St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, FL; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Environmental Assessment, 3025-3026 [2013-00653]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 15, 2013 / Notices
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
(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.
Each unit of the Refuge System was
established for specific purposes. We
use these purposes as the foundation for
developing and prioritizing the
management goals and objectives for
each refuge within the Refuge System
mission, and to determine how the
public can use each refuge. The
planning process is a way for us and the
public to evaluate management goals
and objectives for the best possible
conservation approach to this important
wildlife habitat, while providing for
wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities that are compatible with
the refuge’s establishing purposes and
the mission of the Refuge System.
Our CCP process provides
participation opportunities for Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies;
organizations; and the public. We
encourage input in the form of issues,
concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the
future management of Sam D. Hamilton
Noxubee NWR.
We will conduct the environmental
review of this project in accordance
with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.); NEPA regulations (40 CFR parts
1500–1508); other appropriate Federal
laws and regulations; and our policies
and procedures for compliance with
those laws and regulations.
The Noxubee NWR was established
on June 14, 1940, by Executive Order
8444, under the authority of 16 U.S.C.
715 (Migratory Bird Conservation Act).
It was renamed the Sam D. Hamilton
Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge on
June 22, 2012. The refuge’s stated
purpose is ‘‘for use as a Refuge and
breeding ground for migratory birds and
other wildlife.’’ In conjunction with the
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:00 Jan 14, 2013
Jkt 229001
primary establishing purposes, the
refuge provides an area for the
‘‘conservation, management, and
restoration of the fish, wildlife, and
plant resources and their habitats for the
benefit of present and future generations
of Americans’’ 16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)(2)
(National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, as amended
by the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997), as well as
‘‘for the development, advancement,
management, conservation, and
protection of fish and wildlife
resources’’ 16 U.S.C. 742(a)(4) (Fish and
Wildlife Act of 1956). Subsequently, a
small amount of land was purchased
with Migratory Bird Conservation
Stamp monies ‘‘for use as an inviolate
sanctuary, or for any other management
purpose, for migratory birds’’ 16 U.S.C.
715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act).
3025
no significant impact for the
environmental assessment for St.
Vincent National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)
in Franklin and Gulf Counties, Florida.
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 Ms. Shelley Stiaes
via U.S. mail at St. Vincent National
Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 447,
Apalachicola, FL 32329. Alternatively,
you may download the document from
our Internet site, https://
southeast.fws.gov/planning, under
‘‘Final Documents.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Shelley Stiaes, at 850–653–8808
(telephone) or shelley_stiaes@fws.gov
(email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: December 20, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP
process for St. Vincent NWR. We started
the process through a notice in the
Federal Register on April 8, 2009 (74 FR
16002). For more about the process, see
that notice.
St. Vincent NWR is located in
Franklin and Gulf Counties along the
Gulf Coast of northwest Florida,
approximately 60 miles from Panama
City and 80 miles from Tallahassee. St.
Vincent NWR’s approved acquisition
boundary is approximately 13,736 acres,
with a current management boundary of
approximately 12,490 acres. The staff
oversees 21 Farm Service Agency
easements, totaling 1,625 acres in six
counties. The 12,490-acre refuge
boundary includes two islands—St.
Vincent (12,358 acres) and Pig (46
acres). It also includes a mainland
tract—14 Mile Tract (86 acres).
[FR Doc. 2013–00652 Filed 1–14–13; 8:45 am]
Background
Public Availability and 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.
Authority
This notice is published under the
authority of the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of
1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.).
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R4–R–2012–N218;
FXRS12650400000S3–123–FF04R02000]
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge,
FL; Final Comprehensive Conservation
Plan and Finding of No Significant
Impact for the Environmental
Assessment
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
We, the Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service), announce the
availability of the final comprehensive
conservation plan (CCP) and finding of
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00087
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The CCP Process
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
E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM
15JAN1
3026
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 15, 2013 / Notices
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.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with
Comments
We made copies of the Draft
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment (Draft CCP/
EA) available for a 30-day public review
and comment period via a Federal
Register notice on May 2, 2012 (77 FR
26035). We provided more than 125
copies of the Draft CCP/EA to those
individuals or organizations requesting
a copy. A total of 12 individuals,
organizations, and government agencies
provided comments by U.S. mail or
email. Comments were received from
many organizations, including the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission;
University of South Florida; Florida
State University; Florida Department of
Environmental Protection; Florida
Natural Areas Inventory; Choctaw
Nation of Oklahoma; Jena Band of
Choctaw Indians; and Florida
Department of State, Division of
Historical Resources; and several
members of the public.
