Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Cokeville, Wyoming; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment, 47666 [2014-18670]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 47666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18670]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-R-2014-N289; FXRS1261060-145-FF06R06000]


Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Cokeville, Wyoming; 
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 a final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental 
assessment (EA) we prepared on the CCP for Cokeville Meadows National 
Wildlife Refuge. The final CCP describes how we intend to manage the 
refuge for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You will find the final CCP, the EA, and the FONSI on our 
planning Web site at https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/planning/ccp/wy/ckv/ckv.html. A limited number of hard copies are available. You may 
request one by any of the following methods:
    Email: bernardo_garza@fws.gov. Include ``Cokeville Meadows NWR'' 
in the subject line of the message.
    U.S. Mail: Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader, Suite 300, 134 
Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernardo Garza, (303) 236-4377 
(phone); (303) 236-4792 (fax); or bernardo_garza@fws.gov (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Cokeville Meadows 
National Wildlife Refuge, which we began by publishing a notice of 
intent in the Federal Register (74 FR 57328) on November 5, 2009. 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 (78 FR 58340) on 
September 23, 2013. The 30-day comment period ended on October 21, 
2013. We then extended the comment period to November 4, 2013. 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 About the CCP, EA, and FONSI

    The final CCP includes detailed information about the planning 
process, refuge, management issues, and management alternative 
selected. The EA includes discussion of four alternative refuge 
management options. The Service's selected alternative is reflected in 
the final CCP, and also in the FONSI.
    The selected alternative for the refuge focuses on managing lands 
within a greater landscape footprint by using partnerships to enhance 
habitats both on and off the refuge. Land and easement acquisition will 
continue to round out and complete the acquisition boundary. Wet meadow 
and upland habitats will be enhanced and managed to increase wildlife 
productivity and diversity. The use of agricultural practices will be 
specifically geared to enhance refuge habitats for wildlife and to help 
decrease wildlife depredation on private property adjacent to the 
refuge.
    Staff will increase focus on developing visitor resources, access, 
and opportunities for wildlife-dependent uses (hunting, fishing, 
wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and 
interpretation) to encourage a greater understanding and appreciation 
of the Bear River watershed; wet meadow, riparian and stream habitats; 
and wildlife. A detailed description of objectives and actions included 
in this selected alternative is found in chapter 4 of the final CCP.

    Dated: June 3, 2014.
Noreen Walsh,
Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-18670 Filed 8-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P