[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 68377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27979]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-R-2010-N171; 30136-1265-0000-S3]
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, Becker County, and Tamarac
Wetland Management District, Minnesota
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of the FinalComprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental
Assessment (EA) for Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Tamarac
Wetland Management District (WMD). Goals and objectives in the CCP
describe how the agency intends to manage the refuge over the next 15
years.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final CCP and FONSI/EA may be viewed at the
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge Officeor at public libraries near the
refuge. You may also request a copy by any of the following methods.
1. Agency Web site: View or download a copy of the document at
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/Tamarac/.
2. E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``TamaracFinal CCP/EA'' in
the subject line of the message.
3. Mail: Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, 35704 County Road 26,
Rochert, Minnesota 56578.
A limited number of hardcopies will be available for distribution
at the Refuge Headquarters.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Boyle, 218-847-2641.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we complete the CCP process for Tamarac NWR and
WMD, which we began by publishing a notice of intent on (72 FR 27587,
May 16, 2007). For more information about the initial process, see that
notice. We released the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing and
requesting comments in a notice of availability on (75 FR 39038, July
7, 2010).
The 42,738-acre Tamarac NWR was established in 1938. The Refuge
includes 2,180 Federally-designated wilderness acres. The Tamarac WMD
consists of 8,577 acres of wetland easements distributed throughout
five counties.
The Draft CCP and EA were officially released for public review on
July 7, 2010; the 31-day comment period ended on August 6, 2010.
Planning information was sent to approximately 220 individuals and
organizations for review and announced through local media outlets,
resulting in six comment submissions. During the comment period the
Refuge also hosted an open house to receive public comments and
feedback on the CCP and EA documents. Thirteen individuals attended
this event. Because few changes to the preferred alternative were
recommended by Refuge audiences during the public review period, only
minor changes were made to the drafts in preparing the final CCP/EA
documents.
Selected Alternative
Based on input and feedback during the planning process,
Alternative A was selected as the preferred alternative.The preferred
alternative for Tamarac NWR over the next 15 years directs management
of habitats to focus on maintaining and using ecological processes that
shaped these communities prior to European settlement and will allow
for some emphasis of priority bird habitat. Wildlife-dependant
recreation opportunities, biological surveys and monitoring activities,
and native habitats would all increase under the preferred alternative.
Background
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 et seq.), requires the Service to develop a CCP
for each National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District. The
purpose in developing a CCP is to provide 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 management, conservation, legal
mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad
management direction for conserving wildlife and their habitats, the
CCP identifies 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 National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act
of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement
Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321-4370d).
Dated: August 23, 2010.
Charles M. Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 2010-27979 Filed 11-4-10; 8:45 am]
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