[Federal Register: January 10, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 6)]
[Notices]
[Page 1734-1735]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10ja05-57]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation
Plans for Assabet River, Great Meadows, and Oxbow National Wildlife
Refuges
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that
the final Comprehensive Conservation Plans (CCP) are available for the
Assabet River, Great Meadows, and Oxbow National Wildlife Refuges
(NWR). These CCPs were prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife
Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National
Wildlife System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 6688dd et seq.), and
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The CCPs describe how
the Service intends to manage the refuges over the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the CCPs are available on compact diskette or in
hard copy, and may be obtained by writing Bill Perry, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 73 Weir Hill Road, Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776, or
by e-mailing northeastplanning@fws.gov. These documents may also be
accessed at the Web address http://library.fws.gov/ccps.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Perry, Refuge Planner at the
above address, 978-443-4661 ext. 32, or e-mail at Bill_Perry@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife System Administration
Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act
of 1997, requires the Service to develop a CCP for each refuge. The
purpose of developing 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, consistent with sound
principles of fish and wildlife science, conservation, legal mandates,
and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management
direction on conserving wildlife and habitats, a CCP identifies
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public,
including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. The CCP
will be reviewed and updated at least every 15 years in accordance with
the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1969, as
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997,
and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Great Meadows NWR was established in 1944, when the Concord
impoundments became the first tract of land in the refuge. The refuge
currently includes 3,863 acres and extends into eight towns. Great
Meadows NWR is divided into two units: The Concord unit (1,542 acres)
and the Sudbury unit (2,321 acres). The refuge was created under the
Migratory Bird Conservation Act ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or
for any other management purpose, for migratory birds.'' The refuge
provides habitat for a variety of species. For example, the Concord
impoundments are used by many migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, wading
and marsh birds. The upland areas support woodcock, songbirds, and many
raptors. The marsh habitats are used by amphibians and reptiles. This
diversity of habitats helps to contribute to a number of regional
conservation priorities.
Assabet River NWR was formerly known as the Sudbury Training Annex
and is the most recent addition to the Eastern Massachusetts National
Wildlife Refuge Complex. It was created in the fall of 2000, when Fort
Devens Army base transferred 2,230 acres to the Service. This transfer
was made in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment
Act of 1990, with the purpose of having ``particular value in carrying
out the national migratory bird management program.'' All acres within
the approved refuge boundary are acquired. The large wetland complex
and the contiguous forested areas are important feeding and breeding
areas for migratory birds. Under U.S. Army administration, the refuge
was not opened to general public use; however, hunting, fishing, and
interpretive opportunities remain a high priority for local community
members.
The Oxbow NWR is located in north-central Massachusetts,
approximately 35 miles northwest of Boston, Massachusetts. The refuge
consists of 1,667 acres of upland, southern New England floodplain
forest and wetland communities along nearly 8 miles of the Nashua River
corridor. Oxbow NWR is a long, narrow parcel having a north/south
orientation and was formed by three land transfers from the former U.S.
Army, Fort Devens Military Installation, and a recent purchase of
private land in Harvard, Massachusetts. The primary purpose for which
Oxbow NWR was created is its ``* * * particular value in carrying out
the National Migratory Bird Management Program'' (16 U.S.C. 667B, an
Act authorizing the transfer of certain real property for wildlife, or
other purposes, as amended). The refuge's interspersion of wetland,
forested upland and old field habitats is ideally suited for this
purpose. The refuge supports a diverse mix of migratory birds including
waterfowl, wading birds, raptors, shorebirds, passerines, as well as
resident mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.
The extensive and regionally significant wetlands occurring on and
adjacent to all three refuges, including their associated tributary
drainages and headwaters, have been listed as a priority for protection
under both the
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North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) and the Emergency
Wetlands Resources Act of 1986. The refuges are located in close
proximity to the Greater Boston metropolitan area, which, along with
their accessibility to the local and regional communities and diverse
biological resources, make them highly attractive for natural resource
educational or interpretive programs, and compatible wildlife dependent
recreational uses.
Our Final CCPs include management direction for each of the refuges
and include vegetation management, wildlife management, public use,
cultural resources, infrastructure, and refuge operations. On each of
the refuges, we have included specific management strategies that
include management of native plant communities, non-native invasive
species, removal and revegetation of unused roads and stream crossings,
and management of water impoundments. Visitor use facilities will
include new wildlife observation trails, a visitor contact station for
Oxbow NWR, a visitor center for the complex, and new parking areas.
Most of the trails would use existing roads and public access would be
by foot. A public hunting program will be developed for each of the
refuges.
The Service solicited comments on the draft CCP/EA for Great
Meadows, Assabet River, and Oxbow NWRs from July 20 to September 3,
2003. We contracted with the U.S. Forest Service's Content Analysis
Team (CAT) to compile the nearly 2,000 comments that we received. The
CAT developed a summary report of comments as well as a database of
individual comments. We used the CAT report and comment database to
develop a list of substantive comments that required responses.
Editorial suggestions and notes of concurrence with or opposition to
certain proposals were noted and included in the decisionmaking
process, but do not receive formal responses. The Final CCPs include
responses to all substantive comments. Comments are considered
substantive if they:
Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the
information in the document,
Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the
environmental analysis,
Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented
in the EIS,
Cause changes or revisions in the CCP, and
Provide new or additional information relevant to the
analysis.
Based upon comments that we received, we have chosen management
alternative B, with the following modifications:
We have completed a Compatibility Determination (CD) which
concludes that jogging is compatible with refuge purposes. However, a
study of the impacts of jogging on wildlife will be initiated and
results evaluated to evaluate site specific impacts to wildlife. The CD
will be reviewed and any appropriate changes will be made using the
site specific data in 5 years.
We have clarified our rules regarding picnicking in the
final CCP. No picnic tables will be provided nor will large gatherings
or events involving food be permitted. Eating snacks on refuge benches
and trails is allowed.
We modified our original hunting proposal based upon
additional analysis of State mandated safety zones, our ability to
effectively administer the hunt program, and to balance the needs of
the different wildlife-dependent recreationists.
We clarified that the waterfowl hunting areas along the
Concord and Sudbury Rivers at Great Meadows and the Nashua River at
Oxbow areas include the main stems of the rivers as well as adjacent
wetlands and pools.
We adjusted the proposed waterfowl hunting areas to remove
areas near concentrations of houses, playing fields, and high numbers
of additional users.
We are proposing 1,192 acres of waterfowl hunting that was
previously closed.
We revised the deer hunting program to archery hunting
only in areas of specific safety concern.
We have revised the proposed access fee program to be
consistent with other Region 5 refuges and to encourage purchase of the
``local'' annual pass. Fees would be required at Assabet River, Oxbow
(south of Route 2), and the Concord impoundments of Great Meadows.
Visitors would be able to use a duck stamp in lieu of the refuge access
fee. All access fees are per car or per group for pedestrians.
We have not modified our decision to prohibit dog walking
at Great Meadows and Oxbow NWRs and will not allow dog walking at
Assabet River NWR.
Dated: December 23, 2004.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, Massachusetts.
[FR Doc. 05-407 Filed 1-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P