[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64376-64377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26916]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
FWS-R1-R-2011-N064; 10137-8555-11RG-8H]
Long Range Transportation Plan for Fish and Wildlife Service
Lands in Hawai`i, Idaho, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and the
Pacific Island Territories
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the final draft Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)
for Fish and Wildlife Service Lands in Hawai`i, Idaho, Northern Nevada,
Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Island Territories (the Service's
Region 1) for public review and comment. The Draft LRTP outlines a
strategy for improving and maintaining transportation assets that
provide access to Service-managed lands in Region 1 over the next 20
years.
DATES: Please provide your comments by November 17, 2011.
ADDRESSES: The Draft LRTP is available on our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/. We also have a limited number of printed
and CD-ROM copies of the Draft LRTP. You may request a copy or submit
comments by any of the following methods.
E-mail: fw1LRTPComments@fws.gov.
U.S. mail: Jeff Holm, Regional Transportation Coordinator,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232.
Fax: Attn: Jeff Holm, (503) 231-2364.
In-Person Drop-off: During regular business hours to Jeff
Holm, Regional Transportation Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Holm, (503) 231-2126.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) of August 10, 2005, (Pub. L. 109-
59) requires all Federal land management agencies to conduct long-range
transportation planning in a manner that is consistent with
metropolitan planning organizations and state departments of
transportation planning. With this notice, we make the Draft
[[Page 64377]]
LRTP for Region 1 available for public review and comment. We developed
the Draft LRTP to achieve the following:
Establish a defensible structure for transportation
planning and decision-making.
Establish a vision, mission, goals, and objectives for
transportation planning.
Implement coordinated and cooperative transportation
partnerships in an effort to improve the Service's transportation
infrastructure.
Comply with SAFETEA-LU.
Integrate transportation planning and funding for refuges
and fish hatcheries into our existing and future management plans and
strategies (e.g., comprehensive conservation plans and comprehensive
hatchery management plans).
Increase awareness of alternative transportation systems
and associated benefits.
Develop best management practices for transportation
improvements on Service lands.
Serve as a pilot project for the implementation of a
regional transportation planning process within the Service.
Draft LRTP Mission, Goals, and Objectives
The Draft LRTP's mission, goals, and objectives are intended to
provide a systematic approach to guide the process for evaluating and
selecting transportation improvement projects for lands managed by
Region 1. These guiding principles have shaped the development,
conclusions, and recommendations of the Draft LRTP.
The mission of the LRTP is to support the Service's mission, by
connecting people to fish, wildlife, and their habitats, through
strategic implementation of transportation programs. The LRTP has six
overall goals: (1) Protecting natural resources; (2) ensuring
reliability and safety; (3) welcoming and orienting visitors; (4)
integrating with larger Service planning; (5) developing and enhancing
partnerships; and (6) adopting and promoting sustainability. Each goal
includes distinct objectives that identify how the Service will
accomplish each goal. The objectives for each goal follow.
Goal 1: Ensure That the Transportation Program Helps Conserve and
Enhance Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Resources and Their Habitats
Objective 1: Identify, research, and adopt best management
practices for planning, design, construction, and maintenance of
transportation activities and facilities that mitigate or avoid
negative impacts.
Objective 2: Reduce transportation-related conflicts
within fish and wildlife corridors and habitat on or adjacent to
Service lands.
Goal 2: Provide a Safe and Reliable Transportation Network to and
Within Service Lands
Objective 1: Identify and reduce safety problems and modal
conflicts (i.e., between pedestrians, automobiles, horseback riders,
off-road vehicles, maintenance vehicles, etc.) to and within Service
lands.
Objective 2: Ensure that mission-critical transportation
assets are maintained in good condition.
Goal 3: Develop and Maintain a Transportation Network That Welcomes and
Orients Visitors
Objective 1: Provide information that enables visitors to
easily find and navigate refuge and hatchery sites.
Objective 2: Engage visitors in wildlife conservation and
enhance their enjoyment of natural resources by providing compelling
information about the National Wildlife Refuge System and Fisheries
Program.
Objective 3: Create a consistent and recognizable identity
throughout Service units by using standard materials for readily
observed physical elements associated with the transportation system.
Goal 4: Integrate Transportation Planning Into Service Plans and
Processes
Objective 1: Ensure consistency and coordination between
the project, unit, and regional and national levels of planning.
Objective 2: Define need for transportation improvements
and prioritize projects using a scientific and objective process.
Goal 5: Develop Partnerships To Leverage Resources and Develop
Integrated Transportation Solutions
Objective 1: To the extent authorized by law, pursue
opportunities for transportation funding and resources.
Objective 2: Cooperate with public and private sector
partners to address shared transportation issues that impact Service
goals.
Goal 6: Adopt and Promote Sustainable Transportation Practices
Objective 1: Address climate change and other
environmental factors at all levels of transportation planning, design,
project delivery, operations, and maintenance.
Objective 2: Reduce the Service's carbon footprint by
improving access to and within Service lands by transit and
nonmotorized transportation modes, and providing improved visitor
information systems.
Objective 3: Reduce fossil fuel energy consumption by
staff and visiting public.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them in the form of a final LRTP.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email 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: September 19, 2011.
Richard R. Hannan,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-26916 Filed 10-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P