Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Moffit, ND, 27838-27839 [E7-9493]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 95 / Thursday, May 17, 2007 / Notices
with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act 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
on our environmental assessment
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.
When we receive a request, we generally
will provide comment letters with the
names and addresses of the individuals
who wrote the comments.
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge
was established in 1957, under the
Transfer of Real Property Act, as a result
of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
navigation and flood control project.
This 6,616-acre refuge is six miles south
of Dardanelle, Arkansas, just off of State
Highway 155. The refuge lies along the
Arkansas River and is bounded by an
old oxbow that was created when the
Corps of Engineers cut a channel
through the bend in the river to promote
navigation and flood control. The
primary objectives of the refuge are to:
(1) Provide habitat for migratory
waterfowl; (2) provide habitat for
endangered species; (3) provide habitat
for resident wildlife; and (4) provide
interpretation and recreation to the
public.
Authority: This notice is published under
the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997, Public
Law 105–57.
Dated: March 29, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E7–9483 Filed 5–16–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Final Comprehensive Conservation
Plan for Long Lake National Wildlife
Refuge Complex, Moffit, ND
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) announces that a final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
(CCP) for the Long Lake National
Wildlife Refuge Complex (Complex) is
available. This CCP, prepared pursuant
to the National Wildlife Refuge System
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:15 May 16, 2007
Jkt 211001
Improvement Act of 1997 and the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, describes how the Service intends
to manage the Complex, which includes
Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR), Slade NWR, Florence Lake
NWR, and Long Lake Wetland
Management District (WMD), for the
next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the final CCP or
Summary is available by writing to
Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box
25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver,
Colorado 80225; or download from
https://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/
planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bernardo Garza, (303) 236–4377, or John
Esperance, (303) 236–4369.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Complex is located within
Burleigh, Emmons and Kidder Counties
in south-central North Dakota. The final
CCP for this Complex includes three
NWRs and one WMD:
• Long Lake NWR (22,310 acres in
size) was established on February 25,
1932, ‘‘as a refuge and breeding ground
for migratory birds and wild animals’’;
and ‘‘for use as an inviolate sanctuary,
or for any other management purpose,
for migratory birds.’’ This refuge
encompasses 15,000 acres of brackish to
saline marsh and lake; 1,000 acres of
other wetlands; and approximately
6,000 acres of tame and native
grassland, woodland, and cropland. The
refuge serves as an important staging
area for migrating sandhill cranes,
Canada geese and other waterfowl,
shorebirds, and other migratory birds.
Endangered whooping cranes often
utilize refuge marshes during Spring
and Fall migrations.
• Slade NWR (3,000 acres in size) was
established on October 10, 1944, ‘‘for
use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any
other management purpose, for
migratory birds.’’
• Florence Lake NWR was established
on May 10, 1939, ‘‘as a refuge and
breeding ground for migratory birds and
other wildlife’’; and ‘‘for use as an
inviolate sanctuary, or for any other
management purpose, for migratory
birds.’’ The fee portion of this refuge
consists of 1,468 acres.
• Long Lake WMD manages 1,036
perpetual wetland easements, 93
perpetual grassland easements, 16
Farmers Home Administration
perpetual easements, 2,759 upland
acres, one Garrison Diversion Unit
mitigation tract managed as a Wildlife
Development Area, and 78 Waterfowl
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Production Areas. The WMD was
established with the purposes of
assuring the long-term viability of the
breeding waterfowl population and
production through the acquisition and
management of Waterfowl Production
Areas, while considering the needs of
other migratory birds, threatened and
endangered species and other wildlife;
‘‘as Waterfowl Production Areas subject
to all provisions of the Migratory Bird
Conservation Act except the inviolate
sanctuary provisions’’; and ‘‘for any
other management purposes, for
migratory birds, and for conservation
purposes.’’
This final CCP identifies goals,
objectives and strategies for the
management of the Complex that
emphasize restoration and maintenance
of Long Lake and other native habitats
in vigorous condition to promote
biological diversity. The CCP places
high importance on the control of
invasive plant species with partners and
integrated pest management. It seeks to
provide habitats in order to contribute
to conservation, enhancement and
production of migratory bird species,
while protecting federally listed species.
The availability of the draft CCP and
Environmental Assessment (EA) for a
30-day public review and comment
period was announced in the Federal
Register on July 10, 2006 (71 FR 38892–
38893). The draft CCP/EA evaluated
four alternatives for managing the
Complex for the next 15 years.
The preferred alternative will expand
the scope and level of efforts of the
current management of habitats by
incorporating adaptive resource
management. This alternative will seek
to improve and develop public use
facilities to maximize existing and
potential wildlife-dependent priority
public use opportunities when they are
compatible with other management
objectives. Under this alternative, the
Complex will strive to develop
partnerships; encourage research that
provides the necessary knowledge and
data to guide habitat management
decisions and activities; and to protect
and/or restore additional wildlife
habitats.
