Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall County, MN, 11685-11686 [05-4557]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 9, 2005 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY Bureau of Customs and Border Protection Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Application to Payoff or Discharge Alien Crewman (Form I–408) Notice and request for comments. ACTION: SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Application to Pay Off or Discharge Alien Crewman (Form I–408). This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)). DATES: Written comments should be received on or before May 9, 2005, to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Information Services Group, Room 3.2.C, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20229. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information should be directed to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Attn.: Tracey Denning, Room 3.2.C, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20229, Tel. (202) 344–1429. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)). The comments should address the accuracy of the burden estimates and ways to minimize the burden including the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology, as well as other relevant aspects of the information collection. The comments that are submitted will be summarized and included in the CBP request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. In this document CBP is soliciting comments concerning the following information collection: Title: Application to Pay Off or Discharge Alien Crewman. OMB Number: 1651–0106. Form Number: I–408. Abstract: This form is used by owner, agent, consignee, master or commanding VerDate jul<14>2003 18:06 Mar 08, 2005 Jkt 205001 of any vessel or aircraft to obtain permission from CBP to pay off or discharge any alien crewman. Current Actions: There are no changes to the information collection. This submission is being submitted to extend the expiration date. Type of Review: Extension (without change). Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit institutions. Estimated Number of Respondents: 85,000. Estimated Time Per Respondent: 25 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 35,360. Estimated Total Annualized Cost on the Public: $353,600. Dated: March 2, 2005. Tracey Denning, Agency Clearance Officer, Information Services Group. [FR Doc. 05–4521 Filed 3–8–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4820–02–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall County, MN Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces that the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for Agassiz NWR, Minnesota. The CCP was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Goals and objectives in the CCP describe how the agency intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years. Written comments on the Draft CCP/EA will be accepted up to 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft CCP are available on compact disk or hard copy. You may access and download a copy via the planning Web site (https:// midwest.fws.gov/planning/agassiz/ index.html) or you may obtain a copy by writing to the following address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11685 Conservation Planning, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Anderson at (218) 449–4115. The Agassiz National Wildlife, established in 1937, is located in the northwest corner of Minnesota at the juncture of the northern boreal forest, the eastern deciduous forest, and the tallgrass prairie. The Refuge’s 61,500 acres are a key breeding ground for 17 species of ducks, as well as an important migration rest stop for waterfowl, but it is also noted for gray wolves, moose, and nesting Bald Eagles. The EA evaluates three different approaches, or alternatives, to future management of the Agassiz NWR. The plan also identifies wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. The preferred alternative calls for (1) larger areas of prairie grasslands and sedge meadow habitats, (2) increased winter wildlife observation opportunities, and (3) expanded deer hunting opportunities, late-season ruffed grouse hunting, and an early fall youth waterfowl hunt on a portion of the refuge. 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 et seq.) requires a CCP. The purpose in developing CCPs 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, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife science, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction for conserving wildlife and their habitats, the 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 these CCPs at least every 15 years in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370d). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1 11686 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 9, 2005 / Notices Dated: November 8, 2004. Charles M. Wooley, Acting Regional Director, Region 3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling, MN. [FR Doc. 05–4557 Filed 3–8–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Receipt of Applications for Incidental Take Permits on 55 Applications for Proposed Single Family and Duplex Residential Construction on the Fort Morgan Peninsula, Baldwin County, AL Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of applications for incidental take permits and habitat conservation plans and environmental assessment. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Dr. W. H. Abraham, Mr. Terry Bartee, Ms. Sarah Bertrand, Ms. Edith Bolster, Mr. Billy Bullock, Ms. Jerilyn Byrd, Mr. Walter Cooper, Mr. Thomas Cox, Mr. and Mrs. George Cromer, Mr. Larry Dawson, Mr. William Denholm, Ms. Ellen Dinges, Mr. Jody Greene, Mr. Perry Hand, Mr. Leo Hastings, Mr. Asa Hollowell, Mr. Robert Howell, Mr. Trice Hulling, Ms. Virginia Jordan, Mr. Kerwin Lane, Mr. John Lucas, Ms. Linda Mangold, Mr. Martens, Ms. Cynthia Meichner, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Nagley, Mr. Greg Nayden (3 applications), Mr. Robert Pate, Ms. Terry Pettus, Mr. Steven Quinn (2 applications), Mr. James Randolph, Mr. Robert Relinski (2 applications), Mr. Jeffrey Ryder, Sage Development (10 applications), Mr. Jose Silvas, Mr. P.K. Smartt, Mr. Delmar Smith, Mr. Jim Stephenson, Mr. Richard Willoughby, Mr. William Yates, Mr. Robert Yokley, Mr. Jim Young, and Ms. Debra Zak have applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for incidental take permits (ITP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as amended (Act) for the take of Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates) (ABM). The proposed take would be incidental to the otherwise lawful activity of constructing 49 single family and 6 duplex residences in Baldwin County, Alabama. The applicants have prepared Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) in accordance with section 10(a)(2)(A) of the Act, specifying, among other things, the impacts that are likely to result from the taking and the measures each applicant would undertake to minimize and mitigate such impacts. A detailed description of the proposed minimization and mitigation measures VerDate jul<14>2003 18:06 Mar 08, 2005 Jkt 205001 is provided in the applicants’ HCPs, and in our Environmental Assessment (EA). The proposed action would involve approval of the HCPs if the statutory issuance criteria are satisfied. The EA considers the environmental impacts of the proposed projects on, including but not limited to, endangered and threatened species. DATES: Written comments on the ITP applications, HCPs, and EA should be sent to the Service’s Regional Office (see ADDRESSES) and should be received on or before April 8, 2005. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the applications, HCPs, and EA may obtain an electronic copy on compact disk by writing the Service’s Southeast Regional Office, Atlanta, Georgia, at the address below. Documents will also be available for public inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the Regional Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30345 (Attn: Endangered Species Permits), or the Daphne Ecological Services Field Office, 1208– B Main Street, Daphne, Alabama 36526. Written data or comments concerning the application or HCP should be submitted to the Regional Office. Please reference the ITP for 55 applications for residential development, Batch II, in requests for the documents discussed herein. Mr. Aaron Valenta, Regional HCP Coordinator (see ADDRESSES above), telephone: (404) 679–4144, or Ms. Barbara Allen, Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist, Daphne Field Office (see ADDRESSES above), telephone: (251) 441–5873. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce the availability of an EA and HCPs/applications for incidental take permits. The EA is a combined assessment addressing the environmental impacts associated with these projects both individually and cumulatively. Copies of the EA and the individual HCPs may be obtained by making a request, in writing, to the Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). This notice advises the public that we have opened the comment period on the permit applications and the EA. The permit applications each include HCPs. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10 of the Act and National Environmental Policy Act regulations at 40 CFR 1506.6. We specifically request information, views, and opinions from the public on the Federal action, including the identification of any other aspects of the human environment not already FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 identified in our EA. Further, we specifically solicit information regarding the adequacy of the HCPs as measured against our ITP issuance criteria found in 50 CFR 13.21 and 17.22. If you wish to comment, you may submit comments by any one of several methods. Please reference ITP for 55 applications for residential development, Batch II, in such comments. You may mail comments to our Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). You may also comment via the Internet to aaron_valenta@fws.gov. Please submit comments over the Internet as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Please also include your name and return mailing address in your Internet message. If you do not receive a confirmation from us that we have received your internet message, contact us directly at either telephone number listed (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to either Service office listed (see ADDRESSES). Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the administrative record. We will honor such requests to the extent allowable by law. There may also be other circumstances in which we would withhold from the administrative record a respondent’s identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. Background The EA considers the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the proposed incidental take and the measures that will be implemented to minimize and mitigate such impacts. The EA contains an analysis of three alternatives for each site, including: (1) No action alternative; (2) development with wholesale clearing, grading, and formal landscaping; and (3) the applicant’s preferred alternative. Under alternative 1, we would not issue the ITPs and no new construction would result. Alternative 2 would result in the construction of single family and duplex E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11685-11686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4557]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental 
Assessment for the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall County, 
MN

