[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14984-14985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6373]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2011-N006; BAC-4311-K9-S3]
Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Penobscot, Kennebec,
and Waldo Counties, ME, and Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area,
Waldo County, ME; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental
Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; 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 Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and
Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area (WPA). We provide this notice in
compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State
agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the
planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
April 30, 2011. 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
one of the following methods.
E-mail: northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include ``Sunkhaze Meadows NWR
CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attention: Lia McLaughlin, 413-253-8468.
U.S. Mail: Lia McLaughlin, 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 9 Water Street, Rockland, ME 04841. Comments can also
be dropped off at Milford Town Hall, 62 Davenport Street, Milford, ME
04461.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Goettel, 207-594-0600 (phone);
Beth_Goettel@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Sunkhaze Meadows NWR, located in Kennebec, Penobscot, and Waldo
Counties, ME, and Carlton Pond WPA, located in Waldo County, ME. This
notice complies with our CCP policy to: (1) Advise other Federal and
State agencies, Tribes, 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 toward 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
mission, and to determine how the public can use each 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; agencies; organizations; and the public.
At this time we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas,
and suggestions for the future management of Sunkhaze Meadows NWR and
Carlton Pond WPA.
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.
Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and Carlton Pond Waterfowl
Production Area
Sunkhaze Meadows NWR is comprised of three units: The Sunkhaze
Meadows Unit, the Benton Unit, and the Sandy Stream Unit. The Sunkhaze
Meadows Unit is the largest of the three, at 11,485 acres. It is
located in the Town of Milford, Penobscot County, ME, approximately 14
miles north of Bangor. The Benton Unit is a 334-acre former dairy farm
in the Town of Benton in Kennebec County. The Sandy Stream Unit is a
58-acre parcel in the Town of Unity in Waldo County.
[[Page 14985]]
The refuge was established in 1988 to ensure the ecological
integrity of the Sunkhaze Meadows peat bog and the continued
availability of its wetland, stream, forest, and wildlife resources to
the citizens of the United States. The purpose of acquisition, under
the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 was ``for the
development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of
fish and wildlife resources'' and ``for the benefit of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service, in performing its activities and
services.'' The Land and Water Conservation Fund was the source of
funding for the purchase.
The Sunkhaze Meadows Unit protects the second-largest peatland in
Maine. Sunkhaze Stream bisects this unit along a northeast-to-southwest
orientation and, with its six tributaries, creates a diversity of
wetland communities. The bog and stream wetlands, along with the
adjacent uplands and associated transition zones, provide important
habitat for many wildlife species. The Benton Unit is comprised of
grassland, young mixed softwood-hardwood forest, and small wetland
habitats. A variety of landbird species of conservation concern are
known to breed there, including American woodcock, red-winged
blackbird, and bobolink. The Sandy Stream Unit is mainly comprised of
upland shrub, abandoned fields, and floodplain forest. The tidewater
mucket and yellow lampmussel, two mussel species listed as threatened
by the State of Maine, have been observed at the Sandy Stream Division.
Combined, the three units provide habitat for at least three plants,
seven birds, two mollusks, and three invertebrates listed as endangered
or threatened by the State of Maine.
Carlton Pond WPA is a 1,055-acre artificial impoundment located in
the town of Troy in Waldo County. The area was acquired by the Service
in 1966 to protect the waterfowl and other wildlife associated with
this area in central Maine. Carlton Pond WPA has historically provided
good nesting habitat for waterfowl and other birds, and is one of the
few areas in the State that provides nesting habitat for the black
tern, which is State-listed as endangered. Many bird species that use
Carlton Pond have been listed by the Partners-in-Flight organization as
species that are declining. Slender blue flag iris, a plant species
listed as threatened by the State of Maine, has also been observed at
Carlton Pond.
Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities
that we may address in the CCP. We have briefly summarized these issues
below. During public scoping, we may identify additional issues.
(1) Ecoregional or ecosystem-wide issues, such as climate change,
regional land conservation, and protection of water quality throughout
the Penobscot River watershed;
(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 increasing local awareness of the refuge and NWRS;
(6) Coordination and communication issues and opportunities with
Federal, State, and Tribal Governments and with nongovernmental
conservation partners; and
(7) Potential for both wilderness and wild and scenic rivers
designations on refuge lands.
Public Meetings
We will give the public an opportunity to provide input at one or
more public meetings. You can obtain the schedule from the planning
team leader or refuge manager (see ADDRESSES). You may also send
comments anytime during the planning process by mail, e-mail, or fax
(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, e-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: February 16, 2011.
Salvatore M. Amato,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, MA
01035.
[FR Doc. 2011-6373 Filed 3-17-11; 8:45 am]
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