This alternative was selected based on
the EA, comments received, and
because it best meets the purposes and
goals of the Complex, as well as the
goals of the National Wildlife Refuge
System. The management direction of
the Complex is expected to also benefit
federally listed species, large ungulates,
shore birds, migrating and nesting
waterfowl, and neotropical migrants. It
identifies increased environmental
education and partnerships that are
likely to result in improved wildlife-
E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM
17MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 95 / Thursday, May 17, 2007 / Notices
dependent recreational opportunities.
Finally, the CCP places high importance
on the protection of cultural and
historical resources.
Dated: January 17, 2007.
James J. Slack,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 6, Denver,
Colorado.
[FR Doc. E7–9493 Filed 5–16–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Construction of a Health Center in
Brevard County, FL
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice: receipt of application for
an incidental take permit; request for
comments.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service), announce the
availability of an incidental take permit
(ITP) application and Habitat
Conservation Plan (HCP). Parrish
Medical Center (applicant) requests an
incidental take permit (ITP) for a
duration of 2 years pursuant to section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The
applicant anticipates taking
approximately 6.93 acre (ac) of Florida
scrub-jay (Alphelocoma coerulescens)—
occupied habitat incidental to
constructing a health center in Brevard
County, Florida (project). The
applicant’s HCP describes the mitigation
and minimization measures the
applicant proposes to address the effects
of the project to the scrub-jay.
DATES: We must receive any written
comments on the ITP application and
HCP on or before June 18, 2007.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the
application and HCP, you may write the
Field Supervisor at our Jacksonville
Field Office, 6620 Southpoint Drive
South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, FL,
32216, or make an appointment to visit
during normal business hours. If you
wish to comment, you may mail or hand
deliver comments to the Jacksonville
Field Office, or you may e-mail
comments to erin_gawera@fws.gov. For
more information on reviewing
documents and public comments and
submitting comments, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin
Gawera, Fish and Wildlife Biologist,
Jacksonville Field Office (see
ADDRESSES); telephone: 904/232–2580,
ext. 121.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:15 May 16, 2007
Jkt 211001
27839
Public Review and Comment
Applicant’s Proposal
Please reference permit number
TE151083–0 for Parrish Medical Center
in all requests or comments. Please
include your name and return address
in your e-mail message. If you do not
receive a confirmation from us that we
have received your e-mail message,
contact us directly at the telephone
number listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. Our practice is to
make comments, including names and
home addresses of respondents,
available for public review during
regular business hours. We will make all
submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety.
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
The applicant is requesting take of
approximately 6.93 ac of occupied
scrub-jay habitat incidental to the
construction of a health center. The
project is located within Section 26 and
27, Township 23 South, Range 35 East,
Port St. John, Brevard County, Florida,
on the south side of the Port St. John
Interchange, west of Grissom Parkway.
Development of the project, including
infrastructure, parking areas and
landscaping, preclude retention of
scrub-jay habitat onsite. Therefore, the
applicant proposes to mitigate for the
loss of 6.93 ac of occupied scrub-jay
habitat by donating $254,051 to the
Florida Scrub-jay Fund administered by
The Nature Conservancy. Funds in this
account are earmarked for use in the
conservation and recovery of scrub-jays
and may include habitat acquisition,
restoration, and/or management. The
applicant also proposed to preserve and
manage 6 ac of scrub habitat for scrubjays on site as described in their HCP.
We have determined that the
applicant’s proposal, including the
proposed mitigation and minimization
measures, would have minor or
negligible effects on the species covered
in the HCP. Therefore, the ITP is a ‘‘loweffect’’ project and qualifies for
categorical exclusions under the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), as provided by the Department
of the Interior Manual (516 DM 2
Appendix 1 and 516 DM 6 Appendix 1).
This preliminary information may be
revised based on our review of public
comments that we receive in response to
this notice. A low-effect HCP is one
involving (1) Minor or negligible effects
on federally listed or candidate species
and their habitats, and (2) minor or
negligible effects on other
environmental values or resources.
We will evaluate the HCP and
comments submitted thereon to
determine whether the application
meets the requirements of section 10(a)
of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). If we
determine that the application meets
those requirements, we will issue the
ITP for incidental take of the Florida
scrub-jay. We will also evaluate whether
issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP
complies with section 7 of the Act by
conducting an intra-Service section 7
consultation. We will use the results of
this consultation, in combination with
the above findings, in our final analysis
to determine whether or not to issue the
ITP.
