Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Malta, MT, 27325-27327 [E7-9280]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 93 / Tuesday, May 15, 2007 / Notices
(6) An estimate of the total public
burden (in hours) associated with the
collection: 325 annual burden hours.
If you have additional comments,
suggestions, or need a copy of the
information collection instrument,
please contact Richard A. Sloan, Chief,
Regulatory Management Division, U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services,
111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Suite
3008, Washington, DC 20529;
Telephone 202–272–8377.
Dated: May 9, 2007.
Richard Sloan,
Chief, Regulatory Management Division, U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E7–9247 Filed 5–14–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
Statement of Findings: Snake River
Water Rights Act of 2004
Office of the Secretary, Interior.
Notice of Statement of Findings
in accordance with Public Law 108–447.
AGENCY:
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC62 with NOTICES
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior
is causing this notice to be published as
required by section 10(a)(5) of the Snake
River Water Rights Act of 2004
(Settlement Act), Public Law 108–447,
Division J, Title X, 118 Stat. 3431, 3438–
39. The publication of this notice causes
the waivers and releases of certain
claims to become effective as required
by the Settlement Act.
EFFECTIVE DATE: In accordance with
section 10(a)(5) of the Settlement Act,
the waivers and releases of claims
described in section 10(a) of the
Settlement Act are effective on May 15,
2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Address all comments and requests for
additional information to Duane
Mecham, Chair, Nez Perce Water Rights
Settlement Federal Implementation
Team, Office of the Regional Solicitor,
Department of the Interior, 500 NE
Multnomah Street, Suite 607, Portland,
OR 97232. (503) 231–6299.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April
20, 2004, the United States, State of
Idaho (State), and Nez Perce Tribe
(Tribe) submitted a document entitled
Mediator’s Term Sheet (Agreement) to
the Snake River Basin Adjudication
Court (SRBA Court) in SRBA
Consolidated Subcase 03–10022 and
SRBA Consolidated Subcase 67–13701.
The Agreement established the basis
to resolve all of the Tribe’s on-
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13:50 May 14, 2007
Jkt 211001
reservation and fisheries water right
claims in the Snake River basin in
Idaho. It also provided innovative and
collaborative solutions for providing
additional and protected flows for
Snake River salmon runs protected
under the Endangered Species Act
without disrupting other uses for the
water. Finally, the Agreement forged an
increased role for the Tribe in the
management of its water and other
natural resources. On December 8, 2004,
the Settlement Act was enacted into law
to implement the Agreement.
Section 10(a)(5) of the Settlement Act
required, in order to make effective
certain waivers and releases of claims,
that the Secretary publish in the Federal
Register a statement of findings that the
actions set forth in section IV.L of the
Agreement: (A) Have been completed,
including issuance of a judgment and
decree by the SRBA Court from which
no further appeal may be taken; and (B)
have been determined by the United
States on behalf of the Tribe and the
allottees, the Tribe, and the State to be
consistent in all material aspects with
the Agreement. Section IV.L of the
Agreement required: (1) Execution of all
documents that comprise the settlement
agreement; (2) Congressional approval
and authorization of all Federal
expenditures; (3) State legislative
approval and enactment of all required
State legislation; (4) Tribal approval; (5)
SRBA Court entry of judgment and
decree incorporating the agreement; and
(6) issuance of biological opinions
anticipated by the upper Snake
component of the Agreement.
Statement of Findings
As required by section 10(a)(5)(A) of
the Settlement Act and as required by
section IV.L of the Agreement, I find on
behalf of the Secretary as follows:
1. The parties executed all necessary
component documents that make up the
settlement agreement as required in
section IV.L of the Agreement.
2. As part of Public Law 108–447,
Congress approved the Agreement and
authorized all Federal expenditures
required by the Agreement.
3. Pursuant to Idaho House of
Representatives Bills 152, 153, 154 and
399, 2005 Idaho Session Laws chapters
148–150 and 400, the State’s legislature
enacted the required State legislation
and approved the Agreement.
4. By adoption of Resolution No. 05–
210, the Nez Perce Tribal Executive
Committee approved the Agreement for
the Tribe.
5. On January 30, 2007, the SRBA
Court issued a Consent Decree and Final
Partial Decrees, including springs and
fountains partial decrees, negotiated
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27325
agreements regarding on-reservation
claims, and in-stream flows to the Idaho
Water Resources Board, and no further
appeal may be taken.
