[Federal Register: April 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 67)]
[Notices]
[Page 18806-18807]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap08-82]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2008-N0062, 50130-1265-0000-S3]
Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge, Nantucket County, MA
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 Nantucket
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 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. 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
[[Page 18807]]
local news media and the refuge Web site.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods.
Electronic mail: northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include ``Nantucket NWR
CCP/EA'' in the subject line of the message.
U.S. Postal Service: Eastern Massachusetts NWR Complex, 73 Weir
Hill Road, Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call 978-443-4661 to make
an appointment during regular business hours at 73 Weir Hill Road,
Sudbury, Massachusetts.
Fax: 978-443-2898
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Libby Herland, Project Leader, at 978-
443-4661, 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
Nantucket NWR in Nantucket County, Massachusetts. We provide this
notice in compliance with our planning policy to (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 bases 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 Nantucket 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.
Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge
Nantucket NWR was established in 1973 under the Act Authorizing the
Transfer of Certain Real Property for Wildlife or other purposes from
the U.S. Coast Guard. The refuge, which consists of 24 acres, is
located at Great Point on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. The refuge
is composed of beach and dune habitat. These areas serve the habitat
needs of seabirds, wading birds, shorebirds, 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.
We recognized a need to clarify and formalize our relationship with
the Trustees of Reservations at Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge,
particularly on the issues of on-site management and fee collection and
retention.
Additionally, public use throughout the refuge will be reevaluated
in relation to wildlife-dependent recreation and other mission
compatible uses. Issues of concern are over-the-sand vehicle use and
non-wildlife dependent beach use.
We need to address the disposition of the U.S. Coast Guard
lighthouse, which is an inholding on the refuge.
We need to ensure protection of wildlife resources, including
terns, plovers, and seals.
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 on Nantucket
Island. 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/nantucket.
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: April 1, 2008.
Wendi Weber,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Hadley, Massachusetts.
[FR Doc. E8-7165 Filed 4-4-08; 8:45 am]
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