Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, Henry, Benton, Decatur, and Humphreys Counties, TN; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment, 5194-5196 [2011-1867]

Download as PDF 5194 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 19 / Friday, January 28, 2011 / Notices WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES and Black Rivers’ Navigation Project and Felsenthal Lock and Dam. The refuge is located in southeast Arkansas, approximately 8 miles west of the town of Crossett. This 65,000-acre refuge is named for the small Felsenthal community located at its southwest corner, and contains an abundance of water resources dominated by the Ouachita and Saline Rivers and the Felsenthal Pool. Overflow NWR was established in 1980 and encompasses 13,973 fee-title acres in Ashley County in southeast Arkansas, about 5 miles west of the town of Wilmot. The refuge was established to protect one of the remaining bottomland hardwood forests considered vital for maintaining mallard, wood duck, and other waterfowl populations in the Mississippi Flyway. In addition, the Oakwood Unit, an area of 2,263 acres in Desha County that was transferred from the Farm Service Agency in 1990, is administered by Overflow NWR. We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and FONSI for Felsenthal/Overflow NWRs 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 (Draft CCP/ EA). The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Felsenthal/Overflow NWRs for the next 15 years. Alternative B is the foundation for the CCP. The compatibility determinations for (1) Hunting; (2) fishing; (3) wildlife observation and photography; (4) environmental education and interpretation; (5) power boating; (6) allterrain vehicle use; (7) bee keeping; (8) berry picking; (9) camping; (10) commercial fishing; (11) dog field trials; (12) firewood cutting; (13) forest management; (14) furbearer trapping; (15) horseback riding; and (16) bicycling, boating (non-motorized), swimming, beach use, and hiking/ backpacking are available in the final CCP. 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 plan for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:05 Jan 27, 2011 Jkt 223001 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 Administration Act. Comments We made copies of the Draft CCP/EA available for a 30-day public review period as announced in the Federal Register on June 7, 2010 (75 FR 32205). We received five comments on the Draft CCP/EA. Selected Alternative The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated three alternatives for managing the refuges. After considering the comments we received and based on the professional judgment of the planning team, we selected Alternative B for implementation. We believe this alternative is the most effective management action for meeting the vision, goals, and purposes of the refuges by optimizing habitat management and visitor services. This alternative will also allow the refuges to provide law enforcement protection that adequately meets the needs of both refuges. This alternative will focus on augmenting wildlife and habitat management to identify, conserve, and restore populations of native fish and wildlife species, with an emphasis on migratory birds and threatened and endangered species. This will partially be accomplished by increased monitoring of waterfowl, other migratory birds, and endemic species in order to assess and adapt management strategies and actions. The restoration of the Felsenthal Pool will be a vital part of this management action and will be crucial to ensuring healthy and viable ecological communities. This restoration will require increased water management, invasive aquatic vegetation control, and reestablishment of water quality standards and possibly populations of game fish species. Nuisance wildlife populations and invasive plant species will be more aggressively managed by implementing a control plan. Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105–57. Dated: September 3, 2010. Mark J. Musaus, Acting Regional Director. Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the Federal Register Tuesday, January 25, 2011. [FR Doc. 2011–1868 Filed 1–27–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–R–2010–N172; 40136–1265–0000– S3] Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, Henry, Benton, Decatur, and Humphreys Counties, TN; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: 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 the environmental assessment for Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years. ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by writing to: Mr. Troy Littrell, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, 3006 Dinkins Lane, Paris, Tennessee 38242. The CCP may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service’s Web site: https://southeast.fws.gov/planning/, under ‘‘Final Documents.’’ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Troy Littrell; telephone: 731/642–2091; fax: 731/644–3351; e-mail: troy_littrell@fws.gov. SUMMARY: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Tennessee NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on April 2, 2008 (73 FR 17994). On December 28, 1945, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order No. 9670, establishing the Tennessee NWR. The following day, the Department of the Interior and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) entered into an agreement that the lands would henceforth be reserved for use as a wildlife refuge. Tennessee NWR runs E:\FR\FM\28JAN1.SGM 28JAN1 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 19 / Friday, January 28, 2011 / Notices along 65 miles of the Tennessee River in Henry, Benton, Decatur, and Humphreys Counties, Tennessee. The refuge is comprised of three units: the Duck River Unit (26,738 acres), Big Sandy Unit (21,348 acres), and Busseltown Unit (3,272 acres), for a total of 51,358 acres. The establishing and acquisition authorities for Tennessee NWR include the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715–715r) and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661–667). In addition, Public Land Order 4560 identified the purposes of the refuge to be ‘‘to build, operate and maintain subimpoundment structures; produce food crops or cover for wildlife; to regulate and restrict hunting, trapping and fishing and to otherwise manage said lands and impoundment areas for the protection and production of wildlife and fish populations’’ (Public Land Order, 1962). The refuge provides valuable wintering habitat for migrating waterfowl. It provides habitat and protection for threatened and endangered species such as the gray bat, Indiana bat, least tern, piping plover, pink mucket pearlymussel, ring pink mussel, orangefoot pimpleback pearlymussel, and rough pigtoe and pigmy madtom mussels. The refuge also supports an abundance of wildlife, including over 650 species of plants, 303 species of birds, and 280 species of mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and FONSI for Tennessee 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 (Draft CCP/EA) for Tennessee NWR. The CCP will guide us in managing and administering Tennessee NWR for the next 15 years. The compatibility determinations for (1) Wildlife observation and photography, (2) environmental education and interpretation, (3) fishing, (4) hunting, (5) cooperative farming, (6) scientific research, (7) commercial fishing to remove rough fish from impounded waters, (8) horseback riding and horse-drawn conveyance, and (9) bicycling are also available within the CCP. The compatibility determination for marina concessions was removed from the CCP for further environmental analysis and public comment. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:05 Jan 27, 2011 Jkt 223001 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 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 Administration Act. Comments We made copies of the Draft CCP/EA available for a 30-day public review and comment period via Federal Register notice on June 7, 2010 (75 FR 32201). We received 43 comments on the Draft CCP/EA. Selected Alternative The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated four alternatives for managing the refuge. After considering the comments we received, and based on the professional judgment of the planning team, we selected Alternative D for implementation. Under Alternative D, we will enhance both wildlife management and public use at Tennessee NWR. We will provide adequate habitats to meet the foraging needs of 121,000–182,000 ducks for 110 days and other habitats that are needed for loafing, roosting, molting, etc. Under this alternative, we will create and enhance existing habitat for secretive marshbirds, sufficient to support 15–25 nesting territories for king rail pairs. Within 10 years of CCP approval, we will provide at least 100 acres of foraging sites in multiple impoundments for both northbound and southbound shorebirds during migration. We will conduct population and habitat surveys to evaluate shorebird use and invertebrate densities within managed and unmanaged habitat. To benefit long-legged wading birds, we will continue to provide for both secure nesting sites and ample PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5195 foraging habitat. We will develop and implement baseline inventories for nongame mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. We will also consider providing 50–100 acres in 1–3 tracts for the Henslow’s sparrow and other grassland species on the Big Sandy Unit. Under Alternative D, we will intensify existing habitat management programs, practices, and actions. We will improve the moist-soil management program on about 1,600 acres by expanding the invasive exotic plant control program, water management capabilities, and the use of management techniques that set back plant succession. In cooperation with partners, we will reactivate the forest management program on the refuge for the benefit of priority forest interior migratory birds and resident game species. Alternative D will incorporate a comprehensive fire management program into forest habitat. Over the life of the CCP, Alternative D will redirect management actions to sustain the acreage of unharvested cropland to meet foraging needs of waterfowl and habitat for other native species. It will also increase acreage of hard mast producing bottomland hardwood forest species. We will improve water management capabilities by subdividing existing impoundments, creating new impoundments, and increasing water supply (i.e., pumps, wells, and structures) for migratory birds. We will aim to increase wildlife observation/photography opportunities with the construction of new public use facilities, and within 2 years of CCP approval, will open a seasonal wildlife drive in the Duck River