Draft Strategic Growth Policy for the National Wildlife Refuge System, 4952-4953 [2014-01849]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 20 / Thursday, January 30, 2014 / Notices
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(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.
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Dated: December 18, 2013.
Roy E. Wright,
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Mitigation, Department of Homeland
Security, Federal Emergency Management
Agency.
[FR Doc. 2014–01803 Filed 1–29–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–12–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services
[OMB Control Number 1615–0069]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Application by Refugee for
Waiver of Grounds of Excludability,
Form I–602; Extension, Without
Change, of a Currently Approved
Collection
ACTION:
60-day notice.
The Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) invites
the general public and other Federal
agencies to comment upon this
proposed extension of a currently
approved collection of information. In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the
information collection notice is
published in the Federal Register to
obtain comments regarding the nature of
the information collection, the
categories of respondents, the estimated
burden (i.e. the time, effort, and
resources used by the respondents to
respond), the estimated cost to the
respondent, and the actual information
collection instruments.
DATES: Comments are encouraged and
will be accepted for 60 days until March
31, 2014.
ADDRESSES: All submissions received
must include the OMB Control Number
1615–0069 in the subject box, the
agency name and Docket ID USCIS–
2006–0042. To avoid duplicate
submissions, please use only one of the
following methods to submit comments:
(1) Online. Submit comments via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at
www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID
number USCIS–2006–0042;
(2) Email. Submit comments to
USCISFRComment@uscis.dhs.gov;
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SUMMARY:
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(3) Mail. Submit written comments to
DHS, USCIS, Office of Policy and
Strategy, Chief, Regulatory Coordination
Division, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20529–2140.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments: Regardless of the method
used for submitting comments or
material, all submissions will be posted,
without change, to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov, and will include
any personal information you provide.
Therefore, submitting this information
makes it public. You may wish to
consider limiting the amount of
personal information that you provide
in any voluntary submission you make
to DHS. DHS may withhold information
provided in comments from public
viewing that it determines may impact
the privacy of an individual or is
offensive. For additional information,
please read the Privacy Act notice that
is available via the link in the footer of
https://www.regulations.gov.
Note: The address listed in this notice
should only be used to submit comments
concerning this information collection.
Please do not submit requests for individual
case status inquiries to this address. If you
are seeking information about the status of
your individual case, please check ‘‘My Case
Status’’ online at: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/
Dashboard.do, or call the USCIS National
Customer Service Center at 1–800–375–5283.
Written comments and suggestions
from the public and affected agencies
should address one or more of the
following four points:
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
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Overview of This Information
Collection
(1) Type of Information Collection:
Extension, Without Change, of a
Currently Approved Collection.
(2) Title of the Form/Collection:
Application by Refugee for Waiver of
Grounds of Excludability.
(3) Agency form number, if any, and
the applicable component of the DHS
sponsoring the collection: I–602; USCIS.
(4) Affected public who will be asked
or required to respond, as well as a brief
abstract: Primary: Individuals or
households. Form I–602 is necessary to
establish eligibility for waiver of
excludability based on humanitarian,
family unity, or public interest.
(5) An estimate of the total number of
respondents and the amount of time
estimated for an average respondent to
respond: 2,500 responses at 0.25 hours
(15 minutes) per response.
(6) An estimate of the total public
burden (in hours) associated with the
collection: 625 annual burden hours.
If you need a copy of the information
collection instrument with instructions,
or additional information, please visit
the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at:
https://www.regulations.gov. We may
also be contacted at: USCIS, Office of
Policy and Strategy, Regulatory
Coordination Division, 20
Massachusetts Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20529–2140,
Telephone number 202–272–8377.
Dated: January 24, 2014.
Laura Dawkins,
Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division,
Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2014–01764 Filed 1–29–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–R–2013–N246;
FXRS12650900000–145–FF09R20000]
Draft Strategic Growth Policy for the
National Wildlife Refuge System
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comment.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), propose a
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30JAN1.SGM
30JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 20 / Thursday, January 30, 2014 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
policy to implement a strategic
approach to the growth of the National
Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System,
System). The National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act
(Administration Act), as amended by
the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act, requires that we
‘‘plan and direct the continued growth
of the System in a manner that is best
designed to accomplish the mission of
the System.’’ This draft policy instructs
the Refuge System to focus its
protection measures on priority
conservation features in order to ensure
that our limited resources are directed
to make the greatest contribution to the
conservation of species in a strategic,
cost-effective, and transparent manner.
