Notice of Availability of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, 9018-9019 [E7-3478]
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9018
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 39 / Wednesday, February 28, 2007 / Notices
document and have been scheduled for
a hearing before an immigration judge as
a result. The creation of this track is
consistent with Executive Order 13392,
‘‘Improving Agency Disclosure of
Information’’ (December 14, 2005),
which requires Federal agencies to
improve their FOIA processing.
‘‘Notice To Appear’’ track cases do
not include cases in which the
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has passed and current records indicate
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her scheduled hearing, resulting in
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An Alien-File or A-File is the series
of records USCIS maintains on
immigrants, certain non-immigrants,
applicants for citizenship, certain
individuals who have relinquished their
United States citizenship, applicants for
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submit such a request along with a Form
G–28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as
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behalf. These forms can be found at
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A requester (including individuals,
attorneys, or representatives) seeking to
be placed in the queue must provide a
copy of one of the following documents:
1. Form I–862, Notice To Appear,
documenting the scheduled date of the
subject’s hearing before the immigration
judge;
2. Form I–122, Order To Show Cause,
documenting the scheduled date of the
subject’s hearing before the immigration
judge;
3. A written notice of continuation of
a scheduled hearing before the
immigration judge; or
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:08 Feb 27, 2007
Jkt 211001
4. Form I–863, Notice of Referral to
Immigration Judge.
After USCIS receives the request and
validates it as a proper request, USCIS
will place it in a queue of previously
received requests of a similar nature.
USCIS will take the requests in the
order of receipt, as mandated by the
FOIA and the applicable implementing
DHS regulations at 6 CFR 5. USCIS will
only accept requests for expedited
processing for this queue if the requester
has satisfied the requirements outlined
in 6 CFR 5.5(d).
All other FOIA requirements, as
described in 6 CFR part 5, Disclosure of
Records and Information, will apply.
This notice does not affect those
requests that do not fall in the abovedescribed category.
Dated: February 21, 2007.
Emilio T. Gonzalez,
Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services.
[FR Doc. E7–3357 Filed 2–27–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of Draft
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement for
Vieques National Wildlife Refuge
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service
announces that a Draft Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Environmental
Impact Statement (Draft CCP/EIS) for
the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is
available for review and comment. This
Draft CCP/EIS 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. The Draft CCP/EIS describes how
the Service intends to manage the refuge
over the next 15 years.
DATES: Written comments must be
received at the postal address listed
below no later than April 30, 2007.
ADDRESSES: To provide written
comments or to obtain a copy of the
Draft CCP/EIS, please write to: Oscar
Diaz, Refuge Manager, Vieques National
Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 1527,
Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765. A copy of
the Draft CCP/EIS is also available on
compact diskette. It can be accessed and
downloaded at the following Internet
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
address: https://www.fws.gov/southeast/
planning/. A public meeting will be
held at the Multiple Use Center (Centro
de Usos Multiples) in Isabel Segunda,
Vieques, Puerto Rico, to present the
plan to the public. Special mailings,
news media outlets, and posters will be
avenues to inform the public of the date
and time of the meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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) requires the Service to
develop a comprehensive conservation
plan for each refuge. The purpose in
developing a 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 science, conservation, legal
mandates, and Service policies. In
addition to outlining broad management
direction on conserving wildlife and
their habitats, plans identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities
available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation and photography,
and environmental education and
interpretation.
The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge
was created from former Navy managed
lands by congressional actions in 2001
and 2003. It consists of approximately
17,771 acres—3,100 acres on western
Vieques and 14,671 acres on eastern
Vieques. The transferred lands are to be
managed in accordance with the Refuge
Administration Act (as amended).
The refuge lands were historically
used for agricultural purposes and more
recently for military training activities.
As a result, the wildlife habitats and
communities are significantly altered
and non-native invasive species are
common along with remnants of native
habitats. As a result of the military
training, portions of the refuge contain
unexploded ordnance and other
contaminants. These areas have been
classified as a ‘‘superfund site’’ under
the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA). Cleanup of these
portions of the refuge is being
conducted by the Navy in accordance
with CERCLA. In addition, a Federal
Facilities Agreement between the Navy,
Environmental Protection Agency, Fish
and Wildlife Service, and
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will help
to guide the cleanup process.
Although the short-term use and
management of areas contaminated with
E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM
28FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 39 / Wednesday, February 28, 2007 / Notices
unexploded ordnance would be
restricted, the alternatives presented in
this Draft Plan were developed with the
assumption that these lands would be
cleaned of any contaminants that would
pose a threat to either wildlife or
humans.