Bottoms. We will continue to provide environmental education services to the public, including limited visits to schools, environmental education workshops, and on-site and off-site environmental education programs, as well as work with partners to expand environmental education facilities and opportunities on and near the refuge. The existing interpretive program will be expanded. We will work to construct a combined headquarters and visitor center, incorporating ‘‘green’’ technology on the Big Sandy Unit. Within 15 years of CCP approval, we will build a visitor contact station at the Duck River Unit. We will expand the current staff by twelve, including a forester, a forestry technician, two engineering equipment operators, a tractor operator, two refuge rangers, a law enforcement officer, an assistant manager, two biological technicians, and an office assistant. We will strengthen our volunteer programs, friend’s group, and partnerships by E:\FR\FM\28JAN1.SGM 28JAN1 5196 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 19 / Friday, January 28, 2011 / Notices investing an increased portion of staff time into nurturing these promising relationships. Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105–57. Dated: September 14, 2010. Mark J. Musaus, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 2011–1867 Filed 1–27–11; 8:45 am] In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 505–248–6636 to make an appointment during regular business hours at 500 Gold Avenue SW., Albuquerque, NM 87102. Dan Alonso, Refuge Manager, Aransas NWRC, P.O. Box 100, Austwell, TX 77050; by phone, 361–286–3559; or by e-mail, dan_alonso@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Introduction DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R2–R–2010–N208; 20131–1265– 2CCP–S3] Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Aransas, Calhoun, and Refugio Counties, TX; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: 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 environmental assessment (EA) for the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex (NWRC). In this 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 and FONSI/EA by any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD–ROM. Agency Web Site: Download a copy of the document(s) at https://www.fws.gov/ southwest/refuges/Plan/. E-mail: roxanne_turley@fws.gov. Include ‘‘Aransas final CCP’’ in the subject line of the message. Mail: Roxanne Turley, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Division of Planning, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103–1306. WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:05 Jan 27, 2011 Jkt 223001 With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for the Aransas NWRC. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register August 30, 2002 (67 FR 55862). Aransas NWRC is located in Aransas, Calhoun, and Refugio Counties, Texas, and encompasses 115,931 acres of coastal prairie, oak woodland and savannah, barrier island, and salt and freshwater marshes. Management efforts focus on protecting, enhancing, and restoring Refuge habitats and water management for the benefit of important fish and wildlife resources. The Refuge is world renowned for hosting the largest wild flock of endangered whooping cranes each winter. Other native species on the Refuge include the American alligator, javelina, roseate spoonbill, armadillo, and wildflowers. Aransas NWRC was established ‘‘as a refuge and breeding grounds for birds’’, by Executive Order No. 7784 on December 31, 1937. The authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 712d) establishes that each refuge in the system is ‘‘for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or any other management purpose, for migratory birds.’’ The Refuge Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 460–1) states that each refuge in the system is ‘‘suitable for incidental fish and wildlife-oriented recreational development, the protection of natural resources, and the conservation of endangered or threatened species.’’ Additionally, Aransas NWRC contains critical habitat for the whooping crane (43 FR 20938, May 15, 1978). PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the final CCP for the Aransas NWRC 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 EA that accompanied the draft CCP. The CCP will guide us in managing and administering the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex for the next 15 years. Alternative B, with modifications as described in Appendix J (Response to Public Comments), is selected as the management direction for the Final Plan. Background The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee) (Refuge 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 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 and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Refuge Administration Act. CCP Alternatives, Including Selected Alternative Our draft CCP and our EA (75 FR 6872) addressed several issues. To address these, we developed and evaluated the following alternatives. E:\FR\FM\28JAN1.SGM 28JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5194-5196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1867]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2010-N172; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, Henry, Benton, Decatur, and 
Humphreys Counties, TN; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

