Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, Pike and Gibson Counties, Indiana, 61897-61898 [E8-24815]

Download as PDF sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 202 / Friday, October 17, 2008 / Notices red-cockaded woodpeckers by acquiring, preserving, restoring, and managing in perpetuity 102 acres of occupied habitat. In addition, 336 acres of red-cockaded woodpecker habitat at another site in south Florida will be restored and four recruitment groups established. Subadult red-cockaded woodpeckers fledged in the Project area will be translocated to the recruitment clusters for 3 consecutive years. After 3 years the remaining adult red-cockaded woodpeckers will be translocated to the established recruitment clusters. The acquired 102 acres and restored habitat within the red-cockaded woodpecker recruitment site will benefit the Florida panther through further habitat protection and enhancement. In addition the Applicants will partially fund a study to identify wildlife crossing sites to reduce Florida panther vehicular mortality in Collier County. Finally, the Applicants will construct a Florida panther wildlife crossing along County Road 846 in the Okaloacoochee Slough at a location known for high Florida panther vehicular mortality. The Service has made a preliminary determination that the issuance of the ITP is not a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This preliminary information may be revised due to public comment received in response to this notice and is based on information contained in the EA and HCP. The Service 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 it is determined that those requirements are met, the ITP will be issued for incidental take of the red-cockaded woodpecker and Florida panther. The Service 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. The results of this consultation, in combination with the above findings, will be used in the final analysis to determine whether or not to issue the ITP. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10 of the Endangered Species Act and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Dated: September 26, 2008. Sam D. Hamilton, Regional Director. [FR Doc. E8–24770 Filed 10–16–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:18 Oct 16, 2008 Jkt 217001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R9–IA–2008–N0279; 96300–1671– 0000–P5] Receipt of Applications for Permit Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of receipt of applications for permit. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. DATES: Written data, comments or requests must be received by November 17, 2008. ADDRESSES: Documents and other information submitted with these applications are available for review, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act, by any party who submits a written request for a copy of such documents within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 212, Arlington, Virginia 22203; fax 703/358–2281. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Division of Management Authority, telephone 703/358–2104. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Endangered Species The public is invited to comment on the following application(s) for a permit to conduct certain activities with endangered species. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.). Written data, comments, or requests for copies of these complete applications should be submitted to the Director (address above). Applicant: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project, Region 2, Albuquerque, NM, PRT–104074. The applicant requests amendment of a permit that currently authorizes export and re-export to Mexico of live Mexican or lobo wolves (Canis lupus baileyi), and blood, hair, and tissue specimens of captive and wild origin Mexican or lobo wolves for breeding and reintroduction. The applicant requests the addition of export and re-export of the above biological specimens worldwide for the purpose of scientific research and enhancement of the propagation or survival of the species. This notification covers activities to be conducted by the applicant over a five-year period. PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61897 Applicant: Robert D. Ray, Mansfield, TX, PRT–192764. The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy of one male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled from a captive herd maintained under the management program of the Republic of South Africa, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. Applicant: Dean G. Grommet, Whitefish, MT, PRT–193960. The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy of one male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled from a captive herd maintained under the management program of the Republic of South Africa, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. Applicant: William C. Myer Jr., Kelseyville, CA, PRT–194061. The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy of one male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled from a captive herd maintained under the management program of the Republic of South Africa, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. Applicant: Michael D. Jenkins, Amarillo, TX, PRT–194838. The applicant requests a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy of one male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled from a captive herd maintained under the management program of the Republic of South Africa, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. Dated: October 3, 2008. Lisa J. Lierheimer, Senior Permit Biologist, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority. [FR Doc. E8–24726 Filed 10–16–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R3–R–2008–N00167; 30136–1265– 0000–S3] Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, Pike and Gibson Counties, Indiana Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce that the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1 61898 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 202 / Friday, October 17, 2008 / Notices sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Environmental Assessment (EA) are available for Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. Goals and objectives in the CCP describe how the agency intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final CCP and FONSI/EA may be viewed at the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and public libraries near the refuge. You may access and download a copy via the Planning Web site at https://www.fws.gov/midwest/ Planning/PatokaRiver, or you may obtain a copy on compact disk by contacting: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation Planning, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111 (1–800–247–1247, extension 5429) or Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, 510 1/2 West Morton St., Oakland City, IN 47660 (812–749–3199). A limited number of hardcopies will be available for distribution at the Refuge Headquarters. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill McCoy (812–749–3199). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Established in 1994, Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge lies within a 20 mile section of the Patoka River in Gibson and Pike Counties of southwest Indiana. The Refuge currently manages about 6,000 acres. Ultimately, the Refuge will include up to 6,800 acres with another 15,283 acres to be included in a Refuge administered wildlife management area. The Refuge encompasses one of the last remaining stretches of bottomland forest in Indiana. It provides some of the best wood duck production habitat in the state and is inhabited by at least fortyone species of mammals and over 200 species of birds. The Refuge provides visitor services that include hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and environmental education. The Draft CCP/EA was released for public review October 17, 2007, the comment period lasted 45 days ending November 30, 2007. During the comment period the Refuge hosted a public meeting attended by a total of 10 people. By the conclusion of the comment period we received 18 responses and identified more than 70 individual comments. In response to these comments we made a number of minor edits and added one objective statement and two strategies. Selected Alternative After considering the comments received, we have selected Alternative 3 for implementation. The selected alternative will increase opportunities VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:18 Oct 16, 2008 Jkt 217001 for wildlife dependent recreation, increase the amount of bottomland forest, maintain stopover habitat for migratory waterbirds, provide habitat for the federally endangered Interior Least Tern, increase the amount of acres under moist soil management, and consider stream channel restoration options for the Patoka River and its tributaries. Background 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 et seq.), 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 for conserving wildlife and their habitats, the CCP identifies 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 in accordance with 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 (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370d). Dated: July 22, 2008. Charles M. Wooley, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling, Minnesota. [FR Doc. E8–24815 Filed 10–16–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R5–ES–2008–N0281; 50120–1112– 0000–F2] Incidental Take Permit Application for Pleasant Rifts Housing Development, Dorchester County, MD Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability: Draft environmental assessment and habitat conservation plan; receipt of application AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 for an incidental take permit; request for comments. SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that RB & JH Properties, LLC (applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The proposed permit would authorize incidental take of the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) (DFS) that is likely to occur on the Pleasant Rifts Housing Development, a 29.6-acre property owned by the applicant near Secretary, in Dorchester County, Maryland. We also announce the availability for public comment of a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP) prepared under the Act in support of the permit application and a draft environmental assessment (EA) for the action prepared in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). DATES: All comments from interested parties must be received on or before December 1, 2008. ADDRESSES: Please address written comments to Field Office Supervisor, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 177 Admiral Cochrane Drive, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. You may also send comments by facsimile at 410–269–0832. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cherry Keller, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES above), telephone: 410– 573–4532. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Availability of Documents The permit application materials, which include a draft HCP and a draft EA, are available for public inspection, by appointment between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Field Office (see ADDRESSES above). You may also request copies of the documents by contacting the Service’s Chesapeake Bay Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above). Finally, you may also visit the Chesapeake Bay Field Office Web site (https://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/) to view the documents. Background Section 9 of the Act and Federal regulations prohibit the ‘‘take’’ of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. Take of federally listed fish and wildlife is defined under the Act to include ‘‘harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 202 (Friday, October 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61897-61898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24815]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-R-2008-N00167; 30136-1265-0000-S3]


Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, Pike and Gibson Counties, 
Indiana

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 
that the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the

[[Page 61898]]

Environmental Assessment (EA) are available for Patoka River National 
Wildlife Refuge. Goals and objectives in the CCP describe how the 
agency intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final CCP and FONSI/EA may be viewed at the 
Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and public libraries 
near the refuge. You may access and download a copy via the Planning 
Web site at https://www.fws.gov/midwest/Planning/PatokaRiver, or you may 
obtain a copy on compact disk by contacting: U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Division of Conservation Planning, Bishop Henry Whipple 
Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111 (1-800-247-
1247, extension 5429) or Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, 510 1/2 
West Morton St., Oakland City, IN 47660 (812-749-3199). A limited 
number of hardcopies will be available for distribution at the Refuge 
Headquarters.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill McCoy (812-749-3199).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Established in 1994, Patoka River National 
Wildlife Refuge lies within a 20 mile section of the Patoka River in 
Gibson and Pike Counties of southwest Indiana. The Refuge currently 
manages about 6,000 acres. Ultimately, the Refuge will include up to 
6,800 acres with another 15,283 acres to be included in a Refuge 
administered wildlife management area. The Refuge encompasses one of 
the last remaining stretches of bottomland forest in Indiana. It 
provides some of the best wood duck production habitat in the state and 
is inhabited by at least forty-one species of mammals and over 200 
species of birds. The Refuge provides visitor services that include 
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and environmental education.
    The Draft CCP/EA was released for public review October 17, 2007, 
the comment period lasted 45 days ending November 30, 2007. During the 
comment period the Refuge hosted a public meeting attended by a total 
of 10 people. By the conclusion of the comment period we received 18 
responses and identified more than 70 individual comments. In response 
to these comments we made a number of minor edits and added one 
objective statement and two strategies.

Selected Alternative

    After considering the comments received, we have selected 
Alternative 3 for implementation. The selected alternative will 
increase opportunities for wildlife dependent recreation, increase the 
amount of bottomland forest, maintain stopover habitat for migratory 
waterbirds, provide habitat for the federally endangered Interior Least 
Tern, increase the amount of acres under moist soil management, and 
consider stream channel restoration options for the Patoka River and 
its tributaries.

Background

    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 et seq.), 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 for conserving 
wildlife and their habitats, the CCP identifies 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 in accordance with 
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 (42 U.S.C. 4321-
4370d).

    Dated: July 22, 2008.
Charles M. Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
 [FR Doc. E8-24815 Filed 10-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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