Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, AK, 26140-26142 [E8-10236]
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26140
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 90 / Thursday, May 8, 2008 / Notices
Lake, approximately 1,500 acres in size,
is studded with baldcypress and water
tupelo trees. The western half of the
lake is open and deeper, unlike the
eastern side, which is thick with trees
and emergent vegetation. The lake is
owned by the city of Monroe, which
manages the water level as a secondary
source of municipal water. The Service
has a 99-year free lease on the lake and
some of its surrounding land,
constituting a total of 1,620 acres. The
refuge owns the remaining 2,902 acres.
Three species of special concern that
utilize the refuge include the alligator
snapping turtle, the Rafinesque’s bigeared bat, and the southeastern Myotis
bat.
The refuge offers the six priority
wildlife-dependent recreational
activities as identified in the
Improvement Act. Resident game and
migratory game bird hunting occurs on
the refuge. Black Bayou Lake is popular
with the public, especially nearby
residents. The lake attracts many
fishermen during spring and summer,
most fishing for bream, crappie, and
bass.
Public Availability of Comments
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.
Authority: This notice is published under
the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997, Public
Law 105–57.
Dated: March 17, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8–10344 Filed 5–7–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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[FWS–R7–R–2008–N0070; 70133–1265–
0000–S3]
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge,
Soldotna, AK
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the
Draft Revised Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Environmental
AGENCY:
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Impact Statement for the Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge; request for comments.
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service, we),
announce that the Draft Revised
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
(Draft Plan) and Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge is available for public
comment. The Draft Plan/EIS was
prepared pursuant to the Alaska
National Interest Lands 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). It describes five
alternatives for managing the Kenai
Refuge for the next 15 years, including
continuing current management. We
will use special mailings to inform the
public of opportunities to provide input
on the Draft Plan/EIS and will hold
public meetings in Anchorage and
various communities on the Kenai
Peninsula to obtain public comments.
DATES: Comments on the Draft Plan/EIS
must be received on or before
September 1, 2008.
ADDRESSES: To provide written
comments or to request a paper copy or
a compact disk of the Draft Plan/EIS,
contact Rob Campellone, Planning Team
Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
1011 East Tudor Rd., MS–231,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503; telephone:
(907) 786–3982; fax: (907) 786–3965; email: fw7_kenai_planning@fws.gov. You
may also view or download a copy of
the Draft Plan/EIS at the following Web
site: https://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/
planning/kenpol.htm.
Copies of the Draft Plan/EIS may be
viewed at the Kenai Refuge Office in
Soldotna, Alaska, and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Regional Office in
Anchorage, Alaska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob
Campellone at the address or phone
number provided above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
ANILCA (16 U.S.C. 410hh et seq., 43
U.S.C. 1602 et seq.) requires
development of a Comprehensive
Conservation Plan for all national
wildlife refuges in Alaska. The Draft
Plan/EIS for the Kenai Refuge was
developed consistent with Section
304(g) of ANILCA and the Refuge
Administration Act as amended by the
Refuge Improvement Act (16 U.S.C.
668dd et seq.). The purpose of
developing a Comprehensive
Conservation Plan is to provide refuge
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managers with a 15-year management
strategy for achieving refuge purposes
and contributing toward the mission of
the National Wildlife Refuge System,
consistent with sound principles of fish,
wildlife, and habitat management and
conservation; legal mandates; and
Service policies. Comprehensive
Conservation Plans define long-term
goals and objectives toward which
refuge management activities are
directed, and identify which uses may
be compatible with the purposes of a
refuge. Comprehensive Conservation
Plans are reviewed and updated every
15 years in accordance with direction in
Section 304(g) of ANILCA, the Refuge
Improvement Act, and NEPA (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.).
