Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Great Falls, Montana; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment, 3399-3400 [2014-01013]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 13 / Tuesday, January 21, 2014 / Notices Public Availability of Comments All comments and materials we receive in response to these requests will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority We provide this notice under section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: January 7, 2014. Michael G. Thabault, Assistant Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region. [FR Doc. 2014–00486 Filed 1–17–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R6–R–2013–N223; FXRS1266066CCP0S3–134–FF06R06000] Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Great Falls, Montana; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental assessment (EA) for Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex. In this final CCP, we describe how we intend to manage the refuge complex for the next 15 years. ADDRESSES: You will find the final CCP and the FONSI on the planning Web site: https://www.fws.gov/mountainprairie/planning/ccp/mt/bnl/bnl.html. A limited number of hard copies are available. You may request one by any of the following methods: Email: toni_griffin@fws.gov. Include ‘‘Benton Lake NWR Complex’’ in the subject line of the message. Fax: Attn: Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, 303–236–4792. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:42 Jan 17, 2014 Jkt 232001 U.S. Mail: Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, Suite 300, 134 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, 303–236–4378 (phone); 303– 236–4792 (fax); or toni_griffin@fws.gov (email). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which we began by publishing a notice of intent in the Federal Register (73 FR 48237) on August 18, 2008. For more about the initial process and the history of this refuge, see that notice. We released the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing and requesting comments in a notice of availability (77 FR 19309) on March 30, 2012. The 60-day comment period ended on June 1, 2012. A summary of public comments and the agency responses is included in the final CCP. 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) (Administration Act), requires us 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 (NWRS), consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlifedependent 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 Administration Act. Each unit of the NWRS was established for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for each refuge within the NWRS mission, and to determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a way for us and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives that will ensure the best possible approach to wildlife, plant, and habitat PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3399 conservation, while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible with each refuge’s establishing purposes and the mission of the NWRS. Additional Information The final CCP may be found at https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/ planning/ccp/mt/bnl/bnl.html. The final CCP includes detailed information about the planning process, refuge, issues, and management alternative selected. The Web site also contains the draft CCP, which includes an EA, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The EA/FONSI includes discussion of alternative refuge management options. The Service’s selected alternative is reflected in the final CCP. The selected alternative for the complex focuses on achieving selfsustaining systems with long-term productivity. Management efforts would focus on supporting and restoring ecological processes, including natural communities and the dynamics of the ecosystems of the northern Great Plains and northern Rocky Mountains in relationship to their geomorphic landscape positioning. Conservation of native landscapes would be a high priority, accomplished by protecting habitats from conversion, using a combination of partnerships, easements, and fee-title lands, and through active management and proactive enforcement of easements. Management actions such as prescribed fire, grazing, and invasive species control would be used to support the resiliency and sustainability of Service-owned lands throughout the refuge complex. Whenever possible, habitat conditions would be allowed to fluctuate with climatically driven wet and dry cycles, which are essential for long-term productivity. The success of these efforts and programs would depend on added staff, research, and monitoring programs, operations money, infrastructure, and new and expanded partnerships. Benton Lake Refuge wetland units will be managed to focus on the importance of restoring the health and long-term sustainability of the wetland basin and include efforts within the Lake Creek and Muddy Creek watersheds. Flexible water management will occur, which will affect the amount, duration, and location of artificially provided water (pumped water) within the wetland basin. Management will strive to provide some waterfowl hunting and fall/spring migration habitat for at least 11 out of 15 years, and basin-wide drawdowns E:\FR\FM\21JAN1.SGM 21JAN1 3400 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 13 / Tuesday, January 21, 2014 / Notices will occur no more than 4 out of 15 years (with no more than 3 consecutive years of basin-wide drying). An adaptive resource management approach will be applied that may modify these wet and dry cycles to