[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89138-89139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29518]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-NWRS-2016-N192; FXRS12610800000-178-FF08R00000]
Lower Klamath, Clear Lake, Tule Lake, Upper Klamath, and Bear
Valley National Wildlife Refuges, Klamath County, OR; Siskiyou and
Modoc Counties, CA: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental
Impact Statement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
environmental impact statement (EIS) for Lower Klamath, Clear Lake,
Tule Lake, Upper Klamath, and Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuges
(Refuges). The Refuges are part of the Klamath Basin Complex. The final
CCP/EIS, prepared under the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of
1997, and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, describes how the Service proposes to manage the refuges for the
next 15 years. Final compatibility determinations for uses proposed
under the preferred alternative are also included as an appendix.
ADDRESSES: Document Availability: You may obtain copies of the
documents in the following places:
Internet: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Tule_Lake/what_we_do/conservation.html.
In Person:
[cir] Klamath Refuge Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Headquarters, 4009 Hill Road, Tulelake, CA 96134.
[cir] The following libraries:
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Library Address Phone No.
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Klamath County Main........... 126 South Third (541) 882-8894
Street, Klamath
Falls, OR 97601.
Keno Branch................... 15555 Hwy 66, #1, (541) 273-0750
Keno, OR 97627.
Malin Branch.................. 2307 Front Street, (541) 723-5210
Malin, OR 97632.
Merrill Branch................ 365 Front Street, (541) 798-5393
Merrill, OR 97633.
S. Suburban Branch............ 3625 Summers Lane, (541) 273-3679
Klamath Falls, OR
97603.
Tulelake Branch............... 451 Main Street, (530) 667-2291
Tulelake, CA 96134.
Butte Valley Branch........... 800 West Third Street, (530) 397-4932
Dorris, CA 96023.
Redding....................... 1100 Parkview Ave., (530) 245-7250
Redding, CA 96001.
Multnomah Co. Central......... 801 SW 10th Ave, (530) 988-5123
Portland, OR 97205.
Sacramento Public Central 828 I St., Sacramento, (916) 264-2700
Branch. CA 95814.
Medford....................... 205 S. Central Ave, (541) 774-8689
Medford, OR 95701.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Klamath Refuge Planner, (916) 414-6464
(phone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We publish this notice to announce the
availability of the final CCP/EIS for the Klamath Basin Refuges. The
final CCP/EIS, which we prepared in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), describes and analyzes a range
of management alternatives for the Klamath Basin Refuges.
EPA's Role in the EIS Process
The EPA is charged under section 309 of the CAA (42 U.S.C. 7401 et
seq.) to review all Federal agencies' environmental impact statement
(EISs) and to comment on the adequacy and acceptability of the
environmental impacts of proposed actions in the EISs.
EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs prepared
by Federal agencies and provides notice of their availability in the
Federal Register. The EIS database provides information about EISs
prepared by Federal agencies, as well as EPA's comments concerning the
EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which publishes a notice of
availability on Fridays in the Federal Register.
The notice of availability is the start of the 30-day ``wait
period'' for final EISs, during which agencies are generally required
to wait 30 days before making a decision on a proposed action. For more
information, see http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/eisdata.html. You
may search for EPA comments on EISs, along with the EISs themselves, at
https://
[[Page 89139]]
cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cds-enepa-public/action/eis/search.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), which amended the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, 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 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 also evaluate the potential for providing
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities 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 Improvement Act.
Klamath Basin Refuges
The Klamath Basin Refuges consist of a variety of habitats,
including freshwater marshes, open water, grassy meadows, coniferous
forests, sagebrush and juniper grasslands, agricultural lands, and
rocky cliffs and slopes. These habitats support diverse and abundant
populations of resident and migratory wildlife, with 433 species having
been observed on or near the Refuges. In addition, each year the
Refuges serve as a migratory stopover for about three-quarters of the
Pacific Flyway waterfowl, with peak fall concentrations of over 1
million birds.
NEPA Compliance
We are conducting environmental review in accordance with the
requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its
implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), other applicable
regulations, and our procedures for compliance with those regulations.
The final EIS discusses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of
the alternatives on biological resources, cultural resources, water
quality, and other environmental resources. Measures to minimize
adverse environmental effects are identified and discussed in the final
CCP/EIS.
Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. 2016-29518 Filed 12-8-16; 8:45 am]
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