Background: In 1941, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive
Order 8979 creating the 1,730,000-acre
Kenai National Moose Range. In 1980,
ANILCA changed the name of the Range
to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
and substantially increased the size of
the Refuge. As of 2007, the Kenai Refuge
encompasses approximately 1,988,000
acres. Section 303(4)(B) of ANILCA
states that the purposes for which Kenai
Refuge was established include: (i) To
conserve fish and wildlife populations
and habitats in their natural diversity;
(ii) to fulfill international treaty
obligations of the United States with
respect to fish and wildlife and their
habitats; (iii) to ensure water quality and
necessary water quantity within the
refuge; (iv) to provide opportunities for
scientific research, interpretation,
environmental education, and land
management training; and (v) to provide
opportunities for fish and wildlifeoriented recreation. A Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and EIS were
completed for the Kenai Refuge in 1985
following direction in Section 304(g) of
ANILCA.
The ANILCA requires the Service to
designate areas according to their
respective resources and values and to
specify programs and uses within the
areas designated. To meet these
requirements, the Alaska Region
established management categories. A
management category is a set of refuge
management directions applied to an
area to accomplish refuge purposes and
goals. Appropriate public uses,
commercial uses, facilities, and human
activities are identified for each
management category. Five management
categories currently apply to the Kenai
Refuge including (1) Intensive, (2)
Moderate, (3) Traditional, (4) Minimal,
and (5) Wilderness.
The 1997 Refuge Improvement Act
includes additional direction for
conservation planning throughout the
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 90 / Thursday, May 8, 2008 / Notices
National Wildlife Refuge System. This
direction has been incorporated into
national planning policy for the
National Wildlife Refuge System,
including refuges in Alaska. The Draft
Plan/EIS for the Kenai Refuge meets the
requirements of both ANILCA and the
Refuge Administration Act as amended
by the Refuge Improvement Act.
An Overview of Management
Alternatives: The Draft Plan/EIS
describes and evaluates five alternatives
(A–E) for managing the Kenai Refuge for
the next 15 years. Alternatives are
different sets of objectives and strategies
for achieving refuge purposes and goals.
Alternatives A through E are each
consistent with the purposes of the
Kenai Refuge as mandated by ANILCA.
Alternative A (the No-Action
Alternative) is required under NEPA
and describes continuation of current
management activities. Alternative A
serves as a baseline against which to
compare the other four alternatives,
including Alternative E—the Service’s
Preferred Alternative. Under Alternative
A, management of the Kenai Refuge
would continue to follow direction
described in the 1985 Comprehensive
Conservation Plan/EIS and Record of
Decision and subsequent step-down
management plans. Under Alternative
A, the Kenai Refuge would continue to
be managed under five management
categories.
Alternatives B through E would
generally continue to follow
management direction as described in
the 1985 Comprehensive Conservation
Plan/EIS and Record of Decision and
subsequent step-down management
plans, however some specific direction
occurring under current management
(Alternative A) would be altered or no
longer pursued under Alternatives B
through E. For example, under
Alternatives B through E, four
management categories, not five, would
be applied to the Kenai Refuge,
eliminating the Traditional management
category. Alternative B would convert
Kenai Refuge lands that are currently
managed as Traditional to the Moderate
or the Minimal management categories,
and Alternatives C through E would
convert Refuge lands that are currently
managed as Traditional to the Minimal
management category.
The Alternatives by Specific Issues:
Five central planning issues were raised
during scoping and public involvement.
The Draft Plan/EIS for the Kenai Refuge
describes and evaluates, in detail,
specific management actions under
Alternatives A through E and how each
alternative addresses the five central
planning issues. In this notice, we
highlight key changes in management of
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the Kenai Refuge under Alternatives A
through E for each planning issue:
Issue 1: Large-Scale Habitat Change and
the Use of Fire
Under Alternatives A through C,
prescribed fire use would be allowed on
31 percent of the Refuge, though such
use would be limited under Alternative
A on approximately 10 percent of the
Refuge identified as Minimal
Management. Alternatives D and E
(Alternative E is the Preferred
Alternative) would allow prescribed fire
use on 97.5 percent of the Refuge.
