Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, Terrebonne Parish, LA, 25577-25578 [E9-12389]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 101 / Thursday, May 28, 2009 / Notices Information About CCPs During the CCP planning process, we will consider many elements of refuge management, including wildlife, habitat, and visitor services management. Public input during the planning process is essential. The CCP will describe the refuge purposes and desired conditions for the refuge and the long-term conservation goals, objectives and strategies for fulfilling refuge purposes and achieving desired conditions. Refuge Overview Columbia Refuge was established ‘‘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.’’ It fills an important role in the management of mallard, northern pintail, and lesser Canada goose populations during migration and wintering periods, and is the primary migratory stopover area for the Pacific Coast population of the lesser sandhill crane. The refuge covers almost 30,000 acres in the arid Columbia Basin of south-central Washington State straddling Crab Creek, between Potholes Reservoir and the Columbia River in both Grant and Adams Counties. The refuge is divided into six management units primarily arranged according to land type. Most of the refuge is within the Drumheller Channels National Natural Landmark. It is also located along the Pacific Flyway and has become a particularly important stopover and wintering ground for migratory birds and waterfowl. In addition, cackling geese, sandhill cranes, and neotropical birds consume the refuge’s grain crops. Birds of prey, such as redtailed hawks, hunt for rodents and other small mammals living in the refuge’s agricultural fields. Various visitor services and activities take place on the refuge, including hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, wildlife observation and photography, nature and cultural resources interpretation, and environmental education. • How can we protect refuge habitats from invasive species, wildfire risks, over-grazing, vandalism, and other disturbances and threats, and restore habitat values? • Which compatible wildlifedependent recreation opportunities on the refuge should be expanded, developed, or modified? • What are the refuge’s land acquisition priorities within its approved boundary, and should boundary expansion be considered? • How can we meet refuge staffing needs? Public Open House Meeting A public open house meeting will be held on June 16, 2009, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the City of Othello’s Municipal Building (City Hall), City Council Chambers, 500 East Main Street, Othello, WA 99344, to provide information on the CCP and receive public comments. Opportunities for public input will be announced throughout the CCP planning process. 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. All comments and materials we receive from individuals on our NEPA documents become part of the official public record. We will handle requests for such comments in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and Department of the Interior and Service policies and procedures. Dated: May 19, 2009. Don Weathers, Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. E9–12390 Filed 5–27–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Preliminary Issues and Concerns We have identified the following preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities that we may address in the CCP. We may identify additional issues during public scoping. • How can we best protect and restore populations of priority species on the refuge? • How can we best achieve optimal habitat conditions on the refuge for priority species? VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:11 May 27, 2009 Jkt 217001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–R–2009–N0075; 40136–1265– 0000–S3] Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, Terrebonne Parish, LA AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. PO 00000 Frm 00099 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25577 ACTION: Notice of availability: draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment; request for comments. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP. DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments by June 29, 2009. ADDRESSES: Send comments, questions, and requests for information to: Mr. Paul Yakupzack, Refuge Manager, Mandalay NWR, 3599 Bayou Black Drive, Houma, LA 70360. The Draft CCP/EA is available on compact disk or in hard copy. The Draft CCP/EA may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service’s Internet Site: https:// southeast.fws.gov/planning/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Yakupzack; telephone: 985/853– 1078; fax: 985/853–1079; e-mail: paul_yakupzack@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Mandalay NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on March 19, 2007 (72 FR 12811). 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 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 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 E:\FR\FM\28MYN1.SGM 28MYN1 25578 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 101 / Thursday, May 28, 2009 / Notices every 15 years in accordance with the Improvement Act. Mandalay NWR, approximately 5 miles west of Houma, Louisiana, was established on May 2, 1996, with the purchase of 4,416 acres under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The refuge, predominantly freshwater marsh and cypress-tupelo swamp, provides excellent habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, and neotropical songbirds. Access is by boat, except for the headquarters building on Highway 182 (Bayou Black Drive) and a nearby nature trail. Mandalay NWR is administered as one of eight refuges of the Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex, headquartered in Lacombe, Louisiana. CCP Alternatives, Including Our Proposed Alternative We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge and chose Alternative B as the proposed alternative. A full description is in the Draft CCP/EA. We summarize each alternative below. Alternative A—No Action Alternative Under this alternative, no new actions would be taken to improve or enhance the refuge’s current habitat, wildlife, and public use management programs. Species of Federal responsibility, such as threatened and