[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 131 (Thursday, July 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39446-39447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16764]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2015-N049; BAC-4311-K9]
James River National Wildlife Refuge, Prince George County, VA;
Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant
Impact for Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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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 James River National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR), located in Prince George County, Virginia. The
CCP will guide refuge management for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI by
any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or a CD-ROM.
Agency Web site: Download a copy of the document at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/James_River/what_we_do/conservation.html.
Email: Send requests to EasternVirginiaRiversNWRC@fws.gov. Please
include ``James River CCP'' in the subject line of your email.
U.S. Mail: Andy Hofmann, Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, P.O. Box 1030, Warsaw, VA 22572.
Fax: Attention: Andy Hofmann, 804-333-3396.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call Andy Hofmann, Refuge Manager, at
804-333-1470, extension 112, during regular business hours. For more
information on locations for viewing documents, see ``Public
Availability of Documents'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy Hofmann, Refuge Manager, at 804-
333-1470, extension 112 (phone) or EasternVirginiaRiversNWRC@fws.gov
(email) (please put ``James River NWR'' in the subject line).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for James River NWR.
We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on
January 11, 2012 (77 FR 1716). We released a draft CCP and
environmental assessment (EA) to the public and requested comments in a
notice in the Federal Register on October 22, 2014 (79 FR 63161).
We have selected alternative B for implementation, as it is
described in the final CCP for James River NWR. We announce our
decision and the availability of the FONSI for the final CCP in
accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1506.6(b))
requirements. We completed an analysis of impacts on the human
environment in the draft CCP and EA. We made minor changes and
clarifications to the final CCP, where appropriate, to address public
comments we received on the draft CCP and EA. A summary of the public
comments, and our responses to them, is included as Appendix F in the
final CCP.
The 4,324-acre James River NWR lies in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
and is located along the James River in Prince George County, Virginia,
approximately 8 miles southeast of the city of Hopewell, and 30 miles
southeast of Richmond. The refuge was established in 1991 under the
authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1534) to
protect nationally significant nesting and roosting habitat for the
bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to
develop a CCP for each refuge. The purpose for developing a CCP is to
provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving refuge
purposes and contributing to 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 interpretation. We will review and update
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Refuge
Administration Act.
Selected Alternative
Alternative B combines the actions we believe would best achieve
the refuge's purposes, vision, and goals, and respond to public issues.
The basis of our decision is detailed in the FONSI (Appendix G in the
final CCP). Under alternative B, we would emphasize the
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management of specific refuge habitats to support priority species
whose habitat needs would benefit other species of conservation concern
that are found in the area. We would promote the transition of 2,651
acres of former pine plantation toward mature pine savanna for resident
and breeding cavity-dwelling and ground-nesting species, including the
brown-headed nuthatch, Chuck-will's-widow, red-headed woodpecker, and
yellow-billed cuckoo. We would also emphasize protecting and promoting
bald eagle nesting habitat, and protecting the integrity of the
refuge's other habitats for native species, including migrating
waterfowl, waterbirds, the federally endangered Atlantic sturgeon, and
federally threatened sensitive joint-vetch. We would also expand our
conservation, research, monitoring, and management partnerships to help
restore and conserve the refuge.
We would enhance our cultural resource protection to increase
knowledge and appreciation for the refuge's rich cultural history and
heritage, as well as expand our visitor services programs to improve
opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation. Visitor service
improvements would include expanding the on-refuge opportunities for
wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and
interpretation of natural and cultural resources in partnership with
others. We would also pursue Service administrative requirements to
expand public deer hunting, open the refuge to spring and fall turkey
hunting, open the refuge to limited waterfowl hunting by youth, promote
youth involvement in all hunting opportunities, and open the refuge to
fishing at two designated locations. Further details on our selected
alternative and management actions can be found in the CCP.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to sources listed under ADDRESSES, you can view the
final CCP at the Prince George Library, 6605 Courts Drive, Prince
George, VA 23875.
Dated: June 11, 2015.
Deborah Rocque,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-16764 Filed 7-08-15; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P