Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Sussex County, DE; Record of Decision for Final Environmental Impact Statement, 25092-25093 [2013-09754]
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25092
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 82 / Monday, April 29, 2013 / Notices
Dated: April 22, 2013.
Lawrence A. Tabak,
Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2013–10042 Filed 4–26–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R5–R–2013–N065; BAC–4311–K9–S3]
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge,
Sussex County, DE; Record of
Decision for Final Environmental
Impact Statement
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; final
comprehensive conservation plan and
record of decision.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the final comprehensive
conservation plan (CCP) and record of
decision (ROD) for Prime Hook National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR). We completed a
thorough analysis of the environmental,
social, and economic considerations and
presented it in our final CCP and
environmental impact statement (EIS),
which we released to the public on
December 28, 2012. The ROD
documents our decision to implement
alternative B, as described in the final
CCP/EIS. The Regional Director, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast
Region, signed the ROD on March 29,
2013. We will begin implementation of
the CCP immediately.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain
copies of the final CCP and ROD by any
of the following methods:
Agency Web site: Download a copy of
the document at https://www.fws.gov/
northeast/planning/Prime%20Hook/
ccphome.html.
Email: Send requests to
northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include
‘‘Prime Hook NWR’’ in the subject line
of your email.
U.S. Mail: Thomas Bonetti, Natural
Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center
Drive, Hadley, MA 01035.
Fax: Attention: Thomas Bonetti, 413–
253–8468.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call
302–684–8419 to make an appointment
(necessary for view/pickup only) during
regular business hours at Prime Hook
NWR, 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton,
DE 19968.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Bonetti, Natural Resource
Planner, 413–253–8307 (phone);
northeastplanning@fws.gov (email).
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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14:16 Apr 26, 2013
Jkt 229001
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP
process for Prime Hook NWR. We began
this process through a notice of intent
in the Federal Register (70 FR 60365) on
October 17, 2005. On May 9, 2011, we
announced our decision to prepare an
EIS in conjunction with the CCP, rather
than an environmental assessment (76
FR 26751). On May 31, 2012, we
released the draft CCP/EIS for public
review and comments (77 FR 32131).
We subsequently extended the public
comment period (77 FR 47435) on
August 8, 2012. We released the final
CCP/EIS for public review on December
28, 2012 (77 FR 76510).
In the draft and final CCP/EIS, we
evaluated three alternatives for
managing the refuge and completed a
thorough analysis of the environmental,
social, and economic considerations of
each alternative. Based on comments
received on the draft CCP/EIS, we made
minor modifications to alternative B, the
Service’s preferred alternative in the
final CCP/EIS. During the public review
period for the final CCP/EIS, we did not
receive any comments that raised
significant new issues, resulted in
changes to our analysis, or warranted
any further changes to alternative B.
In accordance with National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40
CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements, this notice
announces our decision to select
alternative B for implementation and
the availability of the ROD and final
CCP for Prime Hook NWR. Alternative
B, as described in the final CCP, will
guide our management and
administration of the refuge over the
next 15 years.
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 NWR. The purpose for
developing a CCP is to provide refuge
managers with a 15-year plan for
achieving refuge purposes and goals and
contributing to the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System
(NWRS). CCPs should be consistent
with sound principles of fish and
wildlife management, conservation,
legal mandates, and our policies, as well
as respond to key issues and public
concerns. In addition to outlining broad
management direction on conserving
wildlife and their habitats, CCPs
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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.
Prime Hook NWR
In 1963, Prime Hook NWR was
established under the authority of the
Migratory Bird Conservation Act ‘‘for
use as an inviolate sanctuary, or any
other management purpose, expressly
for migratory birds.’’ It was established
primarily to preserve coastal wetlands
as wintering and breeding habitat for
migratory waterfowl. The 10,144-acre
refuge stretches along the west shore of
Delaware Bay and is located 22 miles
southeast of Dover, Delaware. Eighty
percent of the refuge is tidal and
freshwater wetlands that flow into the
Delaware Bay and surrounding coastal
marshes. The remaining 20 percent of
the refuge consists of upland habitats
that abut intensive agricultural and
residential developments.
