[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1500-1501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-293]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2011-N218; BAC-4311-K9-S3]
Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge, Poquoson, VA
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 Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge (the
refuge, NWR), which is located in Poquoson, VA. 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/plumtreeisland/refuge_planning.html.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods.
Email: fw5rw_evrnwr@fws.gov. Include ``Plum Tree Island CCP'' in
the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Meghan Carfioli, (804) 829-9606.
U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Eastern Virginia Rivers
National Wildlife Refuge Complex--Charles City Sub-Office, 11116
Kimages Road, Charles City, VA 23030.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular
business hours at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meghan Carfioli, Planning Team Leader,
(804) 829-5413 (phone) or Andy Hofmann, Project Leader, Eastern
Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex, (804) 333-1470
(phone), fw5rw_evrnwr@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Plum Tree Island NWR, in the city of Poquoson, VA. This notice complies
with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes,
and
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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 of developing a
CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving
refuge purposes and contributing to the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), consistent with sound principles of fish
and wildlife 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 recreation
opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's establishing
purposes and the mission of the NWRS.
Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Federal,
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 Plum Tree Island NWR. You may
also send comments 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, 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.
Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge
Plum Tree Island NWR is one of four refuges that comprise the
Eastern Virginia Rivers NWR Complex. The 3,502-acre refuge is located
along the Atlantic Flyway in the city of Poquoson, VA. It was
established in 1972 to conserve wetlands and important migratory bird
habitat in the lower Chesapeake Bay. The refuge's salt marsh, scrub-
shrub, and forest habitats support a variety of native wildlife
species, including waterfowl, marshbirds, and shorebirds. The refuge's
beaches are also home to the federally threatened northeastern beach
tiger beetle (Cicindela dorsalis dorsalis).
The U.S. Department of Defense previously administered the refuge
lands and used all but the refuge's 200-acre Cow Island Tract as a
gunnery and bombing range. Extensive unexploded ordnance remains on the
refuge, posing serious safety concerns. Most of the refuge is closed to
public access. The only public use offered is an annual, permit-only,
waterfowl hunt on the Cow Island Tract.
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:
Unexploded ordnance on the refuge and its implications for
refuge management and public access;
The potential for climate change to impact refuge
resources;
The potential for land acquisition and conservation
easements within the existing, approved boundary;
Opportunities to collaborate with partner organizations
for off-refuge interpretation and education programming.
We expect that members of the public, our conservation partners and
Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments may identify additional
issues during public scoping.
Public Meetings
During the planning process, we will hold public meetings for
individuals, organizations, and agencies to provide comments, issues,
concerns, 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/plumtreeisland/refuge_planning.html.
You can also obtain the schedule from the planning team leader or
project leader (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
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: December 5, 2011.
Salvatore M. Amato,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-293 Filed 1-9-12; 8:45 am]
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