Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge, Accomack County, VA; Record of Decision for Final Environmental Impact Statement, 947-948 [2016-176]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2016 / Notices
Vermont
4 Buildings
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
563 Bartlett Brook Rd.
Pomfret VT 05067
Landholding Agency: Interior
Property Number: 61201540006
Status: Excess
Directions: Bartlett Barn, Bartlett Calf House,
Milkhouse, Bartlett Sugarhouse
Comments: Documented deficiencies:
Structurally unsound; extremely
dilapidated conditions; clear threat to
physical safety
Reasons: Extensive deterioration
[FR Doc. 2015–33189 Filed 1–7–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R5–R–2015–N216; BAC–4333–99]
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
and Wallops Island National Wildlife
Refuge, Accomack County, VA; 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 Chincoteague
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and
Wallops Island NWR. We prepared this
ROD pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA) and its implementing
regulations. The Service is furnishing
this notice to advise the public and
other agencies of our decision and of the
availability of the ROD.
DATES: The ROD was signed on
November 6, 2015.
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/
refuge/Chincoteague/what_we_do/
conservation.html.
Email: Send requests to
northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include
‘‘Chincoteague 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.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Visit
during regular business hours at refuge
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:40 Jan 07, 2016
Jkt 238001
headquarters, 8231 Beach Road,
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336.
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 Chincoteague NWR and
Wallops Island NWR. We began this
process through a notice of intent in the
Federal Register (75 FR 57056) on
September 17, 2010. For more about the
initial process and the history of the
refuges, see that notice. On May 15,
2014, we announced the release of the
draft CCP/Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to the public and
requested comments in a notice of
availability in the Federal Register (79
FR 27906). We subsequently extended
the public comment period in another
notice in the Federal Register (79 FR
41300) on July 15, 2014. We released the
final CCP/EIS for public review on
September 11, 2015 (80 FR 54799).
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 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 Chincoteague NWR and
Wallops Island NWR. The final CCP will
guide our management and
administration of the refuges over the
next 15 years.
Background
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
(Refuge System). CCPs should be
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
947
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.
CCP Alternatives
During the scoping phase of the
planning process, we identified issues
and concerns based on input from the
public, State or Federal agencies, other
Service programs, and our planning
team. We developed refuge management
alternatives to address issues; help
achieve refuge goals, objectives, and
purposes; and support the Refuge
System mission. Our draft CCP/EIS (79
FR 27906) and final CCP/EIS (80 FR
54799) fully analyze three alternatives
for the future management of the refuge:
(1) Alternative A, Current Management;
(2) Alternative B, Balanced Approach;
and (3) Alternative C, Reduced
Disturbance. 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).
The decision to adopt alternative B for
implementation was made after
considering the follow factors: (1) The
impacts identified in Chapter 4,
Environmental Consequences, of the
draft and final CCP/EIS; (2) The results
of public and agency comments; (3)
How well the alternative achieves the
stated purpose and need for a CCP and
the seven goals presented in the final
CCP/EIS chapter 1; (4) How well the
alternative addresses the relevant issues,
concerns, and opportunities identified
in the planning process; and (5) Other
relevant factors, including fulfilling the
purposes for which the refuge was
established, contributing to the mission
and goals of the Refuge System, and
statutory and regulatory guidance.
Compared to the other two
alternatives, alternative B includes the
E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM
08JAN1
948
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2016 / Notices
suite of actions that best meet the factors
above using the most balanced and
integrated approach, and with due
consideration for both the biological and
human environment. Alternative B will
best fulfill the CCP’s biological goals, by
managing for particular Federal trust
species and habitats that are of regional
conservation concern. It clearly defines
which Federal trust species and habitat
will be a management priority in both
uplands and wetlands, and details
specific objectives and strategies for
their management. The refuge’s
establishment purposes emphasize the
conservation of migratory birds; thus,
protecting the biological integrity,
diversity, and environmental health of
Chincoteague NWR and its habitat and
wildlife, particularly migratory birds, is
paramount.
In summary, we selected alternative B
for implementation because it best
meets the factors identified above when
compared to alternatives A and C.
