[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38775-38776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13848]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R6-NWRS-2022-N221; FF06R0ZS00-FXRS12610600000-223]
Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Units of
Charles M. Russell Complex, Montana
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
gather information necessary to reinitiate the process of developing a
comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for certain refuge, wetland
management district, and waterfowl production area units of the Charles
M. Russell Complex in south-central Montana. We are publishing this
notice in compliance with Service Refuge Planning policy to advise
other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our
intentions and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of
issues to be considered in the planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive written comments by
July 29, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Please submit comments and questions by one of the following
methods:
Email: Alice Lee, via email at alice_lee@fws.gov; or
U.S. mail: Alice Lee, Conservation Planner, via mail at
Branch of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, CO 80225.
For more information, please see Public Comment Process in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alice Lee, Conservation Planner, by
phone at 720-601-1821 or via email at alice_lee@fws.gov. Individuals in
the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, we, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), reinitiate the process of developing a
comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for the following units of the
Charles M. Russell Complex in south central Montana: Charles M. Russell
Wetland Management District (WMD), Hailstone Waterfowl Production Area
(WPA) and National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Grass Lake NWR, Lake Mason
NWR, and War Horse NWR. The headquarters for all units in the complex
is located in Lewistown, Montana.
We began scoping activities in 2016 for development of the CCP;
however, in 2017, CCP development was placed on hold because of
changing agency priorities.
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 unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). The
purpose for developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-
year plan for achieving refuge purposes and
[[Page 38776]]
contributing toward the mission of the 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
compatible wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to
the public, including, where appropriate, opportunities for hunting,
fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental
education and interpretation. We will review and update the CCPs 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 unit 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 unit'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.
At this time, we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns,
ideas, and suggestions for the future management of the Charles M.
Russell WMD, Hailstone WPA and NWR, Grass Lake NWR, Lake Mason NWR, and
Warhorse NWR. Only the aforementioned units of the Charles M. Russell
Complex are covered by this CCP process. The CCP for the Charles M.
Russell NWR has been completed, and we are not seeking public input for
the management of Charles M. Russell NWR at this time.
National Environmental Policy Act
We will conduct the environmental review of this project in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA); NEPA
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and 43 CFR part 46); other
appropriate Federal laws and regulations; and our policies and
procedures for compliance with those laws and regulations.
Units Under Scoping
Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District (WMD)
The Charles M. Russell WMD is located in south-central Montana and
includes parts of five counties: Golden Valley, Musselshell, Petroleum,
Stillwater, and Yellowstone. The WMD includes three WPAs and several
types of easements. The Clark's Fork WPA is a 271-acre (ac) tract of
land located along the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. Spidel WPA
is a 1,246-ac tract of land located nearly 3 miles northeast of
Broadview, Montana. The Tew WPA is 692 ac, and is located 15 miles
northeast of Broadview in Musselshell County. Additional information
about these WPAs is available at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/charles-m-russell-wetland-management-district.
Hailstone Waterfowl Production Area and National Wildlife Refuge
Hailstone WPA and NWR were established primarily as breeding
grounds for waterfowl and other wildlife. The Service purchased 1,988
ac of easement in 1979 to create the Hailstone WPA. Hailstone WPA and
NWR are part of the Lake Basin area and are managed as a flowage and
refuge easement. The current size of the flowage easement at Hailstone
is 760 ac.
Grass Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Grass Lake NWR is a 4,318-ac refuge that is one of the most
productive migratory bird areas in central Montana. This Refuge is
currently closed to all public uses.
Lake Mason National Wildlife Refuge
Lake Mason NWR consists of three separate tracts of land in central
Montana: the Lake Mason Unit, Willow Creek Unit, and North Unit. With
the exception of the northern half of the Lake Mason Unit, the refuge
is open to hunting of migratory game birds, upland game birds, and big
game, as well as hiking and wildlife observation. The northern half of
the Lake Mason Unit is closed to all public access, in order to
increase the security and attractiveness of this area to migratory
birds.
Warhorse National Wildlife Refuge
War Horse NWR consists of three separate land units: Wild Horse,
440 ac; War Horse, 1,152 ac; and Yellow Water, 1,640 ac. War Horse NWR
was established in 1958 as a ``refuge and breeding ground for migratory
birds and other wildlife'' through a transfer of lands by the authority
of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act. More information on the above
NWRs can be found at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/charles-m-russell.
Public Comment Process
We have considered comments received in response to our previous
scoping activities. With this notice, we respectfully request comments
that may contain information not previously provided. You may send
comments any time during the planning process by mail or email (see
ADDRESSES). There will be additional opportunities for the public to
provide input once we have prepared a draft CCP.
All information provided voluntarily by mail, by phone, or at
public meetings (e.g., names, addresses, letters of comment, input
recorded during meetings) becomes part of the official public record.
Before submitting comments that include your address or other personal
identifying information, you should be aware that your entire comment,
including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly
available at any time. If requested under the Freedom of Information
Act by a private citizen or organization, the Service may provide
copies of such information. While you may 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.
Anna Munoz,
Deputy Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2022-13848 Filed 6-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P