Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the National Bison Range, Moiese, Montana, 5597-5598 [2017-00808]
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mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2017 / Notices
information we need from applicants.
Hunters often apply for import permits
before leaving on safari and therefore
are not in a position to provide
information on the specific elephant
and population. In addition, hunters are
not necessarily in a position to know
what portion of their hunting fees will
support conservation. This is
information that we acquire from the
countries of origin, not from permit
applicants.
Comment 2: With regard to the cost
burden, the International Fund for
Animal Welfare and the Natural
Resources Defense Council claim that
the permit application fee is too small
and that it should be increased to fully
compensate FWS for costs associated
with performing individualized (as
opposed to country-wide) enhancement
findings. They note that the 2015 market
rate for an African elephant hunting
package was between $25,000 and
$60,000, and add that the $100 permit
application fee ‘‘imposes trivial
additional costs on the importer.’’
Response to Comment 2: We are
currently reevaluating our permit fees
and may, in the future, publish a
proposed rule to revise our fee structure.
Comment 3: The Humane Society of
the United States and Humane Society
International jointly submitted
comments in support of the request for
extension of approval for information
collection through FWS Form 3–200–19
from all importers of African elephant
sport-hunted trophies. They stated their
belief that it is critically important that
this information is collected from
applicants for import permits under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), because the information
‘‘is essential for FWS to comply with its
statutory duties to protect African
elephants from threats that jeopardize
the species’ continued existence.’’ They
also believe that FWS Form 3–200–19
requests the ‘‘bare minimum
information needed’’ from an applicant.
These joint commenters also stated
that the current ‘‘paltry’’ applicant fee of
$100 for an African elephant sporthunted trophy import permit is too low
and should be increased. They assert
that the $100 application fee for import
of trophies ‘‘cannot possibly reimburse
the agency for all of its costs associated
with ensuring that applicants are
eligible for permits,’’ and they ‘‘urge
OMB to formally request that FWS
amend this fee structure.’’
Response to Comment 3: See our
response to Comment 2.
Comment 4: Conservation Force
submitted comments in opposition to
the information collection, stating that
‘‘it is unnecessary and over burdensome
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17:41 Jan 17, 2017
Jkt 241001
for both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service . . . and permit applicants/
tourist safari hunters, and it will not
provide any useful information.’’ They
contend that it is ‘‘a burden without a
benefit’’ and that the burden cannot be
reduced unless the permit requirement
is removed. Conservation Force also
asserts that the burden estimate is
inaccurate, because the Service has not
considered its current backlog of
applications in assessing its ability to
process another 300 permits, the
additional costs and demands for
seizures and law enforcement actions,
and the permit renewal fee.
Response to Comment 4: Our newly
revised regulations require that we issue
an ESA import permit for import of all
African elephant sport-hunted trophies.
We are seeking authorization to collect
the information necessary for us to issue
these permits. The burden estimates are
developed in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act. In estimating
the burden to the Service, we consider
the time required to process an
application, the cost of processing an
application, including the salaries of the
people doing the work, and the
estimated number of applications. In
estimating the burden to the applicant,
we consider the time it takes to
complete an application, including
gathering the necessary information, an
estimate of the salary of the person
completing the form, and the permit fee.
Based on our experience, we believe our
burden estimates are accurate.
We again invite comments concerning
this information collection on:
• Whether or not the collection of
information is necessary, including
whether or not the information will
have practical utility;
• The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of
information;
• Ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and
• Ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. 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 OMB in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that it will be done.
PO 00000
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5597
Dated: January 11, 2017.
Tina A. Campbell,
Chief, Division of Policy and Directives
Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–00960 Filed 1–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R6–R–2016–N221];
[FXRS12610600000–178–FF06R00000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Comprehensive Conservation Plan for
the National Bison Range, Moiese,
Montana
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
gather information necessary to prepare
a draft Comprehensive Conservation
Plan (CCP) for the National Bison Range
(NBR), a unit of the National Wildlife
Refuge System. We are furnishing this
notice in compliance with Service
Refuge Planning policy to advise other
agencies and the public of our
intentions, and to obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of issues
to be considered in the planning
process. Participation in the planning
process will be encouraged and
facilitated by various means, including
news releases and public meetings.
Notification of all such meetings will be
announced in the local press and on the
NBR Web site.
DATES: To ensure consideration, written
comments must be received or
postmarked on or before February 17,
2017.
SUMMARY:
If you wish to comment on
the scope of the CCP/EIS, you may
submit your comments by the following
method: You may mail or hand-deliver
comments to Toni Griffin, Refuge
Planner, NBR CCP, 134 Union
Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni
Griffin, Refuge Planner, NBR CCP, 134
Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228,
or by telephone (303) 236–4378.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our
process for developing a CCP for the
National Bison Range, with
headquarters in Moiese, MT. The notice
complies with our CCP policy to (1)
advise other Federal and State agencies,
E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM
18JAN1
5598
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2017 / Notices
Tribes, and the public of our intention
to conduct planning on this refuge
complex and (2) to obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of
additional issues to consider during
development of the CCP. Through the
CCP, the Service intends to evaluate
both how NBR is managed and who
manages it.
