Hunt Fee at Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, TX, 43339-43340 [2011-18199]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 20, 2011 / Notices III. Comments We invite comments concerning this information collection on: • Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; • The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information; • Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Ways to imize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this IC. 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: July 14, 2011. Tina A. Campbell, Chief, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2011–18252 Filed 7–19–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R2–R–2011–N114; 1261–0000–29154– 4A] Hunt Fee at Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, TX Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent to Implement a Hunt Fee. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our intent to implement a hunt fee at Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), located in Texas, as authorized by Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA). The Refuge’s proposed fee is $12.50 for lottery deer and feral hog hunt. Under REA provisions, the Refuge will identify and post the specific fee. DATES: Submit your comments on this action by August 19, 2011. Unless we publish a notice in the Federal Register sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:29 Jul 19, 2011 Jkt 223001 withdrawing this action, we will implement the hunt fee on January 16, 2012 at the Refuge. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments by one of the following methods: • By U.S. mail to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Visitor Services, 500 Gold Ave., SW., Room 4504, Albuquerque, NM 87102. • By fax to: (505) 248–6621. • By e-mail to: Ken_Garrahan@fws.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Garrahan, at (505) 248–6635. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is the regulatory agency for wildlife in Texas. To monitor deer population dynamics throughout the state, TPWD has identified 33 unique Resource Management Units (RMUs) having similar soils, vegetation types and land use practices. TPWD collects, compiles, and analyzes deer population data from identified RMUs and associated ecoregions throughout the state and adjusts deer hunting regulations accordingly. Caddo Lake NWR is within RMU 16 where deer densities increased from 8.7 to 15.1 deer per 1,000 acres and recruitment decreased almost 50 percent from 2005 to 2008. The Refuge has worked in cooperation with TPWD biologists and staff to monitor the deer herd on Caddo Lake NWR. In 2008 and 2009, Refuge and TPWD staff conducted spotlight surveys, browse surveys, forest understory evaluations and review of historic and ongoing Army deer hunt data (prior to 2004, the land was under the jurisdiction of the United States Army, Department of Defense). The data indicate that the Refuge deer herd is at/ near carrying capacity (K) levels, or that it exceeds K levels in certain areas of the Refuge. During this 2-year period, deer density on the refuge has increased from 34.3 to 58.9 deer per 1,000 acres. Estimated doe per buck ratio also increased from 2:1 to 3:1, while recruitment remained low, at near 0.15 fawns per doe. Accordingly, the proposed limited deer hunt will reduce the number of deer to obtain a more healthy and sustainable population on the Refuge. Feral hogs are an extremely invasive exotic species that is not considered a game species by the State of Texas. Texas is home to an estimated 2 million feral hogs. This is due in part to intentional releases, suitable habitat, disease eradication, limited natural predators, and high reproductive potential. There are very few inhibiting factors to curtail this population growth. PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43339 The hunting of feral hogs has become a popular sport in the State, and the public interest would best be served by allowing this activity on the refuge. The damaging effects of feral hogs were present prior to the establishment of the refuge, and their numbers and damaging effects on the habitat and native wildlife species will continue to increase without a control mechanism. If a control mechanism (i.e. hunting or trapping) is not established and implemented, feral hogs will degrade the refuge habitat and have a negative impact on native wildlife species. We announce our intent to implement a $12.50 hunt fee for a lottery deer and feral hog hunt at the Refuge under 16 U.S.C. 6802(g) of the REA. The Refuge plans to use collected fees to defray costs associated with a hunting program on the Refuge. Fees garnered through this program will be used to offset expenses in operating the hunt, including providing refuge hunt permits/brochures, boundary line/hunt area signage, maintenance of overtime by law enforcement officers, employee salaries dedicated to the administration of the hunts, and for expansion and improvement of parking areas, and improved accessibility for mobility impaired hunters. It is our policy to only allow activities that are appropriate and compatible with the Refuge’s purposes. 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. Authorities and Requirements of the REA In December 2004, the REA became law (16 U.S.C. 6801–6814). The REA provides authority through December 2014 for the Secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to establish, modify, charge, and collect recreation fees for use at some Federal recreation lands and waters, and contains specific provisions addressing public involvement in the establishment of recreation fees. The REA also directed the Secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to publish advance notice in the Federal Register whenever bureaus E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM 20JYN1 43340 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 20, 2011 / Notices establish new recreation fee areas under their respective jurisdictions. Should public comments provide substantive reasons why we should not implement a hunt fee at the Refuge, we may reevaluate our plan and publish a subsequent notice in the Federal Register withdrawing this action. Otherwise, we will implement a hunt fee at the Caddo Lake Refuge on the date specified in the DATES section of this document, and the Refuge will post fee amounts and expenditures onsite. