[Federal Register: June 8, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 108)]
[Notices]
[Page 27174-27176]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jn09-81]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2009-N0074; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge, St. Mary 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 Bayou Teche 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 July 8, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Send comments, questions, and requests for information to:
Mr. Paul Yakupzack, Refuge Manager, Bayou Teche 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 is also available at 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 Bayou Teche NWR.
We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on
March 19, 2007 (72 FR 12811).
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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 every 15 years in accordance with
the Improvement Act.
Bayou Teche NWR is located near the town of Franklin in St. Mary
Parish, Louisiana. The refuge contains 9,028 acres and is composed of
wet bottomland hardwood forests laced with bayous and canals. The
refuge was established on lands important to the coastal subpopulation
of the Louisiana black bear. The refuge consists of six separate units,
ranging in size from 3,724 acres to 80 acres. Bayou Teche NWR is one of
eight refuges within the Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex, which is
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, with no improvements
or adaptations. No progressive wetland restoration projects would be
implemented. All public use programs of hunting, fishing, 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
or Louisiana black bear habitat. Staff would consist of a refuge
manager and a wildlife biologist supporting both Bayou Teche NWR and
Mandalay NWR; a part-time law enforcement officer supporting Bayou
Teche NWR; and supplementary support from the remainder of 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--Resource Focused Management (Proposed Alternative)
Alternative B would emphasize management of the natural resources
of Bayou Teche NWR based on maintaining and improving Louisiana black
bear and wetland habitats, monitoring targeted flora and fauna
representative of the Lower Atchafalaya River Basin, and providing
quality wildlife-dependent public use 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. We 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 the management of natural resources
of Bayou Teche 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 at Mandalay NWR 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
[[Page 27176]]
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: May 9, 2009.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E9-13329 Filed 6-5-09; 8:45 am]
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