CCP Alternatives, Including our
Preferred Alternative
We developed three alternatives for
managing the refuge (Alternatives A, B,
and C), with Alternative C selected for
implementation. This alternative will
focus on a greater effort to manage and
protect the refuge’s native and imperiled
species. We will continue to survey and
monitor species of federal
responsibility, such as threatened and
endangered species, migratory birds,
and key native species, but will also
gain a better understanding of native
species on the refuge. Additional efforts
will be made to protect and support
nesting for key species, as well as gain
a better understanding of population
dynamics of some species. We will
conduct evaluations to determine if it is
suitable to reestablish populations of the
eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise,
and eastern wild turkey on the refuge.
We will continue to manage lakes 1,
2, and 3 by seasonal draw-downs to
support the needs of shorebirds and
wading birds. Lakes 4 and 5 will
continue to support deep water for a
freshwater fisheries program, with an
occasional draw-down to manage
vegetation within the system. Since the
purchase of the refuge, there has been
minimal emphasis on timber condition,
so a forest habitat assessment will be
conducted. The management of exotic,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:00 Jan 14, 2013
Jkt 229001
invasive, and nuisance animals and
plants will be a focus, with emphasis on
aggressively eradicating feral hogs.
Wildlife-dependent recreational uses
of the refuge will be expanded. We will
allow hunting of white-tailed deer,
sambar deer, and raccoon. Fishing will
consist of saltwater and freshwater
opportunities. Wildlife observation,
wildlife photography, and
environmental education and
interpretation will be enhanced to focus
on imperiled species, the unique barrier
island history and ecosystem as they
relate to the coastal environment, and
management style incorporating climate
change effects. We will enhance the
environmental education program to
incorporate Florida Sunshine Standards,
while establishing guidelines for public
programs. Vehicle tours that meet
management objectives will continue as
long as we have sufficient staff to
support the program. In addition to the
current staff, the following positions
will be added: assistant refuge manager,
wildlife biologist, maintenance worker,
wildlife officer, visitor services
specialist, and boat operator. We will
also add a wildlife biologist under the
Student Conservation Employment
Program, continue our participation in
the Youth Conservation Corps, and
explore Student Conservation
Association and AmeriCorps program
opportunities.
We will continue to use volunteers
and strive to build stronger
relationships with the Friends group
and our partners to manage the
resources, support the Strategic Habitat
Conservation initiative, and the
Landscape Conservation Cooperative.
As climate change affects the refuge, we
will increase research of species and
habitat changes to support the best
management decisions through adaptive
management.
We have included compatibility
determinations in the final CCP for the
following: (1) Hunting (Big Game); (2)
Recreational Fishing; (3) Environmental
Education and Interpretation; (4)
Wildlife Observation and Photography;
(5) Hiking, Jogging, Walking, and
Bicycling; (6) Boating (canoeing and
kayaking); (7) Camping (associated with
hunting); (8) Firewood Gathering
(associated with hunting); (9) General
Research and Scientific Collecting; and
(10) Beach Use and Shelling.
Authority
This notice is published under the
authority of the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of
1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.).
PO 00000
Frm 00088
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Dated: November 2, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–00653 Filed 1–14–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R6–R–2012–N232; FF06R06000–
FXRS1265066CCP0S2–123]
Establishment of Swan Valley
Conservation Area, Montana
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice advises the public
that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) has established the Swan
Valley Conservation Area as a unit of
the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The Service established the Swan Valley
Conservation Area on August 6, 2012,
with the donation of an 80-acre
conservation easement in Missoula
County, Montana.
ADDRESSES: A map depicting the
approved Refuge boundary and other
information regarding the Refuge is
available on the Internet at https://
www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/
planning/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni
Griffin, Planning Team Leader, Division
of Refuge Planning, USFWS, P.O. Box
25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225. https://
www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/
planning/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Service has established the Swan Valley
Conservation Area in western Montana,
including portions of Lake and Missoula
Counties. The Service will conserve
wildlife resources in the conservation
area, primarily through the purchase of
perpetual easements and a limited
amount of fee-title from willing sellers.
These easements will connect and
expand existing lands under
conservation protection. Fee-title
purchases will be restricted to lands
immediately adjacent to Swan River
National Wildlife Refuge.
The project will help ensure the
perpetual conservation of one of the last
undeveloped, low-elevation coniferous
forest ecosystems in western Montana,
in the greater Crown of the Continent
ecosystem. Based on anticipated levels
of landowner participation, objectives
for the conservation area are to protect
10,000 acres of wildlife habitat through
conservation easements and another
1,000 acres through fee-title around the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM
15JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3025-3026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00653]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2012-N218; FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000]
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, FL; Final Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for the
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact for the environmental assessment for
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Franklin and Gulf
Counties, Florida. 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 Ms. Shelley
Stiaes via U.S. mail at St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box
447, Apalachicola, FL 32329. Alternatively, you may download the
document from our Internet site, https://southeast.fws.gov/planning,
under ``Final Documents.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Shelley Stiaes, at 850-653-8808
(telephone) or shelley_stiaes@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for St. Vincent NWR.
