From: Subject: FR Doc E8-29082 Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2008 08:48:13 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-29082.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3350 FR Doc E8-29082 
[Federal Register: December 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number =
237)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 74746-74747]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09de08-70]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0244; 40136-1265-0000-S3]

=20
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, Brevard and Indian River=20
Counties, FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: final comprehensive conservation plan=20
and finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the=20
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and=20
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for Archie Carr National=20
Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the CCP, we describe how we will manage=20
Archie Carr NWR for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP may be obtained by writing to the refuge=20
at: P.O. Box 2683, Titusville, FL 32781-2683. The CCP may also be=20
accessed and downloaded from the Service's Internet Site: ht=
tp://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&a=
mp;log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://southeast.fws.gov/planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri Ehrhardt; Telephone: 321/861-
2368.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Archie Carr NWR.=20
We started this process through a notice of intent in the Federal=20
Register on April 24, 2000 (65 FR 21784). For additional information=20
regarding the process, see that notice. We released the draft=20
comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft=20
CCP/EA) to the public, announcing and requesting comments in a notice=20
of availability in the Federal Register on June 26, 2008 (73 FR 36347).
    Established in 1991, Archie Carr NWR is located approximately 15=20
miles northeast of Vero Beach, Florida, in Brevard and Indian River=20
Counties. The 258-acre refuge includes a diversity of habitats=20
consisting of beaches, dunes, coastal strand, maritime hammock, and=20
mangroves. Refuge and partner beaches support the highest nesting=20
concentrations of federally protected loggerhead and green sea turtles=20
in the United States. Furthermore, several other state- and federal-
listed species are found in the coastal and other barrier island=20
habitats supported by the refuge. The refuge protects several=20
historical and archaeological sites and, through working with the=20
partners, provides a range of visitor services.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the CCP and FONSI=20
for Archie Carr NWR in accordance with National Environmental Policy=20
Act (NEPA) [40 CFR 1506.6(b)] requirements. We completed a thorough=20
analysis of impacts on the human environment, which we included in the=20
Draft CCP/EA.
    The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Archie Carr NWR=20
for the next 15 years. Alternative B, as we described in the CCP, is=20
the foundation for the CCP.

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16=20
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National=20
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to=20
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for=20
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for=20
achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the=20
National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of=20
fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our=20
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on=20
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including=20
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife=20
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will=20
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with=20
the Improvement Act.

Comments

    We solicited comments on the Draft CCP/EA for Archie Carr NWR from=20
June

[[Page 74747]]

26 to July 28, 2008. The comments were thoroughly evaluated, and=20
changes were incorporated into the CCP, where warranted. Some of the=20
changes include adding the impacts of climate change to the list of=20
priority issues facing the refuge and updating the land cover maps with=20
regard to the location of key non-native plant species.

Selected Alternative

    After considering the comments received, we have selected=20
Alternative B for implementation. Under this alternative, refuge=20
management will focus on improving conditions for sea turtles and other=20
threatened and endangered species, maintaining and restoring habitat,=20
and improving biodiversity on the refuge, while focusing public use=20
activities on partner properties within the larger Archie Carr NWR=20
partnership.

    Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the=20
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law=20
105-57.

    Dated: September 19, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-29082 Filed 12-8-08; 8:45 am]

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