[Federal Register: December 16, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 242)]
[Notices]
[Page 76376-76377]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16de08-78]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2008-N0258; 50133-1265-JAHP]
John Hay National Wildlife Refuge, Merrimack County, NH
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 an associated
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document for John Hay National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR). We provide this notice in compliance with our
planning policy to advise other agencies, Tribes, and the public of our
intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of
issues to consider. We are also requesting public comments.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by January 15, 2009. We will hold public meetings to begin the CCP
planning process; see Public Meetings under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
We will announce opportunities for public input in local news media
throughout the CCP planning process, and will announce upcoming public
meetings in local news media and the refuge Web site.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
one of the following methods:
Electronic mail: northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include ``John Hay NWR
CCP/EA'' in the subject line of the message.
U.S. Postal Service: Eastern Massachusetts NWR Complex, 73 Weir
Hill Road, Sudbury, MA 01776.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call 978-443-4661 to make
an appointment during regular business hours at the Sudbury address.
Fax: 978-443-2898.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew French or Barry Parrish,
Refuge/Project Leader, at 413-558-8002, or Carl Melberg, Planning Team
Leader, at 978-443-4661.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
John Hay NWR in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. We provide this notice
in compliance with our planning policy to
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(1) advise other Federal and State agencies and the public of our
intention to conduct detailed planning on this refuge, and (2) obtain
suggestions and information on the scope of topics 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
(Improvement Act) (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), 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 (NWRS), 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 and NEPA.
We establish each unit of the NWRS for specific purposes. We use
these purposes as the basis to develop and prioritize management goals
and objectives for the refuge within the NWRS mission, and to determine
how the public can use the refuge. The planning process is a way for us
and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives for the best
possible conservation approach to this important wildlife habitat,
while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that
are compatible with the refuge's establishing purposes and the mission
of the NWRS. Our CCP process provides opportunities for Tribal, State,
and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public to
participate. At this time, we encourage the public to provide input in
the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the future
management of John Hay NWR.
We will conduct the environmental review of this environmental
assessment in accordance with the requirements of NEPA, as amended (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.
John Hay National Wildlife Refuge
John Hay NWR was the former summer estate of historic figure John
Hay. It was donated to the Service in 1972 by Alice Hay to be used as a
migratory bird and wildlife reservation. Currently, the refuge consists
of approximately 80 acres on the shores of Lake Sunapee in Newbury, New
Hampshire, and consists of upland northern forests, and undeveloped
shoreline. These areas serve the habitat needs of waterfowl, wading
birds, and raptors.
Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities
that we may address in the CCP. We have briefly summarized these issues
below. During public scoping, we may identify additional issues.
Public use throughout the refuge will be reevaluated in relation to
wildlife-dependent recreation and other mission compatible uses. These
include an ADA-compliant interpretive nature trail, overlooks, and a
trailhead at the Fells parking area. We will also explore different
visitor use options for the refuge.
Access to the refuge from the adjacent Fells property needs to be
coordinated in terms of the use of their parking area or the creation
of a second parking area, and the establishment of a trailhead or other
interpretive information on their property.
We need to address how the Service can create a more visible
presence at the refuge and the adjacent Fells property. Potential
avenues are through signs, kiosks, and seasonal staff.
Public Meetings
We will involve the public through open houses, informational and
technical meetings, and written comments. We will release mailings,
news releases, and announcements to provide information about
opportunities for public involvement in the planning process. You can
obtain the schedule from the planning team leader or project leader
(see ADDRESSES). You may also submit comments anytime during the
planning process by mail, electronic mail, or fax (see ADDRESSES).
There will be additional opportunities to provide public input once we
have prepared a draft CCP.
We anticipate that public meetings will be held in Newbury, New
Hampshire. For specific information including dates, times, and
locations, contact the project leader (see ADDRESSES) or visit our Web
site at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/johnhay.
Public Availability of Comments
Our practice is to make comments, including names, home addresses,
home phone numbers, and electronic mail addresses of respondents
available for public review. Individual respondents may request that we
withhold their names and/or home addresses, etc., but if you wish us to
consider withholding this information, you must state this prominently
at the beginning of your comments. In addition, you must present a
rationale for withholding this information. This rationale must
demonstrate that disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of privacy. Unsupported assertions will not meet this burden.
In the absence of exceptional, documentable circumstances, this
information will be released. We will always make submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives of or officials of organizations or
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.
Dated: October 1, 2008.
Wendi Weber,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Hadley, Massachusetts.
[FR Doc. E8-28914 Filed 12-15-08; 8:45 am]
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