Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Lincoln County, WY; Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment, 58340-58342 [2013-23107]
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<![CDATA[
58340
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 184 / Monday, September 23, 2013 / Notices
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
97.022, ‘‘Flood Insurance.’’)
Dated: August 30, 2013.
Roy E. Wright,
Deputy Associate Administrator for
Mitigation, Department of Homeland
Security, Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
[FR Doc. 2013–23065 Filed 9–20–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–12–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R6–R–2013–N158;
FXRS1265066CCP0–134–FF06R06000]
Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife
Refuge, Lincoln County, WY; Draft
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability;
announcement of meeting; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce
that our draft comprehensive
conservation plan (CCP) and
environmental assessment (EA) for the
Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife
Refuge (Refuge) is available for public
review and comment. The draft CCP/EA
describes how the Service intends to
manage this Refuge for the next 15
years. We provide this notice in
compliance with our CCP policy to
advise the public, other Federal and
State agencies, and Tribes of the
availability of the draft CCP/EA and to
solicit comments.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we
must receive your written comments on
the draft CCP/EA by October 21, 2013.
Submit comments by one of the
methods under ADDRESSES. We will
hold a public meeting; see Public
Meeting under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for the date, time, and
location.
ADDRESSES: Send your comment or
requests for more information by any of
the following methods.
Email: seedskadee@fws.gov. Include
‘‘Cokeville Meadows NWR Draft CCP
and EA’’ in the subject line of the
message.
Fax: Attn: Bernardo Garza, 303–236–
4792.
U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Division of Refuge Planning,
P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, CO 80225.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or
Pickup: Call 303–236–4377 to make an
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
20:16 Sep 20, 2013
Jkt 229001
appointment (necessary for view/pickup
only) during regular business hours at
134 Union Boulevard, Suite 300,
Lakewood, CO 80228.
Document Request: A copy of the
CCP/EA may be obtained by writing to
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division
of Refuge Planning, 134 Union
Boulevard, Suite 300, Lakewood, CO
80228; or by download from https://
mountain-prairie.fws.gov/planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bernardo Garza, 303–236–4377, (phone)
or bernardo_garza@fws.gov (email); or
David C. Lucas, 303–236–4366 (phone),
P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, CO 80225–0486.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP
process for the Cokeville Meadows
NWR. We started this process through a
notice in the Federal Register (74 FR
57328; November 5, 2009). This notice
complies with our CCP policy to (1)
advise other Federal and State agencies,
Tribes, and the public of the availability
of the draft CCP/EA for this refuge and
(2) to obtain comments on the
information provided in the draft CCP/
EA.
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 unit of the National
Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge
System). The purpose for developing a
CCP is to provide refuge managers with
a 15-year plan for achieving the
purposes for which their refuge was
established and contributing toward the
mission of the 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.
The Refuge
Cokeville Meadows NWR was
established in 1993 for the conservation
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
of the wetlands of the nation, in order
to maintain the public benefits they
provide and to help fulfill international
obligations contained in various
migratory bird treaties and conventions,
as well as for use as an inviolate
sanctuary for migratory birds. This
refuge is bisected throughout its length
by the Bear River and contains a mosaic
of wet meadows and cattail/bulrush
sloughs. Many of these wetlands were
originally created and maintained by
agricultural practices. The shrub-steppe
uplands are dominated by sagebrush
and a combination of grasses typical of
the arid West. Cokeville Meadows NWR
provides nesting habitat for at least 32
water bird species; if developed, these
habitats could provide suitable nesting
habitat for more migratory bird species,
including the trumpeter swan, a species
of management concern. Refuge habitats
also provide important habitat for
resident species. Greater sage grouse use
upland sagebrush areas for nesting,
while riparian areas provide important
feeding sites for their broods and a
variety of neotropical migratory birds.
Big game, including antelope, mule
deer, and elk, also utilize Refuge
habitats.
Public Outreach
We started the CCP for the Cokeville
Meadows NWR in early November 2009,
by inviting the Wyoming Game, Fish
and Parks Department and 12 Native
American tribal governments to
participate in the planning process. The
planning team was assembled in late
November during the CCP Kickoff
Meeting. We developed a mailing list
and sent a planning update to all
individuals and groups on that list. The
planning update included basic
information on the Refuge, the planning
process, how the public could provide
comments and become involved in the
planning process, and the dates, times,
and places of the two public meetings
we held in public venues in two
communities near the Refuge (also in
November). At that time and throughout
the process, we requested public
comments and considered and
incorporated them in numerous ways.
