[Federal Register: March 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 58)]
[Notices]
[Page 15769-15770]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25mr08-76]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-R-2008-N0018; 50133-1265-PKRP-S3]
Wapack National Wildlife Refuge, Hillsborough County, NH
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: draft comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and
Environmental Assessment (EA) for Wapack National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR), and request public review and comment on its proposals. We
prepared the Draft CCP/EA in compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 and the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997.
DATES: The Draft CCP/EA will be available for public review and comment
until the close of business on May 1, 2008. To ensure consideration, we
must receive your comments by that date. We must also receive any
requests for hard-copy documents for review no later than April 15,
2008. We plan to host one public meeting on April 17, 2008 at the
Shieling Forest visitor building, One Old Street Road, in Peterborough,
New Hampshire. We will post additional details of that meeting
approximately 2 weeks in advance on the Web site http://www.fws.gov/
northeast/planning/Wapack/ccphome.html, via our project mailing list,
and in local papers.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the draft CCP/EA on compact
diskette or in print by writing to Nancy McGarigal, Refuge Planner,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley,
Massachusetts 01035, or by electronic mail at
northeastplanning@fws.gov; please put the words ``Wapack Refuge'' in
your subject line. You may also view the draft document on the Web at
http://library.fws.gov/CCPs/wapack/index.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy McGarigal, Refuge Planner, at
the address above, by telephone at 413-253-8562, by fax at 413-253-
8468, or by electronic mail at northeastplanning@fws.gov. Please use
the words ``Wapack Refuge'' in your subject line.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), 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
[[Page 15770]]
plan for achieving refuge purposes and contributing to the mission of
the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), in conformance with the
sound principles of fish and wildlife science, natural resources
conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to
outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and
habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities
available to the public, including wildlife observation, photography,
environmental education, and interpretation. The Service will review
and update each CCP at least once every 15 years, in accordance with
the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 and the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
The 1,625-acre Wapack NWR, established by donation in 1972, was the
first national wildlife refuge in New Hampshire. Its purpose is for use
as an inviolate sanctuary or for any other management purpose for
migratory birds. Because it is un-staffed, the Great Bay NWR staff,
headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, administers it. The refuge
is located about 20 miles west of Nashua, New Hampshire, and
encompasses the 2,278-foot elevation North Pack Monadnock Mountain in
the towns of Greenfield and Temple, New Hampshire. The terms of the
deed require the Service to manage the refuge in a ``wilderness-like''
setting for wildlife. Specific deed restrictions prohibit using
motorized vehicles, hunting and fishing, trapping, or cutting trees.
Generally, mature northern hardwood-mixed and spruce-fir forest
characterizes the refuge. It provides nesting habitat for numerous
migratory songbirds, such as the black-capped chickadee, blackburnian
warbler, black-throated blue warbler, hermit thrush, myrtle warbler,
ovenbird, and red-eyed vireo. The refuge also supports a wide variety
of other native wildlife, including deer, bear, coyote, fisher, fox,
mink and weasel.
Visitors often engage in wildlife observation and photography on
the refuge. It is especially popular for viewing the fall migration of
hawks. A 4-mile segment of the 21-mile Wapack Trail traverses it, and
rewards hikers with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. Two
other trails cross the refuge to offer a 6-mile circuit hike.
The Draft CCP/EA evaluates two alternatives, which address eleven
key issues identified by the public, State or Federal agencies, other
Service programs, and our planning team. The draft CCP/EA describes
those issues in detail. Highlights follow.
Alternative A (Current Management): This alternative is the ``No
Action'' alternative required by the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, as amended). Alternative A defines our
current management activities, and serves as the baseline against which
to compare the other alternative. The Service would continue to manage
the refuge in a ``wilderness-like'' setting, without actively managing
its habitat, thereby allowing natural succession to continue without
human interference. The Service would continue to allow only compatible
uses that are consistent with a ``wilderness-like'' setting and adhere
to other deed restrictions. We would not allow hunting, fishing,
trapping, driving motor vehicles, or cutting trees (except for
maintaining trails). In addition, we would continue to prohibit
camping, mountain biking, horseback riding and dog walking. This
alternative would not improve access to the refuge or the visibility of
the Service in the area. We would continue our informal relationships
with the Friends of the Wapack and the Mountain View Hiking Club to
maintain refuge trails. We would also continue to work under a
memorandum of agreement with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
to resolve inter-jurisdictional issues on the refuge as they arise.
Alternative B (the Service-preferred alternative): Alternative B is
the alternative we propose as the best means to manage this refuge over
the next 15 years. It includes an array of management actions that, in
our professional judgment, work best toward achieving the purpose of
the refuge, our vision and goals for it and State and regional
conservation plans. In our opinion, this alternative would most
effectively address the key issues.
We propose to focus on improving our baseline biological database
and enhancing visitor services programs by expanding our partnerships
with other federal agencies, state agencies, town departments, local
conservation organizations, and individuals. One such project is to
gather baseline data on the populations of plants and wildlife on the
refuge in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. We would also use
partnerships to maintain trails, develop and maintain a new trailhead
parking area, and assess and monitor threats to the integrity of refuge
habitat. We would also increase our presence on the refuge and its
visibility in the local community, and better communicate refuge
regulations, visitor information, and contact information.
Under alternative B, we would manage public uses similar to
alternative A by allowing only compatible activities that are
consistent with a ``wilderness-like'' setting and adhere to other deed
restrictions. The only differences are that we would allow dog walking
on leash and recreational berry-picking.
This alternative does not propose to expand the refuge. However, we
would offer our support to partners engaged in other land conservation
and protection in the area, work with them to identify lands of high
wildlife value in need of protection, and provide them with technical
assistance in managing them.
After we evaluate and respond to the public comments on this Draft
CCP/EA, we will prepare a final CCP for our Regional Director's
approval. He will determine whether a Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) is appropriate, and certify whether the final CCP meets agency
compliance requirements, achieves refuge purposes, and helps fulfill
the mission of the NWRS. With an affirmative FONSI and other positive
findings, the Regional Director can approve the final CCP. If he issues
a FONSI and approves that final CCP, we will announce its availability
in the Federal Register and begin its implementation.
Dated: January 18, 2008.
Wendi Weber,
Acting Regional Director, Region 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Hadley, Massachusetts.
[FR Doc. E8-6043 Filed 3-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P