Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 42084-42085 [05-14382]
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42084
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 139 / Thursday, July 21, 2005 / Notices
Room 8134, Washington, DC 20410,
telephone number (202) 708–4370
extension 5919 (this is not a toll-free
number) for copies of the proposed
forms and other available documents.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department will submit the proposed
information collection to OMB for
review, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35, as amended). This Notice is
soliciting comments from members of
the public and affected agencies
concerning the proposed collection of
information to: (1) Evaluate whether the
proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) evaluate the
accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of
information; (3) enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (4) minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology
(e.g., permitting electronic submission
of responses).
Title of Proposal: Office of Policy
Development and Research and
Partnership for Advancing Technology
in Housing Cooperative Research efforts.
Description of the need for the
information and proposed use: This
information collection is required to
solicit proposals for cooperative
research with the Office of Policy
Development and Research (PD&R) and
the Partnership for Advancing
Technology in Housing (PATH) program
seeks proposals for cooperative research
efforts from housing researchers and
others in areas of mutual interest.
Following collection of the proposals,
the data (the proposals) will be
evaluated in a process that will lead to
the award of cooperative agreements for
research and other activities. Without
this collection, potential research
partners would not be able to apply for
cooperative agreements to conduct such
activities.
Number of
respondents
Task
Summary Proposal ............................................................................................
Full Proposal Development ...............................................................................
Grant Start Up ...................................................................................................
Total Estimated Annual Burden
Hours: 2,141.
Number of copies to be submitted to
the Office of Policy Development and
Research for evaluation: Four (original
and three copies).
Status of the proposed information
collection: Pending OMB approval.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.
Dated: July 8, 2005.
Harold L. Bunce,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05–14332 Filed 7–20–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–62–M
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
Complex
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment for Wheeler
National Wildlife Refuge Complex in
Lauderdale, Limestone, Jackson,
AGENCY:
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19:42 Jul 20, 2005
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50
25
20
Madison and Morgan Counties,
Alabama.
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public
that the Fish and Wildlife Service,
Southeast Region, intends to gather
information necessary to prepare a
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment for the
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
Complex, pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act and its
implementing regulations.
The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, as amended
by the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997, requires the
Service to develop a comprehensive
conservation plan for each national
wildlife refuge. The purpose in
developing a comprehensive
conservation plan 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 management, conservation,
legal mandates, and Service policies. In
addition to outlining broad management
direction on conserving wildlife and
their habitats, plans identify wildlife-
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Fmt 4703
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Agency form numbers, if applicable:
Application for Federal Assistance
(Form HUD–424);
Applicant Assurances and Certifications
(Form HUD 424–B);
Detailed Budget (Form HUD–424–CB);
Detailed Budget Worksheet (Form HUD–
424–CBW);
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, if
required (Standard Form LLL);
Disclosure/Update Report (Form HUD–
2880);
Acknowledgment of Application
Receipt (Form HUD–2993);
Client Comments and Suggestions
(Form HUD–2994).
Members of affected public: Housing
researchers, trade organizations,
community research organizations, and
university researchers. The number of
organizations is estimated to be 40.
Estimation of the total numbers of
hours needed to prepare the information
collection including number of
respondents, frequency of response, and
hours of response:
Frequency of
responses
once .............
once .............
once .............
Hours per
response
12.92
39
26
Burden
hours
646
975
520
dependent recreational opportunities
available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental
education and interpretation.
The purpose of this notice is to
achieve the following:
(1) Advise other agencies and the
public of our intentions, and
(2) Obtain suggestions and
information on the scope of issues to
include in the environmental document.
DATES: An open house style meeting
will be held during the scoping phase of
the comprehensive conservation plan
development process. Special mailings,
newspaper articles, and other media
announcements will be used to inform
the public and State and local
government agencies of the dates and
opportunities for input throughout the
planning process.