Alternative B provides the greatest
number of opportunities for
Chincoteague NWR and Wallops Island
NWR to contribute to the conservation
of fish, wildlife, and habitat in the
Region, will increase the capacity of the
refuges to meet their purposes and
contribute to the Refuge System
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: December 9, 2015.
Wendi Weber,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–176 Filed 1–7–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[156A2100DD/AAKC001030/
A0A501010.999900 253G]
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Proclaiming Certain Lands as
Reservation for the Mashpee
Wampanoag
Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Notice of Reservation
Proclamation.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This notice informs the public
that the Assistant Secretary—Indian
Affairs proclaimed approximately
321.34 acres, more or less, as the initial
reservation of the Mashpee Wampanoag
Tribe on December 30, 2015.
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:40 Jan 07, 2016
Jkt 238001
Ms.
Sharlene Round Face, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Division of Real Estate Services,
MS–4642–MIB, 1849 C Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20240, at (202) 208–
3615.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice is published in the exercise of
authority delegated by the Secretary of
the Interior to the Assistant Secretary—
Indian Affairs by part 209 of the
Departmental Manual.
A proclamation was issued according
to the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984;
25 U.S.C. 467) for the lands described
below. The land was proclaimed to be
the Mashpee Wampanoag Reservation of
the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. The
approximate acreages described below
are those identified in Attachment I of
the Record of Decision signed by the
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs on
September 18, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Parcel 1—213 Sampsons Mill Road
(Assessor’s Parcel 63–10–0–R)
Description of land in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
County of Barnstable, Town of Mashpee
on the east side of Quippish Road, and
the south side of Sampsons Mill Road
more particularly shown as Lot 6 on a
plan entitled ‘‘Plan of Land in Mashpee,
Mass. Jill Slaymaker in Mashpee, Ma.
Scale 1″ = 100′, Date March 22, 1985’’
prepared by Edward E. Kelley Reg. Land
Surveyor and recorded in Barnstable
County Registry of Deeds, Plan Book
401 Page 97. Bounded and described as
follows:
Beginning at a concrete bound at the
intersection of Quippish Road and
Linwood Street and the southwesterly
corner of the parcel herein described;
Thence N 01°28′19″ W along the
easterly sideline of Quippish Road a
distance of 258.98 feet to a concrete
bound;
Thence N 14°02′10″ W along the
easterly sideline of Quippish Road on a
distance of 209.57 feet to a concrete
bound;
Thence N 20°57′57″ W along the
easterly sideline of Quippish Road a
distance of 266.53 feet to a point near
a concrete bound disturbed at the land
now or formerly of Willowbend
Community Trust;
Thence N 68°19′49″ E along land now
or formerly of Willowbend Community
Trust a distance of 335.86 feet to a
concrete bound;
Thence N 18°23′09″ W along land
now or formerly of Willowbend
Community Trust a distance of 391.81
feet to a concrete bound at the easterly
sideline of Quippish Road;
Thence N 18°23′09″ W along the
easterly sideline of Quippish Road a
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
distance of 355.84 feet to a mag nail set
at the southerly sideline of Sampsons
Mill Road;
Thence S 70°51′50″ E along the
southerly sideline of Sampsons Mill
Road a distance of 528.32 feet to a
concrete bound at the point of
curvature;
Thence easterly along the southerly
sideline of Sampsons Mill Road a curve
to the left having a radius of 191.36 feet,
an arc distance of 132.25 feet, a chord
bearing N 89°20′15″ E and a chord
length of 129.63 feet to point of
tangency;
Thence N 69°32′13″ E along the
southerly sideline of Sampsons Mill
Road a distance of 195.68 feet to a point
of curvature;
Thence easterly along the southerly
sideline of Sampsons Mill Road a curve
to the right having a radius of 171.59
feet, an arc distance of 120.46 feet, a
chord bearing N 89°38′54″ E and a chord
length of 118.00 feet to point of
tangency;
Thence S 70°14′27″ E along the
southerly sideline of Sampsons Mill
Road a distance of 114.00 feet to the
medial line of the Santuit River;
Thence numerous courses along the
medial line of Santuit River;
Thence S 26°12′29″ W along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 21.27 feet to a point;
Thence S 06°37′27″ E along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 98.31 feet to a point;
Thence S 49°39′30″ W along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 40.85 feet to a point;
Thence S 38°48′36″ W along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 43.45 feet to point;
Thence S 30°48′45″ E along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 27.64 feet to a point;
Thence S 53°29′40″ E along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 31.73 feet to a point;
Thence S 29°39′25″ E along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 73.97 feet to a point;
Thence S 05°07′08″ W along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 81.61 feet to a point;
Thence S 19°19′45″ W along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 55.78 feet to a point;
Thence S 14°31′54″ E along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 146.35 feet to a point;
Thence S 27°27′03″ E along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 94.14 feet to a point;
Thence S 51°23′03″ E along the
medial line of the Santuit River a
distance of 56.47 feet to a point;
E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM
08JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 947-948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-176]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2015-N216; BAC-4333-99]
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Wallops Island National
Wildlife Refuge, Accomack County, VA; 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 Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR) and Wallops Island NWR. We prepared this ROD pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and its implementing
regulations. The Service is furnishing this notice to advise the public
and other agencies of our decision and of the availability of the ROD.