Under Alternative A, wildland fire
use would be allowed on 95 percent of
the Refuge, and Alternative B would
allow such use on 84.5 percent of the
Refuge. Wildland fire use is the
management of naturally ignited
wildland fire to accomplish resource
management objectives for specific
areas. Alternatives C through E (the
Preferred Alternative) would allow
wildland fire use on 97.5 percent of the
Refuge—with wildland fire use only
being the default management action in
designated Wilderness (66.4 percent of
the Refuge) under Alternative C. Under
Alternatives D and E (the Preferred
Alternative), wildland fire use would be
the default management action in
Minimal and designated Wilderness
management categories (95 percent of
the Refuge).
Issue 2: Manage Existing Facilities for
Public Use While Ensuring Resource
Protection
Presently, there are three active oil
and gas leases (13,252 acres) on the
Kenai Refuge that were granted under
the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920. These
leases are not anticipated to end during
the life of this plan (15 years) but could
in the foreseeable future. For two of the
leases, the Swanson River and Beaver
Creek Oil and Gas units, some of the
existing industrial roads and operating
facilities would be retained (in the event
that operations cease) for public use
(except bicycle use) under Alternative
A, though none would be retained
under Alternative B. Most industrial
roads would be retained and converted
to trails for pedestrian and horse use
only under Alternative C; and
Alternatives D and E (the Preferred
Alternative) would retain and maintain
most roads for public use, including
bicycle use. No existing facilities would
be retained for public use under
Alternatives C through E (the Preferred
Alternative) in these oil and gas units.
In the Swanson River Oil and Gas Unit,
up to five primitive camping areas
would be provided for walk-in use only
under Alternative C, and two developed
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26141
campgrounds would be constructed
under Alternatives D and E (the
Preferred Alternative). In the Beaver
Creek Oil and Gas Unit, up to two
primitive camping areas would be
provided for walk-in use only under
Alternative C, one developed
campground would be constructed
under Alternative D, and no camping
facilities would be provided under
Alternative E (the Preferred Alternative).
Public vehicle use on the unimproved
Mystery Creek Access Road and
pipeline corridor north to Chickaloon
Bay would be allowed from the start of
moose hunting season (approximately
August 9) until snow cover under
Alternative A. Under Alternative B, the
access road would be improved; and
public vehicle use would be allowed
July 1 to November 30 throughout the
area, including southwest access to the
East Fork of the Moose River.
Alternatives C and E (the Preferred
Alternative) would improve the access
road to ensure public safety and
environmental protection while
providing for a primitive backcountry
experience; and public vehicle use
would be allowed August 9 to
November 30 throughout the area,
including southwest access to the East
Fork of the Moose River. Under
Alternative D, public vehicle use on the
access road and pipeline corridor would
not be allowed. Pedestrian, horse, and
snowmachine use would be allowed
under all the alternatives. Bicycle use
would be allowed from August 9 until
snow cover under Alternatives A, C, and
E (the Preferred Alternative), and May 1
to November 30 under Alternative B.
Alternative D would not allow bicycle
use. Public use registration would not
be required under Alternatives A or D,
but it would be required under
Alternatives B, C, and E (the Preferred
Alternative).
Issue 3: Enhance Wildlife-Dependent
Recreation Opportunities
Under Alternative A, personal
collection of berries, mushrooms, and
other edible plants, and/or the
collection of shed antlers would not be
allowed. Under Alternatives B through
E (the Preferred Alternative), personal
collection and use of unlimited
quantities of berries, mushrooms, and
other edible plants; and up to eight
naturally shed moose or caribou antlers
per person per year would be allowed.
Issue 4: Manage Increasing Public Use
To Ensure Resource and VisitorExperience Protection
For the Upper Kenai River (Russian
River to Skilak Lake), non-guided public
use would be allowed without
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26142
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 90 / Thursday, May 8, 2008 / Notices
restriction under Alternative A.
Alternative B would modify existing
management agreements and/or plans
cooperatively with stakeholders to
address non-guided public use; and
Alternatives C through E (the Preferred
Alternative) would implement a limited
permit program.