Comments we received cover topics
such as invasive plant control on refuge
lands, opening the refuge to hunting and
fishing opportunities, improvement of
the water quality and fisheries in the
Bear River, public access to the Refuge,
and the Refuge habitats’ management
tools (e.g., grazing, haying, farming,
water flooding, etc.). We have
considered and evaluated all of these
comments, with many incorporated into
the various alternatives addressed in the
draft CCP and the EA.
E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM
23SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 184 / Monday, September 23, 2013 / Notices
CCP Alternatives We Are Considering
During the public scoping process
with which we started work on this
draft CCP, we, State of Wyoming
wildlife officials, representatives of the
City of Cokeville, the Lincoln County
Planning Department, the Bureau of
Land Management, and the public
raised several issues. Our draft CCP
58341
addresses them. A full description of
each alternative is in the EA. To address
these issues, we developed and
evaluated the following alternatives,
summarized below.
Alternative A: Current
management
(No action)
Alternative B: Hydrology
and Habitat Restoration
Alternative C: Resource
enhancement
Alternative D: Landscapelevel management
(Proposed action)
Public Access to Refuge
Lands to Engage in
Wildlife-Dependent Public Uses.
Refuge remains closed to
public access except for
information kiosk, walking trail at Netherly
Slough and headquarters, and to opportunistic, staff-guided, environmental education
programs.
Same as Alternative B.
Plus:
Refuge staff seeks partners to restore Bear
River riparian corridor to
improve the river’s water
and fisheries quality.
Same as Alternative C.
Plus:
Refuge staff expands partnerships throughout Wyoming’s Bear River watershed to improve habitats and movement corridors for wildlife and
fishes.
Habitat and Wildlife Management.
Continue current levels of
irrigation, haying, and
grazing to manage refuge habitats.
Upland habitats are managed and restored to increase wildlife productivity and diversity.
Wet meadow and wetland
habitats are managed
with water diversions
from the Bear River.
Agricultural practices are
geared to enhance refuge habitats for wildlife.
Same as Alternative C.
Monitoring and Research ..
Maintain partnerships on
limited and opportunistic
monitoring of wildlife
populations, habitats
and water quality conditions.
Continue permitting research activities when
compatible with refuge
purposes.
Continue coordinating and
working with the Lincoln
County to monitor and
control treat invasive
plants through integrated
pest management, including chemical, biological, and mechanical
methods.
The Refuge:
Maintains the existing
open areas;
Opens new access points
and areas of the refuge
to migratory bird, big
and small game hunting,
and fishing;
Seeks to provide self-guided interpretive opportunities;
Provides information wildlife observation and photography opportunities.
Haying and grazing used
to manage refuge habitats.
Agricultural crops used
solely as a tool to reestablish native habitats.
Consider removing water
management infrastructure to replace current irrigation with overbank
flooding during river high
flows to manage wet
meadow and wetland
habitats.
Same as Alternative A ......
Same as alternative A, but
in more programmatic
fashion. Plus the staff:
Pursues funding and research opportunities with
higher education institutions;
Actively seeks new partners to enhance its
monitoring capabilities.
Same as Alternative B ......
Same as Alternative C,
plus the refuge:
Expands partnerships to
include new partners
throughout Wyoming’s
Bear River watershed.
Invasive Species ...............
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Wildlife Disease, Crop
Depredation, and Wildlife
Damage to Private Property.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Continue work with the
State to separate elk
herd from cattle on refuge lands to keep wildlife diseases from domestic cattle.
Continue to grow small
grain crops on refuge
lands to keep migratory
birds from depredating
on private crops.
20:16 Sep 20, 2013
Jkt 229001
PO 00000
Same as Alternative A.
Plus the staff:
Works with cooperators to
address invasive aquatic
species throughout Bear
River watershed.
Works with partners to
control carp, and improve water quality on
refuge wet meadow and
riverine habitats
The refuge establishes
hunt program which
would alleviate wildlife
and cattle comingling
and crop depredation
issues.
Frm 00075
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Same as Alternative B ......
E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM
23SEN1
Same as Alternative B.
Plus:
The staff expands its involvement and partnerships to control invasive
species throughout Wyoming’s Bear River watershed.
