Guam National Wildlife Refuge, Yigo, Guam, 28816-28817 [2010-12438]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 99 (Monday, May 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28816-28817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12438]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-R-2009-N221; 10137-1265-0000 S3]


Guam National Wildlife Refuge, Yigo, Guam

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP/FONSI by any 
of the following methods. You may request either a hard copy or CD-ROM.
    Agency Web Site: Review or download a copy of the document at 
https://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/.
    E-mail: Joseph_Schwagerl@fws.gov. Include ``Guam Refuge CCP'' in 
the subject line of the message.
    Mail: Guam National Wildlife Refuge, Route 3A, Spur Road, Yigo, 
Guam 96929.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call (671) 355-5096 to make an 
appointment during regular business hours at the Refuge office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Schwagerl at (671) 355-5096 or 
Joseph_Schwagerl@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for the Guam Refuge. 
We started this process through a notice of intent in the Federal 
Register (72 FR 37037, July 6, 2007). We released the Draft CCP and 
environmental assessment (EA) to the public, announcing and requesting 
comments in a notice of availability in the Federal Register (74 FR 
36249, July 22, 2009).
    The Guam Refuge is located on the unincorporated U.S. territory of 
Guam. Guam is the largest and southernmost island in the Marianas 
archipelago, situated in the western Pacific Ocean approximately 3,800 
miles west of Honolulu, Hawaii, and 1,500 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. 
The Refuge is comprised of three units: the Andersen Air Force Base 
Overlay Refuge Unit, the Navy Overlay Refuge Unit, and the Ritidian 
Unit. The Ritidian Unit, the focus of this CCP, is located on the 
northern tip of Guam and encompasses 1,217 acres, including 385 
terrestrial acres and 832 acres of submerged offshore area. Management 
planning for the overlay units is being addressed in Integrated Natural 
Resource Management Plans (INRMP). Planning

[[Page 28817]]

for the INRMPs is being conducted by the Units' respective military 
branches.
    We completed the CCP/FONSI in accordance with 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 CCP/EA. The CCP will guide us in 
managing and administering the Refuge for the next 15 years. 
Alternative B, as we described in the Draft CCP, is the foundation for 
the Final CCP with one modification.

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, 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 direction 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 compatible 
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 the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with 
the Administration Act.

CCP Alternatives, Including the Selected Alternative

    We addressed several issues in our Draft CCP/EA by developing and 
evaluating the following alternatives:

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Alternative A, Current Management.  This is the no-action or no-change
                                     Alternative. It serves as a
                                     baseline from which to compare the
                                     other alternatives.
Alternative B (Preferred            This alternative would generate an
 Alternative), Full Habitat and      intense, short-term increase in
 Species Enhancement.                wildlife and habitat management
                                     activities.
Alternative C, Habitat Enhancement  This alternative provides for a
 and Public Use Restrictions.        modest increase in wildlife and
                                     habitat management.
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Comments

    We solicited comments on the Draft CCP/EA from July 22, 2009, to 
August 24, 2009. We received 15 responses on the Draft CCP/EA.

Selected Alternative

    After considering the comments we received, we have selected 
Alternative B for the CCP. Implementing the CCP will encompass the 
following actions, subject to the availability of funding and any 
additional compliance requirements.
     We will construct a predator-proof barrier to address 
habitat damage issues, as well as impacts to threatened and endangered 
species.
     In conjunction with barrier construction, the Refuge will 
initiate an intensive program to reduce non-native pest species.
     The Refuge will work with staff from the Guam Department 
of Agriculture to develop a soft-release site and release program for 
captive-reared bird species.
     We will implement habitat restoration as planned in the 
CCP.
     We will increase the public-use program, including adding 
interpretive opportunities, such as a short interpretive trail, and 
increasing outreach and off-site environmental education possibilities.
     Increasing protection for the Refuge's cultural resources 
will also occur under the CCP.

    Dated: May 3, 2010.
Carolyn A. Bohan,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2010-12438 Filed 5-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P