waterfowl and other migratory birds, as well as federal- and state-
listed species. Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge straddles several
miles of the Pee Dee River, and contains numerous creeks, lakes, and
ponds. In addition, the refuge protects historical and archaeological
sites.
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge in accordance with National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We
completed a thorough analysis of impacts on the human environment,
which we included in the draft comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA).
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Pee Dee
National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years. Alternative C, as we
described in the final CCP, is the foundation for the CCP.
The compatibility determinations for (1) boating; (2) deer and
feral hog hunting; (3) turkey hunting; (4) small game hunting; (5)
fishing; (6) wildlife observation and photography; (7) environmental
education and interpretation; (8) bicycling and jogging; (9) horseback
riding; (10) forest management/timber harvest; and (11) cooperative
farming are also available in the CCP.
Background
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, wildlife
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Improvement Act.
Comments
We solicited comments on the Draft CCP/EA for a 30-day period as
announced in the Federal Register on April 22, 2008 (73 FR 21641). All
comments were analyzed and changes were made to the CCP where
warranted.
Selected Alternative
The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated three alternatives for
managing the refuge. After considering the comments we received and
based on the professional judgment of the planning team, we have
selected Alternative C for implementation. Under this alternative,
refuge management will focus on maintaining biodiversity, restoring
habitats, improving conditions for threatened and endangered species,
and increasing public use opportunities.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: August 25, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-25778 Filed 10-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P