Same as Alternative B.
58342
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 184 / Monday, September 23, 2013 / Notices
Alternative A: Current
management
(No action)
Funding, Staffing, Infrastructure, and Partnerships.
Alternative B: Hydrology
and Habitat Restoration
Alternative C: Resource
enhancement
Refuge to remain unmanned.
No new or added vehicles,
infrastructure or equipment. Replace them
only as needed.
Current staffing and funding will preclude pursuing new partnerships.
Staffing and funding would
need to be expanded to:
Carry out the plan;
Build and maintain access
roads, auto tour route,
and parking facilities;
Maintain existing and establish new partnerships.
Same as Alternative B ......
Alternative D: Landscapelevel management
(Proposed action)
Same as Alternative B.
Public Meeting
Opportunity for public input will be
provided at the following public open
house meeting.
Date
Time
Location
September 26, 2013 .......................
5:30–7:30 p.m ................................
Cokeville High School, Auditorium, 435 Pine Street, Cokeville, WY
83114.
Next Steps
After the public reviews and provides
comments on the draft CCP and EA, the
planning team will present this
document, along with a summary of all
substantive public comments, to the
Regional Director. The Regional Director
will consider the environmental effects
of each alternative, including
information gathered during public
review, and will select a preferred
alternative for the draft CCP and EA. If
the Regional Director finds that no
significant impacts would occur, the
Regional Director’s decision will be
disclosed in a finding of no significant
impact included in the final CCP. If the
Regional Director finds a significant
impact would occur, an environmental
impact statement will be prepared. If
approved, the action in the preferred
alternative will compose the final CCP.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Public Availability of Comments
All public comment information
provided voluntarily by mail, by phone,
or at meetings (e.g., names, addresses,
letters of comment, input recorded
during meetings) becomes part of the
official public record. If requested under
the Freedom of Information Act by a
private citizen or organization, the
Service may provide copies of such
information.
Authority
The environmental review of this
project will be conducted in accordance
with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts
1500–1508, 43 CFR Part 46); other
VerDate Mar<15>2010
20:16 Sep 20, 2013
Jkt 229001
appropriate Federal laws and
regulations; Executive Order 12996; the
National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997; and Service
policies and procedures for compliance
with those laws and regulations.
Dated: August 20, 2013.
Noreen Walsh,
Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–23107 Filed 9–20–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
Fish and Wildlife Service
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–VRP–14127; PXXVPADO515]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Proposed Fee Schedule for
Commercial Filming and Still
Photography Permits
Office of the Secretary, Bureau
of Land Management, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, National Park Service,
Interior; Forest Service, Agriculture.
ACTION: Extension of public comment
period.
AGENCY:
The Department of the
Interior and the Department of
Agriculture are extending the public
comment period for the proposed fee
schedule for commercial filming and
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00076
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
still photography conducted on public
lands under their jurisdiction. The
additional comment period is in
response to a request.
DATES: Written comments will be
accepted through October 23, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any of the following methods:
• Email:
location_fee_notice_2013@nps.gov; put
‘‘Commercial Filming Fee Schedule’’ in
the subject line.
• Mail: Lee Dickinson, Special Park
Uses Program Manager, National Park
Service, 1849 C Street NW., ORG CODE
2460, Washington, DC 20240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee
Dickinson, National Park Service at
202–513–7092 or by email at
lee_dickinson@nps.gov. Individuals
who use telecommunication devices for
the deaf may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339 to contact the above
named individual during normal
business hours. The FIRS is available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. You will
receive a reply during normal business
hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August
22, 2013 we published in the Federal
Register a proposed location fee
schedule to establish land-use fees for
commercial filming and still
photography that are consistent for the
National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land
Management and U.S. Forest Service (78
FR 52209). The fees would provide a
fair return to the United States, as
required by law. Comments were
accepted for 30 days, closing on
September 23, 3013. After receiving a
E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM
23SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58340-58342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23107]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R6-R-2013-N158; FXRS1265066CCP0-134-FF06R06000]
Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Lincoln County, WY;
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; announcement of meeting; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce
that our draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental
assessment (EA) for the Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge) is available for public review and comment. The draft CCP/EA
describes how the Service intends to manage this Refuge for the next 15
years. We provide this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to
advise the public, other Federal and State agencies, and Tribes of the
availability of the draft CCP/EA and to solicit comments.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
on the draft CCP/EA by October 21, 2013. Submit comments by one of the
methods under ADDRESSES. We will hold a public meeting; see Public
Meeting under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the date, time, and
location.