Under all of the Alternatives,
sportfishing guides would be required to
have special use permits. Permits would
be limited to 20 under Alternatives A
and B, reduced to 18 under C and E (the
Preferred Alternative), and reduced to
15 under Alternative D. Permits would
be reduced through attrition and issued
competitively. Each permit would allow
10 starts per week with no more than 4
starts per day—except under Alternative
B, which would require additional
restrictions on the timing and starts of
boats beyond such levels.
State-licensed sportfishing guides not
having Refuge special use permits may
be issued Incidental Use Permits (IUPs)
under all the alternatives except
Alternative D, which would eliminate
the IUP Program. Alternatives A, C, and
E (the Preferred Alternative) would
issue up to three IUPs per year subject
to quotas and blackout dates; and
Alternative B would limit the number of
IUPs to one per year.
Dispersed camping would be allowed
(except within one-quarter mile of the
Sterling Highway) under all of the
alternatives but would be limited to 14
days in any 30-day period under
Alternative A; limited to 24 hours
within any 14-day period within 100
yards of the river under Alternative B;
not allowed within 100 yards of the
river under Alternatives C and E (the
Preferred Alternative); limited to 48
hours within any 14-day period within
100 yards of the river and within one
mile of the Kenai River/Skilak Lake
inlet/outlet under Alternative D.
For the Middle Kenai River (Skilak
Lake downstream to the Refuge
boundary), non-guided public use
would be allowed without restriction
under Alternatives A and B. Such use
would be allowed without restriction
under Alternatives C and E (the
Preferred Alternative) until a Limits-ofAcceptable Change planning process is
completed with stakeholders; and
Alternative D would implement a
limited permit program after a public
rulemaking process is conducted.
Sportfishing guides would be required
to have special use permits under all of
the alternatives, though such permits
would be issued without limit under
Alternative A. Under Alternative B, the
need to implement a permitting process
would be evaluated after the conclusion
of the ongoing Kenai River-wide guide
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process. Under Alternatives C and E (the
Preferred Alternative), permits would be
limited to the number of existing
permittees, and existing permittees
would be ‘‘grandfathered’’; under
Alternative D, permits would be limited
to 20 through a competitive selection
process, and management of the timing
and starts of boats would be initiated.
Issue 5: Balance Motorized Access With
Resource and Visitor-Experience
Protection
Under all the alternatives, airplane
access would not be allowed May 1 to
September 30 on any lake where nesting
trumpeter swans and/or their broods are
present except on two lakes in
designated Wilderness—where the
closure would be May 1 to September
10 under Alternatives A through C and
E (the Preferred Alternative)—and five
lakes in designated Wilderness plus one
lake outside of designated Wilderness
under Alternative D. Airplane access
would be allowed on 46 lakes in
designated Wilderness under
Alternative A and E (the Preferred
Alternative); 45 lakes under Alternative
B; 50 lakes under Alternative C; and 59
lakes under Alternative D.
Under all the alternatives, floatplane
access to Chickaloon Flats would be
allowed on 6.5 miles of the Chickaloon
River. Under Alternative A, wheeled
airplane access would be allowed yearround within designated areas of the
Chickaloon Flats area including three
upland landing zones, a designated
beach zone, and the unmaintained Big
Indian Creek airstrip. Under
Alternatives B through E (the Preferred
Alternative), wheeled airplane access
would be allowed on 21 square miles of
unvegetated portions of the Chickaloon
Flats area. Access would also be
allowed on the unmaintained Big Indian
Creek airstrip under Alternatives B and
E (the Preferred Alternative). Under
Alternatives C and D, access would be
allowed on the Big Indian Creek airstrip,
which would be maintained by the
Service; and under Alternative D, an
additional 6.8 square miles of
unvegetated portions of the Chickaloon
Flats would be accessible September 1
to December 15 (or to coincide with
future waterfowl hunting seasons).
Under Alternatives A through C and
E (the Preferred Alternative),
snowmachines would be allowed in
designated areas December 1 to April 30
when the refuge manager determines
there is adequate snow cover. Under
Alternative C, certain zones within
designated areas may be opened earlier
(than December 1) or later (than April
30) depending on local snow
conditions.
