Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Cayuga, Seneca, and Wayne Counties, NY; Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment, 30312-30314 [2012-12373]

Download as PDF srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 30312 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2012 / Notices Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: There are non-hour costs associated with this information collection. The currently approved non-hour cost burden is $122,024. This estimate is based on: (a) Applications and audit fees. The total annual estimated cost burden for these fees is $77,024 (refer to the table). (b) The cost of report(s) prepared by independent certified public accountants. Under § 203.81, a report prepared by an independent certified public accountant must accompany the application and post-production report (expansion project, short form, and preview assessment applications are excluded). The OCS Lands Act applications will require this report only once; the DWRRA applications will require this report at two stages—with the application and post-production development report for successful applicants. We estimate approximately one report submitted at an average cost of $45,000 per report. We have not identified any other non-hour cost burdens for this collection. Comments: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A) requires each agency ‘‘* * * to provide notice * * * and otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of information * * *’’. Agencies must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the collection is necessary or useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of technology. Agencies must also estimate the nonhour paperwork cost burdens to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. Therefore, if you have other than hour burden costs to generate, maintain, and disclose this information, you should comment and provide your total capital and startup cost components or annual operation, maintenance, and purchase of service components. For further information on this burden, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3(b)(1) and (2), or contact the Bureau representative listed previously in this notice. We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them in our submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, we will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to OMB. Public Comment Procedures: Before including your address, phone number, VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:20 May 21, 2012 Jkt 226001 email 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. Acting BSEE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Cheryl Blundon (703) 787–1607. Dated: May 15, 2012. Robert W. Middleton, Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs. [FR Doc. 2012–12304 Filed 5–21–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–VH–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Cayuga, Seneca, and Wayne Counties, NY; Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. AGENCY: 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 Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), located in Cayuga, Seneca, and Wayne Counties, New York, for public review and comment. The draft CCP/EA describes our proposal for managing the refuge for the next 15 years. Also available for public review and comment are: (1) The draft findings of appropriateness and draft compatibility determinations for uses to be allowed upon initial completion of the plan if Service-preferred alternative B is selected, (2) the EA for the refuge’s hunt program, and (3) the EA for the refuge’s fire program. These are included as appendix B, appendix E, and appendix H, respectively, in the draft CCP/EA. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments no later than June 21, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings in local news media, via our project mailing list, and on our regional planning Web site: https://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/ Montezuma/ccphome.html. PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Tom Jasikoff, Refuge Manager, 315–568–5987 (phone), or Lia McLaughlin, Planning Team Leader, 413–253–8575 (phone); northeastplanning@fws.gov (email). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [FWS–R5–R–2012–N062; BAC–4311–K9–S3] SUMMARY: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more information by any of the following methods. You may request hard copies or a CD–ROM of the documents. Email: northeastplanning@fws.gov. Please include ‘‘Montezuma NWR Draft CCP’’ in the subject line of the message. Fax: Attn: Lia McLaughlin, 413–253– 8468. U.S. Mail: Lia McLaughlin, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035. In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call 315–568–5987 to make an appointment (necessary for view/pickup only) during regular business hours at 3395 Route 5/20 East, Seneca Falls, NY 13148–9778. [For more information on locations for viewing or obtaining documents, see ‘‘Public Availability of Documents’’ under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.] ADDRESSES: Introduction With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Montezuma NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 25286; May 7, 2010). Montezuma NWR was established in 1938 to provide nesting, feeding, and resting habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Situated in Seneca, Wayne, and Cayuga Counties, the refuge currently encompasses 9,184 acres. Refuge habitats include emergent marshes and shallow water mudflats, open water, bottomland floodplain forest, old fields and shrublands, croplands, grassland, and successional forest. The refuge is part of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, an area identified by the Service, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), and other partners for its role in the conservation of migratory