[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 222 (Monday, November 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69123-69124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27433]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-R-2012-N270; FXRS85550300000-XXX-FF03R04000]
Draft Long Range Transportation Plan for U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Lands in the Midwest Region
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft long range transportation plan for public
review and comment. The Draft Long Range Transportation Plan outlines a
strategy for improving and maintaining transportation assets that
provide access to Service-managed lands in the Midwest Region
(Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and
Wisconsin) over the next 20 years.
DATES: We must receive written comments on or before December 18, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Document Review: If you wish to review the draft plan, you
may obtain a copy by visiting our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/currentplans.html.
Alternatively, you may contact Brandon Jutz, Regional
Transportation Coordinator, Midwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 5600 American Boulevard West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN (612-
713-5407).
Submitting Comments: If you wish to comment on the plan, you may
submit your comments in writing by any one of the following methods:
U.S. mail: Regional Transportation Coordinator, at the
above address.
Hand-delivery: Regional Transportation Coordinator, at the
above address.
Fax: 612-713-5288.
Email: Brandon_Jutz@fws.gov.
For additional information about submitting comments, see the
``Public Availability of Comments'' section below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandon Jutz, at the above address,
phone number, or email.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we make the Draft LRTP for the Midwest Region of
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service available for public review and
comment. When finalized, the LRTP will apply to Service-managed lands
in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and
Wisconsin.
Background
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (Map-21)
requires all Federal land management agencies to conduct long-range
transportation planning in a manner that is consistent with
metropolitan planning organization and State departments of
transportation planning. This LRTP was initiated within the Service to
achieve the following:
Establish a defensible structure for sound transportation
planning and decision-making.
Establish a vision, mission, goals, and objectives for
transportation planning in the Service's Midwest Region.
Implement coordinated and cooperative transportation
partnerships in an effort to improve the Service's transportation
infrastructure.
Bring the Service into compliance with the Moving Ahead
for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which requires all
Federal land management agencies (FLMA) to conduct long-range
transportation planning in a manner that is consistent with
metropolitan planning organization (MPO) and State department of
transportation (DOT) planning.
Integrate transportation planning and funding for wildlife
refuges and fish hatcheries into existing and future Service management
plans and strategies--e.g., comprehensive conservation plans (CCPs) and
comprehensive hatchery management plans (CHMPs).
Increase awareness of Alternative Transportation Systems
(ATS) and associated benefits.
Develop best management practices (BMP) for transportation
improvements on Service lands.
Serve as a pilot project for the implementation of a
region-level transportation planning process within the Service.
LRTP Mission, Goals, and Objectives
Through a collaborative effort, the Refuge and Fisheries Programs,
in cooperation with the planning and visitor services programs within
the Service's Midwest Region, have contributed to defining the mission,
goals, and objectives presented in this document. The resulting
mission, goals, and objectives are intended to provide a systematic
approach to guide the process for evaluating and selecting
transportation improvement for the Service lands in the Midwest Region.
These guiding principles have shaped the development, conclusions, and
recommendations of this LRTP.
Mission
To support the Service's mission by connecting people to fish,
wildlife, and their habitats through strategic implementation of
transportation programs.
Goals and Objectives
This long-range transportation plan has six categories of goals:
Resource protection, safety and condition, welcome and orientation,
planning, partnerships, and sustainability. Under each goal, we present
distinct objectives that move us to the goal.
Natural Resource Protection: Ensure that the
transportation program helps to conserve and enhance fish, wildlife,
and plant resources and their habitats.
Objective 1: Identify, research, and adopt BMPs for planning,
design, construction, and maintenance that mitigate impacts of
transportation.
Objective 2: Reduce transportation-related conflicts with fish and
wildlife corridors on or adjacent to Service lands.
Safety and Conditions: Provide a safe and reliable
transportation network to and within Service lands.
Objective 1: Identify and reduce safety problems and modal
conflicts to and within Service lands.
Objective 2: Ensure that mission-critical transportation assets are
maintained in ``good'' condition.
Welcome and Orientation: Develop and maintain a
transportation network that enhances the welcoming and orienting
experience of visitors.
Objective 1: Provide public information to enable visitors to
easily get to refuges and hatcheries and to use their sites.
Objective 2: Engage the visitors with compelling information so he/
she has a better understanding of the purpose of wildlife conservation
and enjoyment of natural resources.
[[Page 69124]]
Objective 3: Create a consistent and recognizable identity
throughout all Service units by using standard materials for readily
observed physical elements associated with the transportation system.
Planning: Integrate appropriate transportation planning
into Service plans and processes.
Objective 1: Ensure consistency and coordination between the
project, unit, regional, and national levels of planning.
Objective 2: Define need for infrastructure improvements, and
prioritize projects using a scientific and objective process.
Partnerships: Develop partnerships to leverage resources
and develop integrated transportation solutions.
Objective 1: Maximize leveraging opportunities for both funding and
resources.
Objective 2: Work with partners to address shared transportation
issues that impact Service goals.
Sustainability: Adopt and promote sustainable
transportation practices.
Objective 1: Address climate change and other environmental factors
at all levels of transportation planning, design, project delivery, and
maintenance.
Objective 2: Improve access to and within Service lands by transit
or non-motorized transportation and information systems.
Objective 3: Reduce fossil fuel energy consumption.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them in the form of a final LRTP.
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.
Charles M. Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27433 Filed 11-15-13; 8:45 am]
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