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Under Alternative D, the December 1
to April 30 time restriction would be
eliminated, and certain zones within
designated areas may be opened
depending on local snow conditions.
Under Alternatives B through E (the
Preferred Alternative), research studies
would be conducted with stakeholders
to evaluate the effects of snowmachine
use on Refuge resources and visitor
experiences, and the results of those
studies would be used to support future
management decisions.
Public Availability of Comments:
Before including your name, 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. We will make all comments from
individual persons part of the official
public record. We will handle requests
for such comments in accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA,
and Departmental policies and
procedures.
Dated: May 2, 2008.
Gary Edwards,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
[FR Doc. E8–10236 Filed 5–7–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Land Acquisitions; Mechoopda Indian
Tribe, California
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Final Agency
Determination to Take Land into Trust
under 25 CFR Part 151.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary—
Indian Affairs made a final agency
determination to acquire approximately
631.05 acres of land into trust for the
Mechoopda Indian Tribe of California
on March 14, 2008. This notice is
published in the exercise of authority
delegated by the Secretary of the Interior
to the Assistant Secretary—Indian
Affairs by 209 Departmental Manual 8.1.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
George Skibine, Office of Indian
Gaming, MS–3657 MIB, 1849 C Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20240; Telephone
(202) 219–4066.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 90 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26140-26142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10236]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R7-R-2008-N0070; 70133-1265-0000-S3]
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, AK
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Revised Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Kenai
National Wildlife Refuge; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), announce
that the Draft Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Draft Plan) and
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Kenai National Wildlife
Refuge is available for public comment. The Draft Plan/EIS was prepared
pursuant to the Alaska National Interest Lands 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). It describes five
alternatives for managing the Kenai Refuge for the next 15 years,
including continuing current management. We will use special mailings
to inform the public of opportunities to provide input on the Draft
Plan/EIS and will hold public meetings in Anchorage and various
communities on the Kenai Peninsula to obtain public comments.
DATES: Comments on the Draft Plan/EIS must be received on or before
September 1, 2008.
ADDRESSES: To provide written comments or to request a paper copy or a
compact disk of the Draft Plan/EIS, contact Rob Campellone, Planning
Team Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Rd., MS-
231, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; telephone: (907) 786-3982; fax: (907)
786-3965; e-mail: fw7_kenai_planning@fws.gov. You may also view or
download a copy of the Draft Plan/EIS at the following Web site: http:/
/alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/kenpol.htm.
Copies of the Draft Plan/EIS may be viewed at the Kenai Refuge
Office in Soldotna, Alaska, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Regional Office in Anchorage, Alaska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Campellone at the address or phone
number provided above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ANILCA (16 U.S.C. 410hh et seq., 43
U.S.C. 1602 et seq.) requires development of a Comprehensive
Conservation Plan for all national wildlife refuges in Alaska. The
Draft Plan/EIS for the Kenai Refuge was developed consistent with
Section 304(g) of ANILCA and the Refuge Administration Act as amended
by the Refuge Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.). The purpose of
developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan is to provide refuge
managers with a 15-year management strategy for achieving refuge
purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife
Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish, wildlife, and
habitat management and conservation; legal mandates; and Service
policies. Comprehensive Conservation Plans define long-term goals and
objectives toward which refuge management activities are directed, and
identify which uses may be compatible with the purposes of a refuge.
Comprehensive Conservation Plans are reviewed and updated every 15
years in accordance with direction in Section 304(g) of ANILCA, the
Refuge Improvement Act, and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Background: In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed
Executive Order 8979 creating the 1,730,000-acre Kenai National Moose
Range. In 1980, ANILCA changed the name of the Range to the Kenai
National Wildlife Refuge and substantially increased the size of the
Refuge. As of 2007, the Kenai Refuge encompasses approximately
1,988,000 acres. Section 303(4)(B) of ANILCA states that the purposes
for which Kenai Refuge was established include: (i) To conserve fish
and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity; (ii)
to fulfill international treaty obligations of the United States with
respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats; (iii) to ensure water
quality and necessary water quantity within the refuge; (iv) to provide
opportunities for scientific research, interpretation, environmental
education, and land management training; and (v) to provide
opportunities for fish and wildlife-oriented recreation. A
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and EIS were completed for the Kenai
Refuge in 1985 following direction in Section 304(g) of ANILCA.