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces that the Draft 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) 
is available for Agassiz NWR, Minnesota.
    The CCP was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969. Goals and objectives in the CCP describe how the 
agency intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft CCP/EA will be accepted up to 30 
days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft CCP are available on compact disk or 
hard copy. You may access and download a copy via the planning Web site 
(https://midwest.fws.gov/planning/agassiz/) or you may obtain 
a copy by writing to the following address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Division of Conservation Planning, Bishop Henry Whipple 
Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Anderson at (218) 449-4115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agassiz National Wildlife, established 
in 1937, is located in the northwest corner of Minnesota at the 
juncture of the northern boreal forest, the eastern deciduous forest, 
and the tallgrass prairie. The Refuge's 61,500 acres are a key breeding 
ground for 17 species of ducks, as well as an important migration rest 
stop for waterfowl, but it is also noted for gray wolves, moose, and 
nesting Bald Eagles.
    The EA evaluates three different approaches, or alternatives, to 
future management of the Agassiz NWR. The plan also identifies 
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public 
including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and 
environmental education and interpretation. The preferred alternative 
calls for (1) larger areas of prairie grasslands and sedge meadow 
habitats, (2) increased winter wildlife observation opportunities, and 
(3) expanded deer hunting opportunities, late-season ruffed grouse 
hunting, and an early fall youth waterfowl hunt on a portion of the 
refuge.
    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 et seq.) requires a CCP. The purpose in 
developing CCPs 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, consistent with sound principles 
of fish and wildlife science, conservation, legal mandates, and Service 
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction for 
conserving wildlife and their habitats, the 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 these CCPs at least every 15 years in accordance with 
the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as 
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, 
and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-
4370d).


[[Page 11686]]


    Dated: November 8, 2004.
Charles M. Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Fort Snelling, MN.
[FR Doc. 05-4557 Filed 3-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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