6. The National Marine Fisheries
Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service have issued the biological
opinions anticipated by the upper Snake
component of the Agreement.
As required by section 10(a)(5)(B) of
the Settlement Act, I find on behalf of
the Secretary as follows:
a. The United States on behalf of the
Tribe and the allottees has determined
that all actions required in section IV.L
of the Agreement have been completed
consistent in all material aspects with
the Agreement.
b. The Governor of Idaho, by
Proclamation signed pursuant to Idaho
House of Representatives Bill 152,
Section 4, in 2005 Idaho Session Laws,
Chapter 148, has certified and
determined that all actions required in
section IV.L of the Agreement have been
completed consistent in all material
aspects with the Agreement.
c. The Chairman and Secretary of the
Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee,
pursuant to the Nez Perce Tribal
Executive Committee Resolution No.
05–210, has provided written
certification to the Nez Perce Tribal
Executive Committee and has
determined that all actions required in
section IV.L of the Agreement have been
completed consistent in all material
aspects with the Agreement.
Dated: April 29, 2007.
Carl J. Artman,
Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E7–9332 Filed 5–14–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge
Complex, Malta, MT
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 Bowdoin National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex
(Complex) in Malta, Montana. This
Complex includes the Bowdoin, Black
Coulee, Creedman Coulee, Hewitt Lake,
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15MYN1
27326
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 93 / Tuesday, May 15, 2007 / Notices
and Lake Thibadeau NWRs. It also
includes the Wetland Management
District (WMD) comprised of seven
waterfowl production areas and
thousands of acres of wetland,
grassland, and conservation easements
on private lands. 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.
To ensure consideration, we
must receive your written comments by
June 14, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or
requests for more information to Laura
King, Planning Team Leader, Tewaukon
NWR, Division of Refuge Planning, 9754
1431⁄2 Avenue, SE., Cayuga, North
Dakota 58013–9764.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura King, 701–724–3598, or John
Esperance, 303–236–4369.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this
notice, the Service initiates a CCP for
the Bowdoin NWR Complex in Malta,
Montana.
DATES:
Background
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC62 with NOTICES
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 national wildlife
refuge. The purpose in developing 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, 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 wildlifedependent recreational opportunities
available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental
education and interpretation.
The Service established each unit of
the National Wildlife Refuge System,
including those for the Complex with
specific purposes. We use these
purposes to develop and prioritize
management goals and objectives within
the National Wildlife Refuge System
mission, and to guide which public uses
will occur on these NWRs. The planning
process is a way for the Service and the
public to evaluate management goals
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13:50 May 14, 2007
Jkt 211001
and objectives for the best possible
conservation efforts of this important
wildlife habitat, while providing for
wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities that are compatible with
each NWR and the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
The Service will conduct a
comprehensive conservation planning
process that will provide opportunity
for Tribal, State, and local governments;
agencies; organizations; and the public
to participate in issue scoping and
public comment. We request input for
issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions
for the future management of these
NWRs and the WMD in Montana. We
invite anyone interested to respond to
the following two questions.
(1) What problems or issues do you
want to see addressed in the CCP?
(2) What improvements would you
recommend for these five NWRs and
one WMD?
We have provided the above
questions for your optional use; you are
not required to provide information to
us. The planning team developed these
questions to gather information about
individual issues and ideas concerning
these NWRs and the WMD. Our
planning team will use the comments it
receives as part of the planning process;
however, we will not reference
individual comments in our reports or
directly respond to them.
We will also give the public an
opportunity to provide input at an open
house to scope issues and concerns. You
can obtain the schedule from the
planning team leader (see ADDRESSES).
You may also submit comments anytime
during the planning process by writing
to the above address. All information
provided voluntarily by mail, phone, or
at public meetings becomes part of our
official public record (i.e., names,
addresses, letters of comment, input
recorded during meetings). If a private
citizen or organization requests this
information under the Freedom of
Information Act, we may provide
informational copies.
The Service will conduct the
environmental review of this project in
accordance with the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR
parts 1500–1508); other appropriate
Federal laws and regulations; and our
policies and procedures for compliance
with those regulations. All comments
we receive from individuals on our
environmental assessments and
environmental impact statements
become part of the official public
record. We will handle requests for such
comments in accordance with the
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Freedom of Information Act, NEPA (40
CFR 1506.6(f)), and other Departmental
and Service policies and procedures.