The ANILCA requires the Service to designate areas according to
their respective resources and values and to specify programs and uses
within the areas designated. To meet these requirements, the Alaska
Region established management categories. A management category is a
set of refuge management directions applied to an area to accomplish
refuge purposes and goals. Appropriate public uses, commercial uses,
facilities, and human activities are identified for each management
category. Five management categories currently apply to the Kenai
Refuge including (1) Intensive, (2) Moderate, (3) Traditional, (4)
Minimal, and (5) Wilderness.
The 1997 Refuge Improvement Act includes additional direction for
conservation planning throughout the
[[Page 26141]]
National Wildlife Refuge System. This direction has been incorporated
into national planning policy for the National Wildlife Refuge System,
including refuges in Alaska. The Draft Plan/EIS for the Kenai Refuge
meets the requirements of both ANILCA and the Refuge Administration Act
as amended by the Refuge Improvement Act.
An Overview of Management Alternatives: The Draft Plan/EIS
describes and evaluates five alternatives (A-E) for managing the Kenai
Refuge for the next 15 years. Alternatives are different sets of
objectives and strategies for achieving refuge purposes and goals.
Alternatives A through E are each consistent with the purposes of the
Kenai Refuge as mandated by ANILCA.
Alternative A (the No-Action Alternative) is required under NEPA
and describes continuation of current management activities.
Alternative A serves as a baseline against which to compare the other
four alternatives, including Alternative E--the Service's Preferred
Alternative. Under Alternative A, management of the Kenai Refuge would
continue to follow direction described in the 1985 Comprehensive
Conservation Plan/EIS and Record of Decision and subsequent step-down
management plans. Under Alternative A, the Kenai Refuge would continue
to be managed under five management categories.
Alternatives B through E would generally continue to follow
management direction as described in the 1985 Comprehensive
Conservation Plan/EIS and Record of Decision and subsequent step-down
management plans, however some specific direction occurring under
current management (Alternative A) would be altered or no longer
pursued under Alternatives B through E. For example, under Alternatives
B through E, four management categories, not five, would be applied to
the Kenai Refuge, eliminating the Traditional management category.
Alternative B would convert Kenai Refuge lands that are currently
managed as Traditional to the Moderate or the Minimal management
categories, and Alternatives C through E would convert Refuge lands
that are currently managed as Traditional to the Minimal management
category.
The Alternatives by Specific Issues: Five central planning issues
were raised during scoping and public involvement. The Draft Plan/EIS
for the Kenai Refuge describes and evaluates, in detail, specific
management actions under Alternatives A through E and how each
alternative addresses the five central planning issues. In this notice,
we highlight key changes in management of the Kenai Refuge under
Alternatives A through E for each planning issue:
Issue 1: Large-Scale Habitat Change and the Use of Fire
Under Alternatives A through C, prescribed fire use would be
allowed on 31 percent of the Refuge, though such use would be limited
under Alternative A on approximately 10 percent of the Refuge
identified as Minimal Management. Alternatives D and E (Alternative E
is the Preferred Alternative) would allow prescribed fire use on 97.5
percent of the Refuge.
Under Alternative A, wildland fire use would be allowed on 95
percent of the Refuge, and Alternative B would allow such use on 84.5
percent of the Refuge. Wildland fire use is the management of naturally
ignited wildland fire to accomplish resource management objectives for
specific areas. Alternatives C through E (the Preferred Alternative)
would allow wildland fire use on 97.5 percent of the Refuge--with
wildland fire use only being the default management action in
designated Wilderness (66.4 percent of the Refuge) under Alternative C.
Under Alternatives D and E (the Preferred Alternative), wildland fire
use would be the default management action in Minimal and designated
Wilderness management categories (95 percent of the Refuge).
