Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, 62606-62607 [06-8897]

Download as PDF 62606 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 207 / Thursday, October 26, 2006 / Notices ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES through wildlife viewing and interpretation on adjacent OPRD lands. Public use on the Cape Meares Refuge is managed cooperatively by the OPRD and the Service through a Memorandum of Agreement. The Oregon Islands Refuge is located along 320 miles of the Oregon coast, and includes 1,853 rocks, islands and reefs, and two headlands (Coquille Point in Coos County, and Crook Point in Curry County). In 1970, 1978 and 1996, the rocks, islands and reefs within the Refuge were designated wilderness, with the exception of Tillamook Rock. The rocks, reefs and islands of Oregon Islands Refuge and wilderness lands were acquired to serve as a refuge and breeding ground for birds and marine mammals. The Coquille Point headland was acquired in 1991 to: Provide a buffer zone between the Refuge’s offshore islands and mainland development; protect a bluff zone for the wildlife species that are dependent on it; and provide one of the best opportunities along the Oregon coast for wildlife observation. The Crook Point headland was acquired in 2000 to provide permanent protection to one of the few remaining undisturbed headlands on the Oregon coast, resulting in increased protection for major near shore seabird breeding colonies and pinniped pupping and haulout sites within the Oregon Islands Refuge. A relatively undisturbed intertidal zone, unique geological formations, rare plants, and cultural resource sites on the mainland are also protected within the Refuge. The Three Arch Rocks Refuge is located a half-mile west of the town of Oceanside, and is comprised of nine rocks and islands encompassing 15 acres of seabird and marine mammal habitat. The Refuge was established in 1907 and was accorded Wilderness status in 1970. The Refuge is closed to public use to protect seabirds, marine mammals, and their habitats from human disturbance. A seasonal closure of the waters within 500 feet of the Refuge is enforced yearly from May 1 through September 15. Interpretation, wildlife photography, and wildlife observation are all existing public uses of Three Arch Rocks Refuge, which occur offsite at both Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint and from Oceanside Beach State Recreation Area. issues will be identified during public scoping. During the CCP planning process, the Service will analyze methods for protecting the resources of the Cape Meares Refuge in the long term, while continuing to provide quality opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation in partnership with OPRD, volunteers, and a Friends group. At the Oregon Islands and Three Arch Rocks Refuges, the Service will identify and consider a wide range of techniques and partnerships in the CCP, for protection of the sensitive and irreplaceable wildlife, habitat, and cultural resources contained within these Refuges. Opportunities for the public to enjoy the Refuges will be examined. The Service will also evaluate the extensive inventory, monitoring, and research needs of these Refuges, within the context of Refuge needs and priorities, and in the wider context of regional, national, and international conservation priorities, and will analyze and determine methods for prioritizing and accomplishing these needs. Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities Dated: September 25, 2006. David J. Wesley, Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. E6–17940 Filed 10–25–06; 8:45 am] Preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities that have been identified and may be addressed in the CCP, are briefly summarized below. Additional VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:21 Oct 25, 2006 Jkt 211001 Public Meetings Five public open house meetings will be held in November 2006. The public open house meetings will be held on weeknights between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Addresses and dates for the public meetings follow. 1. November 1, 2006, Newport High School, Boone Center Room, 322 NE Eads St., Newport, OR 97365. 2. November 6, 2006, Oceanside Community Center, 1550 Pacific St., Oceanside, OR 97134. 3. November 8, 2006, Cannon Beach Elementary School, 268 Beaver, Cannon Beach, OR 97110. 4. November 14, 2006, Brookings High School Auditorium, 564 Fern St., Brookings, OR 97415. 5. November 15, 2006, Bandon High School Cafeteria, 550 Ninth Street, SW., Bandon, OR 97411. Opportunities for public input will be announced throughout the CCP planning process. All comments received from individuals become part of the official public record. Requests for such comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and Service and Departmental policies and procedures. BILLING CODE 4310–55–P PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in Dare County, North Carolina. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge are available for distribution. The plan was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It describes how the refuge will be managed for the next 15 years. The compatibility determinations for recreational hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation are also available within the plan. ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan may be obtained by writing to: Bonnie Strawser, P.O. Box 1969, Manteo, North Carolina 27954, or by electronic mail to: bonnie_strawser@fw.gov. The plan may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service Web site https:// southeast.fws.gov/planning/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for a 30-day public review and comment period was announced in the Federal Register on February 6, 2006 (71 FR 6089). The draft plan and environmental assessment identified and evaluated five alternatives for managing the refuge over the next 15 years. Based on the environmental assessment and the comments received, the Service adopted Alternative 2 as its preferred Alternative. This alternative was considered to be the most effective for meeting the purposes of the refuge and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Under this alternative, the refuge will continue to manage very intensively the water levels of the impoundments and the vegetation to create optimum habitat for migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and aquatic organisms. The refuge will continue to allow five of the six priority public uses of the Refuge System, as identified in the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. These uses are: fishing, wildlife E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM 26OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 207 / Thursday, October 26, 2006 / Notices observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, in northeastern North Carolina, consists of approximately 5,800 acres of ocean beach, barrier dunes, salt marshes, fresh and brackish water ponds and impoundments, as well as tidal creeks and bays. These habitats support a variety of wildlife species including waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, sea turtles, and neotropical migratory songbirds. Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105–57. Dated: May 3, 2006. Cynthia K. Dohner, Acting Regional Director. Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the Federal Register on October 23, 2006. [FR Doc. 06–8897 Filed 10–25–06: 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–M DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Availability, Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), on behalf of the Department of the Interior (DOI), as the natural resource trustee, announces the release for public review of the Draft Natural Resource Damages Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (RP/EA) for the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (JHNWR). The Draft RP/EA presents a preferred alternative that compensates for impacts to natural resources caused by: (1) The release of oil at the JHNWR; and (2) the release of hazardous substances from the Publicker Industries Inc. National Priorities List Superfund Site. Natural resource damages received from the impacts from the release of oil and hazardous substances are being combined and used for restoration activities at the JHNWR. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 27, 2006. ADDRESSES: Copies of the RP/EA are available for review during office hours at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:21 Oct 25, 2006 Jkt 211001 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19153, and online at https://heinz.fws.gov. Requests for copies of the RP/EA may be made to the same address and to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Field Office, 315 South Allen Street, Suite 322, State College, Pennsylvania 16801. Written comments or materials regarding the RP/EA should be sent to the State College address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melinda Turner, Environmental Contaminants Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Field Office, 315 South Allen Street, Suite 322, State College, Pennsylvania 16801. Interested parties may also call 814– 234–4090 or e-mail Melinda_Turner@fws.gov for further information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July 2005, the DOI, acting as natural resource Trustee, reached a natural resource damages settlement in the amount of $865,000 for natural resource injuries associated with the discharge of oil that occurred on February 2, 2000, at the JHNWR. The discharge of oil and the remedial activities injured Service trust resources (migratory birds and Federal lands). In addition, the DOI reached two settlement agreements between 1989 and 1996 for natural resource injuries associated with the Publicker Industries Inc. Superfund Site, located approximately 7 miles upstream from the JHNWR. Natural resource injuries associated with the Publicker Site included injuries to Service trust resources (migratory birds and anadromous fish) from the discharge of hazardous substances. Because of the similar resource injuries associated with the sites, an opportunity exists to combine the Sunoco settlement funds with those acquired from the settlements from the nearby Publicker Superfund Site to create a larger-scale restoration action. The combined funds available for restoration activities from the oil release and Publicker settlements total $1,523,845. Restoration projects proposed in the Draft RP/EA include wetland restoration at the JHNWR. The RP/EA is being released in accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, (33 U.S.C. et seq.), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 as amended, commonly known as Superfund, (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Regulations found at 43 CFR, part 11, and the National Environmental Policy Act. It is intended to describe and evaluate the Trustee’s proposal to restore natural resources PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 62607 injured by the release of oil at the JHNWR and release of hazardous substances from the Publicker National Priorities List Superfund Site. The RP/EA describes and compares a reasonable number of habitat restoration alternatives. Restoration projects which provide similar services as those impacted by the release of oil and hazardous substances and coincide with the primary goals of the JHNWR are preferred. Based on an evaluation of the various restoration alternatives, the preferred alternative consists of removing filled material to restore freshwater tidal wetland at the JHNWR. Restoration of wetlands will compensate for injuries to natural resources, including migratory birds, migratory bird habitat, anadromous fish, and Federal lands. Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment on the RP/EA. Copies of the RP/EA are available for review at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, 8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19153, and online at https://heinz.fws.gov. Requests for copies of the RP/EA may be made to the same address and to the Service’s Pennsylvania Field Office at 315 South Allen Street, Suite 322, State College, Pennsylvania 16801. Written comments will be considered and addressed in the final RP/EA at the conclusion of the restoration planning process. Author: The primary author of this notice is Melinda Turner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Field Office, 315 South Allen Street, Suite 322, State College, Pennsylvania 16801. Authority: The authority for this action is the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, (33 U.S.C. et seq.), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 as amended, commonly known as Superfund, (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), and the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Regulations found at 43 CFR part 11. Dated: September 15, 2006. Anthony D. Leger, Acting Regional Director, Region 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, DOI Designated Authorized Official. [FR Doc. E6–16878 Filed 10–25–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [WY–100–05–1310–DB] Notice of Meetings of the Pinedale Anticline Working Group AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM 26OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 207 (Thursday, October 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62606-62607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8897]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation 
Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Pea Island National 
Wildlife Refuge in Dare County, North Carolina.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact 
for Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge are available for distribution. 
The plan was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 and in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It describes how the refuge will be 
managed for the next 15 years. The compatibility determinations for 
recreational hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation are also 
available within the plan.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan may be obtained by writing to: Bonnie 
Strawser, P.O. Box 1969, Manteo, North Carolina 27954, or by electronic 
mail to: bonnie_strawser@fw.gov. The plan may also be accessed and 
downloaded from the Service Web site https://southeast.fws.gov/
planning/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The availability of the Draft Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for a 30-day public 
review and comment period was announced in the Federal Register on 
February 6, 2006 (71 FR 6089). The draft plan and environmental 
assessment identified and evaluated five alternatives for managing the 
refuge over the next 15 years. Based on the environmental assessment 
and the comments received, the Service adopted Alternative 2 as its 
preferred Alternative. This alternative was considered to be the most 
effective for meeting the purposes of the refuge and the mission of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System. Under this alternative, the refuge 
will continue to manage very intensively the water levels of the 
impoundments and the vegetation to create optimum habitat for migrating 
waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and aquatic organisms. The refuge 
will continue to allow five of the six priority public uses of the 
Refuge System, as identified in the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997. These uses are: fishing, wildlife

[[Page 62607]]

observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and 
interpretation.
    Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, in northeastern North 
Carolina, consists of approximately 5,800 acres of ocean beach, barrier 
dunes, salt marshes, fresh and brackish water ponds and impoundments, 
as well as tidal creeks and bays. These habitats support a variety of 
wildlife species including waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, sea 
turtles, and neotropical migratory songbirds.

    Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 
105-57.

    Dated: May 3, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on October 23, 2006.
[FR Doc. 06-8897 Filed 10-25-06: 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M

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