[Federal Register: December 28, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 247)]
[Notices]
[Page 68633-68634]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28de09-87]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-R-2009-N167; 30136-1265-0000-S3]
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge: Jackson, Jennings, & Monroe
Counties, IN
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental
Assessment (EA) for Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Goals
and objectives in the CCP describe how the agency intends to manage the
refuge over the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final CCP and FONSI/EA may be viewed at the
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters or at public
libraries near the refuge. You may access and download a copy via the
Planning Web site at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/muscatatuck,
or you may obtain a copy on compact disk by contacting: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation Planning, Bishop Henry
Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111 (1-
800-247-1247, extension 5429), or Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge,
12985 East U.S. Highway 50, Seymour, IN 47274 (812-522-4352). A limited
number of hardcopies will be available for distribution at the Refuge
Headquarters.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc Webber (812-522-4352).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we complete the CCP process for Muscatatuck NWR,
which we began by publishing a notice of intent on (72 FR 27587). For
more information about the initial process, see that notice. We
released the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing and requesting
comments in a notice of availability on April 3, 2009 (74 FR 15297).
Muscatatuck NWR, located in southeastern Indiana, was established
in 1966 under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act for the protection
and production of migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge is
comprised of 7,802 acres, including the 78-acre Restle Unit
approximately 45 miles to the northwest. The Refuge also administers
nine Farm Service Agency conservation easements, totaling 130.5 acres.
The 97-acre Seep Springs Research Natural Area preserves one of only
seven acid seep springs documented in the state.
The Draft CCP and EA were officially released for public review on
April 6, 2009; the comment period lasted 33 days until May 8, 2009.
Planning information was sent to over 1,000 individuals and
organizations for review, resulting in 40 written comment submissions
with over 150 individual comments. During the comment period the Refuge
also hosted an open house to receive public comments and feedback on
the CCP and EA documents. Approximately 25 people attended this event.
A number of minor changes were made to the documents in response to
comments, and one new objective was added regarding landscape-level
conservation.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments received, we have selected
Alternative C (Balance Natural Processes and Constructed Units;
Increased Focus on High Quality Priority General Public Uses) for
implementation. Under the selected alternative the Refuge will rely on
a combination of active management and natural processes to provide
quality wildlife habitat for over 80 species of Regional Conservation
Priority, including 3 species listed as federally threatened or
endangered. Habitat management will trend toward more historic
landscape conditions by expanding forest habitat areas and decreasing
management of constructed wetlands. Wildlife-dependant recreation
opportunities, biological surveys and monitoring activities, and
invasive plant management would all increase under the preferred
alternative. Partnerships will play a key role in meeting larger-
landscape conservation challenges such as habitat fragmentation and
global climate change.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
(16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee et seq.), requires the Service to develop a CCP
for each National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose in developing a CCP is
to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy 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 Service policies. In
addition to outlining broad management direction for conserving
wildlife and their habitats, the CCP identifies 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 National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act
of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement
Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321-4370d).
[[Page 68634]]
Dated: August 24, 2009.
Thomas O. Melius,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling,
Minnesota.
[FR Doc. E9-30647 Filed 12-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P