Issue 2: Manage Existing Facilities for Public Use While Ensuring
Resource Protection
Presently, there are three active oil and gas leases (13,252 acres)
on the Kenai Refuge that were granted under the Mineral Leasing Act of
1920. These leases are not anticipated to end during the life of this
plan (15 years) but could in the foreseeable future. For two of the
leases, the Swanson River and Beaver Creek Oil and Gas units, some of
the existing industrial roads and operating facilities would be
retained (in the event that operations cease) for public use (except
bicycle use) under Alternative A, though none would be retained under
Alternative B. Most industrial roads would be retained and converted to
trails for pedestrian and horse use only under Alternative C; and
Alternatives D and E (the Preferred Alternative) would retain and
maintain most roads for public use, including bicycle use. No existing
facilities would be retained for public use under Alternatives C
through E (the Preferred Alternative) in these oil and gas units. In
the Swanson River Oil and Gas Unit, up to five primitive camping areas
would be provided for walk-in use only under Alternative C, and two
developed campgrounds would be constructed under Alternatives D and E
(the Preferred Alternative). In the Beaver Creek Oil and Gas Unit, up
to two primitive camping areas would be provided for walk-in use only
under Alternative C, one developed campground would be constructed
under Alternative D, and no camping facilities would be provided under
Alternative E (the Preferred Alternative).
Public vehicle use on the unimproved Mystery Creek Access Road and
pipeline corridor north to Chickaloon Bay would be allowed from the
start of moose hunting season (approximately August 9) until snow cover
under Alternative A. Under Alternative B, the access road would be
improved; and public vehicle use would be allowed July 1 to November 30
throughout the area, including southwest access to the East Fork of the
Moose River. Alternatives C and E (the Preferred Alternative) would
improve the access road to ensure public safety and environmental
protection while providing for a primitive backcountry experience; and
public vehicle use would be allowed August 9 to November 30 throughout
the area, including southwest access to the East Fork of the Moose
River. Under Alternative D, public vehicle use on the access road and
pipeline corridor would not be allowed. Pedestrian, horse, and
snowmachine use would be allowed under all the alternatives. Bicycle
use would be allowed from August 9 until snow cover under Alternatives
A, C, and E (the Preferred Alternative), and May 1 to November 30 under
Alternative B. Alternative D would not allow bicycle use. Public use
registration would not be required under Alternatives A or D, but it
would be required under Alternatives B, C, and E (the Preferred
Alternative).
Issue 3: Enhance Wildlife-Dependent Recreation Opportunities
Under Alternative A, personal collection of berries, mushrooms, and
other edible plants, and/or the collection of shed antlers would not be
allowed. Under Alternatives B through E (the Preferred Alternative),
personal collection and use of unlimited quantities of berries,
mushrooms, and other edible plants; and up to eight naturally shed
moose or caribou antlers per person per year would be allowed.
Issue 4: Manage Increasing Public Use To Ensure Resource and Visitor-
Experience Protection
For the Upper Kenai River (Russian River to Skilak Lake), non-
guided public use would be allowed without
[[Page 26142]]
restriction under Alternative A. Alternative B would modify existing
management agreements and/or plans cooperatively with stakeholders to
address non-guided public use; and Alternatives C through E (the
Preferred Alternative) would implement a limited permit program.
Under all of the Alternatives, sportfishing guides would be
required to have special use permits. Permits would be limited to 20
under Alternatives A and B, reduced to 18 under C and E (the Preferred
Alternative), and reduced to 15 under Alternative D. Permits would be
reduced through attrition and issued competitively. Each permit would
allow 10 starts per week with no more than 4 starts per day--except
under Alternative B, which would require additional restrictions on the
timing and starts of boats beyond such levels.
State-licensed sportfishing guides not having Refuge special use
permits may be issued Incidental Use Permits (IUPs) under all the
alternatives except Alternative D, which would eliminate the IUP
Program. Alternatives A, C, and E (the Preferred Alternative) would
issue up to three IUPs per year subject to quotas and blackout dates;
and Alternative B would limit the number of IUPs to one per year.
