[Federal Register: December 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 245)]
[Notices]
[Page 77829]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de08-157]
[[Page 77829]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0269; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge, Hyde County, NC
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: Final comprehensive conservation plan
and finding of no significant impact.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for Swanquarter 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: Swanquarter
NWR, 38 Mattamuskeet Road, Swan Quarter, NC 27885. The CCP may also be
accessed and downloaded from the Service's Website: http://
southeast.fws.gov/planning/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Freske, Refuge Manager;
Telephone: 252/926-4021.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Swanquarter NWR.
We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on
November 3, 2000 (65 FR 66256). For more about the process, please see
that notice.
Swanquarter NWR is on the Pamlico Sound in Hyde County, North
Carolina, and was established by Presidential Order on June 23, 1932.
The Service has acquired all of the property within the refuge's
acquisition boundary. The refuge consists of 16,411 acres of saltmarsh
islands and forested wetlands interspersed with potholes, creeks, and
drains. Marsh vegetation is dominated by black needlerush and sawgrass.
The mainland is forested by loblolly pine, pond pine, and bald cypress.
Approximately 8,800 acres of the refuge have been designated a
wilderness area. An additional 27,082 acres of adjacent, non-refuge
open water are closed by Presidential Proclamation to the taking of
migratory birds.
Swanquarter NWR is in the South Atlantic Coastal Plain Ecosystem
and is part of the migration corridor for migratory birds that use the
Atlantic Flyway. Wildlife species of management concern at the refuge
include the American black duck, lesser scaup, canvasback, redhead,
surf scoter, seaside sparrow, sharp-tailed sparrow, brown-headed
nuthatch, black-throated green warbler, black rail, yellow rail,
clapper rail, Forster's tern, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, osprey,
black bear, red wolf, Carolina pygmy rattlesnake, and the American
alligator. The white-tailed deer is also a resident game species.
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for Swanquarter NWR 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 CCP/EA.
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Swanquarter NWR
for the next 15 years. Alternative B, as we described in the final CCP,
is the foundation for 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 in
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 released the draft comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) to the public, announcing and
requesting comments in a notice of availability in the Federal Register
on July 3, 2008 (73 FR 38242). All comments were considered and
thoroughly evaluated. Responses to the comments are contained in
Appendix D of the final CCP.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, we have selected
Alternative B for implementation. Under Alternative B, the preferred
alternative, the refuge will continue to provide habitat for migratory
birds, threatened and endangered species, and other waterfowl and
fauna. Surveying and monitoring will be expanded to obtain baseline
data on other species, and will include mammals, reptiles, amphibians,
and fish. The refuge will monitor the effects of management activities
on both flora and fauna and adapt as needed. The public use and
environmental education and outreach programs will be increased to
include conducting two to ten programs for local school groups. Fishing
and hunting opportunities will be expanded by increasing the number of
use days and introducing deer hunting with archery equipment. An
interpretive trail or boardwalk will be developed to provide greater
access to 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: October 6, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-30273 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]
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