[Federal Register: November 21, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 226)]
[Notices]
[Page 70668]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21no08-75]
[[Page 70668]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0267; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Santee National Wildlife Refuge, Clarendon County, SC
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 Santee National Wildlife
Refuge (NWR). 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: Santee NWR,
2125 Fort Watson Road, Summerton, SC 29148. The plan may also be
accessed and downloaded from the Service's Web site: http://
southeast.fws.gov/planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Marc Epstein, Refuge Manager,
Santee National Wildlife Refuge; Telephone: 803/478-2217; fax: 803/478-
2314; e-mail: marc_epstein@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Santee NWR. We
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on
January 3, 2007 (72 FR 143). For more about the process, see that
notice.
The primary purpose of this 15,000-acre refuge, which was
established in 1942, is to alleviate the loss of natural waterfowl and
other wildlife habitat caused by the construction of hydro-electric
power and navigational projects on the Santee and Cooper Rivers. The
refuge lies within the Atlantic Coastal Plain and consists of mixed
hardwoods, mixed pine hardwoods, pine plantations, marsh, croplands,
old fields, ponds, impoundments, and open water.
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for Santee NWR in accordance with the 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 Santee NWR 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) upland game hunting; (2)
fishing/boating; (3) wildlife observation and photography; (4)
environmental education and interpretation; (5) bicycling; (6)
research; (7) exotic and nuisance wildlife control; (8) forest
management--commercial timber harvest; and (9) cooperative farming are
also available within the final 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
Approximately 120 copies of the Draft CCP/EA were made available
for a 30-day public review period as announced in the Federal Register
on June 30, 2008 (73 FR 36888). Written comments were received from
local citizens and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, we have selected
Alternative C for implementation. The primary focus under Alternative C
will be to increase overall wildlife and habitat diversity. Although
waterfowl will remain a focus of management, wetland habitat
manipulations will also consider the needs of multiple species, such as
marsh and wading birds. Management of upland forests and fields for
neotropical migratory birds will be more actively managed than
previously. Landscape level consideration of habitat management will
include a diversity of open fields, upland and wetland forests, and
additional managed wetlands. Multiple species consideration will
include species and habitats identified by the South Atlantic Migratory
Bird Initiative and the State's Strategic Conservation Plan.
This alternative will expand the monitoring efforts to provide
additional, active efforts to monitor migratory neotropical and
breeding songbirds, and other resident species. Monitoring efforts will
be increased with the assistance of additional staff, trained
volunteers, and academic research. A greater effort will be made to
recruit academic researchers to the refuge to study and monitor refuge
resources.
Wildlife-dependent uses of the refuge will continue. Hunting and
fishing will continue to be allowed. However, hunting will be managed
with a greater focus to achieve biological needs of the refuge, such as
deer population management. Education and interpretation will continue,
but with additional education and outreach efforts aimed at the
importance of landscape ecology and diversity. A much broader effort
will be made with outreach to nearby developing urban communities and a
growing human population.
The refuge will be staffed at current levels plus the addition of
two biological technicians to carry out the increased habitat
management and monitoring needs. Greater emphasis will be placed on
recruiting and training volunteers. Refuge biological programs will
actively seek funding and researchers to study primarily management-
oriented research needs. Refuge staff will place greater emphasis on
developing and maintaining active partnerships, including seeking
grants to assist the refuge in reaching primary objectives.
Alternative C is considered to be the most effective for meeting
the purposes of the refuge by conserving, restoring, and managing the
refuge's habitats and wildlife, while optimizing wildlife-dependent
public uses. Alternative C will best achieve national, ecosystem, and
refuge-specific goals and objectives and it positively addresses
significant issues and concerns expressed by the public.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: September 30, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-27709 Filed 11-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P