[Federal Register: December 16, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 66673-66674]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16de09-95]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2009-N172; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, Terrebonne Parish, LA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: Final comprehensive conservation plan
and finding of no significant impact.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental
assessment for Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the final
CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by writing to: Mr. Paul
Yakupzack, Refuge Manager, Mandalay NWR, 3599 Bayou Black Drive, Houma,
LA 70360. You may also access and download the document from the
Service's Web 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 finalize the CCP process for Mandalay NWR. We
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on March
19, 2007 (72 FR 12811). For more about the process, see that notice. .
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, predominately freshwater
marsh and cypress-tupelo swamp, provides excellent habitat for
waterfowl, wading birds, and neotropical migratory songbirds.
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for Mandalay NWR in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act
[[Page 66674]]
(NEPA) [40 CFR 1506.6(b)] requirements. We completed a thorough
analysis of impacts on the human environment, which we included in the
draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment
(Draft CCP/EA). The CCP will guide us in managing and administering
Mandalay NWR for the next 15 years.
The compatibility determinations for boating, recreational fishing,
recreational hunting, wildlife observation/photography, control of
mammals (nutria) and alligators, and environmental education/
interpretation are available in the CCP.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, 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, 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 every15 years in accordance with the Administration
Act.
Comments
Approximately 100 copies of the Draft CCP/EA were made available
for a 30-day public review period as announced in the Federal Register
on May 28, 2009 (74 FR 25577). We received 11 comments from local
citizens, the Safari Club, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries, and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, and based on the
professional judgment of the planning team, we selected Alternative B
to implement the CCP. The primary focus of the CCP is to optimize
migratory bird and resident wildlife habitats. We consider Alternative
B to be the most effective for meeting the purposes of the refuge by
maintaining and enhancing a diversity of habitats for a variety of fish
and wildlife species, enhancing resident wildlife populations,
restoring wetlands, and providing opportunities for a variety of
compatible wildlife-dependent recreation, education, and interpretive
activities.
Authority
This notice is published under the authority of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105-57.
Dated: August 24, 2009.
Patrick Leonard,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E9-29866 Filed 12-15-09; 8:45 am]
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