ensure progress towards achieving habitat objectives. Wetland basin infrastructure may be modified to enhance water conservation and efficient delivery. The Pumphouse and all water rights will be regularly exercised and maintained. Managing grasslands and other wildlife dependent public uses (wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and interpretation, and upland game bird hunting) on the refuge will occur as resources allow. A detailed description of objectives and actions included in this selected alternative is found in chapter 4 of the final CCP. Dated: December 3, 2013. Matt Hogan, Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region. [FR Doc. 2014–01013 Filed 1–17–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R7–R–2013–N276; FF07RAM000 FXRS12610700000 145 MNGR] Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska; Preparation of Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements Concerning Cattle Grazing on Wosnesenski and Chirikof Islands Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are in the process of identifying issues, and developing alternatives, to address the unauthorized grazing by cattle on two islands in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Wosnesenski and Chirikof. This effort is known as ‘‘scoping’’ and is an early step in a process to develop either Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The purpose of this notice is (1) to advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intention to address grazing issues on Wosnesenski and Chirikof Islands and (2) to advise the public on how to provide suggestions and information tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:42 Jan 17, 2014 Jkt 232001 regarding livestock grazing on these two islands. Comments on the issues and possible alternatives to be addressed in the documents must be received no later than February 20, 2014. DATES: Information about the Refuge and grazing on these two islands is available on the internet at: https:// www.fws.gov/alaska/nwr/akmar/ grazing.htm. Comments, questions, and requests for further information can be sent via electronic mail to fw7_ akmaritime@fws.gov, faxed to (907) 235–7783, or mailed to Refuge Manager, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, 95 Sterling Highway #1, Homer, AK 99603. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Delehanty, Refuge Manager, phone (907) 235–6546. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Project These documents will examine the history of livestock grazing on the islands, the impact of grazing on the environment and natural biodiversity, identify the need for action and authority to act, summarize potential issues, evaluate a reasonable range of alternatives, and describe the affected environment and environmental consequences of alternatives. Cattle ownership and compatibility of grazing with purposes of the refuge will also be addressed. Both Wosnesenski and Chirikof islands, located in remote Southwest Alaska, are uninhabited and part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge was established in 1980 to conserve marine mammals, seabirds and other migratory birds, and the marine resources upon which they rely. Wosnesenski and Chirikof islands have sustained severe impacts to wildlife habitat, native vegetation, and archaeological sites from grazing by unauthorized cattle left behind when they were left on the islands years ago. Stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the southeast panhandle, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge protects breeding habitat for seabirds, marine mammals, and other wildlife on more than 2,500 islands, spires, rocks, and coastal headlands. Some of these isolated islands host unique species not found elsewhere. In 1980, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) created the Alaska Maritime Refuge by combining and adding to 11 existing coastal refuges. Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authorities NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations; Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA; 16 U.S.C. 3111–3126); and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge Improvement Act). Dated: January 13, 2014. Geoffrey L. Haskett, Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska. [FR Doc. 2014–01024 Filed 1–17–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management Refuge Background PO 00000 Public Involvement The public’s ideas and comments are an important part of the planning process, and we invite public participation. We will meet with the public in communities within and near the Refuge and in Homer and Kodiak. Meetings will be announced locally and posted on our Web site. We encourage the public to provide comments, which will help us determine the issues and formulate alternatives. We will be accepting comments at meetings, via email, U.S. mail, and telephone during this open comment period (see DATES), as well as through personal contacts throughout the planning process. Sfmt 4703 [LLNVS00560.L58530000 ES0000.241A; N– 90846; 14–08807; MO#4500059940; TAS: 14X5232] Notice of Realty Action: Classification for Lease and/or Subsequent Conveyance for Recreation and Public Purposes of Public Land for a Park and Ride Facility (N–90846) in Clark County, NV Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of realty action. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\21JAN1.SGM 21JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3399-3400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01013]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-R-2013-N223; FXRS1266066CCP0S3-134-FF06R06000]


Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Great Falls, 
Montana; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No 
Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental 
assessment (EA) for Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex. In 
this final CCP, we describe how we intend to manage the refuge complex 
for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You will find the final CCP and the FONSI on the planning 
Web site: https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/planning/ccp/mt/bnl/bnl.html. A limited number of hard copies are available. You may 
request one by any of the following methods:
    Email: toni_griffin@fws.gov. Include ``Benton Lake NWR Complex'' 
in the subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, 303-236-4792.
    U.S. Mail: Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, Suite 300, 134 Union 
Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, 303-236-4378 (phone); 
303-236-4792 (fax); or toni_griffin@fws.gov (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Benton Lake 
National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which we began by publishing a notice 
of intent in the Federal Register (73 FR 48237) on August 18, 2008. For 
more about the initial process and the history of this refuge, see that 
notice. We released the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing and 
requesting comments in a notice of availability (77 FR 19309) on March 
30, 2012. The 60-day comment period ended on June 1, 2012. A summary of 
public comments and the agency responses is included in the final CCP.

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) (Administration Act), requires us 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 (NWRS), consistent with sound principles of fish 
and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service 
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 Administration Act.
    Each unit of the NWRS was established for specific purposes. We use 
these purposes as the foundation for developing and prioritizing the 
management goals and objectives for each refuge within the NWRS 
mission, and to determine how the public can use each refuge. The 
planning process is a way for us and the public to evaluate management 
goals and objectives that will ensure the best possible approach to 
wildlife, plant, and habitat conservation, while providing for 
wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible with 
each refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of the NWRS.

Additional Information

    The final CCP may be found at https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/planning/ccp/mt/bnl/bnl.html. The final CCP includes detailed 
information about the planning process, refuge, issues, and management 
alternative selected. The Web site also contains the draft CCP, which 
includes an EA, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) (43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The EA/FONSI includes 
discussion of alternative refuge management options. The Service's 
selected alternative is reflected in the final CCP.
    The selected alternative for the complex focuses on achieving self-
sustaining systems with long-term productivity. Management efforts 
would focus on supporting and restoring ecological processes, including 
natural communities and the dynamics of the ecosystems of the northern 
Great Plains and northern Rocky Mountains in relationship to their 
geomorphic landscape positioning. Conservation of native landscapes 
would be a high priority, accomplished by protecting habitats from 
conversion, using a combination of partnerships, easements, and fee-
title lands, and through active management and proactive enforcement of 
easements. Management actions such as prescribed fire, grazing, and 
invasive species control would be used to support the resiliency and 
sustainability of Service-owned lands throughout the refuge complex. 
Whenever possible, habitat conditions would be allowed to fluctuate 
with climatically driven wet and dry cycles, which are essential for 
long-term productivity. The success of these efforts and programs would 
depend on added staff, research, and monitoring programs, operations 
money, infrastructure, and new and expanded partnerships.
    Benton Lake Refuge wetland units will be managed to focus on the 
importance of restoring the health and long-term sustainability of the 
wetland basin and include efforts within the Lake Creek and Muddy Creek 
watersheds. Flexible water management will occur, which will affect the 
amount, duration, and location of artificially provided water (pumped 
water) within the wetland basin. Management will strive to provide some 
waterfowl hunting and fall/spring migration habitat for at least 11 out 
of 15 years, and basin-wide drawdowns

[[Page 3400]]

will occur no more than 4 out of 15 years (with no more than 3 
consecutive years of basin-wide drying). An adaptive resource 
management approach will be applied that may modify these wet and dry 
cycles to ensure progress towards achieving habitat objectives. Wetland 
basin infrastructure may be modified to enhance water conservation and 
efficient delivery. The Pumphouse and all water rights will be 
regularly exercised and maintained. Managing grasslands and other 
wildlife dependent public uses (wildlife observation and photography, 
environmental education and interpretation, and upland game bird 
hunting) on the refuge will occur as resources allow. A detailed 
description of objectives and actions included in this selected 
alternative is found in chapter 4 of the final CCP.

    Dated: December 3, 2013.
Matt Hogan,
Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-01013 Filed 1-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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