[Federal Register: May 24, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 99)]
[Notices]
[Page 28816-28817]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24my10-73]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2009-N221; 10137-1265-0000 S3]
Guam National Wildlife Refuge, Yigo, Guam
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of 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 Guam National Wildlife
Refuge (Refuge). In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this
Refuge for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP/FONSI by any
of the following methods. You may request either a hard copy or CD-ROM.
Agency Web Site: Review or download a copy of the document at
http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/.
E-mail: Joseph_Schwagerl@fws.gov. Include ``Guam Refuge CCP'' in
the subject line of the message.
Mail: Guam National Wildlife Refuge, Route 3A, Spur Road, Yigo,
Guam 96929.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call (671) 355-5096 to make an
appointment during regular business hours at the Refuge office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Schwagerl at (671) 355-5096 or
Joseph_Schwagerl@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for the Guam Refuge.
We started this process through a notice of intent in the Federal
Register (72 FR 37037, July 6, 2007). We released the Draft CCP and
environmental assessment (EA) to the public, announcing and requesting
comments in a notice of availability in the Federal Register (74 FR
36249, July 22, 2009).
The Guam Refuge is located on the unincorporated U.S. territory of
Guam. Guam is the largest and southernmost island in the Marianas
archipelago, situated in the western Pacific Ocean approximately 3,800
miles west of Honolulu, Hawaii, and 1,500 miles south of Tokyo, Japan.
The Refuge is comprised of three units: the Andersen Air Force Base
Overlay Refuge Unit, the Navy Overlay Refuge Unit, and the Ritidian
Unit. The Ritidian Unit, the focus of this CCP, is located on the
northern tip of Guam and encompasses 1,217 acres, including 385
terrestrial acres and 832 acres of submerged offshore area. Management
planning for the overlay units is being addressed in Integrated Natural
Resource Management Plans (INRMP). Planning
[[Page 28817]]
for the INRMPs is being conducted by the Units' respective military
branches.
We completed the CCP/FONSI in accordance with 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 CCP/EA. The CCP will guide us in
managing and administering the Refuge for the next 15 years.
Alternative B, as we described in the Draft CCP, is the foundation for
the Final CCP with one modification.
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 direction 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 compatible
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.
CCP Alternatives, Including the Selected Alternative
We addressed several issues in our Draft CCP/EA by developing and
evaluating the following alternatives:
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Alternative A, Current Management. This is the no-action or no-change
Alternative. It serves as a
baseline from which to compare the
other alternatives.
Alternative B (Preferred This alternative would generate an
Alternative), Full Habitat and intense, short-term increase in
Species Enhancement. wildlife and habitat management
activities.
Alternative C, Habitat Enhancement This alternative provides for a
and Public Use Restrictions. modest increase in wildlife and
habitat management.
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Comments
We solicited comments on the Draft CCP/EA from July 22, 2009, to
August 24, 2009. We received 15 responses on the Draft CCP/EA.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, we have selected
Alternative B for the CCP. Implementing the CCP will encompass the
following actions, subject to the availability of funding and any
additional compliance requirements.
We will construct a predator-proof barrier to address
habitat damage issues, as well as impacts to threatened and endangered
species.
In conjunction with barrier construction, the Refuge will
initiate an intensive program to reduce non-native pest species.
The Refuge will work with staff from the Guam Department
of Agriculture to develop a soft-release site and release program for
captive-reared bird species.
We will implement habitat restoration as planned in the
CCP.
We will increase the public-use program, including adding
interpretive opportunities, such as a short interpretive trail, and
increasing outreach and off-site environmental education possibilities.
Increasing protection for the Refuge's cultural resources
will also occur under the CCP.
Dated: May 3, 2010.
Carolyn A. Bohan,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2010-12438 Filed 5-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P