ADDRESSES: Address comments,
questions, and requests for more
information to John Beck, Refuge
Planner, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2700
Refuge Headquarters Road, Decatur,
Alabama 35603; telephone: (256) 353–
7243; Fax: (256) 340–9728; e-mail:
john_beck@fws.gov. To ensure
consideration, written comments must
E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM
21JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 139 / Thursday, July 21, 2005 / Notices
be received no later than September 6,
2005. Our practice is to make
comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, available for
public review during regular business
hours. Individual respondents may
request that we withhold their home
address from the record, which we will
honor to the extent allowable by law.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Wheeler
National Wildlife Refuge, in the
Tennessee River Valley of northern
Alabama, was established by executive
order on July 7, 1938. The refuge is
situated within the middle third of the
Tennessee Valley Authority’s Wheeler
Reservoir on land purchased in 1934
and 1935 by the Authority to serve as
a buffer strip around the reservoir,
which was impounded in 1936. The
refuge contains land within Morgan,
Limestone, and Madison Counties, and
is in close proximity to the cities of
Huntsville and Decatur, Alabama. The
refuge consists of approximately 35,000
acres, including 19,500 acres of land
and 15,500 acres of water. It is well
developed with more than 100 miles of
graveled roads, 2,500 acres of managed
wetlands, a modern Headquarters
Complex with a large Visitor Center and
a Waterfowl Observation Building.
Public use is heavy and approximately
700,000 visitors are reported annually.
The primary purpose of the refuge is
to provide habitat, food, and shelter for
migratory waterfowl and other wildlife.
This refuge supports Alabama’s only
significant concentration of wintering
Canada geese. It also serves as winter
habitat for the State’s largest duck
population. It was the first national
wildlife refuge placed on a
multipurpose reservoir and has
supported up to 60,000 geese and nearly
100,000 ducks, although peaks until
1990 were nearer 30,000 geese and
60,000 ducks. Since 1990, winter goose
populations have dropped significantly;
below 15,000 from 1990–1995 and about
2,500–5,500 in the last few years. Snow
geese are now the most prominent
competent of the winter goose
population, peaking near 1,500–3,200 in
recent years. The refuge supports
interesting flora, a bird list consisting of
288 species, 47 species of mammals, 115
species of fish and a wide variety (74
species) of reptiles and amphibians.
Furthermore, the refuge is home to 10
federally protected endangered species.
Wheeler Refuge has three satellite
refuges, all established to protect
endangered species. These are: Sauta
Cave (formerly Blowing Wind Cave)
National Wildlife Refuge, near
Scottsboro, Jackson County, Alabama;
Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge,
VerDate jul<14>2003
19:42 Jul 20, 2005
Jkt 205001
near Paint Rock, Jackson County,
Alabama; and Key Cave National
Wildlife Refuge near Florence,
Lauderdale County, Alabama. All
together, these refuges comprise the
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
Complex.
Sauta Cave Refuge consists of 264
acres and was purchased in 1978 to
provide protection for the federally
endangered gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
and the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and
their critical habitat. The cave provides
a summer roosting site for about
200,000–300,000 gray bats and a winter
hibernaculum for both the gray and
Indiana bat. There are two entrances
into the cave on the refuge but they are
closed to the public.
As is the case with many large caves,
rare and unique species occur in Sauta
Cave. As a result, the Alabama Natural
Heritage Program ranks the cave’s
biodiversity as a site of very high
significance. In addition to the rare
fauna within the cave, the federally
endangered Price’s potato bean (Apios
priceana) occurs on the refuge. All 264
acres of habitat outside of the cave are
predominately hardwood forest.
Fern Cave Refuge was purchased in
1981 to provide protection for the
federally endangered gray and Indiana
bats. It consists of 199 cares of forested
hillside underlain by a massive cave
with many stalactite- and stalagmitefilled rooms. The cave has five hidden
entrances with four occuring on the
refuge. The refuge contains the largest
wintering colony of gray bats in the
United States with more than one
million bats hibernating there in the
winter. Bat experts also think that as
many as one million Indiana bats may
be using the cave.
Access is extremely difficult and has
been described as a vertical and
horizontal maze by expert cavers.
