[Federal Register: April 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 71)]
[Notices]
[Page 17961-17962]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ap03-68]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Grant Use by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) intends to gather information to conduct a 30-day
comment period to solicit public response for a National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) decision on approval of two federal grant proposal
renewals. The action to be evaluated is the continuation of two grants
funded under the comprehensive management plan (CMP) option and the
cumulative effects of activities that are funded under the grants. The
grants are awarded to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR),
Division of Wildlife (DOW).
The Service's categorical exclusion [516 DM 6, Appendix 1, Section
1.4.E(1)] applies to this action; however, the Service is seeking
public comments in this instance in order to determine whether any
exceptions to the categorical exclusion (516 DM 2, Appendix 2) may
apply, especially for controversial environmental effects (2.3) or
cumulative effects (2.5), thereby necessitating the development of an
Environmental Assessment (EA). Primary focus for this review is to
address statewide cumulative and secondary effects of activities
conducted by the ODNR, DOW that are funded under Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act (WR) Grant Number W-134-P and Federal Aid in
Sport Fish Restoration Act (SFR) Grant Number F-69-P and administered
by the Region 3 Federal Aid Division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. A secondary focus is to address the processes used by the
ODNR, DOW to select and complete those activities. Each individual
project, or group of projects, will continue to receive site specific
NEPA review when it is submitted for funding. Therefore the scope of
this review is broad and directed at impacts that may not be detected
with individual projects along with consideration of the overall
planning system utilized by Ohio. Comments on site specific projects
are not within the scope of this review although comments regarding the
affects of types of projects would be appropriate.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before May 14, 2003.
Public Involvement: The public is invited to participate in the
comment process. Locations for supporting reference information are
provided under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Written comments should be
received within 30 days from the date of publication of this Notice of
Intent. All comments received from individuals become part of the
official public record. Requests for such comments will be handled in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Council on
Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations [40 CFR 1506.6(f)]. Our
practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of
respondents, available for public review during regular business hours.
Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address
from the record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. If
a respondent wishes us to withhold his/her name and/or address, this
must be stated prominently at the beginning of the comment.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Michael Vanderford or Jon
Parker, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Federal Aid, 1
Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056. Electronic mail comments
may also be submitted within the comment period to:
ohdnrgrants@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Parker (Wildlife Restoration,
Wildlife Conservation and Restoration) or Michael Vanderford (Sport
Fish Restoration). U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service, Federal Aid
Division, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 5511; telephone: 612/713-
5130.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These grants are subject to the requirements
of the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Acts, federal regulations
(50 CFR part 80 and 43 CFR part 12) and the Service's Federal Aid
Handbook. Administration of these grants uses a management system
identified in the Grant Proposal consistent with a plan for fish,
wildlife and habitat. This plan provides program direction in Ohio and
types of activities that may constitute projects subject to an annual
application for funds process. The comprehensive management system is
described in the Grant Proposal which includes a description of the
ODNR, DOW strategic planning process, its operational planning process
and its control/evaluation process. Copies of the Grant Proposals for
fish management and wildlife management are available at: http://midwest.fws.gov/NEPA.
Hard copies of the supporting Strategic Plan,
Tactical Plans, and the Comprehensive Management System (CMS) Handbook
and addendum are available for review at: Ohio Division of Wildlife,
Department of Natural Resources, Public Lobby Reception Desk, Building
G, 1840 Belcher Drive, Columbus, Ohio (near Morse Road and Cleveland
Avenue). It would be helpful if persons wishing to review these
documents would contact Verdie Abel at 614/265-7020 ahead of time.
The Service may choose to analyze the impacts of the two federal
grants separately because their intended purposes are different. The
Service is using this notification as it considers approving
continuation of the CMP option for the next six years. The intent of
the notice is to obtain suggestions and additional information from
other agencies and the public on the scope of
[[Page 17962]]
issues to be considered. Comments and participation in this comment
process are solicited.
The ODNR, DOW has utilized SFR and WR funds since Congress enacted
the programs in 1950 and 1937, respectively. This will be the third
year that DOW will use Wildlife Conservation and Restoration (WCR)
funds which Congress approved for a one-year period during the federal
fiscal year beginning October 1, 2000. The public is requested to
inform the Service of concerns regarding the ODNR, DOW management
systems, their administration of the comprehensive management system
grants in Ohio and the cumulative effects of activities funded under
these federal grants.
The ODNR, DOW has administered its SFR and WR grant programs using
the CMP option for the past 11 years. ODNR, DOW began administering the
WCR grant program using the CMP option July 1, 2001. During the past 11
years, the ODNR, DOW conducted numerous public information and input
processes, as well as Service review regarding its programs, including:
The development and periodic revision of a Strategic Plan; development
of tactical plans for fish, wildlife and habitat for Ohio; use of
biennial work planning processes; program and management reviews;
financial audits and periodic field reviews conducted jointly by ODNR,
DOW and Service staff regarding implementation of the CMP.
Some projects that will be subject to NEPA review as part of the
annual grant process will be conducted on lands that may be eligible
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The National
Historic Preservation Act and other laws require these properties and
resources be identified and considered in project planning. The public
is requested to inform the FWS of concerns about archeological sites,
buildings and structures, historic events, sacred and traditional
areas, and other historic preservation concerns.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347.
TJ Miller,
Acting Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort
Snelling, MN.
[FR Doc. 03-8994 Filed 4-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P