Dispersed camping would be allowed (except within one-quarter mile
of the Sterling Highway) under all of the alternatives but would be
limited to 14 days in any 30-day period under Alternative A; limited to
24 hours within any 14-day period within 100 yards of the river under
Alternative B; not allowed within 100 yards of the river under
Alternatives C and E (the Preferred Alternative); limited to 48 hours
within any 14-day period within 100 yards of the river and within one
mile of the Kenai River/Skilak Lake inlet/outlet under Alternative D.
For the Middle Kenai River (Skilak Lake downstream to the Refuge
boundary), non-guided public use would be allowed without restriction
under Alternatives A and B. Such use would be allowed without
restriction under Alternatives C and E (the Preferred Alternative)
until a Limits-of-Acceptable Change planning process is completed with
stakeholders; and Alternative D would implement a limited permit
program after a public rulemaking process is conducted.
Sportfishing guides would be required to have special use permits
under all of the alternatives, though such permits would be issued
without limit under Alternative A. Under Alternative B, the need to
implement a permitting process would be evaluated after the conclusion
of the ongoing Kenai River-wide guide process. Under Alternatives C and
E (the Preferred Alternative), permits would be limited to the number
of existing permittees, and existing permittees would be
``grandfathered''; under Alternative D, permits would be limited to 20
through a competitive selection process, and management of the timing
and starts of boats would be initiated.
Issue 5: Balance Motorized Access With Resource and Visitor-Experience
Protection
Under all the alternatives, airplane access would not be allowed
May 1 to September 30 on any lake where nesting trumpeter swans and/or
their broods are present except on two lakes in designated Wilderness--
where the closure would be May 1 to September 10 under Alternatives A
through C and E (the Preferred Alternative)--and five lakes in
designated Wilderness plus one lake outside of designated Wilderness
under Alternative D. Airplane access would be allowed on 46 lakes in
designated Wilderness under Alternative A and E (the Preferred
Alternative); 45 lakes under Alternative B; 50 lakes under Alternative
C; and 59 lakes under Alternative D.
Under all the alternatives, floatplane access to Chickaloon Flats
would be allowed on 6.5 miles of the Chickaloon River. Under
Alternative A, wheeled airplane access would be allowed year-round
within designated areas of the Chickaloon Flats area including three
upland landing zones, a designated beach zone, and the unmaintained Big
Indian Creek airstrip. Under Alternatives B through E (the Preferred
Alternative), wheeled airplane access would be allowed on 21 square
miles of unvegetated portions of the Chickaloon Flats area. Access
would also be allowed on the unmaintained Big Indian Creek airstrip
under Alternatives B and E (the Preferred Alternative). Under
Alternatives C and D, access would be allowed on the Big Indian Creek
airstrip, which would be maintained by the Service; and under
Alternative D, an additional 6.8 square miles of unvegetated portions
of the Chickaloon Flats would be accessible September 1 to December 15
(or to coincide with future waterfowl hunting seasons).
Under Alternatives A through C and E (the Preferred Alternative),
snowmachines would be allowed in designated areas December 1 to April
30 when the refuge manager determines there is adequate snow cover.
Under Alternative C, certain zones within designated areas may be
opened earlier (than December 1) or later (than April 30) depending on
local snow conditions.
Under Alternative D, the December 1 to April 30 time restriction
would be eliminated, and certain zones within designated areas may be
opened depending on local snow conditions. Under Alternatives B through
E (the Preferred Alternative), research studies would be conducted with
stakeholders to evaluate the effects of snowmachine use on Refuge
resources and visitor experiences, and the results of those studies
would be used to support future management decisions.
Public Availability of Comments: Before including your name,
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. We will make all
comments from individual persons part of the official public record. We
will handle requests for such comments in accordance with the Freedom
of Information Act, NEPA, and Departmental policies and procedures.
Dated: May 2, 2008.
Gary Edwards,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage,
Alaska.
[FR Doc. E8-10236 Filed 5-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P