birds, particularly waterfowl. The refuge’s public use program provides wildlife-oriented educational and recreational opportunities compatible with refuge management objectives. Public use facilities and programs include several trails, a visitor center, observation towers and platforms, fishing access sites, hunting programs, trapping program, educational programs and materials, guided tours, and other special programs. E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM 22MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2012 / Notices Background srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES The CCP Process 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. Public Outreach We started pre-planning for the Montezuma NWR CCP in February 2010. In April 2010, we distributed our first newsletter and press release announcing our intent to prepare a CCP for the refuge. In May through June 2010, we had a formal public scoping period. The purpose of the public scoping period was to solicit comments from the community and other interested parties on the issues and impacts that should be evaluated in the draft CCP/EA. To help solicit public comments, we held two public meetings at the refuge during the formal public scoping period. Throughout the rest of the planning process, we have conducted additional outreach by participating in community meetings, events, and other public forums, and by requesting public input on managing the refuge and its programs. We received comments on topics such as the potential effects of climate change, improving habitat connectivity, relationship with the community and local economy, refuge facilities and staffing, and public uses of the refuge. We have considered and evaluated all of these comments, with many incorporated into the various alternatives addressed in the draft CCP/EA. CCP Alternatives We Are Considering During the public scoping process, we, the NYSDEC, other governmental VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:20 May 21, 2012 Jkt 226001 partners, and the public raised several issues. To address these issues, we developed and evaluated three alternatives in the draft CCP/EA. Here we present a brief summary of each of the alternatives; a full description of each alternative is in the draft CCP/EA. Alternative A (Current Management) Alternative A (current management) satisfies the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requirement of a ‘‘No Action’’ alternative, which we define as ‘‘continuing current management.’’ It describes our existing management priorities and activities, and serves as a baseline for comparing and contrasting alternatives B and C. It would maintain our present levels of approved refuge staffing and the biological and visitor programs now in place. We would continue to focus on managing impoundments to provide emergent marsh and open water habitats for migrating and nesting wading birds, marshbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wildlife. We would also continue to actively control invasive species, manage grassland habitats, and improve riparian and other forested habitats. We would continue to provide opportunities for all six priority public uses: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation. Alternative B (Service-Preferred Alternative) This alternative is the Servicepreferred alternative. It combines the actions we believe would most effectively achieve the refuge’s purposes, vision, and goals, and respond to the issues raised during the scoping period. Under alternative B, emergent marsh management would remain the focus on the refuge. We would focus efforts on improving existing emergent wetland habitat and restoring additional acres, and reestablishing wetland and riparian forests, where feasible. More upland forest would be promoted through succession or planting native species. Additionally, shrubland acreage would increase, and grassland management would focus on creating larger patches with less edge, resulting in fewer grassland acres overall. Opportunities for visitors to participate in priority public uses would increase. Added trails, viewing areas, and photography blinds would support additional opportunities for wildlife observation and photography. We would develop a formal, curriculum-based environmental education program. Environmental PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30313 interpretation would be enhanced through updated interpretive displays and associated services. The refuge would be opened to new hunting opportunities, and we would provide more accessible sites. Fishing opportunities would be increased by providing additional access to canal waters for anglers. Alternative C (Less Active Habitat Management) Under alternative C, most emergent marsh habitat on the refuge would be allowed to convert to bottomland floodplain forest. Only the Main Pool, Tschache Pool, and visitor center wetland impoundments would be maintained. Newly acquired lands would not be converted to impoundments. Natural succession would play a larger role in shaping vegetative communities on the refuge compared to alternatives A and B. We would allow most upland early successional habitats to revert to forests. Compared to alternative A, opportunities for visitors to participate in priority public uses would increase under this alternative, but not to the extent proposed under alternative B. We would develop a few additional sites to support wildlife observation and photography. Interpretation would be somewhat increased with the expansion of the visitor contact station. Interpretive messages would be changed, reflecting the different focus of refuge management. Hunting opportunities would increase, similar to alternative B; however, waterfowl hunting would remain unchanged. Fishing opportunities would be the same as alternative B. Public Availability of Documents In addition to any methods in you can view or obtain documents at the following locations: • Our Web site: https://www.fws.gov/ northeast/planning/Montezuma/ ccphome.html. • Public Library: the Seneca Falls Library, located at 47 Cayuga Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148, during regular library hours. ADDRESSES, Submitting Comments/Issues for Comment We are seeking substantive comments, particularly on the following issues: • Issue 1—public facilities and public uses; • Issue 2—habitat restoration efforts; and • Issue 3—partnership opportunities. We consider comments substantive if they: E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM 22MYN1 30314 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2012 / Notices • Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the information in the document; • Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the EA; • Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented in the EA; and/or • Provide new or additional information relevant to the EA. Next Steps After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and address them in the form of a final CCP and finding of no significant impact. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email 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: April 26, 2012. Wendi Weber, Regional Director, Northeast Region. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meeting Information: Nancy J. Finley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521; telephone: (707) 822–7201. Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP) Information: Robin Schrock, Executive Director, Trinity River Restoration Program, P.O. Box 1300, 1313 South Main Street, Weaverville, CA 96093; telephone: (530) 623–1800; email: rschrock@usbr.gov. Under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), this notice announces a meeting of the TAMWG. The meeting will include discussion of the following topics: • Trinity River hatchery, • Executive Director’s report, • TMC chair report, • Update from workgroups, • Update on the 2012 Water Year, • Bay-Delta Conservation Plan & Delta Flow Criteria, • BOR process for banking water. Completion of the agenda is dependent on the amount of time each item takes. The meeting could end early if the agenda has been completed. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: [FR Doc. 2012–12373 Filed 5–21–12; 8:45 am] Dated: May 16, 2012. Nancy Finley, Field Supervisor, Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office, Arcata, CA. BILLING CODE 4310–55–P [FR Doc. 2012–12377 Filed 5–21–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR [FWS–R8–FHC–2012–N124: FXFR1334088TWG0W4–123–FF08EACT00] Bureau of Land Management Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group Notice of Filing of Plats Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of filing of plats; Colorado. AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) affords stakeholders the opportunity to give policy, management, and technical input concerning Trinity River (California) restoration efforts to the Trinity Management Council (TMC). The TMC interprets and recommends policy, coordinates and reviews management actions, and provides organizational budget oversight. This notice announces a TAMWG meeting, which is open to the public. DATES: TAMWG will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 11, 2012. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Johnsons’ Steak House, 160 Golf Course Road, Weaverville, CA 96093. srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:20 May 21, 2012 Jkt 226001 [LLCO956000 L14200000.BJ0000] The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State Office is publishing this notice to inform the public of the filing of the land survey plats listed below. DATES: The plats described in this notice were filed on April 13 and 18, 2012. ADDRESSES: BLM Colorado State Office, Cadastral Survey, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215– 7093. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Bloom, Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Colorado, (303) 239–3856. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The supplemental plat of Section 1, in Township 13 South, Range 92 West, PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted and filed on April 13, 2012. The supplemental plat of Section 31, in Township 5 North, Range 86 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted and filed on April 18, 2012. The supplemental plat in Township 5 North, Range 87 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted and filed on April 18, 2012. Randy Bloom, Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Colorado. [FR Doc. 2012–12372 Filed 5–21–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLES956000–L19100000–BK0000– LCRMM0M04559] Eastern States: Filing of Plat of Survey Bureau of Land Management, Interior ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM–Eastern States office in Springfield, Virginia, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153. Attn: Cadastral Survey. 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 above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The survey was requested by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The lands surveyed are: SUMMARY: Fourth Principal Meridian, Wisconsin T. 51 N., R. 3 W. The plat of survey represents the retracement, resurvey, and monumentation of specified lot corners and rights of way intersection points in Blocks 4 and 5 of the Buffalo subdivision, lands held in trust for the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Government Lot 3, Section 31, in Township 51 North, Range 3 West, in the State of Wisconsin, and was accepted March 21, 2012. We will place a copy of the plat we described in the open files. It will be E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM 22MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30312-30314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12373]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R5-R-2012-N062; BAC-4311-K9-S3]


Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Cayuga, Seneca, and Wayne 
Counties, NY; Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental 
Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; 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 Montezuma National Wildlife 
Refuge (NWR), located in Cayuga, Seneca, and Wayne Counties, New York, 
for public review and comment. The draft CCP/EA describes our proposal 
for managing the refuge for the next 15 years. Also available for 
public review and comment are: (1) The draft findings of 
appropriateness and draft compatibility determinations for uses to be 
allowed upon initial completion of the plan if Service-preferred 
alternative B is selected, (2) the EA for the refuge's hunt program, 
and (3) the EA for the refuge's fire program. These are included as 
appendix B, appendix E, and appendix H, respectively, in the draft CCP/
EA.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments no 
later than June 21, 2012. We will announce upcoming public meetings in 
local news media, via our project mailing list, and on our regional 
planning Web site: https://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Montezuma/ccphome.html.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more 
information by any of the following methods. You may request hard 
copies or a CD-ROM of the documents.
    Email: northeastplanning@fws.gov. Please include ``Montezuma NWR 
Draft CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Lia McLaughlin, 413-253-8468.
    U.S. Mail: Lia McLaughlin, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035.
    In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call 315-568-5987 to make 
an appointment (necessary for view/pickup only) during regular business 
hours at 3395 Route 5/20 East, Seneca Falls, NY 13148-9778. [For more 
information on locations for viewing or obtaining documents, see 
``Public Availability of Documents'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Jasikoff, Refuge Manager, 315-568-
5987 (phone), or Lia McLaughlin, Planning Team Leader, 413-253-8575 
(phone); northeastplanning@fws.gov (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Montezuma NWR. We 
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 
25286; May 7, 2010).
    Montezuma NWR was established in 1938 to provide nesting, feeding, 
and resting habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Situated 
in Seneca, Wayne, and Cayuga Counties, the refuge currently encompasses 
9,184 acres. Refuge habitats include emergent marshes and shallow water 
mudflats, open water, bottomland floodplain forest, old fields and 
shrublands, croplands, grassland, and successional forest. The refuge 
is part of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, an area identified by the 
Service, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 
(NYSDEC), and other partners for its role in the conservation of 
migratory birds, particularly waterfowl. The refuge's public use 
program provides wildlife-oriented educational and recreational 
opportunities compatible with refuge management objectives. Public use 
facilities and programs include several trails, a visitor center, 
observation towers and platforms, fishing access sites, hunting 
programs, trapping program, educational programs and materials, guided 
tours, and other special programs.

