[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16636-16637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6939]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2010-N240; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Pine Island, Matlacha Pass, Island Bay, and Caloosahatchee NWRs,
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Pine Island, Matlacha Pass, Island Bay, and
Caloosahatchee NWRs. In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage
these refuges 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. Alternatively, you may request a copy by sending e-mail to:
DingDarling@fws.gov. 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 DingDarlingCCP@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Pine Island,
Matlacha Pass, Island Bay, and Caloosahatchee NWRs. 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 four refuges currently total about 1,201 acres: Pine Island NWR
is 602.24 acres, Matlacha Pass NWR is 538.25 acres, Island Bay NWR is
20.24 acres, and Caloosahatchee NWR is 40 acres. As part of the largest
undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States, these four closed
refuges provide for native wildlife and habitat diversity through a mix
of habitats, including mangrove islands and shorelines, saltwater
marshes and ponds, tidal flats, and upland hardwood forests. They also
provide protection for 13 Federal-listed and 25 State-listed species,
as well as for wading birds, waterbirds, raptors and birds of prey,
neotropical migratory birds, shorebirds, and seabirds.
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for Pine Island, Matlacha Pass, Island Bay, and Caloosahatchee
NWRs 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 Pine Island,
Matlacha Pass, Island Bay, and Caloosahatchee NWRs for the next 15
years.
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 every15 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 21, 2010
(75 FR 28643). We received comments from the general public, an
organization, and governmental agencies, including State and local
agencies and a national estuary program. 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 these four refuges. Increased
information on a variety of species, suites of species, and habitats
will enhance decision-making for these refuges. 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 refuges, resolved boundary issues, additional
special designations, improved management of the Island Bay Wilderness
Area, improved coordination with the partners to increase awareness and
understanding of area residents and area visitors of these closed
refuges, and minimized impacts from adjacent uses. 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 refuge-specific staff to
address management concerns.
Alternative C is considered to be the most effective for meeting
the purposes of the refuges and addressing the priority issues facing
each refuge, including increasing and changing human population,
development of the landscape, recreational uses and demands, and
associated impacts; issues and impacts associated with water 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
[[Page 16637]]
data and lack of a 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. 2011-6939 Filed 3-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P