CCP Alternatives
During the scoping phase of the
planning process, we identified the
following list of major issues based on
input from the public, State or Federal
agencies, other Service programs, and
our planning team: Climate change, sea
level rise, refuge marshes, habitat and
wildlife species management, mosquito
control, hunting and other public uses,
and nuisance and invasive species
control. We developed refuge
management alternatives to address
these issues; help achieve refuge goals,
objectives, and purposes; and support
the NWRS mission. Our draft CCP/EIS
(77 FR 32131) and final CCP/EIS (77 FR
76510) fully analyze three alternatives
for the future management of the refuge:
(1) Alternative A, Current Management;
(2) Alternative B, Service-preferred
Alternative; and (3) Alternative C,
Historic Habitat Management.
Alternative A satisfies the NEPA
requirement of a ‘‘No Action’’
alternative. Both the draft and final
plans identify alternative B as the
Service-preferred alternative. Please
refer to the final CCP/EIS for more
details on each of the alternatives.
Basis for Selected Alternative
Our decision is to adopt alternative B,
as described in the final CCP. We
provide a brief summary of our decision
below. For the full basis of our decision,
please see the ROD (see ADDRESSES).
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emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 82 / Monday, April 29, 2013 / Notices
We determined that, compared to the
other two alternatives, alternative B
includes the suite of actions that best
meet the purpose of, and need for, the
CCP; achieve refuge purposes and goals;
contribute toward the mission of the
NWRS; address the relevant issues,
concerns, and opportunities identified
in the planning process; and protect,
preserve, and enhance natural resources
on the refuge. Alternative B is also
consistent with the sound principles of
fish and wildlife and fulfills our
statutory and regulatory guidance.
We believe that alternative B uses the
most balanced and integrated approach
to refuge management, with due
consideration for both the biological and
human environment. Alternative B will
best fulfill the refuge’s biological goals,
by emphasizing management for
particular Federal trust species and
habitats that are of regional conservation
concern. Alternative B would also best
restore the natural ecology and
hydrology of Prime Hook’s barrier
island and marsh system and provide
valuable ecosystem services, such as
storm surge protection and flood
protection. Compared to the other
alternatives, our proposal under
alternative B to restore refuge
impoundments to healthy, selfsustaining brackish marsh and salt
marsh will encourage the conditions
most resilient to sea level rise; have
sustainable, long-term benefits to
neighboring human communities; and
provide valuable habitat for waterfowl,
songbirds, waterbirds, shorebirds, and
other wildlife. Alternative B will also
best enhance visitor services by
expanding access to facilities and
opening new trails for wildlife
observation, photography,
interpretation, environmental
education, hunting, and fishing, and
modifying the hunting program for
greater administrative efficiency.
In summary, we selected alternative B
for implementation because it provides
the greatest opportunities for Prime
Hook NWR to contribute to the
conservation of fish, wildlife, and
habitat in the region; will increase the
capacity of the refuge to meet its
purposes and contribute to the NWRS
mission; and will provide the means to
better respond to changing ecological
conditions within the surrounding
environment.
Public Availability of Documents
You can view or obtain the final CCP
and ROD as indicated under ADDRESSES.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:16 Apr 26, 2013
Jkt 229001
Dated: April 19, 2013.
Sherry W. Morgan,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2013–09754 Filed 4–26–13; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–MB–2012–N287; 91400–5110–
0000; 91400–9410–0000]
Multistate Conservation Grant
Program; Priority List and Approval for
Conservation Projects
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of priority list
and approval of projects.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the
fiscal year 2013 priority list of wildlife
and sport fish conservation projects
from the Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies (AFWA). As required
by the Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration Programs Improvement Act
of 2000, AFWA submits a list of projects
to us each year to consider for funding
under the Multistate Conservation Grant
program. We have reviewed the list and
have awarded all the grants from the
list.
SUMMARY:
John C. Stremple, Multistate
Conservation Grants Program
Coordinator, Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration Program, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax
Drive, Mail Stop WSFR–4020,
Arlington, VA 22203.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
C. Stremple, at the above address, or at
(703) 358–2156 (phone) or
John_Stremple@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000
(Improvement Act, Pub. L. 106–408)
amended the Pittman-Robertson
Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669
et seq.) and the Dingell-Johnson Sport
Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777 et
seq.) and established the Multistate
Conservation Grant Program. The
Improvement Act authorizes us to
award grants of up to $3 million
annually from funds available under
each of the Restoration Acts, for a total
of up to $6 million annually. Projects
can be funded from both funds
depending on the project activities. We
ADDRESSES:
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25093
may award grants to projects from a list
of priority projects recommended to us
by the Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies. The FWS Director, exercising
the authority of the Secretary of the
Interior, need not fund all projects on
the list, but all projects funded must be
on the list.