Background
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966,
(Administration Act), as amended by
the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C.
668dd–668ee), requires us to develop a
CCP for each national wildlife refuge.
The purpose of a CCP is to provide
refuge managers with a 15-year strategy
for achieving refuge purposes and
contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System
(NWRS), consistent with sound
principles of fish and wildlife
management, conservation, legal
mandates, and Service 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 Administration
Act.
Each unit of the NWRS was
established for specific purposes. We
use these purposes as the foundation for
developing and prioritizing the
management goals and objectives for
each refuge within the NWRS mission,
and to determine how the public can
use each refuge. The planning process is
a way for us and the public to evaluate
management goals and objectives that
will ensure the best possible approach
to wildlife, plant, and habitat
conservation, while providing for
wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities that are compatible with
each refuge’s establishing purposes and
the mission of the NWRS.
We will conduct environmental
review pursuant to the provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C 4321 et seq.), by
preparing an environmental impact
statement (EIS). The Service intends to
invite the Confederated Salish and
Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) to participate as
a cooperating agency as provided by 40
CFR 1508.5.
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17:41 Jan 17, 2017
Jkt 241001
The Service will prepare a CCP and
EIS which will describe management of
the NBR over the next 15 years. To
facilitate sound planning and
environmental assessment, the Service
intends to gather information necessary
for the preparation of the CCP/EIS and
obtain suggestions and information from
other agencies and the public on the
scope of issues to be addressed in the
CCP/EIS. The Service will separately
consider CCPs for Pablo, Ninepipe, and
Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuges,
and the Northwest Montana Lake
County Wetland Management District
and the waterfowl production areas
therein, which are also part of the
National Bison Range Complex. The
Service will publish a notice of intent to
prepare these CCPs at a later date.
The National Bison Range
In 1855, the United States entered
into the Hell Gate Treaty with the Salish
and Kootenai Tribes of Western
Montana to establish the Flathead
Indian Reservation. Just over 50 years
later, on May 23, 1908, Congress
enacted legislation that used its power
of eminent domain to establish the
refuge. The overall mission of the NBR
is to maintain a representative herd of
bison, under reasonably natural
conditions, to ensure the preservation of
the species for continued public
enjoyment. The NBR is 18,800 acres and
supports between 350 and 500 bison.
The National Bison Range lies entirely
within the boundary of the Flathead
Indian Reservation of the Confederated
Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Members of
the CSKT have a cultural, historical, or
geographic connection to the land and
resources of the Range. There are
significant cultural sites located on the
Range and the land was formerly owned
in trust for the CSKT. The bison at the
range today are descendants of bison
owned and preserved by CSKT members
over a century ago.
Additional Information
The draft CCP/EIS for NBR will
include detailed information about the
planning process, refuge, issues, and
desired resource conditions. Based on
determination of desired conditions,
regardless of which management option
is selected, the final CCP/EIS will
outline resource management activities
and visitor recreational activities. To
facilitate sound judgment of
environmental impacts, the Service is
gathering information necessary for the
preparation of a CCP/EIS. Based on
public input over the years, the Service
believes that the range of management
alternatives should include, at a
minimum:
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
• Alternative A (Current
Management): This alternative
represents continuing current
management and serves as a baseline for
comparing the other alternatives. Under
this alternative, we would continue our
current habitat and visitor services
management activities on existing
refuge lands. The Service would
continue to be responsible for the
overall administration of the NBR and
the day-to-day on-site activities. The
Service would be responsible for
implementation of the NBR CCP.
• Alternative B (Preferred
Management Option): In this
alternative, the Service intends to
evaluate the preferred management
option of a Congressional transfer of
lands comprising of the NBR unit of the
National Wildlife Refuge System to the
CSKT of the Flathead Reservation, to be
held in trust by the Secretary of the
Interior for the benefit of the CSKT. In
addition to the management of the herd
of bison, the CSKT will conserve the
natural resources and provide for public
visitation and educational opportunities
on such lands. Resources would be
managed to perpetuate and protect the
natural environment and to preserve
cultural and historic resources and
values. The alternative returns to the
tribe control of their traditional lands
and cultural resources.
• Alternative C: The Service would
execute and carry out a draft negotiated
Annual Funding Agreement (AFA) per
the Tribal Self Governance Act, wherein
the CSKT would be responsible for
implementing the provisions of the
AFA.
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: December 20, 2016.