It ensures the growth of the System
reflects our vision towards managing
functional landscapes, enhancing our
scientific rigor, improving our
effectiveness, and involving our
partners and the American people. We
propose to incorporate this draft policy
as Part 602, chapter 5 of the Fish and
Wildlife Service Manual.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by March
3, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this draft policy by any of the
following methods:
U.S. Mail or Hand Delivery: Sarena
Selbo, Division of Natural Resources
and Conservation Planning, National
Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax
Drive, Room 600A, Arlington, VA
22203;
Email: nwrsstrategicgrowthpolicy@
fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarena Selbo, at the address above, or
telephone: (703) 358–2664.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft
guidance document which is the subject
of this notice is available at: https://
www.fws.gov/refuges/planning/
StrategicGrowth.html.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997 amends the
Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd–
ee) and provides an organic act for the
Refuge System. It states that the Refuge
System mission is to ‘‘administer a
national network of lands and waters for
the conservation, management, and
where appropriate, restoration of the
fish, wildlife, and plant resources and
their habitats for the benefit of present
and future generations of Americans.’’ It
requires us to ‘‘plan and direct the
continued growth of the System in a
manner that is best designed to
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:24 Jan 29, 2014
Jkt 232001
4953
accomplish the mission of the System’’,
‘‘to fulfill the mission of the System, as
well as the specific purposes for which
[the] refuge was established’’, and to
‘‘ensure timely and effective
cooperation and collaboration with
Federal agencies and State fish and
wildlife agencies during the course of
acquiring and managing refuges.’’ We
cannot fulfill our mission in the face of
unparalleled challenges related to
climate and non-climate stressors unless
we provide consistent direction for
adding lands and waters to the System
in a science-based, cost-effective, and
transparent manner. Based on statutory
requirements, we developed a draft
policy for Strategic Growth of the
Refuge System.
change and other non-climate stressors
(e.g. habitat fragmentation, invasive
species, etc.), describe how the Refuge
System will mitigate stressors to ensure
the project’s resiliency, are arranged in
a geographically efficient manner to
safeguard ecological processes across
the landscape, and complement the
resilience of other conservation areas.
This draft policy identifies how the
Service Director will receive project
proposals, potential outcomes of
Director project review, and how
designated representatives at the local
level, the refuge managers, must
interact, coordinate, cooperate, and
collaborate with State fish and wildlife
agencies in the acquisition and
management of refuges.
Draft Policy
The purpose of the draft policy is to
provide guidance for the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to implement a
strategic approach to the growth of the
National Wildlife Refuge System
including: national wildlife refuges and
other areas managed by the Refuge
System. It prioritizes acquisitions
within existing refuge boundaries,
expanding existing refuges, and
establishing new refuges. As well, the
draft policy focuses protection measures
on priority conservation features to
ensure our limited resources make the
greatest contribution to the conservation
of species in a strategic, cost-effective,
and transparent manner. This policy
ensures strategic growth of the System
and reflects our vision towards
managing for functional landscapes,
enhancing our scientific rigor,
improving our effectiveness, and
involving our partners and the
American people.
This draft policy is consistent with
the biological planning and
conservation design components of
Strategic Habitat Conservation, the
Service’s science-based, adaptive
management framework for determining
where and how to deliver conservation
efficiently to achieve specific biological
outcomes. The draft policy identifies
threatened and endangered species,
migratory birds of conservation concern,
waterfowl, or the surrogate species that
represent them, as priority conservation
features.
The draft policy requires application
of the best available science to
incorporate elements of conservation
design in the identification of priority
conservation areas, which support
priority conservation features, to
contribute in achieving measurable
conservation targets such as population
objectives. This draft policy ensures
projects discuss vulnerability to climate
Request for Public Comments
We seek public comments on the draft
Strategic Growth policy, and will
consider comments and any additional
information we receive during the
comment period (see DATES). You may
submit comments to any of the places
cited in ADDRESSES.
PO 00000
Frm 00090
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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: January 9, 2014.
Dan Ashe,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–01849 Filed 1–29–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[DR.5A211.IA000414]
Final Determination Against Federal
Acknowledgment of the Tolowa Nation
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of final determination.
