[Federal Register: June 16, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 115)]
[Notices]
[Page 34151-34152]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jn10-80]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2009-N264; 80230-1265-0000-S3]
Availability: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding
of No Significant Impact; Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, Modoc County,
CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: final comprehensive conservation plan
and finding of no significant impact.
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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 Modoc National Wildlife
Refuge (NWR). The CCP describes how we will manage the Refuge for the
next 15 years.
DATES: The CCP and FONSI are available now. The FONSI was signed On
December 15, 2009. Implementation of the CCP may begin immediately.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI/EA
by any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD-ROM.
Agency Web site: Download a copy of the document(s) at http://
www.fws.gov/modoc.
E-mail: Jackie_Ferrier@fws.gov.
Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Jackie Ferrier,
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 752 County Road 99W,
Willows, CA 95988.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 530-934-2801 to make an
appointment during regular business hours at Modoc National Wildlife
Refuge, 5364 County Road 115, Alturas, CA 96101.
Local Library or Libraries: The documents are also available for
review at the libraries listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Clay, Project Leader at Modoc NWR,
(530) 233-3572 (telephone) or Jackie Ferrier, Refuge Planner at
Sacramento NWR Complex, 752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988, or at
(530) 934-2801 (telephone), or Jackie_Ferrier@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The 7,021-acre Modoc National Wildlife Refuge is located southeast
of Alturas, California. The Refuge was established in 1960 under the
Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715d) and the Refuge
Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 460k-460 K.4). Lands within the Refuge have
been set aside for use as an inviolate sanctuary, and other management
purposes, for migratory birds, for incidental fish and wildlife-
oriented recreational development, for the protection of natural
resources, and for the conservation of endangered species or threatened
species.
Located near the confluence of the north and south forks of the Pit
River, the Refuge conserves, protects, and manages a mosaic of
freshwater lakes and ponds, seasonal wetlands, irrigated meadows,
grasslands, and sagebrush/juniper upland habitats. These habitats
provide important resting, feeding, and nesting areas for ducks, geese,
and other migratory birds, including the greater sandhill crane.
We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the
final CCP in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
(40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We completed a thorough analysis of
impacts on the human environment, which we included in the EA that
accompanied the draft CCP.
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 for developing a
CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan 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 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
[[Page 34152]]
interpretation. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15
years in accordance with the Administration Act.
Our Draft CCP and Environmental Assessment (EA) were available for
a 45-day public review and comment period, which we announced via
several methods, including press releases, updates to constituents, and
a Federal Register notice (74 FR 28271, June 15, 2009). The Draft CCP/
EA identified and evaluated four alternatives for managing the Refuge
for the next 15 years. Alternative A was the no-action alternative,
which described current Refuge management activities. Alternative B
placed greater emphasis on biological resources than on visitor
services. Alternative C (the selected alternative) provided an optimal
balance of improved biological resource objectives and expanded visitor
services opportunities. Alternative D placed greater emphasis on
visitor services than on biological resources.
We received 82 comment letters on the Draft CCP and EA during the
review period. We incorporated these received comments into the CCP
when possible, and we responded to the comments in an appendix to the
CCP. In the FONSI, we selected Alternative C, the basis for the CCP,
for implementation. The FONSI documents our decision and is based on
the information and analysis contained in the EA.
Under the selected alternative, the Refuges will achieve an optimal
balance of biological resource objectives and visitor services
opportunities. Habitat management and associated biological resource
monitoring will be improved. Visitor service opportunities will focus
on quality wildlife-dependent recreation distributed throughout the
Refuge. Waterskiing on the Refuge-owned portion of Dorris Reservoir
will be prohibited. In addition, environmental education,
interpretation, wildlife observation, photography, fishing, and hunting
programs will be improved and/or expanded.
The selected alternative best meets the Refuge's purposes, vision,
and goals; contributes to the Refuge System mission; addresses the
significant issues and relevant mandates; and is consistent with
principles of sound fish and wildlife management.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to the methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/modoc.
Public Libraries: during regular library hours, at the
following libraries:
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Library Address
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Modoc County Library................... 212 West Third Street, Alturas,
CA 96101.
Cedarville Branch Library.............. 460 Main Street, Cedarville, CA
96104.
USFWS-NCTC Library..................... 698 Conservation Way,
Shepherdstown, WV 25443.
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Dated: June 8, 2010.
Ren Lohoefener,
Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2010-14439 Filed 6-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P