Before the Service began the
development of the Draft Plan, it hosted
a series of public scoping meetings to
solicit public opinion and identify
issues that should be addressed. To
address the existing habitat conditions,
the ongoing cleanup activities, the
issues identified by the public, and the
mission and purpose of the refuge, the
planning team developed a series of
goals for the plan. The goals are: (1)
Conserve, enhance, and restore native
plant communities and wetland habitats
and their associated fish, wildlife, and
plants, representative of the native
biological diversity that would have
been found on Vieques Refuge lands
prior to major agricultural and military
use of the lands; (2) monitor, protect,
and recover special status animals,
plants, and species of management
interest; (3) provide opportunities for
wildlife-dependent recreation and
education to enhance public
appreciation, understanding, and
enjoyment of refuge wildlife, habitats,
and cultural history; (4) ensure, through
the cooperative efforts of partners, that
the refuge is cleaned of all classes of
contaminants that could pose a threat to
the health and safety of the wildlife,
residents, staff, and visitors; (5) provide
the resources needed to implement the
selected management alternative and
ensure the other goals and objectives
identified in the plan can be achieved;
and (6) develop effective and open
communication with the community to
raise public awareness of refuge
programs, management decisions, the
missions of the Fish and Wildlife
Service and the National Wildlife
Refuge System by working closely with
Vieques citizens and interested groups
and organizations.
Based on these goals and information
obtained during the scoping process, the
plan offers three alternatives to help
address the issues identified and
achieve the vision of the Vieques
National Wildlife Refuge.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Alternative A (Current Management or
No Action)
The current management alternative
provides for a continuation of the
existing level of management. Staffing
would remain at the current levels and
ongoing programs and activities would
continue with only minor changes and
no new programs.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:08 Feb 27, 2007
Jkt 211001
Alternative B (Resource Emphasis)
This alternative focuses on wildlife
and habitat management but maintains
the existing visitor programs and public
uses. Habitat management and
monitoring would be expanded and
agreements with research,
governmental, and non-governmental
organizations would be developed to
provide information needed for the
management of forests, grasslands,
coastal wetlands, beaches, and listed
species and their habitats. In
partnership with others, programs
would be developed for management of
nesting sea turtle populations on
Vieques Refuge beaches.
Alternative C (Habitat Management and
Public Use Emphasis) (Proposed
Alternative)
This alternative directs the refuge
toward a realistic and achievable level
of both habitat management and public
use and provides a management
program that addresses the needs of the
resources and, where appropriate and
compatible with the refuge purposes,
the needs of the community. This
alternative provides for an increase in
management efforts to restore the refuge
habitats without diminishing the
wildlife values associated with the
current conditions. There is also a focus
on management activities to benefit
threatened and endangered species.
This includes the possible
reintroduction of species extirpated
from Vieques and expansion of
populations of species already found on
the refuge. Priority public uses, as
identified in the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of
1997, would be expanded and other
uses that are determined to be
compatible with the refuge mission may
be permitted. Historic and
archaeological resources would be
stabilized and, where possible,
interpretation of their significance and
role in the evolution of Vieques Refuge
would be provided.
After the review and comment period
for the Draft Plan and Environmental
Impact Statement, all comments will be
analyzed and considered by the Service.
All comments become part of the
official public record. Requests for such
comments will be handled in
accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act and other Service and
Departmental policies and procedures.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gisella Burgos; Telephone: 787/741–
2138.
Authority: This notice is published under
the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
9019
System Improvement Act of 1997, Public
Law 105–57.
Dated: November 21, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E7–3478 Filed 2–27–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
National Wildlife Refuges, North
Dakota
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a
comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service, we) intend to
gather information necessary to prepare
a comprehensive conservation plan
(CCP) and associated environmental
documents for twelve (12) National
Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) located in the
State of North Dakota. The twelve (12)
NWRs are Stump Lake, Lake Alice,
Kellys Slough, Audubon, Chase Lake,
Lake Nettie, McLean, Lake Zahl, Shell
Lake, White Lake, Lake Ilo, and Stewart
Lake. We furnish this notice in
compliance with our CCP policy to
advise other agencies and the public of
our intentions, and to obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of issues
to be considered in the planning
process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we
must receive your written comments by
March 30, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or
requests for more information to John
Esperance, Planning Team Leader,
Division of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box
25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver,
CO 80225.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Esperance, 303–236–4369, or Michael
Spratt, 303–236–4366.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this
notice, the Service initiates a CCP for
twelve (12) NWRs in various locations
throughout the State of North Dakota.
Background
The CCP Process
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), requires the Service to
develop a CCP for each NWR. The
purpose in developing a CCP is to
E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM
28FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9018-9019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3478]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Environmental Impact Statement for Vieques National Wildlife Refuge
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Draft
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement
(Draft CCP/EIS) for the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is available
for review and comment. This Draft CCP/EIS 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. The Draft CCP/EIS describes
how the Service intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years.
DATES: Written comments must be received at the postal address listed
below no later than April 30, 2007.