ADDRESSES: Send your comment or requests for more information by any of
the following methods.
Email: seedskadee@fws.gov. Include ``Cokeville Meadows NWR Draft
CCP and EA'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Bernardo Garza, 303-236-4792.
U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Refuge
Planning, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call 303-236-4377 to make
an appointment (necessary for view/pickup only) during regular business
hours at 134 Union Boulevard, Suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80228.
Document Request: A copy of the CCP/EA may be obtained by writing
to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Refuge Planning, 134
Union Boulevard, Suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80228; or by download from
https://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernardo Garza, 303-236-4377, (phone)
or bernardo_garza@fws.gov (email); or David C. Lucas, 303-236-4366
(phone), P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225-0486.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Cokeville
Meadows NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal
Register (74 FR 57328; November 5, 2009). This notice complies with our
CCP policy to (1) advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and
the public of the availability of the draft CCP/EA for this refuge and
(2) to obtain comments on the information provided in the draft CCP/EA.
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 unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System
(Refuge System). The purpose for developing a CCP is to provide refuge
managers with a 15-year plan for achieving the purposes for which their
refuge was established and contributing toward the mission of the
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.
The Refuge
Cokeville Meadows NWR was established in 1993 for the conservation
of the wetlands of the nation, in order to maintain the public benefits
they provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in
various migratory bird treaties and conventions, as well as for use as
an inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds. This refuge is bisected
throughout its length by the Bear River and contains a mosaic of wet
meadows and cattail/bulrush sloughs. Many of these wetlands were
originally created and maintained by agricultural practices. The shrub-
steppe uplands are dominated by sagebrush and a combination of grasses
typical of the arid West. Cokeville Meadows NWR provides nesting
habitat for at least 32 water bird species; if developed, these
habitats could provide suitable nesting habitat for more migratory bird
species, including the trumpeter swan, a species of management concern.
Refuge habitats also provide important habitat for resident species.
Greater sage grouse use upland sagebrush areas for nesting, while
riparian areas provide important feeding sites for their broods and a
variety of neotropical migratory birds. Big game, including antelope,
mule deer, and elk, also utilize Refuge habitats.
Public Outreach
We started the CCP for the Cokeville Meadows NWR in early November
2009, by inviting the Wyoming Game, Fish and Parks Department and 12
Native American tribal governments to participate in the planning
process. The planning team was assembled in late November during the
CCP Kickoff Meeting. We developed a mailing list and sent a planning
update to all individuals and groups on that list. The planning update
included basic information on the Refuge, the planning process, how the
public could provide comments and become involved in the planning
process, and the dates, times, and places of the two public meetings we
held in public venues in two communities near the Refuge (also in
November). At that time and throughout the process, we requested public
comments and considered and incorporated them in numerous ways.
Comments we received cover topics such as invasive plant control on
refuge lands, opening the refuge to hunting and fishing opportunities,
improvement of the water quality and fisheries in the Bear River,
public access to the Refuge, and the Refuge habitats' management tools
(e.g., grazing, haying, farming, water flooding, etc.). We have
considered and evaluated all of these comments, with many incorporated
into the various alternatives addressed in the draft CCP and the EA.
[[Page 58341]]
CCP Alternatives We Are Considering
During the public scoping process with which we started work on
this draft CCP, we, State of Wyoming wildlife officials,
representatives of the City of Cokeville, the Lincoln County Planning
Department, the Bureau of Land Management, and the public raised
several issues. Our draft CCP addresses them. A full description of
each alternative is in the EA. To address these issues, we developed
and evaluated the following alternatives, summarized below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternative B: Alternative D:
Alternative A: Hydrology and Alternative C: Landscape-level
Current management Habitat Resource management
(No action) Restoration enhancement (Proposed action)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Access to Refuge Lands to Refuge remains The Refuge: Same as Same as
Engage in Wildlife-Dependent closed to public Maintains the Alternative B. Alternative C.
