Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the National Bison Range, Moiese, Montana, 22843-22844 [2017-10110]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 95 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22843-22844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10110]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-R-2017-N074; FXRS12610600000-178-FF06R00000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for 
the National Bison Range, Moiese, Montana

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are revising 
a previously published notice of intent to prepare a draft 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the National Bison Range 
(NBR), with headquarters in Moiese, Montana. We are revising the 
original January 2017 Federal Register notice to provide an additional 
opportunity for input and to share with the public that we intend to 
move in a different direction than that indicated by the earlier 
notice. Specifically, due to the variety of information and 
perspectives received during the comment period and a change in policy 
direction, we will not proceed with evaluating a preferred alternative 
of legislative transfer of the NBR. With this notice, we request 
comments in order to obtain suggestions and information on a revised 
scope of issues to be considered in the planning process.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received or 
postmarked on or before June 19, 2017.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on the scope of the CCP/EIS, you may 
submit your comments by one of the following methods:
    [ssquf] Email: scoping_NBR@fws.gov.
    [ssquf] U.S. Mail or Hand-Delivery: Toni Griffin, Refuge Planner, 
NBR CCP, 134 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, Refuge Planner, NBR CCP, 
134 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228, or by telephone (303) 236-
4378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), are revising the Notice of Intent to prepare a draft 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the National Bison Range 
(NBR), with headquarters in Moiese, Montana. With a notice published in 
the Federal Register on January 18, 2017 (82 FR 5597), we initiated a 
process for developing a CCP for the NBR. We are revising the original 
notice of intent to provide an additional opportunity for input and to 
share with the public that we intend to move in a different direction 
than that indicated by the January 2017 notice. Specifically, due to 
the variety of information and perspectives received during the comment 
period and a change in policy direction, we will not proceed with 
evaluating a preferred alternative of legislative transfer of the NBR. 
With this notice, we request comments in order to obtain suggestions 
and information on a revised scope of issues to be considered in the 
planning process. The CCP will describe the desired future conditions 
of the refuge and provide long-range guidance and management direction 
on how best to achieve refuge purposes.

[[Page 22844]]

Introduction

    The notice complies with our CCP policy to (1) advise other Federal 
and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct 
planning on this refuge and (2) to obtain suggestions and information 
on the scope of additional issues to consider during development of the 
CCP. Through the CCP, we intend to evaluate how we will manage NBR. 
Participation in the planning process will be encouraged and 
facilitated by various means, including news releases and public 
meetings. Notification of all such meetings will be announced in the 
local press and on the NBR Web site.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, 
(Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), requires us to develop 
a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose of 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.
    We will conduct environmental review pursuant to the provisions of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
by preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS). The Service 
intends to invite the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) to 
participate as a cooperating agency as provided by 40 CFR 1508.5.
    We will prepare a CCP and EIS which will describe how we will 
manage NBR over the next 15 years. To facilitate sound planning and 
environmental assessment, we intend to gather information necessary for 
the preparation of the CCP/EIS and obtain suggestions and information 
from other agencies, municipalities, and the public on the scope of 
issues to be addressed in the CCP/EIS. We will separately consider CCPs 
for Pablo, Lost Trail, and Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuges, and the 
Northwest Montana Lake County Wetland Management District and the 
waterfowl production areas therein, which are also part of the National 
Bison Range Complex.

The National Bison Range

    In 1908, the first purchase of land for the exclusive protection of 
wildlife occurred when Congress appropriated money for the 
establishment of NBR. The overall mission of the NBR is to maintain a 
representative herd of bison, under reasonably natural conditions, to 
ensure the preservation of the species for continued public enjoyment. 
The NBR is 18,800 acres and supports between 350 and 500 bison. The 
National Bison Range lies entirely within the boundary of the Flathead 
Indian Reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes 
(CSKT). Members of the CSKT have a cultural, historical, or geographic 
connection to the land and resources of the NBR.

Additional Information

    The mission for NBR, and purposes for which it was established, are 
used to develop and prioritize management goals and objectives within 
the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to guide which public 
uses will occur on the Refuge. The planning process is a way for the 
Service and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives for 
the best possible conservation efforts of this important wildlife 
habitat while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities 
that are compatible with the Refuges' establishing purposes and the 
mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. We will conduct a CCP 
process that will provide opportunity for tribal, State, and local 
governments; Federal and State agencies; organizations; and the public 
to participate in issue scoping and public comment. We are requesting 
input on issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the future 
management of NBR.

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.

    Dated: April 26, 2017.
Anna Munoz,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, 
Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2017-10110 Filed 5-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-15-P