AGENCY:
The Department of the
Interior (Department) gives notice that
the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs
(AS–IA) declines to acknowledge the
petitioner known as the Tolowa Nation
(Petitioner #85) as an Indian tribe
within the meaning of Federal law. The
AS–IA makes this final determination
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30JAN1.SGM
30JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4952-4953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01849]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-R-2013-N246; FXRS12650900000-145-FF09R20000]
Draft Strategic Growth Policy for the National Wildlife Refuge
System
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose a
[[Page 4953]]
policy to implement a strategic approach to the growth of the National
Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System, System). The National Wildlife
Refuge System Administration Act (Administration Act), as amended by
the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, requires that we
``plan and direct the continued growth of the System in a manner that
is best designed to accomplish the mission of the System.'' This draft
policy instructs the Refuge System to focus its protection measures on
priority conservation features in order to ensure that our limited
resources are directed to make the greatest contribution to the
conservation of species in a strategic, cost-effective, and transparent
manner. It ensures the growth of the System reflects our vision towards
managing functional landscapes, enhancing our scientific rigor,
improving our effectiveness, and involving our partners and the
American people. We propose to incorporate this draft policy as Part
602, chapter 5 of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
March 3, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this draft policy by any of the
following methods:
U.S. Mail or Hand Delivery: Sarena Selbo, Division of Natural
Resources and Conservation Planning, National Wildlife Refuge System,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 600A,
Arlington, VA 22203;
Email: nwrsstrategicgrowthpolicy@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarena Selbo, at the address above, or
telephone: (703) 358-2664.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft guidance document which is the
subject of this notice is available at: https://www.fws.gov/refuges/planning/StrategicGrowth.html.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 amends
the Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd-ee) and provides an organic act
for the Refuge System. It states that the Refuge System mission is to
``administer a national network of lands and waters for the
conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the
fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit
of present and future generations of Americans.'' It requires us to
``plan and direct the continued growth of the System in a manner that
is best designed to accomplish the mission of the System'', ``to
fulfill the mission of the System, as well as the specific purposes for
which [the] refuge was established'', and to ``ensure timely and
effective cooperation and collaboration with Federal agencies and State
fish and wildlife agencies during the course of acquiring and managing
refuges.'' We cannot fulfill our mission in the face of unparalleled
challenges related to climate and non-climate stressors unless we
provide consistent direction for adding lands and waters to the System
in a science-based, cost-effective, and transparent manner. Based on
statutory requirements, we developed a draft policy for Strategic
Growth of the Refuge System.
Draft Policy
The purpose of the draft policy is to provide guidance for the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to implement a strategic approach to the
growth of the National Wildlife Refuge System including: national
wildlife refuges and other areas managed by the Refuge System. It
prioritizes acquisitions within existing refuge boundaries, expanding
existing refuges, and establishing new refuges. As well, the draft
policy focuses protection measures on priority conservation features to
ensure our limited resources make the greatest contribution to the
conservation of species in a strategic, cost-effective, and transparent
manner. This policy ensures strategic growth of the System and reflects
our vision towards managing for functional landscapes, enhancing our
scientific rigor, improving our effectiveness, and involving our
partners and the American people.
This draft policy is consistent with the biological planning and
conservation design components of Strategic Habitat Conservation, the
Service's science-based, adaptive management framework for determining
where and how to deliver conservation efficiently to achieve specific
biological outcomes. The draft policy identifies threatened and
endangered species, migratory birds of conservation concern, waterfowl,
or the surrogate species that represent them, as priority conservation
features.
The draft policy requires application of the best available science
to incorporate elements of conservation design in the identification of
priority conservation areas, which support priority conservation
features, to contribute in achieving measurable conservation targets
such as population objectives. This draft policy ensures projects
discuss vulnerability to climate change and other non-climate stressors
(e.g. habitat fragmentation, invasive species, etc.), describe how the
Refuge System will mitigate stressors to ensure the project's
resiliency, are arranged in a geographically efficient manner to
safeguard ecological processes across the landscape, and complement the
resilience of other conservation areas.
This draft policy identifies how the Service Director will receive
project proposals, potential outcomes of Director project review, and
how designated representatives at the local level, the refuge managers,
must interact, coordinate, cooperate, and collaborate with State fish
and wildlife agencies in the acquisition and management of refuges.
Request for Public Comments
We seek public comments on the draft Strategic Growth policy, and
will consider comments and any additional information we receive during
the comment period (see DATES). You may submit comments to any of the
places cited in ADDRESSES.
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: January 9, 2014.
Dan Ashe,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-01849 Filed 1-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
