Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment, 53440 [2014-21420]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 53440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21420]



[[Page 53440]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-R-2013-N238; FXRS1265030000-145-FF03R06000]


Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge; 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) for Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, which 
is authorized within the 20 counties that lie along the Missouri River 
from Kansas City to St. Louis, Missouri. In this final CCP, we describe 
how we intend to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You will find the final CCP and the EA/FONSI on the planning 
Web site at www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/bigmuddyccp/. A limited number 
of hard copies and compact discs are available. You may request one by 
any of the following methods:
     Email: r3planning@fws.gov. Include ``Big Muddy Refuge--
Final CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
     U.S. Mail: Conservation Planning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Larson, 612-713-5430.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Big Muddy 
National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. We began the CCP process for Big 
Muddy Refuge by publishing a notice of intent in the Federal Register 
(72 FR 27587) on May 16, 2007. For more about the initial process and 
the history of the refuge, see that notice.
    We released the EA and draft CCP to the public, announcing and 
requesting comments in a notice of availability (78 FR 60306) on 
October 1, 2013. The 30-day comment period was to end October 31, 2013, 
but was extended for an additional 3 weeks, ending on November 20, 
2013, due to the Federal government shutdown that occurred from October 
1 to 16. 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 www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/bigmuddyccp/. The final CCP includes detailed information about the 
planning process, the refuge, issues, and management alternative 
selected. The Web site also includes an EA and FONSI, prepared in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (43 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.). The EA/FONSI includes discussion of three alternative 
refuge management options. The Service's selected alternative is 
reflected in the final CCP. The selected alternative delineates and 
includes management direction for three urban and two rural river 
reaches. Within all existing and future refuge units, the alternative 
calls for restoring hydrology, reconnecting the Missouri River and 
tributaries to their floodplains, returning or maintaining natural 
cover types, and providing a specified standard level of visitor 
services. This alternative also emphasizes biological inventory and 
monitoring and additional visitor services and facilities within two of 
the five river reaches. One reach centered on Columbia, Missouri, 
receives the greatest emphasis. A detailed description of objectives 
and actions included in this selected alternative is found in chapter 4 
of the final CCP.

    Dated: February 11, 2014.
Thomas O. Melius,
Regional Director.

    Editorial Note:  This document was received for publication by 
the Office of Federal Register on September 4, 2014.

[FR Doc. 2014-21420 Filed 9-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P