[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5044-5045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2142]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2011-N220; BAC-4311-K9-S3]
Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge, Barnstable County, MA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; 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 Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge (the refuge, NWR),
Barnstable County, Massachusetts. We provide this notice in compliance
with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes,
and the public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on this
refuge.
DATES: We will announce opportunities for public input throughout the
CCP process in the Federal Register, local news media, and on our
refuge planning Web site at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Eastern%20Mass%203/ccphome.html.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods.
Email: northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include ``Mashpee CCP'' in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Carl Melberg, (978) 443-2898.
U.S. Mail: Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 73 Weir Hill Road Sudbury, MA 01776.
[[Page 5045]]
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular
business hours at address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Melberg, Planning Team Leader,
(978) 443-4661 extension 32 (phone) or Libby Herland, Project Leader,
978-443-4661 extension 11 (phone), fw5rw_emnrw@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Mashpee NWR, in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. This notice complies
with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes,
and the public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on this
refuge.
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, 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
recreational 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.
Throughout the process, we will have formal comment periods and hold
public meetings to gather comments, issues, concerns, ideas, and
suggestions for the future management of Mashpee NWR. You may also send
comments anytime during the planning process by mail, email, or fax
(see ADDRESSES).
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 (NEPA), as amended (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.
Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge
Mashpee NWR is one of eight refuges that comprise the Eastern
Massachusetts NWR Complex. Mashpee NWR is located in the towns of
Mashpee and Falmouth, Massachusetts. It was established in 1995 for the
development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of
fish and wildlife resources. The refuge is cooperatively managed
through a unique partnership among Federal and State agencies, a Tribe,
municipalities, and private conservation groups. The approved refuge
boundary totals 5,871 acres. The refuge includes fee or easement
interest on 342 acres within that boundary. Refuge habitats include
salt marsh, cranberry bog, Atlantic white cedar swamp, freshwater
marsh, and vernal pool habitat. These habitats support a variety of
migratory waterfowl, songbirds, shorebirds, raptors, and other native
wildlife.
Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified several preliminary issues, concerns, and
opportunities that we intend to address in the CCP. These include the
following:
The refuge's public use program;
The refuge's prescribed burning program;
The possibility for additional land protection;
The possibility of expanding partnership opportunities to
cooperatively manage the refuge;
The opportunity to provide and manage New England
cottontail habitat;
The impact of climate change on refuge resources;
The potential to improve community relations and increase
outreach;
The opportunity to increase local awareness of the refuge
and the NWRS; and
The potential to improve coordination and communication
with other Federal and State agencies, and Tribal Governments.
We expect that during public scoping, members of the public, our
conservation partners, and Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies
may identify additional issues.
Public Meetings
During the planning process, we will hold public meetings for the
public to provide comments, issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions
about refuge management. When we schedule formal comment periods and
public meeting(s), we will announce them in the Federal Register, local
news media, and on our refuge planning Web site at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Eastern%20Mass%203/ccphome.html. You can also obtain
the schedule from the planning team leader or project leader (see
ADDRESSES).
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: January 4, 2012.
Paul R. Phifer,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Hadley, Massachusetts.
[FR Doc. 2012-2142 Filed 1-31-12; 8:45 am]
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