Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, GA, 65873-65874 [E8-26370]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 5, 2008 / Notices Introduction With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), located in Comanche County, OK. This notice complies with our CCP policy to (1) Advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on this Refuge, and (2) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the environmental document and during development of the CCP. hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with NOTICES Background The CCP Process The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to develop a CCP for each National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose for developing a CCP is to provide Refuge Managers with a 15-year plan 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 our 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. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Improvement Act. Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System was established for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a way for us and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives for the best possible conservation approach to this important wildlife habitat, while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible with each refuge’s establishing purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal, State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public. At this time we encourage input in the form of VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:24 Nov 04, 2008 Jkt 217001 issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the future management of Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. We will conduct the EA in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (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 laws and regulations. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is located in Comanche County, Oklahoma, and encompasses 59,020 acres of mixed grass prairie and crosstimber with granite rock outcroppings. The Refuge, which is a remnant of what was once a much larger natural area, consists of lakes, streams, canyons, mountains, and grasslands, creating an oasis for both wildlife and people in southwestern Oklahoma. The CCP will provide other agencies and the public with a clear understanding of the desired conditions for the Refuge, and how the Service will implement management strategies for the conservation and development of these natural resources. We estimate that the draft environmental documents will be available in spring 2010 for public review and comment. 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. Dated: September 12, 2008. Brian Millsap, Acting, Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [FR Doc. E8–26369 Filed 11–4–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–R–2008–N0232; 40136–1265– 0000–S3] Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, GA AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 65873 Notice of availability: Final comprehensive conservation plan and finding of no significant impact. ACTION: SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years. ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP may be obtained by writing to: Mr. Shaw Davis, Savannah Coastal Refuges’ Complex, 1000 Business Center Drive, Parkway Business Center, Suite 10, Savannah, GA 31405. The CCP may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service’s Web site: https:// southeast.fws.gov/planning. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Shaw Davis; Telephone: 912–652–4030 x 106; fax: 912–652–4385; e-mail: shaw_davis@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Wolf Island NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on October 30, 2006 (71 FR 63344). For more about the process, see that notice. Wolf Island NWR, 12 miles east of Darien, Georgia (by boat), consists of a long narrow strip of oceanfront beach backed by a broad band of salt marsh. Over 75 percent of the refuge’s 5,126 acres are composed of saltwater marshes. The refuge was established by Executive Order 5316 on April 3, 1930, when the 538 acres already in government ownership were set aside as a sanctuary for migratory birds. Wolf Island NWR is a designated National Wilderness Area and is maintained as such, with its primary purpose being to provide protection for migratory birds and such endangered and threatened species as the loggerhead sea turtle and piping plover. Due to its Wilderness designation, no public use facilities exist on the refuge. Though the refuge’s saltwaters are open to a variety of recreational activities, all beach, marsh, and upland areas are closed to the public. This three-island wildlife refuge at the mouth of the Altamaha River consists mainly of salt marsh and provides critical sanctuary for rare migrating birds and nursery habitat for sea turtles. Wolf Island, the largest island in the refuge, covers 4,519 acres. Its boundaries are defined by the South River to the north, Little Mud River to E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1 65874 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 215 / Wednesday, November 5, 2008 / Notices hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with NOTICES the west, Altamaha Sound to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The island has only 300 acres of dune and beach along its narrow, 4-mile-long eastern shoreline. It fronts the ocean in the Altamaha River Delta and forms a physical barrier between Doboy Sound to the north and Altamaha Sound to the south. Tucked into the mouth of Altamaha Sound and directly south of Wolf Island are Egg and Little Egg Islands. They consist of 593 and 14 acres in size, respectively, with extensive salt marsh and only 70 acres of upland. Wolf Island is one of seven refuges administered by the Savannah Coastal Refuges’ Complex. This chain of national wildlife refuges extends from Pinckney Island NWR near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to Wolf Island NWR near Darien, Georgia. Between these lie Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, the largest unit in the complex, and the Wassaw, Tybee, Harris Neck, and Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuges. Together they span a 100-mile coastline that encompasses a total of more than 56,000 acres. The Savannah Coastal Refuges’ Complex is administered from a headquarters office in Savannah, Georgia. We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and FONSI for Wolf Island NWR in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [40 CFR 1506.6(b)] requirements. We completed a thorough analysis of impacts on the human environment, which we included in the draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment. The