Public Uses. access except for existing open Plus: Plus:
information areas;. Refuge staff seeks Refuge staff
kiosk, walking Opens new access partners to expands
trail at Netherly points and areas restore Bear partnerships
Slough and of the refuge to River riparian throughout
headquarters, and migratory bird, corridor to Wyoming's Bear
to opportunistic, big and small improve the River watershed
staff-guided, game hunting, and river's water and to improve
environmental fishing;. fisheries habitats and
education Seeks to provide quality.. movement
programs. self-guided corridors for
interpretive wildlife and
opportunities;. fishes.
Provides
information
wildlife
observation and
photography
opportunities..
Habitat and Wildlife Management. Continue current Haying and grazing Upland habitats Same as
levels of used to manage are managed and Alternative C.
irrigation, refuge habitats. restored to
haying, and Agricultural crops increase wildlife
grazing to manage used solely as a productivity and
refuge habitats. tool to diversity.
reestablish Wet meadow and
native habitats. wetland habitats
Consider removing are managed with
water management water diversions
infrastructure to from the Bear
replace current River..
irrigation with Agricultural
overbank flooding practices are
during river high geared to enhance
flows to manage refuge habitats
wet meadow and for wildlife..
wetland habitats.
Monitoring and Research......... Maintain Same as Same as Same as
partnerships on Alternative A. alternative A, Alternative C,
limited and but in more plus the refuge:
opportunistic programmatic Expands
monitoring of fashion. Plus the partnerships to
wildlife staff: include new
populations, Pursues funding partners
habitats and and research throughout
water quality opportunities Wyoming's Bear
conditions. with higher River watershed.
Continue education
permitting institutions;.
research Actively seeks new
activities when partners to
compatible with enhance its
refuge purposes. monitoring
capabilities..
Invasive Species................ Continue Same as Same as Same as
coordinating and Alternative A. Alternative B. Alternative B.
working with the Plus the staff: Plus:
Lincoln County to Works with The staff expands
monitor and cooperators to its involvement
control treat address invasive and partnerships
invasive plants aquatic species to control
through throughout Bear invasive species
integrated pest River watershed.. throughout
management, Works with Wyoming's Bear
including partners to River watershed.
chemical, control carp, and
biological, and improve water
mechanical quality on refuge
methods. wet meadow and
riverine habitats.
Wildlife Disease, Crop Continue work with The refuge Same as Same as
Depredation, and Wildlife the State to establishes hunt Alternative B. Alternative B.
Damage to Private Property. separate elk herd program which
from cattle on would alleviate
refuge lands to wildlife and
keep wildlife cattle comingling
diseases from and crop
domestic cattle. depredation
Continue to grow issues.
small grain crops
on refuge lands
to keep migratory
birds from
depredating on
private crops..
[[Page 58342]]
Funding, Staffing, Refuge to remain Staffing and Same as Same as
Infrastructure, and unmanned. funding would Alternative B. Alternative B.
Partnerships. No new or added need to be
vehicles, expanded to:
infrastructure or Carry out the
equipment. plan;.
Replace them only Build and maintain
as needed.. access roads,
Current staffing auto tour route,
and funding will and parking
preclude pursuing facilities;.
new partnerships.. Maintain existing
and establish new
partnerships..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Meeting
Opportunity for public input will be provided at the following
public open house meeting.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Time Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 26, 2013............ 5:30-7:30 p.m.... Cokeville High
School, Auditorium,
435 Pine Street,
Cokeville, WY 83114.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Steps
After the public reviews and provides comments on the draft CCP and
EA, the planning team will present this document, along with a summary
of all substantive public comments, to the Regional Director. The
Regional Director will consider the environmental effects of each
alternative, including information gathered during public review, and
will select a preferred alternative for the draft CCP and EA. If the
Regional Director finds that no significant impacts would occur, the
Regional Director's decision will be disclosed in a finding of no
significant impact included in the final CCP. If the Regional Director
finds a significant impact would occur, an environmental impact
statement will be prepared. If approved, the action in the preferred
alternative will compose the final CCP.
Public Availability of Comments
All public comment information provided voluntarily by mail, by
phone, or at meetings (e.g., names, addresses, letters of comment,
input recorded during meetings) becomes part of the official public
record. If requested under the Freedom of Information Act by a private
citizen or organization, the Service may provide copies of such
information.
Authority
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508, 43 CFR Part 46); other appropriate
Federal laws and regulations; Executive Order 12996; the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997; and Service policies
and procedures for compliance with those laws and regulations.
Dated: August 20, 2013.
Noreen Walsh,
Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23107 Filed 9-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