Background
The Florida scrub-jay (scrub-jay) is
found exclusively in peninsular Florida
and is restricted to xeric uplands
(predominately in oak-dominated
scrub). Increasing urban and agricultural
development has resulted in habitat loss
and fragmentation, which have
adversely affected the distribution and
numbers of scrub-jays.
The total estimated population is
between 7,000 and 11,000 individuals.
The decline in the number and
distribution of scrub-jays in east-central
Florida has been exacerbated by
tremendous urban growth in the past 50
years. Much of the historic commercial
and residential development has
occurred on the dry soils which
previously supported scrub-jay habitat.
Much of this area of Florida was settled
early because few wetlands restricted
urban and agricultural development.
Due to the effects of urban and
agricultural development over the past
100 years, much of the remaining scrubjay habitat is now relatively small and
isolated. What remains is largely
degraded due to the exclusion of fire,
which is needed to maintain xeric
uplands in conditions suitable for scrubjays.
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Authority: We provide this notice under
Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act
and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM
17MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 95 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27838-27839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9493]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Long Lake National
Wildlife Refuge Complex, Moffit, ND
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that a
final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Long Lake National
Wildlife Refuge Complex (Complex) is available. This CCP, prepared
pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the
Service intends to manage the Complex, which includes Long Lake
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Slade NWR, Florence Lake NWR, and Long
Lake Wetland Management District (WMD), for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the final CCP or Summary is available by writing
to Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225;
or download from https://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernardo Garza, (303) 236-4377, or
John Esperance, (303) 236-4369.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Complex is located within Burleigh, Emmons and Kidder Counties
in south-central North Dakota. The final CCP for this Complex includes
three NWRs and one WMD:
Long Lake NWR (22,310 acres in size) was established on
February 25, 1932, ``as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory
birds and wild animals''; and ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or
for any other management purpose, for migratory birds.'' This refuge
encompasses 15,000 acres of brackish to saline marsh and lake; 1,000
acres of other wetlands; and approximately 6,000 acres of tame and
native grassland, woodland, and cropland. The refuge serves as an
important staging area for migrating sandhill cranes, Canada geese and
other waterfowl, shorebirds, and other migratory birds. Endangered
whooping cranes often utilize refuge marshes during Spring and Fall
migrations.
Slade NWR (3,000 acres in size) was established on October
10, 1944, ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other
management purpose, for migratory birds.''
Florence Lake NWR was established on May 10, 1939, ``as a
refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife'';
and ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management
purpose, for migratory birds.'' The fee portion of this refuge consists
of 1,468 acres.
Long Lake WMD manages 1,036 perpetual wetland easements,
93 perpetual grassland easements, 16 Farmers Home Administration
perpetual easements, 2,759 upland acres, one Garrison Diversion Unit
mitigation tract managed as a Wildlife Development Area, and 78
Waterfowl Production Areas. The WMD was established with the purposes
of assuring the long-term viability of the breeding waterfowl
population and production through the acquisition and management of
Waterfowl Production Areas, while considering the needs of other
migratory birds, threatened and endangered species and other wildlife;
``as Waterfowl Production Areas subject to all provisions of the
Migratory Bird Conservation Act except the inviolate sanctuary
provisions''; and ``for any other management purposes, for migratory
birds, and for conservation purposes.''
This final CCP identifies goals, objectives and strategies for the
management of the Complex that emphasize restoration and maintenance of
Long Lake and other native habitats in vigorous condition to promote
biological diversity. The CCP places high importance on the control of
invasive plant species with partners and integrated pest management. It
seeks to provide habitats in order to contribute to conservation,
enhancement and production of migratory bird species, while protecting
federally listed species.
The availability of the draft CCP and Environmental Assessment (EA)
for a 30-day public review and comment period was announced in the
Federal Register on July 10, 2006 (71 FR 38892-38893). The draft CCP/EA
evaluated four alternatives for managing the Complex for the next 15
years.
The preferred alternative will expand the scope and level of
efforts of the current management of habitats by incorporating adaptive
resource management. This alternative will seek to improve and develop
public use facilities to maximize existing and potential wildlife-
dependent priority public use opportunities when they are compatible
with other management objectives. Under this alternative, the Complex
will strive to develop partnerships; encourage research that provides
the necessary knowledge and data to guide habitat management decisions
and activities; and to protect and/or restore additional wildlife
habitats.
This alternative was selected based on the EA, comments received,
and because it best meets the purposes and goals of the Complex, as
well as the goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The
management direction of the Complex is expected to also benefit
federally listed species, large ungulates, shore birds, migrating and
nesting waterfowl, and neotropical migrants. It identifies increased
environmental education and partnerships that are likely to result in
improved wildlife-
[[Page 27839]]
dependent recreational opportunities. Finally, the CCP places high
importance on the protection of cultural and historical resources.
Dated: January 17, 2007.
James J. Slack,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. E7-9493 Filed 5-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
