[Federal Register: December 16, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 66672-66673]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16de09-94]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2009-N186; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge,
Charleston, Beaufort, Colleton, and Hampton Counties, SC
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 U.S. 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 Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge
(ACE Basin 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. Van
Fischer, Refuge Planner, South Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex, 5801
Highway 17 North, Awendaw, SC 29429. You may also access and download
the document from the Service's Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/
planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Van Fischer; telephone: 843/928-
3264; E-mail: van_fischer@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for ACE Basin NWR. We
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on
January 3, 2007 (72 FR 141). For more about the process, see that
notice. ACE Basin NWR was established on September 20, 1990, and was
renamed the Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge on
May 16, 2005. The refuge is a partner in the ACE Basin Task Force, a
coalition consisting of the Service, the South Carolina Department of
Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, The Low
Country Open Land Trust, Mead Westvaco, and private landowners of the
ACE Basin system. The refuge's two separate units (Edisto and Combahee)
are further broken down into subunits, with the Edisto Unit containing
the Barrelville, Grove, and Jehossee subunits; and the Combahee Unit
containing the Bonny Hall, Combahee Fields, and Yemassee subunits. The
refuge is divided into 9 management units or compartments, ranging in
size from 350 to 3,355 acres. Compartment boundaries are established
along geographic features that can be easily identified on the ground
(i.e., rivers, roads, and trails).
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for ACE Basin NWR in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (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 ACE Basin
[[Page 66673]]
NWR for the next 15 years. Alternative C is the foundation for the CCP.
The compatibility determinations for upland game hunting, fishing/
boating, wildlife observation and photography, environmental education
and interpretation, bicycling, research, exotic and nuisance wildlife
control, forest management--commercial timber harvest, and cooperative
farming are also 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 every 15 years in accordance with the Administration
Act.
Comments
Approximately 120 copies of the Draft CCP/EA were made available
for a 30-day public review period as announced in the Federal Register
May 4, 2009 (74 FR 20495). Written comments were received from local
citizens and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, we have selected
Alternative C for implementation. Our primary focus under Alternative C
will be to increase overall wildlife and habitat diversity. Although
waterfowl will remain a focus of management, wetland habitat
manipulations will also consider the needs of multiple species, such as
marsh and wading birds. We will more actively manage upland forests and
fields for neotropical migratory birds. Landscape level consideration
of habitat management will include a diversity of open fields, upland
and wetland forests, and additional wetlands. Upland loblolly pine
plantations (e.g., relic industrial forests) will be heavily thinned to
encourage multi-strata vegetation composition and hardwood
interspersion. More xeric loblolly pine plantations will be converted
to longleaf pine savannas and subjected to frequent growing season
prescribed fires to favor warm season grasses and forbs and the
potential reintroduction of red-cockaded woodpeckers in the ACE Basin
Project Area. Multiple species consideration will include species and
habitats identified by the South Atlantic Migratory Bird Initiative and
the State's Strategic Conservation Plan.
This alternative will expand our monitoring of migratory
neotropical and breeding songbirds and other resident species.
Monitoring efforts will be increased with the assistance of additional
staff, trained volunteers, and academic researchers. Greater effort
will be made to recruit academic researchers to the refuge to study and
monitor refuge resources.
Hunting and fishing will continue to be allowed on the refuge.
However, hunting will be managed with a greater focus on achieving
biological needs of the refuge, such as deer population management and
feral hog elimination. Education and interpretation will continue, but
with additional education and outreach efforts aimed at the importance
of landscape ecology and diversity. A much broader effort will be made
with outreach to nearby developing urban communities and a growing
human population.
The refuge will be staffed the same as the 2008 staffing model to
enhance all refuge services and management programs. We will place
greater emphasis on recruiting and training volunteers, and expanding
worker-camper opportunities to facilitate maintenance programs and
other refuge goals and objectives. We will actively seek funding for
research needs. We will place greater emphasis on developing and
maintaining active partnerships, including seeking grants to assist the
refuge in reaching primary objectives.
Alternative C is considered to be the most effective for meeting
the purposes of the refuge by conserving, restoring, and managing the
refuge's habitats and wildlife, while optimizing wildlife-dependent
public uses. Alternative C will best achieve national, ecosystem, and
refuge-specific goals and objectives and it positively addresses
significant issues and concerns expressed by the public.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: September 30, 2009.
Jacquelyn B. Parrish,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E9-29869 Filed 12-15-09; 8:45 am]
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