[Federal Register: May 28, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 101)]
[Notices]
[Page 25576-25577]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28my09-95]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2009-N0050; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, Adams and Grant Counties, WA
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; announcement of a public open house
meeting; 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) for the Columbia
National Wildlife Refuge (refuge) located in Adams and Grant Counties,
Washington. We will also prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to
evaluate the potential effects of various CCP alternatives. This notice
also announces a public open house meeting; see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for the details. We issue this notice in compliance with
our CCP policy to advise the public and other agencies of our
intentions and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of
issues we will consider during the CCP planning process.
DATES: Please provide written comments by July 13, 2009. A public open
house meeting will be held on June 16, 2009. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for details.
ADDRESSES: Additional information concerning the refuge and the CCP is
available on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/mcriver/. Send your
comments or requests for more information to us as follows:
Mail: Columbia National Wildlife Refuge Comments, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 64 Maple Street, Burbank, WA 99323.
Fax: (509) 488-0705.
E-mail: mcriver@fws.gov. Include ``Columbia NWR CCP
Scoping Comments'' in the subject line of the message. If you would
like to be added to the refuge's CCP mailing list, please include your
mailing address and specify whether you want to receive a hard copy or
CD-ROM of the draft and final plans.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Hill, Columbia National Wildlife
Refuge, telephone (509) 488-2668.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge
System) Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), requires
us to develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge and to update it
every 15 years. The purpose of developing a CCP is to provide refuge
managers a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and
contributing toward the mission of the Refuge System consistent with
sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal
mandates, and our policies. In addition to outlining broad management
direction for conserving refuge wildlife and habitats, we also identify
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public
that are compatible with the refuge's establishing purposes and the
mission of the Refuge System. These opportunities include hunting,
fishing, wildlife observation and photography, environmental education
and interpretation.
We will prepare an EA in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (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.
Each unit of the Refuge System is established to fulfill specific
purposes. We use these purposes to develop and prioritize management
goals and objectives within the Refuge System mission and to guide
which public uses will occur on a refuge.
Public Involvement
As part of the CCP planning process, we will provide opportunities
for the public, refuge neighbors, interested individuals and
organizations, Tribes, elected officials, and local, State, and Federal
government and nongovernment stakeholders and partners to participate
in our planning process. At this time, we are requesting input in the
form of issues, concerns, ideas and suggestions for the future
management of the Columbia Refuge.
[[Page 25577]]
Information About CCPs
During the CCP planning process, we will consider many elements of
refuge management, including wildlife, habitat, and visitor services
management. Public input during the planning process is essential. The
CCP will describe the refuge purposes and desired conditions for the
refuge and the long-term conservation goals, objectives and strategies
for fulfilling refuge purposes and achieving desired conditions.
Refuge Overview
Columbia Refuge was established ``as a refuge and breeding ground
for migratory birds and other wildlife,'' and ``for use as an inviolate
sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds.''
It fills an important role in the management of mallard, northern
pintail, and lesser Canada goose populations during migration and
wintering periods, and is the primary migratory stopover area for the
Pacific Coast population of the lesser sandhill crane. The refuge
covers almost 30,000 acres in the arid Columbia Basin of south-central
Washington State straddling Crab Creek, between Potholes Reservoir and
the Columbia River in both Grant and Adams Counties. The refuge is
divided into six management units primarily arranged according to land
type. Most of the refuge is within the Drumheller Channels National
Natural Landmark. It is also located along the Pacific Flyway and has
become a particularly important stop-over and wintering ground for
migratory birds and waterfowl. In addition, cackling geese, sandhill
cranes, and neotropical birds consume the refuge's grain crops. Birds
of prey, such as red-tailed hawks, hunt for rodents and other small
mammals living in the refuge's agricultural fields.
Various visitor services and activities take place on the refuge,
including hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, wildlife observation and
photography, nature and cultural resources interpretation, and
environmental education.
Preliminary Issues and Concerns
We have identified the following preliminary issues, concerns, and
opportunities that we may address in the CCP. We may identify
additional issues during public scoping.
How can we best protect and restore populations of
priority species on the refuge?
How can we best achieve optimal habitat conditions on the
refuge for priority species?
How can we protect refuge habitats from invasive species,
wildfire risks, over-grazing, vandalism, and other disturbances and
threats, and restore habitat values?
Which compatible wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities on the refuge should be expanded, developed, or modified?
What are the refuge's land acquisition priorities within
its approved boundary, and should boundary expansion be considered?
How can we meet refuge staffing needs?
Public Open House Meeting
A public open house meeting will be held on June 16, 2009, from
5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the City of Othello's Municipal Building (City
Hall), City Council Chambers, 500 East Main Street, Othello, WA 99344,
to provide information on the CCP and receive public comments.
Opportunities for public input will be announced throughout the CCP
planning process.
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.
All comments and materials we receive from individuals on our NEPA
documents become part of the official public record. We will handle
requests for such comments in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act, NEPA, and Department of the Interior and Service
policies and procedures.
Dated: May 19, 2009.
Don Weathers,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. E9-12390 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am]
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