[Federal Register: May 28, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 101)]
[Notices]
[Page 25577-25578]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28my09-96]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2009-N0075; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, Terrebonne Parish, LA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: draft comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Mandalay National Wildlife
Refuge (NWR) for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we
describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for
the 15 years following approval of the final CCP.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by June 29, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Send comments, questions, and requests for information to:
Mr. Paul Yakupzack, Refuge Manager, Mandalay NWR, 3599 Bayou Black
Drive, Houma, LA 70360. The Draft CCP/EA is available on compact disk
or in hard copy. The Draft CCP/EA may also be accessed and downloaded
from the Service's Internet Site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Yakupzack; telephone: 985/
853-1078; fax: 985/853-1079; e-mail: paul_yakupzack@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Mandalay NWR. We
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on March
19, 2007 (72 FR 12811).
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 strategy
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
[[Page 25578]]
every 15 years in accordance with the Improvement Act.
Mandalay NWR, approximately 5 miles west of Houma, Louisiana, was
established on May 2, 1996, with the purchase of 4,416 acres under the
authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 and the
Endangered Species Act of 1973. The refuge, predominantly freshwater
marsh and cypress-tupelo swamp, provides excellent habitat for
waterfowl, wading birds, and neotropical songbirds. Access is by boat,
except for the headquarters building on Highway 182 (Bayou Black Drive)
and a nearby nature trail. Mandalay NWR is administered as one of eight
refuges of the Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex, headquartered in
Lacombe, Louisiana.
CCP Alternatives, Including Our Proposed Alternative
We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge and chose
Alternative B as the proposed alternative. A full description is in the
Draft CCP/EA. We summarize each alternative below.
Alternative A--No Action Alternative
Under this alternative, no new actions would be taken to improve or
enhance the refuge's current habitat, wildlife, and public use
management programs. Species of Federal responsibility, such as
threatened and endangered species and migratory birds, would continue
to be monitored at present levels. Additional species monitoring would
occur through the use of volunteers as they become available. Current
programs of marsh management would be maintained. No progressive
wetland restoration projects would be implemented. All public use
programs of fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental education and interpretation would
continue at present levels and with current facilities.
Acquisition of lands into the refuge would occur when funding is
appropriated and willing sellers offer land that is quality waterfowl
habitat. Staff would consist of a manager and a biologist for both
Mandalay NWR and Bayou Teche NWR, along with supplementary support from
the Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex staff when needed. The refuge
headquarters would serve as an administrative office, with no
enhancement of the grounds for public use.
Alternative B--Natural Resource Management (Proposed Alternative)
Alternative B would emphasize management of the natural resources
of Mandalay NWR based on maintaining and improving wetland habitats,
monitoring targeted flora and fauna representative of the Terrebonne
Basin, and providing quality public use programs and wildlife-dependent
recreational activities. All species occurring on the refuge would be
considered and certain targeted species would be managed and monitored,
in addition to species of Federal responsibility. These species would
be chosen based on the criteria that they would be indicators of the
health of important habitat or species of concern.
Wetland loss would be documented and, whenever possible, the lost
wetlands would be restored. Public use programs would be improved by
offering more facilities and wildlife observation areas. Public use
facilities would undergo annual reviews for maintenance needs and
safety concerns. Overall public use would be monitored to determine if
any uses would negatively impact refuge resources. Education programs
would be reviewed and improved to complement current refuge management
and staffing. Archaeological resources would be surveyed.
Land acquisition within the approved acquisition boundary would be
based on importance of the habitat for target management species. The
refuge headquarters would house a small administrative office. The
staff would offer interpretation of refuge wildlife and habitats, as
well as demonstrate habitat improvements for individual landowners. The
main interpretive facilities would be housed at the Southeast Louisiana
NWR Complex Headquarters in Lacombe, Louisiana.
In general, under Alternative B, management decisions and actions
would support wildlife species and habitats occurring on the refuge
based on well-planned strategies and sound scientific judgment. Quality
wildlife-dependent recreational uses and environmental education and
interpretation programs would be offered to support and explain the
natural resources of the refuge.
Alternative C--Maximized Public Use
Alternative C would emphasize managing the natural resources of
Mandalay NWR for maximized public use activities. The majority of staff
time and efforts would support hunting, fishing, wildlife observation,
wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation.
Federal trust species and archaeological resources would be monitored
as mandated.
All refuge programs for conservation of wildlife and habitats, such
as monitoring, surveying, and managing marsh, would support species and
resources of importance for public use. More emphasis would be placed
on interpreting and demonstrating these programs. Access, through means
such as trails for walking and dredged areas for boat access, would be
maximized, and we would provide public use facilities throughout the
refuge.
Land acquisition within the approved acquisition boundary would be
based on importance of the habitat for public use. The refuge
headquarters would provide a small administrative office and a visitor
center, which would be developed for public use activities.
In general, Alternative C would focus on expanding public use
activities to the fullest extent possible and conducting only mandated
resource protection.
Next Step
After the comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: April 21, 2009.
Jacquelyn B. Parrish,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E9-12389 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am]
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