endangered species and migratory birds, would continue to be monitored at present levels. Additional species monitoring would occur through the use of volunteers as they become available. Current programs of marsh management would be maintained. No progressive wetland restoration projects would be implemented. All public use programs of fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation would continue at present levels and with current facilities. Acquisition of lands into the refuge would occur when funding is appropriated and willing sellers offer land that is quality waterfowl habitat. Staff would consist of a manager and a biologist for both Mandalay NWR and Bayou Teche NWR, along with supplementary support from the Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex staff when needed. The refuge headquarters would serve as an administrative office, with no enhancement of the grounds for public use. Alternative B—Natural Resource Management (Proposed Alternative) Alternative B would emphasize management of the natural resources of VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:11 May 27, 2009 Jkt 217001 Mandalay NWR based on maintaining and improving wetland habitats, monitoring targeted flora and fauna representative of the Terrebonne Basin, and providing quality public use programs and wildlife-dependent recreational activities. All species occurring on the refuge would be considered and certain targeted species would be managed and monitored, in addition to species of Federal responsibility. These species would be chosen based on the criteria that they would be indicators of the health of important habitat or species of concern. Wetland loss would be documented and, whenever possible, the lost wetlands would be restored. Public use programs would be improved by offering more facilities and wildlife observation areas. Public use facilities would undergo annual reviews for maintenance needs and safety concerns. Overall public use would be monitored to determine if any uses would negatively impact refuge resources. Education programs would be reviewed and improved to complement current refuge management and staffing. Archaeological resources would be surveyed. Land acquisition within the approved acquisition boundary would be based on importance of the habitat for target management species. The refuge headquarters would house a small administrative office. The staff would offer interpretation of refuge wildlife and habitats, as well as demonstrate habitat improvements for individual landowners. The main interpretive facilities would be housed at the Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex Headquarters in Lacombe, Louisiana. In general, under Alternative B, management decisions and actions would support wildlife species and habitats occurring on the refuge based on well-planned strategies and sound scientific judgment. Quality wildlifedependent recreational uses and environmental education and interpretation programs would be offered to support and explain the natural resources of the refuge. Alternative C—Maximized Public Use Alternative C would emphasize managing the natural resources of Mandalay NWR for maximized public use activities. The majority of staff time and efforts would support hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Federal trust species and archaeological resources would be monitored as mandated. PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 All refuge programs for conservation of wildlife and habitats, such as monitoring, surveying, and managing marsh, would support species and resources of importance for public use. More emphasis would be placed on interpreting and demonstrating these programs. Access, through means such as trails for walking and dredged areas for boat access, would be maximized, and we would provide public use facilities throughout the refuge. Land acquisition within the approved acquisition boundary would be based on importance of the habitat for public use. The refuge headquarters would provide a small administrative office and a visitor center, which would be developed for public use activities. In general, Alternative C would focus on expanding public use activities to the fullest extent possible and conducting only mandated resource protection. Next Step After the comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and address them. 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: April 21, 2009. Jacquelyn B. Parrish, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. E9–12389 Filed 5–27–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CO–921–05–1320–EL; COC–70615] Notice of Public Meeting, To Receive for Comments on an Environmental Analysis, Finding of No Significant Impact, Maximum Economic Recovery Report, and Fair Market Value for Coal Lease Application COC–70615 AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. E:\FR\FM\28MYN1.SGM 28MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 101 (Thursday, May 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25577-25578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12389]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2009-N0075; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, Terrebonne Parish, LA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: draft comprehensive conservation plan 
and environmental assessment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and 
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Mandalay National Wildlife 
Refuge (NWR) for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we 
describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for 
the 15 years following approval of the final CCP.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by June 29, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, questions, and requests for information to: 
Mr. Paul Yakupzack, Refuge Manager, Mandalay NWR, 3599 Bayou Black 
Drive, Houma, LA 70360. The Draft CCP/EA is available on compact disk 
or in hard copy. The Draft CCP/EA may also be accessed and downloaded 
from the Service's Internet Site: https://southeast.fws.gov/planning/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Yakupzack; telephone: 985/
853-1078; fax: 985/853-1079; e-mail: paul_yakupzack@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Mandalay NWR. We 
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on March 
19, 2007 (72 FR 12811).

