[Federal Register: December 22, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 245)]
[Notices]
[Page 80524-80525]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22de10-91]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2010-N159; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge, Jefferson County, AL
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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental
assessment for Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the
final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15
years.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by writing to: Mr. Stephen
A. Miller, Refuge Manager, Mountain Longleaf NWR, P.O. Box 54087,
Anniston, AL 36205. The CCP may also be accessed and downloaded from
the Service's Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/ under
``Final Documents.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Dawson, Refuge Planner,
Jackson, MS; telephone: 601/965-4903, ext. 20; fax: 601/965-4010; e-
mail: mike_dawson@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Watercress Darter
NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register
on March 12, 2007 (72 FR 11048).
Watercress Darter NWR, near the city of Bessemer, Jefferson County,
Alabama, was established by the Service in 1980, to provide protection
for the endangered watercress darter. The refuge is only about 24 acres
of ponds, mixed pine-hardwood forest, and a residence, and contains
Thomas Spring. A second pond was constructed on the refuge in 1983, to
provide additional watercress darter habitat. The refuge is unstaffed
and administered by Mountain Longleaf NWR.
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for Watercress Darter NWR in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [40 CFR 1506.6(b)] requirements. We
completed a thorough analysis of
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impacts on the human environment, which we included in the Draft
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (Draft
CCP/EA).
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Watercress
Darter NWR for the next 15 years. Alternative C, as we described in the
final CCP, is the foundation for the CCP.
The compatibility determinations for wildlife observation and
photography and environmental education and interpretation are also
available in the final CCP.
Background
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, wildlife photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration
Act.
Comments
We made copies of the Draft CCP/EA available for a 30-day public
review period as announced in the Federal Register on April 16, 2010
(75 FR 19988). We received five comments on the Draft CCP/EA.
Selected Alternative
The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated three alternatives for
managing the refuge. After considering the comments we received and
based on the professional judgment of the planning team, we selected
Alternative C for implementation. Under Alternative C, we will optimize
habitat management and visitor services throughout the refuge.
Threats to the refuge are becoming more prominent as development
activities occur in the city of Bessemer, Alabama. Watercress Darter
NWR is a small system that can be greatly compromised by activities a
distance away from its boundary. We fully recognize the impact these
activities could have on the integrity of the refuge. In addition to
our current management, we will extend beyond the immediate neighbors
to address issues associated with the aquifer and spring recharge area,
watershed, and biota exchange pathways. Extensive resource sharing and
networking with other protected areas, state agencies, local
governments, organizations, specialists, researchers, and private
citizens will expand the knowledge base and assist in developing
cooperation between interest groups. Restoration of natural systems,
native communities, and healthy environments will be emphasized,
promoting regionally a high-quality of life. Monitoring environmental
parameters and flora and fauna will be incorporated into an integrated
study to gain knowledge on the health of the refuge ecosystem.
Education and outreach will be expanded, with an emphasis on cultural
and historical resources. Staffing will be developed to meet the needs
of partners and the greater number of interest groups and accommodate
data and resource sharing. An increase in staff is presented in this
alternative so that Watercress Darter NWR can be managed with a greater
emphasis on landscape management. Additional staff members needed to
fully implement this alternative at the highest quality level includes
one position at Watercress Darter NWR and four positions shared between
Cahaba River NWR and Watercress Darter NWR.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: September 14, 2010.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-32080 Filed 12-21-10; 8:45 am]
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