Horizontal sections of the cave are
known to be more than 15 miles long
and vertical drops of 450 feet are found
within. Spectacular features, including
unrivaled formations, important
paleological and archaeological finds,
and diverse cave fauna, have
contributed to Fern Cave being
described as the most spectacular cave
in the United States. Additionally, the
endangered American Hart’s-tongue fern
(Phyllitis scolopendrium) is found on
the refuge.
Key Cave Refuge, about 5 miles
southwest of Florence, Alabama, was
established in 1997 to ensure the
biological integrity of Key Cave, Collier
Cave, and the aquifer common to both.
Key Cave has been designated as critical
habitat for the endangered Alabama
cavefish (Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni) and
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Fmt 4703
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42085
as a priority one maternity cave for the
endangered gray bat. Collier Cave,
approximately 1.5 miles upstream from
Key Cave and within the acquisition
boundary, is important to both species
as potential habitat. Both caves are on
the northern shore of Pickwick Lake in
a limestone karst area that contains
numerous sinkholes and several
underground cave systems. the area’s
sinkholes are an integral component of
groundwater recharge to the caves. The
area directly north of Key Cave was
identified as a potential high hazard risk
area for groundwater recharge and this
is where the 1,060-acre refuge was
established.
Two species of blind crayfish
(Procambarus pecki and Cambarus
jonesi) also inhabit Key Cave. Several
bird species that are of management
concern also use the refuge’s grasslands.
These species include grasshopper
sparrows, dickcissels, northern harriers,
short-eared owls, loggerhead shrikes,
and northern bobwhites.
Authority: This notice is published under
the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1977, Public
Law 105–57.
Dated: June 17, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 05–14382 Filed 7–20–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–M
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Application for an Incidental Take
Permit for the Lockheed Martin
Corporation Project, Riverside County,
CA
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of application;
notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In response to an application
from the Lockheed Martin Corporation
(applicant), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (we, Service) is considering
issuance of a 5-year incidental take
permit for 1 covered species pursuant to
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA).
In response to this application, we are
making it available for public review
and comment. If approved, the permit
would authorize take of species listed
under the ESA incidental to otherwise
lawful activities associated with
proposed groundwater and soil
contamination investigations on the
9,117-acre Potrero Creek and 2,500-acre
E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM
21JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42084-42085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14382]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Environmental Assessment for Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
Complex in Lauderdale, Limestone, Jackson, Madison and Morgan Counties,
Alabama.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Fish and Wildlife
Service, Southeast Region, intends to gather information necessary to
prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
for the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex, pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997,
requires the Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a
comprehensive conservation plan 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 management, conservation, legal
mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad
management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, plans
identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the
public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and
interpretation.
The purpose of this notice is to achieve the following:
(1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and
(2) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to
include in the environmental document.
DATES: An open house style meeting will be held during the scoping
phase of the comprehensive conservation plan development process.
Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media announcements
will be used to inform the public and State and local government
agencies of the dates and opportunities for input throughout the
planning process.
ADDRESSES: Address comments, questions, and requests for more
information to John Beck, Refuge Planner, Fish and Wildlife Service,
2700 Refuge Headquarters Road, Decatur, Alabama 35603; telephone: (256)
353-7243; Fax: (256) 340-9728; e-mail: john_beck@fws.gov. To ensure
consideration, written comments must
[[Page 42085]]
be received no later than September 6, 2005. Our practice is to make
comments, including names and addresses of respondents, available for
public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may
request that we withhold their home address from the record, which we
will honor to the extent allowable by law.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, in the
Tennessee River Valley of northern Alabama, was established by
executive order on July 7, 1938. The refuge is situated within the
middle third of the Tennessee Valley Authority's Wheeler Reservoir on
land purchased in 1934 and 1935 by the Authority to serve as a buffer
strip around the reservoir, which was impounded in 1936. The refuge
contains land within Morgan, Limestone, and Madison Counties, and is in
close proximity to the cities of Huntsville and Decatur, Alabama. The
refuge consists of approximately 35,000 acres, including 19,500 acres
of land and 15,500 acres of water. It is well developed with more than
100 miles of graveled roads, 2,500 acres of managed wetlands, a modern
Headquarters Complex with a large Visitor Center and a Waterfowl
Observation Building. Public use is heavy and approximately 700,000
visitors are reported annually.