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6801–6814. Dated: April 27, 2011. Joy E. Nicholopoulos, Acting Regional Director, Region 2. [FR Doc. 2011–18199 Filed 7–19–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [F–14920–A; F–14920–A2; LLAK965000– L14100000–KC0000–P] Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Decision Approving Lands for Conveyance. AGENCY: As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will issue an appealable decision approving the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to Arviq Incorporated. The subsurface estate in a portion of these lands will be conveyed to Calista Corporation when the surface estate is conveyed to Arviq Incorporated. The remaining lands lie within Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, established on January 23, 1969. The subsurface estate in the refuge lands will be reserved to the United States at the time of conveyance. The lands are in the vicinity of Platinum, Alaska, and are located in: SUMMARY: sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Lands Within The Cape Newenham National Wildlife Refuge (Public Land Order 4583), Now Known as the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge 18:29 Jul 19, 2011 Jkt 223001 Lands Outside The Cape Newenham National Wildlife Refuge (Public Land Order 4583), Now Known as the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Lots 7a and 7b, U.S. Survey No. 9548, Alaska. Containing 26.04 acres. Seward Meridian, Alaska T. 14 S., R. 74 W., Secs. 16, 21, and 29. Containing 1,919.86 acres. T. 13 S., R. 76 W., Sec. 2. Containing 10.92 acres. T. 14 S., R. 74 W., Sec. 32. Containing 640 acres. Aggregating 2,596.82 acres. Total Aggregating 4,516.82 acres. Any party claiming a property interest in the lands affected by the decision may appeal the decision within the following time limits: 1. Unknown parties, parties unable to be located after reasonable efforts have been expended to locate, parties who fail or refuse to sign their return receipt, and parties who receive a copy of the decision by regular mail which is not certified, return receipt requested, shall have until August 19, 2011 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. 3. Notices of appeal transmitted by electronic means, such as facsimile or e-mail, will not be accepted as timely filed. Parties who do not file an appeal in accordance with the requirements of 43 CFR Part 4, subpart E, shall be deemed to have waived their rights. ADDRESSES: A copy of the decision may be obtained from: Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, 222 West Seventh Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513–7504. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The BLM by phone at 907–271–5960 or by e-mail at ak.blm.conveyance@blm.gov. Persons who use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the BLM during normal business hours. In addition, the FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the BLM. The BLM DATES: Alaska Native Claims Selection VerDate Mar<15>2010 will reply during normal business hours. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Tundra Drums. Bureau of Land Management Seward Meridian, Alaska T. 14 S., R. 74 W., Sec. 15. Containing 640 acres. T. 14 S., R. 74 W., Sec. 22. Containing 640 acres. T. 15 S., R. 74 W., Sec. 5. Containing 640 acres. Aggregating 1,920 acres. PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Charmain McMillan, Land Law Examiner, Land Transfer Adjudication II Branch. [FR Doc. 2011–18164 Filed 7–19–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AA–6682–B, AA–6682–D, AA–6682–E, AA– 6682–G, AA–6682–H, AA–6682–I, AA–6682– A2; LLAK965000–L14100000–KC0000–P] Alaska Native Claims Selection Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Decision Approving Lands for Conveyance. AGENCY: As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will issue an appealable decision to Alaska Peninsula Corporation, Successor in Interest to Newhalen Native Corporation. The decision approves the surface estate in the lands described below for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The subsurface estate in these lands will be conveyed to Bristol Bay Native Corporation when the surface estate is conveyed to Alaska Peninsula Corporation, Successor in Interest to Newhalen Native Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Newhalen, Alaska, and are located in: SUMMARY: Seward Meridian, Alaska T. 4 S., R. 34 W., Secs. 31, 32, and 33; Sec. 34, lots 1 and 2; Secs. 35 and 36. Containing 3,839.16 acres. T. 5 S., R. 34 W., Secs. 4, 5, and 6. Containing 1,881.44 acres. T. 5 S., R. 35 W., Sec. 10; Sec. 16; Secs. 19, 20, and 21. Containing 3,166.36 acres. Aggregating 8,886.96 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Bristol Bay Times. DATES: Any party claiming a property interest in the lands affected by the decision may appeal the decision within the following time limits: 1. Unknown parties, parties unable to be located after reasonable efforts have been expended to locate, parties who fail or refuse to sign their return receipt, E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM 20JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43339-43340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18199]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-R-2011-N114; 1261-0000-29154-4A]