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 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 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. We will 
review and update the CCP at least

[[Page 25578]]

every 15 years in accordance with the Improvement Act.
    Mandalay NWR, approximately 5 miles west of Houma, Louisiana, was 
established on May 2, 1996, with the purchase of 4,416 acres under the 
authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 and the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973. The refuge, predominantly freshwater 
marsh and cypress-tupelo swamp, provides excellent habitat for 
waterfowl, wading birds, and neotropical songbirds. Access is by boat, 
except for the headquarters building on Highway 182 (Bayou Black Drive) 
and a nearby nature trail. Mandalay NWR is administered as one of eight 
refuges of the Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex, headquartered in 
Lacombe, Louisiana.

CCP Alternatives, Including Our Proposed Alternative

    We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge and chose 
Alternative B as the proposed alternative. A full description is in the 
Draft CCP/EA. We summarize each alternative below.

Alternative A--No Action Alternative

    Under this alternative, no new actions would be taken to improve or 
enhance the refuge's current habitat, wildlife, and public use 
management programs. Species of Federal responsibility, such as 
threatened and endangered species and migratory birds, would continue 
to be monitored at present levels. Additional species monitoring would 
occur through the use of volunteers as they become available. Current 
programs of marsh management would be maintained. No progressive 
wetland restoration projects would be implemented. All public use 
programs of fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, wildlife 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation would 
continue at present levels and with current facilities.
    Acquisition of lands into the refuge would occur when funding is 
appropriated and willing sellers offer land that is quality waterfowl 
habitat. Staff would consist of a manager and a biologist for both 
Mandalay NWR and Bayou Teche NWR, along with supplementary support from 
the Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex staff when needed. The refuge 
headquarters would serve as an administrative office, with no 
enhancement of the grounds for public use.

Alternative B--Natural Resource Management (Proposed Alternative)

    Alternative B would emphasize management of the natural resources 
of Mandalay NWR based on maintaining and improving wetland habitats, 
monitoring targeted flora and fauna representative of the Terrebonne 
Basin, and providing quality public use programs and wildlife-dependent 
recreational activities. All species occurring on the refuge would be 
considered and certain targeted species would be managed and monitored, 
in addition to species of Federal responsibility. These species would 
be chosen based on the criteria that they would be indicators of the 
health of important habitat or species of concern.
    Wetland loss would be documented and, whenever possible, the lost 
wetlands would be restored. Public use programs would be improved by 
offering more facilities and wildlife observation areas. Public use 
facilities would undergo annual reviews for maintenance needs and 
safety concerns. Overall public use would be monitored to determine if 
any uses would negatively impact refuge resources. Education programs 
would be reviewed and improved to complement current refuge management 
and staffing. Archaeological resources would be surveyed.
    Land acquisition within the approved acquisition boundary would be 
based on importance of the habitat for target management species. The 
refuge headquarters would house a small administrative office. The 
staff would offer interpretation of refuge wildlife and habitats, as 
well as demonstrate habitat improvements for individual landowners. The 
main interpretive facilities would be housed at the Southeast Louisiana 
NWR Complex Headquarters in Lacombe, Louisiana.
    In general, under Alternative B, management decisions and actions 
would support wildlife species and habitats occurring on the refuge 
based on well-planned strategies and sound scientific judgment. Quality 
wildlife-dependent recreational uses and environmental education and 
interpretation programs would be offered to support and explain the 
natural resources of the refuge.

Alternative C--Maximized Public Use

    Alternative C would emphasize managing the natural resources of 
Mandalay NWR for maximized public use activities. The majority of staff 
time and efforts would support hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, 
wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. 
Federal trust species and archaeological resources would be monitored 
as mandated.
    All refuge programs for conservation of wildlife and habitats, such 
as monitoring, surveying, and managing marsh, would support species and 
resources of importance for public use. More emphasis would be placed 
on interpreting and demonstrating these programs. Access, through means 
such as trails for walking and dredged areas for boat access, would be 
maximized, and we would provide public use facilities throughout the 
refuge.
    Land acquisition within the approved acquisition boundary would be 
based on importance of the habitat for public use. The refuge 
headquarters would provide a small administrative office and a visitor 
center, which would be developed for public use activities.
    In general, Alternative C would focus on expanding public use 
activities to the fullest extent possible and conducting only mandated 
resource protection.

Next Step

    After the comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and 
address them.

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: April 21, 2009.
Jacquelyn B. Parrish,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E9-12389 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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