[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16637-16638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6937]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2010-N241; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
J.N. ``Ding'' Darling NWR, Lee County, FL; Final Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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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 J.N. ``Ding'' Darling 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 via U.S. mail
to: Mr. Paul Tritaik, Project Leader, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL
33957, or DingDarling@fws.gov (e-mail). The CCP may also be accessed
and downloaded from the Service's Web site: http://www.fws.gov/southeast/planning/under ``Final Documents.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Tritaik, at 239/472-1100
(telephone) or DingDarling@fws.gov (e-mail); or Ms. Cheri M. Ehrhardt,
at 321/861-2368 (telephone) or DingDarling@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for J.N. ``Ding''
Darling NWR. We started this process through notices in the Federal
Register on June 27, 2007 (72 FR 35254) and April 2, 2008 (73 FR
17991).
The 6,406-acre refuge supports hundreds of species of wildlife and
plants, providing protection for 14 Federal-listed and 49 State-listed
species, migratory birds, and native wildlife and habitat diversity
through a mix of habitats, including tropical hardwood forests,
beaches, mangrove swamps, mixed wetland shrubs, salt marshes, open
waters and seagrass beds, and lakes and canals. The refuge holds
several special designations, including Wilderness Area, Research
Natural Area, Marine Protected Area, Florida Important Bird Area, and
Outstanding Florida Water. Annual visitation to the refuge exceeds
700,000.
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for J.N. ``Ding'' Darling NWR in accordance with the 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 comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA).
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering J.N. ``Ding''
Darling NWR for the next 15 years. The following compatibility
determinations are available in the CCP: (1) Wildlife observation and
photography--including walking, hiking, motorized and non-motorized
boating, and motorized and non-motorized trail use; (2) environmental
education and interpretation--including walking, hiking, motorized and
non-motorized boating, and motorized and non-motorized trail use; (3)
fishing--including motorized and non-motorized boating and non-
motorized trail use; (4) research; (5) commercial services; (6)
commercial photography; (7) mosquito control; and (8) commercial bait
fishing--including phasing out this use within the 15-year life of the
CCP.
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 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 May 17, 2010
(75 FR 27576). We received comments from local citizens, a local
business, organizations, and State and local governmental agencies.
Comments were also submitted through the State Clearinghouse for State
agencies.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we received, we have selected
Alternative C for implementation. The primary focus under Alternative C
is migratory birds. Implementing Alternative C is expected to result in
increased protection for breeding, nesting, resting, roosting,
foraging, and migrating birds on the refuge. Increased information on a
variety of species, suites of species, and habitats will enhance
decision-making for the refuge. Further benefits will be realized from
increased control of exotic, invasive, and nuisance species. We will
coordinate with the partners to address concerns related to the impacts
from water quality, quantity, and timing of flows and from climate
change and sea level rise. Resource protection will be enhanced,
including through increased information about cultural resources on the
refuge, increased protection of cultural resources, additional special
designations, improved management of the J.N. ``Ding'' Darling
Wilderness Area, improved coordination with the partners to increase
ethical outdoor behavior, enhanced visitor services programs, and
addition of visitor facilities. To achieve this, we will work with
governmental and non-governmental partners, area communities, the
``Ding'' Darling Wildlife Society, and local businesses, and we will
pursue the addition of staff to address management concerns.
Alternative C is considered to be the most effective for meeting
the purposes of the refuge and addressing the priority issues facing
the refuge, including increasing and changing human population,
development of the landscape, recreational uses and demands, and
associated impacts; issues and impacts associated with water
[[Page 16638]]
quality, water quantity, and timing of flows; invasion and spread of
exotic, invasive, and nuisance species; climate change impacts; need
for long-term protection of important resources; declines in and
threats to rare, threatened, and endangered species; insufficient
baseline wildlife and habitat data and lack of comprehensive habitat
management plan; and lack of resources to address refuge needs.
Authority
This notice is published under the authority of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105-57.
Dated: November 22, 2010.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the
Federal Register on March 21, 2011.
[FR Doc. 2011-6937 Filed 3-23-11; 8:45 am]
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