[[Page 30313]]

Background

The CCP Process

    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 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 Refuge Administration Act.

Public Outreach

    We started pre-planning for the Montezuma NWR CCP in February 2010. 
In April 2010, we distributed our first newsletter and press release 
announcing our intent to prepare a CCP for the refuge. In May through 
June 2010, we had a formal public scoping period. The purpose of the 
public scoping period was to solicit comments from the community and 
other interested parties on the issues and impacts that should be 
evaluated in the draft CCP/EA. To help solicit public comments, we held 
two public meetings at the refuge during the formal public scoping 
period. Throughout the rest of the planning process, we have conducted 
additional outreach by participating in community meetings, events, and 
other public forums, and by requesting public input on managing the 
refuge and its programs. We received comments on topics such as the 
potential effects of climate change, improving habitat connectivity, 
relationship with the community and local economy, refuge facilities 
and staffing, and public uses of the refuge. We have considered and 
evaluated all of these comments, with many incorporated into the 
various alternatives addressed in the draft CCP/EA.

CCP Alternatives We Are Considering

    During the public scoping process, we, the NYSDEC, other 
governmental partners, and the public raised several issues. To address 
these issues, we developed and evaluated three alternatives in the 
draft CCP/EA. Here we present a brief summary of each of the 
alternatives; a full description of each alternative is in the draft 
CCP/EA.

Alternative A (Current Management)

    Alternative A (current management) satisfies the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requirement of a ``No 
Action'' alternative, which we define as ``continuing current 
management.'' It describes our existing management priorities and 
activities, and serves as a baseline for comparing and contrasting 
alternatives B and C. It would maintain our present levels of approved 
refuge staffing and the biological and visitor programs now in place. 
We would continue to focus on managing impoundments to provide emergent 
marsh and open water habitats for migrating and nesting wading birds, 
marshbirds, waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wildlife. We would also 
continue to actively control invasive species, manage grassland 
habitats, and improve riparian and other forested habitats. We would 
continue to provide opportunities for all six priority public uses: 
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental 
education, and interpretation.

Alternative B (Service-Preferred Alternative)

    This alternative is the Service-preferred alternative. It combines 
the actions we believe would most effectively achieve the refuge's 
purposes, vision, and goals, and respond to the issues raised during 
the scoping period. Under alternative B, emergent marsh management 
would remain the focus on the refuge. We would focus efforts on 
improving existing emergent wetland habitat and restoring additional 
acres, and re-establishing wetland and riparian forests, where 
feasible. More upland forest would be promoted through succession or 
planting native species. Additionally, shrubland acreage would 
increase, and grassland management would focus on creating larger 
patches with less edge, resulting in fewer grassland acres overall. 
Opportunities for visitors to participate in priority public uses would 
increase. Added trails, viewing areas, and photography blinds would 
support additional opportunities for wildlife observation and 
photography. We would develop a formal, curriculum-based environmental 
education program. Environmental interpretation would be enhanced 
through updated interpretive displays and associated services. The 
refuge would be opened to new hunting opportunities, and we would 
provide more accessible sites. Fishing opportunities would be increased 
by providing additional access to canal waters for anglers.

Alternative C (Less Active Habitat Management)

    Under alternative C, most emergent marsh habitat on the refuge 
would be allowed to convert to bottomland floodplain forest. Only the 
Main Pool, Tschache Pool, and visitor center wetland impoundments would 
be maintained. Newly acquired lands would not be converted to 
impoundments. Natural succession would play a larger role in shaping 
vegetative communities on the refuge compared to alternatives A and B. 
We would allow most upland early successional habitats to revert to 
forests. Compared to alternative A, opportunities for visitors to 
participate in priority public uses would increase under this 
alternative, but not to the extent proposed under alternative B. We 
would develop a few additional sites to support wildlife observation 
and photography. Interpretation would be somewhat increased with the 
expansion of the visitor contact station. Interpretive messages would 
be changed, reflecting the different focus of refuge management. 
Hunting opportunities would increase, similar to alternative B; 
however, waterfowl hunting would remain unchanged. Fishing 
opportunities would be the same as alternative B.

Public Availability of Documents

    In addition to any methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain 
documents at the following locations:
     Our Web site: https://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Montezuma/ccphome.html.
     Public Library: the Seneca Falls Library, located at 47 
Cayuga Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148, during regular library hours.

Submitting Comments/Issues for Comment

    We are seeking substantive comments, particularly on the following 
issues:
     Issue 1--public facilities and public uses;
     Issue 2--habitat restoration efforts; and
     Issue 3--partnership opportunities.
    We consider comments substantive if they:

[[Page 30314]]

     Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the 
information in the document;
     Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the EA;
     Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented 
in the EA; and/or
     Provide new or additional information relevant to the EA.

Next Steps

    After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and 
address them in the form of a final CCP and finding of no significant 
impact.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email 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: April 26, 2012.
Wendi Weber,
Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-12373 Filed 5-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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