Hunt Fee at Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, TX

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Implement a Hunt Fee.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 
intent to implement a hunt fee at Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge 
(Refuge), located in Texas, as authorized by Federal Lands Recreation 
Enhancement Act (REA). The Refuge's proposed fee is $12.50 for lottery 
deer and feral hog hunt. Under REA provisions, the Refuge will identify 
and post the specific fee.

DATES: Submit your comments on this action by August 19, 2011. Unless 
we publish a notice in the Federal Register withdrawing this action, we 
will implement the hunt fee on January 16, 2012 at the Refuge.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments by one of the following methods:
     By U.S. mail to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: 
Visitor Services, 500 Gold Ave., SW., Room 4504, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
     By fax to: (505) 248-6621.
     By e-mail to: Ken_Garrahan@fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Garrahan, at (505) 248-6635.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 
(TPWD) is the regulatory agency for wildlife in Texas. To monitor deer 
population dynamics throughout the state, TPWD has identified 33 unique 
Resource Management Units (RMUs) having similar soils, vegetation types 
and land use practices. TPWD collects, compiles, and analyzes deer 
population data from identified RMUs and associated ecoregions 
throughout the state and adjusts deer hunting regulations accordingly.
    Caddo Lake NWR is within RMU 16 where deer densities increased from 
8.7 to 15.1 deer per 1,000 acres and recruitment decreased almost 50 
percent from 2005 to 2008. The Refuge has worked in cooperation with 
TPWD biologists and staff to monitor the deer herd on Caddo Lake NWR.
    In 2008 and 2009, Refuge and TPWD staff conducted spotlight 
surveys, browse surveys, forest understory evaluations and review of 
historic and ongoing Army deer hunt data (prior to 2004, the land was 
under the jurisdiction of the United States Army, Department of 
Defense). The data indicate that the Refuge deer herd is at/near 
carrying capacity (K) levels, or that it exceeds K levels in certain 
areas of the Refuge. During this 2-year period, deer density on the 
refuge has increased from 34.3 to 58.9 deer per 1,000 acres. Estimated 
doe per buck ratio also increased from 2:1 to 3:1, while recruitment 
remained low, at near 0.15 fawns per doe. Accordingly, the proposed 
limited deer hunt will reduce the number of deer to obtain a more 
healthy and sustainable population on the Refuge.
    Feral hogs are an extremely invasive exotic species that is not 
considered a game species by the State of Texas. Texas is home to an 
estimated 2 million feral hogs. This is due in part to intentional 
releases, suitable habitat, disease eradication, limited natural 
predators, and high reproductive potential. There are very few 
inhibiting factors to curtail this population growth. The hunting of 
feral hogs has become a popular sport in the State, and the public 
interest would best be served by allowing this activity on the refuge. 
The damaging effects of feral hogs were present prior to the 
establishment of the refuge, and their numbers and damaging effects on 
the habitat and native wildlife species will continue to increase 
without a control mechanism. If a control mechanism (i.e. hunting or 
trapping) is not established and implemented, feral hogs will degrade 
the refuge habitat and have a negative impact on native wildlife 
species.
    We announce our intent to implement a $12.50 hunt fee for a lottery 
deer and feral hog hunt at the Refuge under 16 U.S.C. 6802(g) of the 
REA. The Refuge plans to use collected fees to defray costs associated 
with a hunting program on the Refuge. Fees garnered through this 
program will be used to offset expenses in operating the hunt, 
including providing refuge hunt permits/brochures, boundary line/hunt 
area signage, maintenance of overtime by law enforcement officers, 
employee salaries dedicated to the administration of the hunts, and for 
expansion and improvement of parking areas, and improved accessibility 
for mobility impaired hunters. It is our policy to only allow 
activities that are appropriate and compatible with the Refuge's 
purposes.

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.

Authorities and Requirements of the REA

    In December 2004, the REA became law (16 U.S.C. 6801-6814). The REA 
provides authority through December 2014 for the Secretaries of the 
Departments of the Interior and Agriculture to establish, modify, 
charge, and collect recreation fees for use at some Federal recreation 
lands and waters, and contains specific provisions addressing public 
involvement in the establishment of recreation fees. The REA also 
directed the Secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and 
Agriculture to publish advance notice in the Federal Register whenever 
bureaus

[[Page 43340]]

establish new recreation fee areas under their respective 
jurisdictions.
    Should public comments provide substantive reasons why we should 
not implement a hunt fee at the Refuge, we may reevaluate our plan and 
publish a subsequent notice in the Federal Register withdrawing this 
action. Otherwise, we will implement a hunt fee at the Caddo Lake 
Refuge on the date specified in the DATES section of this document, and 
the Refuge will post fee amounts and expenditures onsite.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6801-6814.

    Dated: April 27, 2011.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2.
[FR Doc. 2011-18199 Filed 7-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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