[Federal Register: May 7, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 88)]
[Notices]
[Page 25285-25286]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07my10-129]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2010-N020; BAC-4311-K9 S3]
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, Philadelphia and
Delaware Counties, PA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; 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) and environmental
assessment (EA) for John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) at
Tinicum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We provide this notice in
compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State
agencies, Tribal Governments, and the public of our intentions, and to
obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider
in the planning process. We are also announcing public meetings and
requesting public comments.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
June 11, 2010. We will announce opportunities for public input in local
news media throughout the CCP process.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods:
Electronic Mail: northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include ``John Heinz
NWR CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
Facsimile: Attention: Nancy McGarigal, 413-253-8468.
U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center
Drive, Hadley, MA 01035.
In-Person Drop-off. You may drop off comments during regular
business hours at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd.,
Philadelphia, PA 19153.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Stolz, Refuge Manager, John Heinz
NWR at Tinicum, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19153; phone:
(215) 365-3118; electronic mail: gary--stolz(copyright)fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
John Heinz NWR at Tinicum, in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties,
Pennsylvania. This notice complies with our CCP policy to (1) advise
other Federal and State agencies, Tribal Governments, and the public of
our intention to conduct detailed planning on this refuge, and (2)
obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider
in the environmental document and during development of the CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
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 to the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), 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 and
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Administration Act.
Each unit of the NWRS was established for specific purposes. We use
these purposes as the foundation for developing and prioritizing the
management goals and objectives for each refuge within the NWRS, and to
determine how the public can use each
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refuge. The planning process is a way for us and the public to evaluate
management goals and objectives that will ensure the best possible
approach to wildlife, plant, and habitat conservation, while providing
for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible
with each refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of the NWRS.
Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal,
State, and local governments, conservation organizations, and the
public. At this time, we encourage input in the form of issues,
concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the future management of John
Heinz NWR.
We will conduct the environmental review of this project and
develop an EA in accordance with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (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.
John Heinz NWR
Under legislation passed by Congress in 1972, authorization was
given to the Secretary of the Interior to acquire 1,200 acres to
preserve Tinicum Marsh and establish a ``Tinicum National Environmental
Center.'' The Congressional mandate set forth for the refuge was to
preserve, restore, and enhance habitat; provide opportunities for the
public to study wildlife in its natural habitat; and to promote
environmental education. In November 1991, in a bill sponsored by
Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA), the name of the refuge was changed to
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum to honor the late
Senator who helped preserve Tinicum Marsh.
The refuge protects five varied habitats: Freshwater tidal marsh,
impounded water, woods, meadow, and field. The 200 acres of freshwater
tidal marsh represents approximately 80 percent of Pennsylvania's
remaining coastal wetlands. The refuge is an important stopover for
migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway, and provides breeding
habitat for several State-listed threatened and endangered species. It
has over 10 miles of trails, and visitors can actually pass through, or
by, most of the habitats using these trails.
John Heinz NWR is the most urban refuge managed by the Service.
Over 100,000 visitors come to the refuge each year, and the refuge's
urban setting provides unique opportunities for public education and
involvement. To better address these opportunities and promote
environmental education, the refuge completed construction on the
Cusano Environmental Education Center in 2001.
The mission of the Cusano Environmental Education Center is to
demonstrate, within an urban setting, the importance of the natural
world to the quality of human life and to inspire visitors to become
responsible stewards of the environment.
Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities. The
planning team has identified some preliminary issues, concerns, and
opportunities to address in the CCP. We list below the categories for
issues we have identified. During public scoping, we expect additional
issues may be raised.
(1) Ecoregional or ecosystemwide issues, such as climate change,
regional land conservation, and protection of water quality throughout
the Delaware River estuary;
(2) Biological program issues, such as habitat and species
management needs, protection, restoration, monitoring, inventories, and
research;
(3) Public use program issues, such as the breadth and quality of
programs, public access, user conflicts, and use impacts on natural
resources;
(4) Infrastructure and staffing issues, such as appropriateness of
facilities, safety, accessibility, and additional staffing needs;
(5) Community relations and outreach issues and opportunities, such
as tourism, and local economic impacts; and
(6) Coordination and communication issues and opportunities with
other environmental educators, and Federal, State, and Tribal
Governments, and with non-governmental conservation partners.
Public Meetings
We will give the public an opportunity to provide input at a public
meeting. You can obtain the schedule from the refuge manager (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You may also send comments anytime during
the planning process by mail, electronic mail, or facsimile (see
ADDRESSES). There will be additional opportunities to provide public
input once we have prepared a draft CCP.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, electronic 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.
Dated: March 29, 2010.
Richard O. Bennett,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Hadley, MA 01035.
[FR Doc. 2010-10819 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
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