compatibility determinations for (1) Hunting; (2) fishing; (3) wildlife observation and photography; (4) environmental education and interpretation; and (5) research are also available within the CCP. Background The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan 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 our policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:24 Nov 04, 2008 Jkt 217001 available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Currently, access to the refuge is limited and there is no public access allowed. This restriction limits the above activities to the waters near the refuge. We will review and update the CCP at least every15 years in accordance with the Improvement Act. Comments Approximately 200 copies of the Draft CCP/EA were made available for a 30day public review period as announced in the Federal Register on June 12, 2008 (73 FR 33451). Two written comments were received, one from a private citizen and one from a nongovernmental organization. Both commenters supported the Service’s management direction. Selected Alternative After considering the comments we received and based on the sound professional judgment of the core planning team, we have selected Alternative C for implementation. This alternative is judged to be the most effective management action for meeting the purposes of the refuge by optimizing ecosystem management throughout the refuge. Under Alternative C, the refuge will practice ecosystem management, recognizing the ecological role of Wolf Island NWR within the interrelated Altamaha River Basin and coastal barrier island ecosystem. Human activities and natural processes within these ecosystems influence Wolf Island NWR in a variety of ways. Alternative C explicitly commits the Service to acknowledge these influences and cooperate with other stakeholders in ways that will ensure the continued protection and enhancement of the ecosystem’s natural resources. Under Alternative C, the refuge will strive to optimize its biological program, recognizing that there may be tradeoffs and opportunity costs between the various elements of the biological programs envisioned (it might not be possible to equally pursue and achieve all objectives simultaneously because of budgeting and staffing constraints or because of intrinsic conflicts between certain objectives). However, Alternative C emphasizes a broader ecosystem approach than the optional alternatives, which narrowly focused on the refuge. The refuge will conduct baseline inventorying and monitoring programs with several partners to investigate threats and opportunities within the PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ecosystem as they may impact refuge goals and objectives. Resource protection within the ecosystem will be intensified. Control of invasive species will commence and efforts will be made to reduce beach erosion. Service staff will work with partners to manage and improve habitats within the ecosystem. Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105–57. Dated: September 12, 2008. Cynthia K. Dohner, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. E8–26370 Filed 11–4–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [F–14905–A, F–14905–A2; AK–965–1410– KC–P] Alaska Native Claims Selection Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of decision approving lands for conveyance. AGENCY: SUMMARY: As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Chinuruk Incorporated. The lands are in the vicinity of Nightmute, Alaska, and are located in: Seward Meridian, Alaska T. 5 N., R. 87 W., Secs. 3 to 10, inclusive; Secs. 15 to 22, inclusive. Containing approximately 9,802 acres. T. 6 N., R. 87 W., Secs. 29 to 33, inclusive. Containing approximately 3,073 acres. Aggregating approximately 12,875 acres. These lands lie entirely within Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range, established January 20, 1969. The subsurface estate will be reserved to the United States in the conveyance to Chinuruk Incorporated. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Tundra Drums. DATES: The time limits for filing an appeal are: 1. Any party claiming a property interest which is adversely affected by the decision shall have until December 5, 2008 to file an appeal. 2. Parties receiving service of the decision by certified mail shall have 30 days from the date of receipt to file an appeal. E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65873-65874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26370]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0232; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, GA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: Final comprehensive conservation plan 
and finding of no significant impact.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for Wolf Island National 
Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage 
this refuge for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP may be obtained by writing to: Mr. Shaw 
Davis, Savannah Coastal Refuges' Complex, 1000 Business Center Drive, 
Parkway Business Center, Suite 10, Savannah, GA 31405. The CCP may also 
be accessed and downloaded from the Service's Web site: https://
southeast.fws.gov/planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Shaw Davis; Telephone: 912-652-
4030 x 106; fax: 912-652-4385; e-mail: shaw_davis@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Wolf Island NWR. 
We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on 
October 30, 2006 (71 FR 63344). For more about the process, see that 
notice.
    Wolf Island NWR, 12 miles east of Darien, Georgia (by boat), 
consists of a long narrow strip of oceanfront beach backed by a broad 
band of salt marsh. Over 75 percent of the refuge's 5,126 acres are 
composed of saltwater marshes. The refuge was established by Executive 
Order 5316 on April 3, 1930, when the 538 acres already in government 
ownership were set aside as a sanctuary for migratory birds. Wolf 
Island NWR is a designated National Wilderness Area and is maintained 
as such, with its primary purpose being to provide protection for 
migratory birds and such endangered and threatened species as the 
loggerhead sea turtle and piping plover. Due to its Wilderness 
designation, no public use facilities exist on the refuge. Though the 
refuge's saltwaters are open to a variety of recreational activities, 
all beach, marsh, and upland areas are closed to the public.
    This three-island wildlife refuge at the mouth of the Altamaha 
River consists mainly of salt marsh and provides critical sanctuary for 
rare migrating birds and nursery habitat for sea turtles. Wolf Island, 
the largest island in the refuge, covers 4,519 acres. Its boundaries 
are defined by the South River to the north, Little Mud River to