Bowdoin NWR Complex
This Complex encompasses 75,521
acres, of which 49,260 acres are
designated as easements. The Complex
lies in the short and mixed-grass prairie
region of north-central Montana and has
both saline and freshwater wetlands
which provide habitat for thousands of
migrating waterfowl and shorebirds,
including the endangered piping plover.
Each refuge has various establishing
purposes. Bowdoin NWR was
established: (1) ‘‘* * * as a refuge and
breeding ground for migratory birds and
other wildlife.’’; (2) ‘‘* * * and that
such part of said lands as the Secretary
of Agriculture may deem proper be
reserved for use as a shooting area to be
operated under a cooperative agreement
or lease with the Montana State Game
Commission or such other operating
agency as may be approved.’’; (3) ‘‘The
reservation of these lands as a migratory
waterfowl refuge is subject to the use
thereof by [the Department of Interior]
for irrigation and other incidental
purposes * * *’’ and (4) ‘‘* * * for any
other management purpose, for
migratory birds.’’ Black Coulee,
Creedman Coulee, and Lake Thibadeau
NWRs were established for: (1) ‘‘* * *
water conservation, drought relief, and
migratory bird and wildlife conservation
purposes * * * wildlife conservation
demonstration unit and closed refuge
* * *’’; and (2) ‘‘* * * as a refuge and
breeding ground for migratory birds and
other wildlife * * *’’; and Hewitt Lake
NWR was established for: (1) ‘‘* * *
water conservation, drought relief, stock
water, and migratory waterfowl and
wildlife conservation purposes * * *
and maintain a closed refuge * * *
wildlife conservation demonstration
unit and closed refuge * * *’’; (2)
‘‘* * * water conservation, drought
relief, and migratory bird and wildlife
conservation purposes * * * wildlife
conservation demonstration unit and
closed refuge * * *’’; (3) ‘‘* * * as a
refuge and breeding ground for
migratory birds and other wildlife * * *
nothing herein shall affect the
disposition of the oil and gas deposits
therein * * *’’; (4) ‘‘* * * purposes of
land-conservation and land utilization
program * * *’’; (5) ‘‘* * * for use and
administration under applicable laws as
refuges for migratory and other
wildlife.’’ Bowdoin WMD was
established: (1) ‘‘as Waterfowl
Production Areas subject to * * * all of
the provisions of such Act [Migratory
Bird Conservation Act] * * * except the
inviolate sanctuary provisions * * *’’;
E:\FR\FM\15MYN1.SGM
15MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 93 / Tuesday, May 15, 2007 / Notices
and (2) ‘‘* * * for any other
management purpose, for migratory
birds.’’
Dated: March 30, 2007.
Elliott Sutta,
Acting Regional Director, Region 6, Denver,
Colorado.
[FR Doc. E7–9280 Filed 5–14–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the
Draft Revised Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Environmental
Assessment for Kanuti National Wildlife
Refuge; request for comments;
announcement of public meetings.
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC62 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service, we) announce
that the Draft Revised Comprehensive
Conservation Plan (CCP) and
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the
Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge is
available for public comment. We
prepared this CCP pursuant to the
Alaska National Interests Land
Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), the
National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge
Administration Act), as amended by the
National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge
Improvement Act), and the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA). In this plan, we describe how
the Service proposes to manage this
refuge over the next 15 years.
DATES: We must receive your comments
on or before July 16, 2007.
ADDRESSES: To provide written
comments or to request a paper copy or
compact disk of the Draft CCP/EA,
contact: Peter Wikoff, Planning Team
Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
1011 East Tudor Rd., MS. 231,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503, or at
fw7_kanuti_planning@fws.gov, or at
907–786–3837. You may view or
download a copy of the Draft CCP/EA
at: https://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/planning/
plans.htm. Copies of the Draft CCP/EA
may be viewed at the Kanuti Refuge
Office in Fairbanks, Alaska; at local
libraries; and at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Regional Office in
Anchorage, Alaska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter Wikoff at the above address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
National Wildlife Refuge System
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13:50 May 14, 2007
Jkt 211001
Administration Act of 1966, as amended
by the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997
(16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), requires each
refuge to develop and implement a CCP.