The primary purpose of the refuge is to provide habitat, food, and
shelter for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. This refuge
supports Alabama's only significant concentration of wintering Canada
geese. It also serves as winter habitat for the State's largest duck
population. It was the first national wildlife refuge placed on a
multipurpose reservoir and has supported up to 60,000 geese and nearly
100,000 ducks, although peaks until 1990 were nearer 30,000 geese and
60,000 ducks. Since 1990, winter goose populations have dropped
significantly; below 15,000 from 1990-1995 and about 2,500-5,500 in the
last few years. Snow geese are now the most prominent competent of the
winter goose population, peaking near 1,500-3,200 in recent years. The
refuge supports interesting flora, a bird list consisting of 288
species, 47 species of mammals, 115 species of fish and a wide variety
(74 species) of reptiles and amphibians. Furthermore, the refuge is
home to 10 federally protected endangered species.
Wheeler Refuge has three satellite refuges, all established to
protect endangered species. These are: Sauta Cave (formerly Blowing
Wind Cave) National Wildlife Refuge, near Scottsboro, Jackson County,
Alabama; Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge, near Paint Rock, Jackson
County, Alabama; and Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge near Florence,
Lauderdale County, Alabama. All together, these refuges comprise the
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Sauta Cave Refuge consists of 264 acres and was purchased in 1978
to provide protection for the federally endangered gray bat (Myotis
grisescens) and the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and their critical
habitat. The cave provides a summer roosting site for about 200,000-
300,000 gray bats and a winter hibernaculum for both the gray and
Indiana bat. There are two entrances into the cave on the refuge but
they are closed to the public.
As is the case with many large caves, rare and unique species
occur in Sauta Cave. As a result, the Alabama Natural Heritage Program
ranks the cave's biodiversity as a site of very high significance. In
addition to the rare fauna within the cave, the federally endangered
Price's potato bean (Apios priceana) occurs on the refuge. All 264
acres of habitat outside of the cave are predominately hardwood forest.
Fern Cave Refuge was purchased in 1981 to provide protection for
the federally endangered gray and Indiana bats. It consists of 199
cares of forested hillside underlain by a massive cave with many
stalactite- and stalagmite-filled rooms. The cave has five hidden
entrances with four occuring on the refuge. The refuge contains the
largest wintering colony of gray bats in the United States with more
than one million bats hibernating there in the winter. Bat experts also
think that as many as one million Indiana bats may be using the cave.
Access is extremely difficult and has been described as a vertical
and horizontal maze by expert cavers. Horizontal sections of the cave
are known to be more than 15 miles long and vertical drops of 450 feet
are found within. Spectacular features, including unrivaled formations,
important paleological and archaeological finds, and diverse cave
fauna, have contributed to Fern Cave being described as the most
spectacular cave in the United States. Additionally, the endangered
American Hart's-tongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) is found on the
refuge.
Key Cave Refuge, about 5 miles southwest of Florence, Alabama, was
established in 1997 to ensure the biological integrity of Key Cave,
Collier Cave, and the aquifer common to both. Key Cave has been
designated as critical habitat for the endangered Alabama cavefish
(Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni) and as a priority one maternity cave for the
endangered gray bat. Collier Cave, approximately 1.5 miles upstream
from Key Cave and within the acquisition boundary, is important to both
species as potential habitat. Both caves are on the northern shore of
Pickwick Lake in a limestone karst area that contains numerous
sinkholes and several underground cave systems. the area's sinkholes
are an integral component of groundwater recharge to the caves. The
area directly north of Key Cave was identified as a potential high
hazard risk area for groundwater recharge and this is where the 1,060-
acre refuge was established.
Two species of blind crayfish (Procambarus pecki and Cambarus
jonesi) also inhabit Key Cave. Several bird species that are of
management concern also use the refuge's grasslands. These species
include grasshopper sparrows, dickcissels, northern harriers, short-
eared owls, loggerhead shrikes, and northern bobwhites.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1977, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: June 17, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 05-14382 Filed 7-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
