[Federal Register: November 10, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 217)]
[Notices]
[Page 69123-69124]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10no10-93]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2010-N176; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Charleston County, SC;
Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant
Impact for Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Cape Romain 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: Raye Nilius,
Refuge Manager, Cape Romain NWR, 5801 Highway 17 North, Awendaw, SC
29429. The CCP may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service's
Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/ under ``Final Documents.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raye Nilius; telephone: 843/928-3264.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Cape Romain NWR.
We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on
January 3, 2007 (72 FR 141).
Established in 1932 as a migratory bird refuge, Cape Romain NWR
encompasses a 22-mile segment of the southeast Atlantic coast. The
refuge contains 66,267 acres and consists of barrier islands, salt
marshes, intricate coastal waterways, sandy beaches, fresh and brackish
water impoundments, and maritime forests. Points of interest include
Bulls Island, Cape Island, and Lighthouse Island. Two lighthouses,
though no longer operational, still stand on Lighthouse Island. The
refuge's original objectives were to conserve in public ownership
habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, and resident species. In recent
years, objectives have expanded to include managing endangered species,
protecting the 28,000-acre Class 1 Wilderness Area, and conserving the
Bulls Island and Cape Island forests and associated diverse plant
communities. Currently, the refuge is actively working to aid in the
recovery of the threatened loggerhead sea turtle. Recognizing the high
migratory bird benefits and recreational opportunities served by the
lands and waters of the refuge, Cape Romain NWR was established under
the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, the Fish and Wildlife Act, and the
Refuge Recreation Act, thus outlining the following primary purposes of
these lands and waters:
``For use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other
management purpose, for migratory birds'' (16 U.S.C. 715d; Migratory
Bird Conservation Act);
``to conserve and protect migratory birds * * * and other
species of wildlife that are listed * * * as endangered species or
threatened species and to restore or develop adequate wildlife
habitat'' (16 U.S.C. 715i; Migratory Bird Conservation Act);
``for the development, advancement, management,
conservation, and protection of fish and wildlife resources'' (16
U.S.C. 742f(a)(4)) ``for the benefit of the United States Fish and
[[Page 69124]]
Wildlife Service, in performing its activities and services. Such
acceptance may be subject to the terms of any restrictive or
affirmative covenant, or condition of servitude'' (16 U.S.C.
742f(b)(1); Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956);
``suitable for (1) incidental fish and wildlife-oriented
recreational development, (2) the protection of natural resources, and
(3) the conservation of endangered species or threatened species'' (16
U.S.C. 406k-2 and 16 U.S.C. 406k-4; Refuge Recreation Act, as amended);
``so as to provide protection of these areas * * * and to
ensure * * * the preservation of their wilderness character''
(Wilderness Act of 1964; Pub. L. 88-577)
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for Cape Romain NWR in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 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) for Cape Romain NWR.
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Cape Romain NWR for
the next 15 years.
The compatibility determinations for hunting, beach use,
environmental education and interpretation, surf fishing, wildlife
observation and photography, and bicycling are available in the CCP.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 6668dd-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 in 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
We made copies of the Draft CCP/EA available for a 30-day public
review and comment period via a Federal Register notice on April 30,
2010 (75 FR 22838). We received 16 comments on the Draft CCP/EA.
Selected Alternative
The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated three alternatives for
managing the refuge. After considering the comments we received, and
based on the professional judgment of the planning team, we selected
Alternative C for implementation.
Under Alternative C, greater effort will be placed on increasing
overall wildlife and habitat quality. Although management of sea
turtles, waterfowl, threatened and endangered species, and migratory
birds will remain a focus of the refuge, wetland habitat manipulations
will also consider the needs of multiple species, such as marsh and
wading birds. Maritime forests and fields for neotropical migratory
birds will be more actively managed. Landscape-level consideration of
habitats will include identifying areas of importance that will become
critical to wildlife as sea level rises and reduces habitat currently
available. 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 provide additional monitoring and surveying
of migratory neotropical and breeding songbirds, secretive marsh birds,
and plants. Monitoring efforts will be increased with the assistance of
additional staff, trained volunteers, and academic researchers.
Wildlife-dependent recreational uses of the refuge will continue.
Hunting and fishing will continue to be allowed; however, hunting will
be managed with a greater focus on achieving biological needs of the
refuge, such as deer population management. Environmental education and
interpretation will continue, with additional education and outreach
efforts aimed at the importance of climate change, sea level rise, and
wilderness. A significantly greater effort will be made with outreach
to nearby developing urban communities and a growing human population.
Existing environmental education programs, such as the Earth Stewards
Program conducted in concert with the SEWEE Association, the refuge
friends group, will be expanded to include additional elementary
schools, students, and teachers.
The refuge staff will be increased with the addition of a wildlife
refuge specialist and two biologists to carry out habitat management
and monitoring needs. An additional park ranger will be hired to
enhance visitor services and environmental education programs. Greater
emphasis will be placed on recruiting and training volunteers, and
worker/camper opportunities will be expanded to accomplish maintenance
programs and other refuge goals and objectives. The biological programs
will actively seek funding and researchers to study primarily
management-oriented needs.
Greater emphasis will be placed on developing and maintaining
active partnerships, including seeking grants to assist the refuge in
reaching primary objectives.
Authority
This notice is published under the authority of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105-57.
Dated: September 14, 2010.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-28340 Filed 11-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P