Noreen Walsh,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2017–00808 Filed 1–17–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM
18JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5597-5598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00808]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R6-R-2016-N221]; [FXRS12610600000-178-FF06R00000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for
the National Bison Range, Moiese, Montana
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
gather information necessary to prepare a draft Comprehensive
Conservation Plan (CCP) for the National Bison Range (NBR), a unit of
the National Wildlife Refuge System. We are furnishing this notice in
compliance with Service Refuge Planning policy to advise other agencies
and the public of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and
information on the scope of issues to be considered in the planning
process. Participation in the planning process will be encouraged and
facilitated by various means, including news releases and public
meetings. Notification of all such meetings will be announced in the
local press and on the NBR Web site.
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received or
postmarked on or before February 17, 2017.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on the scope of the CCP/EIS, you may
submit your comments by the following method: You may mail or hand-
deliver comments to Toni Griffin, Refuge Planner, NBR CCP, 134 Union
Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, Refuge Planner, NBR CCP,
134 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228, or by telephone (303) 236-
4378.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
the National Bison Range, with headquarters in Moiese, MT. The notice
complies with our CCP policy to (1) advise other Federal and State
agencies,
[[Page 5598]]
Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct planning on this
refuge complex and (2) to obtain suggestions and information on the
scope of additional issues to consider during development of the CCP.
Through the CCP, the Service intends to evaluate both how NBR is
managed and who manages it.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966,
(Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), requires us to develop
a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose of a CCP is to
provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge
purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife
Refuge System (NWRS), consistent with sound principles of fish and
wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service
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 Administration Act.
Each unit of the NWRS was established for specific purposes. We use
these purposes as the foundation for developing and prioritizing the
management goals and objectives for each refuge within the NWRS
mission, and to determine how the public can use each refuge. The
planning process is a way for us and the public to evaluate management
goals and objectives that will ensure the best possible approach to
wildlife, plant, and habitat conservation, while providing for
wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible with
each refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of the NWRS.
We will conduct environmental review pursuant to the provisions of
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C 4321 et seq.),
by preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS). The Service
intends to invite the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) to
participate as a cooperating agency as provided by 40 CFR 1508.5.
The Service will prepare a CCP and EIS which will describe
management of the NBR over the next 15 years. To facilitate sound
planning and environmental assessment, the Service intends to gather
information necessary for the preparation of the CCP/EIS and obtain
suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the
scope of issues to be addressed in the CCP/EIS. The Service will
separately consider CCPs for Pablo, Ninepipe, and Lost Trail National
Wildlife Refuges, and the Northwest Montana Lake County Wetland
Management District and the waterfowl production areas therein, which
are also part of the National Bison Range Complex. The Service will
publish a notice of intent to prepare these CCPs at a later date.
The National Bison Range
In 1855, the United States entered into the Hell Gate Treaty with
the Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Western Montana to establish the
Flathead Indian Reservation. Just over 50 years later, on May 23, 1908,
Congress enacted legislation that used its power of eminent domain to
establish the refuge. The overall mission of the NBR is to maintain a
representative herd of bison, under reasonably natural conditions, to
ensure the preservation of the species for continued public enjoyment.
The NBR is 18,800 acres and supports between 350 and 500 bison. The
National Bison Range lies entirely within the boundary of the Flathead
Indian Reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Members of the CSKT have a cultural, historical, or geographic
connection to the land and resources of the Range. There are
significant cultural sites located on the Range and the land was
formerly owned in trust for the CSKT. The bison at the range today are
descendants of bison owned and preserved by CSKT members over a century
ago.
Additional Information
The draft CCP/EIS for NBR will include detailed information about
the planning process, refuge, issues, and desired resource conditions.
Based on determination of desired conditions, regardless of which
management option is selected, the final CCP/EIS will outline resource
management activities and visitor recreational activities. To
facilitate sound judgment of environmental impacts, the Service is
gathering information necessary for the preparation of a CCP/EIS. Based
on public input over the years, the Service believes that the range of
management alternatives should include, at a minimum:
Alternative A (Current Management): This alternative
represents continuing current management and serves as a baseline for
comparing the other alternatives. Under this alternative, we would
continue our current habitat and visitor services management activities
on existing refuge lands. The Service would continue to be responsible
for the overall administration of the NBR and the day-to-day on-site
activities. The Service would be responsible for implementation of the
NBR CCP.
Alternative B (Preferred Management Option): In this
alternative, the Service intends to evaluate the preferred management
option of a Congressional transfer of lands comprising of the NBR unit
of the National Wildlife Refuge System to the CSKT of the Flathead
Reservation, to be held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior for
the benefit of the CSKT. In addition to the management of the herd of
bison, the CSKT will conserve the natural resources and provide for
public visitation and educational opportunities on such lands.
Resources would be managed to perpetuate and protect the natural
environment and to preserve cultural and historic resources and values.
The alternative returns to the tribe control of their traditional lands
and cultural resources.
Alternative C: The Service would execute and carry out a
draft negotiated Annual Funding Agreement (AFA) per the Tribal Self
Governance Act, wherein the CSKT would be responsible for implementing
the provisions of the AFA.
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: December 20, 2016.
Noreen Walsh,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2017-00808 Filed 1-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
