[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67829-67830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27610]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R6-R-2012-N183; FF06R06000-FXRS1266066CCP0S3-123]
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and UL Bend National
Wildlife Refuge, MT; Availability of Record of Decision for the Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Final Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a record of decision (ROD) for the final comprehensive
conservation plan (CCP) and final environmental impact statement (EIS)
for Charles M. Russell and UL Bend National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs,
Refuges).
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the ROD, the final CCP and
final EIS, or other project information by any of the following
methods:
Agency Web site: Download a copy of the documents at www.fws.gov/cmr/planning.
Email: cmrplanning@fws.gov. Include ``Request copy of Charles M.
Russell NWR ROD'' in the subject line of the message.
U.S. mail: Charles M. Russell NWR, P.O. Box 110, Lewistown, MT
59457.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 406-538-8706 to make an
appointment during regular business hours at Charles M. Russell NWR
Headquarters, Airport Road, Lewistown, MT 59457.
Local Libraries: The final documents are available for review at
the libraries listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Potts, Project Leader, at 406-
538-8706 (phone), or Laurie Shannon, Planning Team Leader, 303-236-4317
(phone) or laurie_shannon@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Charles M.
Russell and UL Bend NWRs. We started this process through a notice in
the Federal Register (72 FR 68174, December 4, 2007). Following a
lengthy scoping and alternatives development period, we published a
second notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 54381, September 7, 2010),
announcing the availability of the draft CCP and draft EIS and our
intention to hold public meetings, and requesting comments. We then
published a third notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 67095, November
1, 2010), extending the comment period by 24 days to December 10, 2010.
Charles M. Russell and UL Bend NWRs encompass nearly 1.1 million
acres, including Fort Peck Reservoir in north central Montana. The
Refuges extend about 125 air miles west from Fort Peck Dam to the
western edge at the boundary of the Upper Missouri Breaks National
Monument. UL Bend NWR lies within Charles M. Russell NWR. In essence,
UL Bend NWR is a
[[Page 67830]]
refuge within a refuge, and the two refuges are managed as one unit and
referred to as Charles M. Russell NWR. Refuge habitat includes native
prairie, forested coulees, river bottoms, and badlands. Wildlife is as
diverse as the topography and includes Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer,
white-tailed deer, pronghorn, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, sharp-
tailed grouse, greater sage-grouse, Sprague's pipit, black-footed
ferrets, prairie dogs, and more than 236 species of birds.
In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR
1506.6(b)) requirements, this notice announces the availability of the
ROD for the final CCP and final EIS for Charles M. Russell NWR and UL
Bend NWR. We completed a thorough analysis of the environmental,
social, and economic considerations associated with our actions. The
ROD documents our selection of alternative D, the preferred
alternative.
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Charles M.
Russell NWR and UL Bend NWR for the next 15 years. Alternative D, as we
described in the final EIS/ROD, is the foundation for 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, consistent with sound principles of fish and
wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our policies. We
will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance
with the Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives and Selected Alternative
Our final CCP and final EIS (77 FR 26781; May 7, 2012) addressed
several issues. To address these, we developed and evaluated the
following alternatives: Alternative A--No Action, Alternative B--
Wildlife Population Emphasis, Alternative C--Public Use and Economic
Use Emphasis, and Alternative D--Ecological Processes Emphasis.
After consideration of 24,600 comments that we received on the
draft CCP and draft EIS and several minor comments we received
following the release of the final CCP and final EIS, we have selected
alternative D--Ecological Processes Emphasis. It is the alternative
that best meets the purposes of the refuges; the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System; the vision and management goals set
for the refuge; and also adheres to Service policies and guidelines. It
considers the interests and perspectives of many agencies,
organization, tribes, and the public. Additionally, it is the
environmentally preferred alternative.
Under alternative D and in cooperation with our partners, we would
use natural, dynamic, ecological processes, and management activities
in a balanced, responsible manner to restore and maintain the
biological diversity, biological integrity, and environmental health of
the Refuge. Once natural processes are restored, a more passive
approach (less human assistance) would be favored. There would be
quality wildlife-dependent public uses and experiences. Economic uses
would be limited when they are injurious to ecological processes.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to the using any of the methods listed under ADDRESSES,
you can view or obtain a copy of the final CCP and final EIS at any of
the following public libraries:
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Library Address Phone No.
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Garfield County................ 228 E. Main, Jordan MT 406-557-2297
59337.
Glasgow........................ 408 3rd Avenue, 406-228-2731
Glasgow MT 59230.
Great Falls.................... 301 2nd Avenue, Great 406-453-0349
Falls MT 59401.
Lewistown...................... 701 W. Main, Lewistown 406-538-5212
MT 59457.
McCone County.................. 1101 C Avenue, Circle, 406-485-2350
MT 59215.
Petroleum County............... 205 S. Broadway, 406-429-2451
Winnett, MT 59087.
Phillips County................ 10 S. 4th Street E., 406-542-2407
Malta, MT 59538.
Montana State University- 1500 University Drive, 406-657-2011
Billings. Billings, MT 59101.
Montana State University- Roland R. Renne 406-994-3171
Bozeman. Library, Centennial
Mall, Bozeman, MT
59717.
Montana State University-Havre. Northern Vande Bogart 406-265-3706
Library, Cowan Drive,
Havre, MT 59501.
University of Montana.......... Mansfield Library, 32 406-243-6860
Campus Drive,
Missoula, MT 59812.
Colorado State University...... Morgan Library, 501 970-491-1841
University Avenue,
Fort Collins, CO
80523.
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Dated: July 27, 2012.
Noreen E. Walsh,
Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-27610 Filed 11-13-12; 8:45 am]
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