Grantees under this program may use
funds for sport fisheries and wildlife
management and research projects,
boating access development, hunter
safety and education, aquatic education,
fish and wildlife habitat improvements,
and other purposes consistent with the
enabling legislation.
To be eligible for funding, a project
must benefit fish and/or wildlife
conservation in at least 26 States, or in
a majority of the States in any one FWS
Region, or it must benefit a regional
association of State fish and wildlife
agencies. We may award grants to a
State, a group of States, or one or more
nongovernmental organizations. For the
purpose of carrying out the National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation, we may
award grants to the FWS, if requested by
AFWA, or to a State or a group of States.
Also, AFWA requires all project
proposals to address its National
Conservation Needs, which AFWA
announces annually at the same time as
its request for proposals. Further,
applicants must provide certification
that no activities conducted under a
Multistate Conservation grant will
promote or encourage opposition to
regulated hunting or trapping of
wildlife, or to regulated angling or
taking of fish.
Eligible project proposals are
reviewed and ranked by AFWA
Committees and interested
nongovernmental organizations that
represent conservation organizations,
sportsmen’s and women’s organizations,
and industries that support or promote
fishing, hunting, trapping, recreational
shooting, bowhunting, or archery.
AFWA’s Committee on National Grants
recommends a final list of priority
projects to the directors of State fish and
wildlife agencies for their approval by
majority vote. By statute, AFWA then
must transmit the final approved list to
the FWS for funding under the
Multistate Conservation Grant program
by October 1 of the fiscal year.
This year, we received a list of 17
projects recommended for funding by
AFWA. We have awarded all of them for
fiscal year 2013. The list follows:
E:\FR\FM\29APN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25092-25093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09754]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2013-N065; BAC-4311-K9-S3]
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Sussex County, DE; Record of
Decision for Final Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; final comprehensive conservation plan
and record of decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
record of decision (ROD) for Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).
We completed a thorough analysis of the environmental, social, and
economic considerations and presented it in our final CCP and
environmental impact statement (EIS), which we released to the public
on December 28, 2012. The ROD documents our decision to implement
alternative B, as described in the final CCP/EIS. The Regional
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, signed the
ROD on March 29, 2013. We will begin implementation of the CCP
immediately.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and ROD by
any of the following methods:
Agency Web site: Download a copy of the document at https://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Prime%20Hook/ccphome.html.
Email: Send requests to northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include ``Prime
Hook NWR'' in the subject line of your email.
U.S. Mail: Thomas Bonetti, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035.
Fax: Attention: Thomas Bonetti, 413-253-8468.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 302-684-8419 to make an
appointment (necessary for view/pickup only) during regular business
hours at Prime Hook NWR, 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton, DE 19968.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Bonetti, Natural Resource
Planner, 413-253-8307 (phone); northeastplanning@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Prime Hook NWR.
We began this process through a notice of intent in the Federal
Register (70 FR 60365) on October 17, 2005. On May 9, 2011, we
announced our decision to prepare an EIS in conjunction with the CCP,
rather than an environmental assessment (76 FR 26751). On May 31, 2012,
we released the draft CCP/EIS for public review and comments (77 FR
32131). We subsequently extended the public comment period (77 FR
47435) on August 8, 2012. We released the final CCP/EIS for public
review on December 28, 2012 (77 FR 76510).
In the draft and final CCP/EIS, we evaluated three alternatives for
managing the refuge and completed a thorough analysis of the
environmental, social, and economic considerations of each alternative.
Based on comments received on the draft CCP/EIS, we made minor
modifications to alternative B, the Service's preferred alternative in
the final CCP/EIS. During the public review period for the final CCP/
EIS, we did not receive any comments that raised significant new
issues, resulted in changes to our analysis, or warranted any further
changes to alternative B.
