[Federal Register: September 14, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 178)]
[Notices]
[Page 52574-52575]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14se07-54]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation
Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) for the
[[Page 52575]]
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex, with refuges in Jackson,
Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, and Morgan Counties, Alabama, is
available for distribution. The CCP was prepared pursuant to the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and
describes how the refuge complex will be managed for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP/FONSI may be obtained by writing to: C.
Dwight Cooley, Project Leader, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
Complex, 2700 Refuge Headquarters Road, Decatur, AL 35603; Telephone:
256/353-7243; Fax 256/353-9728. The CCP/FONSI may also be accessed and
downloaded from the Service's Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/
.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, we finalize the CCP
process for the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex, begun as
announced in the Federal Register on July 21, 2005 (70 FR 42084). For
more about the process, see that notice. We released the Draft
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (Draft
CCP/EA) to the public, requesting comments in a notice of availability
in the Federal Register on April 5, 2007 (72 FR 16811).
The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated four alternatives for
managing the refuge complex over the next 15 years. Under Alternative
A, the ``no-action'' alternative, present management would have
continued. Current approaches to managing migratory birds, threatened
and endangered species, other wildlife and habitats, and allowing for
public use would have remained unchanged. Under Alternative B,
management would have focused on maximizing opportunities for public
visitation, increasing both facilities and activities. Under
Alternative C, the refuge complex would have emphasized its biological
program by applying maximum efforts to enhance habitat conditions and
increase wildlife populations, particularly migratory birds. The
visitor services program would have remained as it is at present. We
chose Alternative D as the preferred alternative. This determination
was made based on the best professional judgment of the planning team
and the comments received on the Draft CCP/EA. Under this alternative,
the refuge complex will strive to optimize both its biological program
and its visitor services program.
Over the 15-year life of the plan, the complex staff will increase
emphasis on environmental education and interpretation to lead to a
better understanding of the importance of wildlife and habitat
resources, especially invasive species, endangered species, and
migratory birds. Research studies on the refuge will be fostered and
partnerships developed with universities and other agencies, providing
needed resources and experiment sites, while meeting the needs of each
refuge's wildlife and habitat management programs. New surveys on
birds, reptiles, and amphibians will be initiated to develop baseline
information.
The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex is currently comprised
of seven national wildlife refuges, spreading across 12,500 square
miles of northern Alabama. In addition, the Wheeler Complex administers
five Farm Service Agency conservation easement tracts. The Final CCP/
FONSI covers four of the seven refuges: Wheeler Refuge in Limestone,
Madison and Morgan Counties; Key Cave Refuge in Lauderdale County;
Sauta Cave Refuge in Jackson County (formerly known as Blowing Wind
Cave); and Fern Cave Refuge in Jackson County. The other three refuges
(Cahaba River, Mountain Longleaf, and Watercress Darter) will be
addressed at a later date in separate plans.
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of 37,000 acres and
located among the cities of Athens, Decatur, and Huntsville, was
established in 1938 by Executive Order 7926 as a refuge and breeding
ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Additional purposes were
added later under the authorities of the Migratory Bird Conservation
Act of 1929 and the Refuge Recreation Act of 1962. Sauta Cave National
Wildlife Refuge, known as Blowing Wind Cave National Wildlife Refuge
until 1999, is located near Scottsboro. It is a 264-acre refuge
purchased in 1978 to provide protection for the federally endangered
gray bat (Myotis grisescens) and Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and their
critical habitat. Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge, located near
Paint Rock, was purchased in 1981 to provide protection for the
federally endangered gray and Indiana bats. It consists of 199 acres of
forested hillside underlain by a massive cave with many stalactite- and
stalagmite-filled rooms. Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge, located
about 5 miles southwest of Florence, was established in 1997 to provide
protection for the endangered Alabama cavefish (Speoplatyrhinus
poulsoni).
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: July 24, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E7-18145 Filed 9-13-07; 8:45 am]
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