The purpose of 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 on 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. The original CCP for the
Kanuti Refuge was approved in 1987.
After reviewing that plan, we decided to
revise it to comply with current policies
and to provide more complete
management direction.
Background: The Kanuti National
Wildlife Refuge was established on
December 2, 1980 by ANILCA. The
purposes for which the Kanuti National
Wildlife Refuge was established
include:
1. To conserve fish and wildlife
populations and habitats in their natural
diversity including, but not limited to,
white-fronted geese and other waterfowl
and migratory birds, moose, caribou
(including participation in coordinated
ecological studies and management of
the Western Arctic caribou herd), and
furbearers;
2. to fulfill the international treaty
obligations of the United States with
respect to fish and wildlife and their
habitats;
3. to provide, in a manner consistent
with the purposes set forth in 1 and 2
above, the opportunity for continued
subsistence uses by local residents; and
4. to ensure, to the maximum extent
practicable and in a manner consistent
with the purposes set forth in 1 above,
water quality and necessary water
quantity within the refuge.
The refuge is roadless and lies on the
Arctic Circle about 150 miles northwest
of Fairbanks. It is situated in a broad
basin formed by the Koyukuk and
Kanuti rivers between the Brooks Range
and the Ray Mountains. The Dalton
Highway and Alyeska pipeline lie
within eight miles of its eastern
boundary. The refuge consists of nearly
1.3 million acres of Federal lands within
an external boundary that encompasses
approximately 1.6 million acres of
Federal, State, and private lands. The
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27327
landscape consists primarily of rolling
hills, wetlands, ponds, and streams.
Elevations range from 500 feet to over
3,000 feet. The major natural resources
are wildlife, fisheries, and their
associated habitats.
Issues and Alternatives: Conservation
of the natural, unaltered character of the
refuge: During scoping, many people
expressed a desire that the refuge
remain in a natural, wild state. They
wanted minimal intrusion on natural
systems and for the refuge to remain
wild for the future. This was true for
people from both urban and rural
backgrounds. The Kanuti Refuge is one
of the few refuges in Alaska that is both
roadless and without permanent villages
or towns. These characteristics help to
maintain the natural wild state with
minimal intrusion that people expressed
a desire for during the scoping process.
Acceptance and integration of new
management policies and guidelines for
refuges in Alaska into the plan:
Management of refuges in Alaska is
governed by Federal law including
ANILCA and the Refuge Administration
Act as amended by the Refuge
Improvement Act, by regulations
implementing these laws, by
intergovernmental treaties, by Service
policies, and by principles of sound
resource management, all of which
establish standards for resource
management or limit the range of
potential activities that may be allowed
on refuges. Management policies and
guidelines, described in the plan, were
developed as part of the region-wide
refuge comprehensive planning effort
and provide direction for National
Wildlife Refuges in the Alaska Region of
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
These policies and guidelines would be
applied to the Kanuti National Wildlife
Refuge. Management categories
(wilderness, wild rivers, minimal,
moderate, and intensive) are used to
describe management levels throughout
the refuges in Alaska. A management
category is a set of refuge management
directions applied to an area, in light of
its resources and existing and potential
uses, to facilitate management and the
accomplishment of refuge purposes and
goals. Two management categories,
moderate and minimal, apply to the
Kanuti Refuge.
Three alternatives for management of
the refuge are evaluated in the EA.
Alternative A (the no-action
alternative) is required by NEPA,
describes what would happen under
continuation of current management
activities, and serves as a baseline
against which to compare other
alternatives. Under this alternative,
management of the refuge would
E:\FR\FM\15MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27325-27327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9280]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Malta, MT
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Bowdoin National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex (Complex) in Malta, Montana. This Complex
includes the Bowdoin, Black Coulee, Creedman Coulee, Hewitt Lake,
[[Page 27326]]
and Lake Thibadeau NWRs. It also includes the Wetland Management
District (WMD) comprised of seven waterfowl production areas and
thousands of acres of wetland, grassland, and conservation easements on
private lands. 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 June 14, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information to Laura
King, Planning Team Leader, Tewaukon NWR, Division of Refuge Planning,
9754 143\1/2\ Avenue, SE., Cayuga, North Dakota 58013-9764.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura King, 701-724-3598, or John
Esperance, 303-236-4369.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, the Service initiates a
CCP for the Bowdoin NWR Complex in Malta, Montana.