We started the process through a notice in the Federal Register on
April 8, 2009 (74 FR 16002). For more about the process, see that
notice.
St. Vincent NWR is located in Franklin and Gulf Counties along the
Gulf Coast of northwest Florida, approximately 60 miles from Panama
City and 80 miles from Tallahassee. St. Vincent NWR's approved
acquisition boundary is approximately 13,736 acres, with a current
management boundary of approximately 12,490 acres. The staff oversees
21 Farm Service Agency easements, totaling 1,625 acres in six counties.
The 12,490-acre refuge boundary includes two islands--St. Vincent
(12,358 acres) and Pig (46 acres). It also includes a mainland tract--
14 Mile Tract (86 acres).
Background
The CCP Process
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
[[Page 3026]]
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 Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment (Draft CCP/EA) available for a 30-day public
review and comment period via a Federal Register notice on May 2, 2012
(77 FR 26035). We provided more than 125 copies of the Draft CCP/EA to
those individuals or organizations requesting a copy. A total of 12
individuals, organizations, and government agencies provided comments
by U.S. mail or email. Comments were received from many organizations,
including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission; University of South
Florida; Florida State University; Florida Department of Environmental
Protection; Florida Natural Areas Inventory; Choctaw Nation of
Oklahoma; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; and Florida Department of
State, Division of Historical Resources; and several members of the
public.
CCP Alternatives, Including our Preferred Alternative
We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge
(Alternatives A, B, and C), with Alternative C selected for
implementation. This alternative will focus on a greater effort to
manage and protect the refuge's native and imperiled species. We will
continue to survey and monitor species of federal responsibility, such
as threatened and endangered species, migratory birds, and key native
species, but will also gain a better understanding of native species on
the refuge. Additional efforts will be made to protect and support
nesting for key species, as well as gain a better understanding of
population dynamics of some species. We will conduct evaluations to
determine if it is suitable to reestablish populations of the eastern
indigo snake, gopher tortoise, and eastern wild turkey on the refuge.
We will continue to manage lakes 1, 2, and 3 by seasonal draw-downs
to support the needs of shorebirds and wading birds. Lakes 4 and 5 will
continue to support deep water for a freshwater fisheries program, with
an occasional draw-down to manage vegetation within the system. Since
the purchase of the refuge, there has been minimal emphasis on timber
condition, so a forest habitat assessment will be conducted. The
management of exotic, invasive, and nuisance animals and plants will be
a focus, with emphasis on aggressively eradicating feral hogs.
Wildlife-dependent recreational uses of the refuge will be
expanded. We will allow hunting of white-tailed deer, sambar deer, and
raccoon. Fishing will consist of saltwater and freshwater
opportunities. Wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and
environmental education and interpretation will be enhanced to focus on
imperiled species, the unique barrier island history and ecosystem as
they relate to the coastal environment, and management style
incorporating climate change effects. We will enhance the environmental
education program to incorporate Florida Sunshine Standards, while
establishing guidelines for public programs. Vehicle tours that meet
management objectives will continue as long as we have sufficient staff
to support the program. In addition to the current staff, the following
positions will be added: assistant refuge manager, wildlife biologist,
maintenance worker, wildlife officer, visitor services specialist, and
boat operator. We will also add a wildlife biologist under the Student
Conservation Employment Program, continue our participation in the
Youth Conservation Corps, and explore Student Conservation Association
and AmeriCorps program opportunities.
We will continue to use volunteers and strive to build stronger
relationships with the Friends group and our partners to manage the
resources, support the Strategic Habitat Conservation initiative, and
the Landscape Conservation Cooperative. As climate change affects the
refuge, we will increase research of species and habitat changes to
support the best management decisions through adaptive management.
We have included compatibility determinations in the final CCP for
the following: (1) Hunting (Big Game); (2) Recreational Fishing; (3)
Environmental Education and Interpretation; (4) Wildlife Observation
and Photography; (5) Hiking, Jogging, Walking, and Bicycling; (6)
Boating (canoeing and kayaking); (7) Camping (associated with hunting);
(8) Firewood Gathering (associated with hunting); (9) General Research
and Scientific Collecting; and (10) Beach Use and Shelling.
Authority
This notice is published under the authority of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et
seq.).
Dated: November 2, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-00653 Filed 1-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
