[Federal Register: May 12, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 90)]
[Notices]
[Page 22176-22177]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12my09-53]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R6-R-2009-N0027];[60138-1265-6CCP-S3]
Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for 12 National Wildlife
Refuges in North Dakota
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: final comprehensive conservation plan
and finding of no significant impact for environmental assessment.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce
that our final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for 12 National
Wildlife Refuges (Refuges) in the State of North Dakota is available.
This final CCP describes how we intend to manage these particular
Refuges in the State for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the CCP, write to John Esperance,
Division of Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 134 Union
Boulevard, Suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80228; or download a copy from
http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Esperance, 303-236-4369 (phone);
303-236-4792 (fax); or John--Esperance@ fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 12 North Dakota Refuges this CCP covers
are Audubon, Chase Lake, Kellys Slough, Lake Alice, Lake Ilo, Lake
Nettie, Lake Zahl, McLean, Shell Lake, Stump Lake, Stewart Lake, and
White Lake. These sites are located throughout the State of North
Dakota.
All 12 Refuges were established under authority to provide breeding
ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. These 12 Refuges
conserve, restore, and enhance the ecological diversity of grasslands
and wetlands of the North Dakota prairie to support healthy populations
of ducks and geese, other migratory birds, and native species. Through
this work, these 12 Refuges provide vital resting and breeding habitat.
We made available our draft CCP and environmental assessment to the
public for a 30-day review and comment period by publishing a Federal
Register notice
[[Page 22177]]
on August 28, 2008 (73 FR 50834). The draft CCP/EA evaluated 3
alternatives for managing the 12 Refuges for the next 15 years.
The preferred alternative will provide for enhanced wetland and
upland management, where warranted, on Refuge lands. Management
objectives for various habitat types are based on habitat preferences
of groups of target species, such as waterfowl, migratory shore birds,
grassland bird species, and priority species. Refuge staff will focus
on high-priority tracts and medium-priority tracts. The Refuge staff
will implement compatible production enhancement techniques for
targeted migratory bird populations. The Refuge staff will maintain
existing environmental education and public use programs, with
additional waterfowl emphasis. We propose, at a future date, a new
environmental learning center for Audubon Refuge, and we are also
planning interpretive panels for Lake Alice Refuge.
We selected the preferred alternative because it best meets the
purposes and goals of the Refuge, as well as the mission and goals of
the National Wildlife Refuge System. The preferred alternative will
benefit migrating and nesting waterfowl, shore birds, migratory upland
birds, and resident wildlife. Environmental education and partnerships
will result in improved wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities.
Cultural and historical resources as well as federally listed species
will be protected.
We are furnishing this notice to advise other agencies and the
public of the availability of the final CCP and Finding of No
Significant Impact, to provide information on desired conditions for
the Refuges, and to detail how we will implement management strategies.
Based on the review and evaluation of the information contained in the
environmental assessment, our Regional Director has determined that
implementation of the final CCP does not constitute a major Federal
action that would significantly affect the quality of the human
environment within the meaning of Section 102(2)(c) of the National
Environmental Policy Act. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement
will not be prepared. Future site-specific proposals discussed in the
final CCP will be addressed in separate planning efforts with full
public involvement.
Dated: March 10, 2009.
Noreen E Walsh,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E9-11024 Filed 5-11-09; 8:45 am]
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