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 the environmental 
assessment for Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the final 
CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by writing to: Mr. Troy 
Littrell, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, 3006 Dinkins Lane, Paris, 
Tennessee 38242. The CCP may also be accessed and downloaded from the 
Service's Web site: https://southeast.fws.gov/planning/, under ``Final 
Documents.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Troy Littrell; telephone: 731/642-
2091; fax: 731/644-3351; e-mail: troy_littrell@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Tennessee NWR. We 
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on April 
2, 2008 (73 FR 17994).
    On December 28, 1945, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive 
Order No. 9670, establishing the Tennessee NWR. The following day, the 
Department of the Interior and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) 
entered into an agreement that the lands would henceforth be reserved 
for use as a wildlife refuge. Tennessee NWR runs

[[Page 5195]]

along 65 miles of the Tennessee River in Henry, Benton, Decatur, and 
Humphreys Counties, Tennessee. The refuge is comprised of three units: 
the Duck River Unit (26,738 acres), Big Sandy Unit (21,348 acres), and 
Busseltown Unit (3,272 acres), for a total of 51,358 acres.
    The establishing and acquisition authorities for Tennessee NWR 
include the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715-715r) and 
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-667). In addition, 
Public Land Order 4560 identified the purposes of the refuge to be ``to 
build, operate and maintain sub-impoundment structures; produce food 
crops or cover for wildlife; to regulate and restrict hunting, trapping 
and fishing and to otherwise manage said lands and impoundment areas 
for the protection and production of wildlife and fish populations'' 
(Public Land Order, 1962).
    The refuge provides valuable wintering habitat for migrating 
waterfowl. It provides habitat and protection for threatened and 
endangered species such as the gray bat, Indiana bat, least tern, 
piping plover, pink mucket pearlymussel, ring pink mussel, orangefoot 
pimpleback pearlymussel, and rough pigtoe and pigmy madtom mussels. The 
refuge also supports an abundance of wildlife, including over 650 
species of plants, 303 species of birds, and 280 species of mammals, 
fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and 
FONSI for Tennessee 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 (Draft CCP/EA) for Tennessee NWR. The CCP will guide us in 
managing and administering Tennessee NWR for the next 15 years.
    The compatibility determinations for (1) Wildlife observation and 
photography, (2) environmental education and interpretation, (3) 
fishing, (4) hunting, (5) cooperative farming, (6) scientific research, 
(7) commercial fishing to remove rough fish from impounded waters, (8) 
horseback riding and horse-drawn conveyance, and (9) bicycling are also 
available within the CCP. The compatibility determination for marina 
concessions was removed from the CCP for further environmental analysis 
and public comment.

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 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. We will review and update 
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration 
Act.

Comments

    We made copies of the Draft CCP/EA available for a 30-day public 
review and comment period via Federal Register notice on June 7, 2010 
(75 FR 32201). We received 43 comments on the Draft CCP/EA.

Selected Alternative

    The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated four alternatives for 
managing the refuge. After considering the comments we received, and 
based on the professional judgment of the planning team, we selected 
Alternative D for implementation.
    Under Alternative D, we will enhance both wildlife management and 
public use at Tennessee NWR. We will provide adequate habitats to meet 
the foraging needs of 121,000-182,000 ducks for 110 days and other 
habitats that are needed for loafing, roosting, molting, etc. Under 
this alternative, we will create and enhance existing habitat for 
secretive marshbirds, sufficient to support 15-25 nesting territories 
for king rail pairs. Within 10 years of CCP approval, we will provide 
at least 100 acres of foraging sites in multiple impoundments for both 
northbound and southbound shorebirds during migration. We will conduct 
population and habitat surveys to evaluate shorebird use and 
invertebrate densities within managed and unmanaged habitat. To benefit 
long-legged wading birds, we will continue to provide for both secure 
nesting sites and ample foraging habitat. We will develop and implement 
baseline inventories for non-game mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, 
and invertebrates. We will also consider providing 50-100 acres in 1-3 
tracts for the Henslow's sparrow and other grassland species on the Big 
Sandy Unit.
    Under Alternative D, we will intensify existing habitat management 
programs, practices, and actions. We will improve the moist-soil 
management program on about 1,600 acres by expanding the invasive 
exotic plant control program, water management capabilities, and the 
use of management techniques that set back plant succession. In 
cooperation with partners, we will reactivate the forest management 
program on the refuge for the benefit of priority forest interior 
migratory birds and resident game species. Alternative D will 
incorporate a comprehensive fire management program into forest 
habitat.
    Over the life of the CCP, Alternative D will redirect management 
actions to sustain the acreage of unharvested cropland to meet foraging 
needs of waterfowl and habitat for other native species. It will also 
increase acreage of hard mast producing bottomland hardwood forest 
species. We will improve water management capabilities by subdividing 
existing impoundments, creating new impoundments, and increasing water 
supply (i.e., pumps, wells, and structures) for migratory birds.
    We will aim to increase wildlife observation/photography 
opportunities with the construction of new public use facilities, and 
within 2 years of CCP approval, will open a seasonal wildlife drive in 
the Duck River Bottoms. We will continue to provide environmental 
education services to the public, including limited visits to schools, 
environmental education workshops, and on-site and off-site 
environmental education programs, as well as work with partners to 
expand environmental education facilities and opportunities on and near 
the refuge. The existing interpretive program will be expanded.
    We will work to construct a combined headquarters and visitor 
center, incorporating ``green'' technology on the Big Sandy Unit. 
Within 15 years of CCP approval, we will build a visitor contact 
station at the Duck River Unit. We will expand the current staff by 
twelve, including a forester, a forestry technician, two engineering 
equipment operators, a tractor operator, two refuge rangers, a law 
enforcement officer, an assistant manager, two biological technicians, 
and an office assistant. We will strengthen our volunteer programs, 
friend's group, and partnerships by

[[Page 5196]]

investing an increased portion of staff time into nurturing these 
promising relationships.

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

    Dated: September 14, 2010.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-1867 Filed 1-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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