In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR
1506.6(b)) requirements, this notice announces our decision to select
alternative B for implementation and the availability of the ROD and
final CCP for Prime Hook NWR. Alternative B, as described in the final
CCP, will guide our management and administration of the refuge over
the next 15 years.
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 NWR. The purpose for developing a CCP is to
provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving refuge
purposes and goals and contributing to the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). CCPs should be consistent with sound
principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal
mandates, and our policies, as well as respond to key issues and public
concerns. 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.
Prime Hook NWR
In 1963, Prime Hook NWR was established under the authority of the
Migratory Bird Conservation Act ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or
any other management purpose, expressly for migratory birds.'' It was
established primarily to preserve coastal wetlands as wintering and
breeding habitat for migratory waterfowl. The 10,144-acre refuge
stretches along the west shore of Delaware Bay and is located 22 miles
southeast of Dover, Delaware. Eighty percent of the refuge is tidal and
freshwater wetlands that flow into the Delaware Bay and surrounding
coastal marshes. The remaining 20 percent of the refuge consists of
upland habitats that abut intensive agricultural and residential
developments.
CCP Alternatives
During the scoping phase of the planning process, we identified the
following list of major issues based on input from the public, State or
Federal agencies, other Service programs, and our planning team:
Climate change, sea level rise, refuge marshes, habitat and wildlife
species management, mosquito control, hunting and other public uses,
and nuisance and invasive species control. We developed refuge
management alternatives to address these issues; help achieve refuge
goals, objectives, and purposes; and support the NWRS mission. Our
draft CCP/EIS (77 FR 32131) and final CCP/EIS (77 FR 76510) fully
analyze three alternatives for the future management of the refuge: (1)
Alternative A, Current Management; (2) Alternative B, Service-preferred
Alternative; and (3) Alternative C, Historic Habitat Management.
Alternative A satisfies the NEPA requirement of a ``No Action''
alternative. Both the draft and final plans identify alternative B as
the Service-preferred alternative. Please refer to the final CCP/EIS
for more details on each of the alternatives.
Basis for Selected Alternative
Our decision is to adopt alternative B, as described in the final
CCP. We provide a brief summary of our decision below. For the full
basis of our decision, please see the ROD (see ADDRESSES).
[[Page 25093]]
We determined that, compared to the other two alternatives,
alternative B includes the suite of actions that best meet the purpose
of, and need for, the CCP; achieve refuge purposes and goals;
contribute toward the mission of the NWRS; address the relevant issues,
concerns, and opportunities identified in the planning process; and
protect, preserve, and enhance natural resources on the refuge.
Alternative B is also consistent with the sound principles of fish and
wildlife and fulfills our statutory and regulatory guidance.
We believe that alternative B uses the most balanced and integrated
approach to refuge management, with due consideration for both the
biological and human environment. Alternative B will best fulfill the
refuge's biological goals, by emphasizing management for particular
Federal trust species and habitats that are of regional conservation
concern. Alternative B would also best restore the natural ecology and
hydrology of Prime Hook's barrier island and marsh system and provide
valuable ecosystem services, such as storm surge protection and flood
protection. Compared to the other alternatives, our proposal under
alternative B to restore refuge impoundments to healthy, self-
sustaining brackish marsh and salt marsh will encourage the conditions
most resilient to sea level rise; have sustainable, long-term benefits
to neighboring human communities; and provide valuable habitat for
waterfowl, songbirds, waterbirds, shorebirds, and other wildlife.
Alternative B will also best enhance visitor services by expanding
access to facilities and opening new trails for wildlife observation,
photography, interpretation, environmental education, hunting, and
fishing, and modifying the hunting program for greater administrative
efficiency.
In summary, we selected alternative B for implementation because it
provides the greatest opportunities for Prime Hook NWR to contribute to
the conservation of fish, wildlife, and habitat in the region; will
increase the capacity of the refuge to meet its purposes and contribute
to the NWRS mission; and will provide the means to better respond to
changing ecological conditions within the surrounding environment.
Public Availability of Documents
You can view or obtain the final CCP and ROD as indicated under
ADDRESSES.
Dated: April 19, 2013.
Sherry W. Morgan,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2013-09754 Filed 4-26-13; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