ADDRESSES: To provide written comments or to obtain a copy of the Draft
CCP/EIS, please write to: Oscar Diaz, Refuge Manager, Vieques National
Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 1527, Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765. A copy of
the Draft CCP/EIS is also available on compact diskette. It can be
accessed and downloaded at the following Internet address: https://
www.fws.gov/southeast/planning/. A public meeting will be held at the
Multiple Use Center (Centro de Usos Multiples) in Isabel Segunda,
Vieques, Puerto Rico, to present the plan to the public. Special
mailings, news media outlets, and posters will be avenues to inform the
public of the date and time of the meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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) requires the
Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for each refuge.
The purpose in developing a 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 science, 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 and photography, and environmental education and
interpretation.
The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge was created from former Navy
managed lands by congressional actions in 2001 and 2003. It consists of
approximately 17,771 acres--3,100 acres on western Vieques and 14,671
acres on eastern Vieques. The transferred lands are to be managed in
accordance with the Refuge Administration Act (as amended).
The refuge lands were historically used for agricultural purposes
and more recently for military training activities. As a result, the
wildlife habitats and communities are significantly altered and non-
native invasive species are common along with remnants of native
habitats. As a result of the military training, portions of the refuge
contain unexploded ordnance and other contaminants. These areas have
been classified as a ``superfund site'' under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Cleanup of these portions of the refuge is being conducted by the Navy
in accordance with CERCLA. In addition, a Federal Facilities Agreement
between the Navy, Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife
Service, and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will help to guide the cleanup
process.
Although the short-term use and management of areas contaminated
with
[[Page 9019]]
unexploded ordnance would be restricted, the alternatives presented in
this Draft Plan were developed with the assumption that these lands
would be cleaned of any contaminants that would pose a threat to either
wildlife or humans.
Before the Service began the development of the Draft Plan, it
hosted a series of public scoping meetings to solicit public opinion
and identify issues that should be addressed. To address the existing
habitat conditions, the ongoing cleanup activities, the issues
identified by the public, and the mission and purpose of the refuge,
the planning team developed a series of goals for the plan. The goals
are: (1) Conserve, enhance, and restore native plant communities and
wetland habitats and their associated fish, wildlife, and plants,
representative of the native biological diversity that would have been
found on Vieques Refuge lands prior to major agricultural and military
use of the lands; (2) monitor, protect, and recover special status
animals, plants, and species of management interest; (3) provide
opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation and education to
enhance public appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of refuge
wildlife, habitats, and cultural history; (4) ensure, through the
cooperative efforts of partners, that the refuge is cleaned of all
classes of contaminants that could pose a threat to the health and
safety of the wildlife, residents, staff, and visitors; (5) provide the
resources needed to implement the selected management alternative and
ensure the other goals and objectives identified in the plan can be
achieved; and (6) develop effective and open communication with the
community to raise public awareness of refuge programs, management
decisions, the missions of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the
National Wildlife Refuge System by working closely with Vieques
citizens and interested groups and organizations.
Based on these goals and information obtained during the scoping
process, the plan offers three alternatives to help address the issues
identified and achieve the vision of the Vieques National Wildlife
Refuge.
Alternative A (Current Management or No Action)
The current management alternative provides for a continuation of
the existing level of management. Staffing would remain at the current
levels and ongoing programs and activities would continue with only
minor changes and no new programs.
Alternative B (Resource Emphasis)
This alternative focuses on wildlife and habitat management but
maintains the existing visitor programs and public uses. Habitat
management and monitoring would be expanded and agreements with
research, governmental, and non-governmental organizations would be
developed to provide information needed for the management of forests,
grasslands, coastal wetlands, beaches, and listed species and their
habitats. In partnership with others, programs would be developed for
management of nesting sea turtle populations on Vieques Refuge beaches.
Alternative C (Habitat Management and Public Use Emphasis) (Proposed
Alternative)
This alternative directs the refuge toward a realistic and
achievable level of both habitat management and public use and provides
a management program that addresses the needs of the resources and,
where appropriate and compatible with the refuge purposes, the needs of
the community. This alternative provides for an increase in management
efforts to restore the refuge habitats without diminishing the wildlife
values associated with the current conditions. There is also a focus on
management activities to benefit threatened and endangered species.
This includes the possible reintroduction of species extirpated from
Vieques and expansion of populations of species already found on the
refuge. Priority public uses, as identified in the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, would be expanded and other uses
that are determined to be compatible with the refuge mission may be
permitted. Historic and archaeological resources would be stabilized
and, where possible, interpretation of their significance and role in
the evolution of Vieques Refuge would be provided.
After the review and comment period for the Draft Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement, all comments will be analyzed and
considered by the Service. All comments become part of the official
public record. Requests for such comments will be handled in accordance
with the Freedom of Information Act and other Service and Departmental
policies and procedures.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gisella Burgos; Telephone: 787/741-
2138.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: November 21, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E7-3478 Filed 2-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