[[Page 65874]]

the west, Altamaha Sound to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the 
east. The island has only 300 acres of dune and beach along its narrow, 
4-mile-long eastern shoreline. It fronts the ocean in the Altamaha 
River Delta and forms a physical barrier between Doboy Sound to the 
north and Altamaha Sound to the south. Tucked into the mouth of 
Altamaha Sound and directly south of Wolf Island are Egg and Little Egg 
Islands. They consist of 593 and 14 acres in size, respectively, with 
extensive salt marsh and only 70 acres of upland.
    Wolf Island is one of seven refuges administered by the Savannah 
Coastal Refuges' Complex. This chain of national wildlife refuges 
extends from Pinckney Island NWR near Hilton Head Island, South 
Carolina, to Wolf Island NWR near Darien, Georgia. Between these lie 
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, the largest unit in the complex, and 
the Wassaw, Tybee, Harris Neck, and Blackbeard Island National Wildlife 
Refuges. Together they span a 100-mile coastline that encompasses a 
total of more than 56,000 acres. The Savannah Coastal Refuges' Complex 
is administered from a headquarters office in Savannah, Georgia.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and 
FONSI for Wolf Island NWR in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) [40 CFR 1506.6(b)] requirements. We completed a 
thorough analysis of impacts on the human environment, which we 
included in the draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental 
assessment.
    The compatibility determinations for (1) Hunting; (2) fishing; (3) 
wildlife observation and photography; (4) environmental education and 
interpretation; and (5) research are also available within the CCP.

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to 
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for 
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan 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 our 
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. Currently, 
access to the refuge is limited and there is no public access allowed. 
This restriction limits the above activities to the waters near the 
refuge. We will review and update the CCP at least every15 years in 
accordance with the Improvement Act.

Comments

    Approximately 200 copies of the Draft CCP/EA were made available 
for a 30-day public review period as announced in the Federal Register 
on June 12, 2008 (73 FR 33451). Two written comments were received, one 
from a private citizen and one from a non-governmental organization. 
Both commenters supported the Service's management direction.

Selected Alternative

    After considering the comments we received and based on the sound 
professional judgment of the core planning team, we have selected 
Alternative C for implementation. This alternative is judged to be the 
most effective management action for meeting the purposes of the refuge 
by optimizing ecosystem management throughout the refuge. Under 
Alternative C, the refuge will practice ecosystem management, 
recognizing the ecological role of Wolf Island NWR within the 
interrelated Altamaha River Basin and coastal barrier island ecosystem. 
Human activities and natural processes within these ecosystems 
influence Wolf Island NWR in a variety of ways. Alternative C 
explicitly commits the Service to acknowledge these influences and 
cooperate with other stakeholders in ways that will ensure the 
continued protection and enhancement of the ecosystem's natural 
resources.
    Under Alternative C, the refuge will strive to optimize its 
biological program, recognizing that there may be tradeoffs and 
opportunity costs between the various elements of the biological 
programs envisioned (it might not be possible to equally pursue and 
achieve all objectives simultaneously because of budgeting and staffing 
constraints or because of intrinsic conflicts between certain 
objectives). However, Alternative C emphasizes a broader ecosystem 
approach than the optional alternatives, which narrowly focused on the 
refuge.
    The refuge will conduct baseline inventorying and monitoring 
programs with several partners to investigate threats and opportunities 
within the ecosystem as they may impact refuge goals and objectives. 
Resource protection within the ecosystem will be intensified. Control 
of invasive species will commence and efforts will be made to reduce 
beach erosion. Service staff will work with partners to manage and 
improve habitats within the ecosystem.

    Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 
105-57.

    Dated: September 12, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
 [FR Doc. E8-26370 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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