DATES: The ROD was signed on November 6, 2015.
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/refuge/Chincoteague/what_we_do/conservation.html.
Email: Send requests to northeastplanning@fws.gov. Include
``Chincoteague 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.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Visit during regular business hours at
refuge headquarters, 8231 Beach Road, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336.
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 Chincoteague NWR
and Wallops Island NWR. We began this process through a notice of
intent in the Federal Register (75 FR 57056) on September 17, 2010. For
more about the initial process and the history of the refuges, see that
notice. On May 15, 2014, we announced the release of the draft CCP/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the public and requested
comments in a notice of availability in the Federal Register (79 FR
27906). We subsequently extended the public comment period in another
notice in the Federal Register (79 FR 41300) on July 15, 2014. We
released the final CCP/EIS for public review on September 11, 2015 (80
FR 54799).
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 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
Chincoteague NWR and Wallops Island NWR. The final CCP will guide our
management and administration of the refuges over the next 15 years.
Background
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 (Refuge System). 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.
CCP Alternatives
During the scoping phase of the planning process, we identified
issues and concerns based on input from the public, State or Federal
agencies, other Service programs, and our planning team. We developed
refuge management alternatives to address issues; help achieve refuge
goals, objectives, and purposes; and support the Refuge System mission.
Our draft CCP/EIS (79 FR 27906) and final CCP/EIS (80 FR 54799) fully
analyze three alternatives for the future management of the refuge: (1)
Alternative A, Current Management; (2) Alternative B, Balanced
Approach; and (3) Alternative C, Reduced Disturbance. 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).
The decision to adopt alternative B for implementation was made
after considering the follow factors: (1) The impacts identified in
Chapter 4, Environmental Consequences, of the draft and final CCP/EIS;
(2) The results of public and agency comments; (3) How well the
alternative achieves the stated purpose and need for a CCP and the
seven goals presented in the final CCP/EIS chapter 1; (4) How well the
alternative addresses the relevant issues, concerns, and opportunities
identified in the planning process; and (5) Other relevant factors,
including fulfilling the purposes for which the refuge was established,
contributing to the mission and goals of the Refuge System, and
statutory and regulatory guidance.
Compared to the other two alternatives, alternative B includes the
[[Page 948]]
suite of actions that best meet the factors above using the most
balanced and integrated approach, and with due consideration for both
the biological and human environment. Alternative B will best fulfill
the CCP's biological goals, by managing for particular Federal trust
species and habitats that are of regional conservation concern. It
clearly defines which Federal trust species and habitat will be a
management priority in both uplands and wetlands, and details specific
objectives and strategies for their management. The refuge's
establishment purposes emphasize the conservation of migratory birds;
thus, protecting the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental
health of Chincoteague NWR and its habitat and wildlife, particularly
migratory birds, is paramount.
In summary, we selected alternative B for implementation because it
best meets the factors identified above when compared to alternatives A
and C. Alternative B provides the greatest number of opportunities for
Chincoteague NWR and Wallops Island NWR to contribute to the
conservation of fish, wildlife, and habitat in the Region, will
increase the capacity of the refuges to meet their purposes and
contribute to the Refuge System 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: December 9, 2015.
Wendi Weber,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-176 Filed 1-7-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