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
national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing 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, 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, wildlife photography, and
environmental education and interpretation.
The Service established each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge
System, including those for the Complex with specific purposes. We use
these purposes to develop and prioritize management goals and
objectives within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to
guide which public uses will occur on these NWRs. 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 each NWR and the
mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The Service will conduct a comprehensive conservation planning
process that will provide opportunity for Tribal, State, and local
governments; agencies; organizations; and the public to participate in
issue scoping and public comment. We request input for issues,
concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the future management of these
NWRs and the WMD in Montana. We invite anyone interested to respond to
the following two questions.
(1) What problems or issues do you want to see addressed in the
CCP?
(2) What improvements would you recommend for these five NWRs and
one WMD?
We have provided the above questions for your optional use; you are
not required to provide information to us. The planning team developed
these questions to gather information about individual issues and ideas
concerning these NWRs and the WMD. Our planning team will use the
comments it receives as part of the planning process; however, we will
not reference individual comments in our reports or directly respond to
them.
We will also give the public an opportunity to provide input at an
open house to scope issues and concerns. You can obtain the schedule
from the planning team leader (see ADDRESSES). You may also submit
comments anytime during the planning process by writing to the above
address. All information provided voluntarily by mail, phone, or at
public meetings becomes part of our official public record (i.e.,
names, addresses, letters of comment, input recorded during meetings).
If a private citizen or organization requests this information under
the Freedom of Information Act, we may provide informational copies.
The Service will conduct the environmental review of this project
in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws
and regulations; and our policies and procedures for compliance with
those regulations. All comments we receive from individuals on our
environmental assessments and environmental impact statements become
part of the official public record. We will handle requests for such
comments in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA (40
CFR 1506.6(f)), and other Departmental and Service policies and
procedures.
Bowdoin NWR Complex
This Complex encompasses 75,521 acres, of which 49,260 acres are
designated as easements. The Complex lies in the short and mixed-grass
prairie region of north-central Montana and has both saline and
freshwater wetlands which provide habitat for thousands of migrating
waterfowl and shorebirds, including the endangered piping plover. Each
refuge has various establishing purposes. Bowdoin NWR was established:
(1) ``* * * as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and
other wildlife.''; (2) ``* * * and that such part of said lands as the
Secretary of Agriculture may deem proper be reserved for use as a
shooting area to be operated under a cooperative agreement or lease
with the Montana State Game Commission or such other operating agency
as may be approved.''; (3) ``The reservation of these lands as a
migratory waterfowl refuge is subject to the use thereof by [the
Department of Interior] for irrigation and other incidental purposes *
* *'' and (4) ``* * * for any other management purpose, for migratory
birds.'' Black Coulee, Creedman Coulee, and Lake Thibadeau NWRs were
established for: (1) ``* * * water conservation, drought relief, and
migratory bird and wildlife conservation purposes * * * wildlife
conservation demonstration unit and closed refuge * * *''; and (2) ``*
* * as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other
wildlife * * *''; and Hewitt Lake NWR was established for: (1) ``* * *
water conservation, drought relief, stock water, and migratory
waterfowl and wildlife conservation purposes * * * and maintain a
closed refuge * * * wildlife conservation demonstration unit and closed
refuge * * *''; (2) ``* * * water conservation, drought relief, and
migratory bird and wildlife conservation purposes * * * wildlife
conservation demonstration unit and closed refuge * * *''; (3) ``* * *
as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife
* * * nothing herein shall affect the disposition of the oil and gas
deposits therein * * *''; (4) ``* * * purposes of land-conservation and
land utilization program * * *''; (5) ``* * * for use and
administration under applicable laws as refuges for migratory and other
wildlife.'' Bowdoin WMD was established: (1) ``as Waterfowl Production
Areas subject to * * * all of the provisions of such Act [Migratory
Bird Conservation Act] * * * except the inviolate sanctuary provisions
* * *'';
[[Page 27327]]
and (2) ``* * * for any other management purpose, for migratory
birds.''
Dated: March 30, 2007.
Elliott Sutta,
Acting Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. E7-9280 Filed 5-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
