80 FR 76298 - Draft Long Range Transportation Plan for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lands in the Southeast Region

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 235 (December 8, 2015)

Page Range		76298-76299
FR Document		2015-30815

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft long range transportation plan for public review and comment. The Draft Long Range Transportation Plan outlines a strategy for improving and maintaining transportation assets that provide access to Service-managed lands in the Southeast Region (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) over the next 20 years.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 235 (Tuesday, December 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76298-76299]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30815]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2015-N106; FXRS85510445RG0-XXX-FF04R04000]


Draft Long Range Transportation Plan for U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service Lands in the Southeast Region

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a draft long range transportation plan for public 
review and comment. The Draft Long Range Transportation Plan outlines a 
strategy for improving and maintaining transportation assets that 
provide access to Service-managed lands in the Southeast Region 
(Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, 
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin 
Islands) over the next 20 years.

DATES: We must receive written comments on or before January 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Document Review: If you wish to review the draft plan, you 
may obtain a copy by visiting our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/refuges/roads/pdf/southeast-region-long-range-transportation-plan.pdf.
    Alternatively, you may contact Jo Ann Clark, Regional 
Transportation Program Manager, Southeast Region, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30345 (404-679-4114).
    Submitting Comments: If you wish to comment on the plan, you may 
submit your comments in writing by any one of the following methods:

[[Page 76299]]

     U.S. mail: Regional Transportation Program Manager, at the 
above address.
     Hand-delivery: Regional Transportation Program Manager, at 
the above address.
     Email: [email protected].
    For additional information about submitting comments, see the 
``Public Availability of Comments'' section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jo Ann Clark, at the above address, 
phone number, or email.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we make the Draft LRTP for the Southeast Region 
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service available for public review and 
comment. When finalized, the LRTP will apply to Service-managed lands 
in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, 
and the Virgin Islands.

Background

    The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) 
requires all Federal land management agencies to conduct long-range 
transportation planning in a manner that is consistent with 
metropolitan planning organization and State departments of 
transportation planning. This LRTP was initiated within the Service to 
achieve the following:
     Establish a defensible structure for sound transportation 
planning and decision-making.
     Establish a vision, mission, goals, and objectives for 
transportation planning in the Service's Southeast Region.
     Implement coordinated and cooperative transportation 
partnerships in an effort to improve the Service's transportation 
infrastructure.
     Integrate transportation planning and funding for wildlife 
refuges and fish hatcheries into existing and future Service management 
plans and strategies--e.g., comprehensive conservation plans (CCPs) and 
comprehensive hatchery management plans (CHMPs).
     Increase awareness of Alternative Transportation Systems 
(ATS) and associated benefits.
     Develop best management practices (BMP) for transportation 
improvements on Service lands.
     Serve as a pilot project for the implementation of a 
region-level transportation planning process within the Service.

LRTP Mission, Goals, and Objectives

    Through a collaborative effort, the National Wildlife Refuge System 
and Fisheries Programs, in cooperation with the Divisions of Planning 
and Visitor Services within the Service's Southeast Region, have 
contributed to defining the mission, goals, and objectives presented in 
this document. The resulting mission, goals, and objectives are 
intended to provide a systematic approach to guide the process for 
evaluating and selecting transportation improvement for the Service 
lands in the Southeast Region. These guiding principles have shaped the 
development, conclusions, and recommendations of this LRTP.

Mission

    To support the Service's mission by connecting people to fish, 
wildlife, and their habitats through strategic implementation of 
transportation programs.

Goals and Objectives

    This long-range transportation plan has six categories of goals: 
Resource protection, safety and condition, welcome and orientation, 
planning, partnerships, and sustainability. Under each goal, we present 
distinct objectives that move us to the goal.
     Natural Resource Protection: Ensure that the 
transportation program helps to conserve and enhance fish, wildlife, 
and plant resources and their habitats.
    Objective 1: Identify, research, and adopt BMPs for planning, 
design, construction, and maintenance that mitigate impacts of 
transportation.
    Objective 2: Reduce transportation-related conflicts with fish and 
wildlife corridors on or adjacent to Service lands.
     Safety and Conditions: Provide a safe and reliable 
transportation network to and within Service lands.
    Objective 1: Identify and reduce safety problems and modal 
conflicts to and within Service lands.
    Objective 2: Ensure that mission-critical transportation assets are 
maintained in ``good'' condition.
     Welcome and Orientation: Develop and maintain a 
transportation network that enhances the welcoming and orienting 
experience of visitors.
    Objective 1: Provide public information to enable visitors to 
easily get to refuges and hatcheries and to use their sites.
    Objective 2: Engage the visitors with compelling information so 
they have a better understanding of the purpose of wildlife 
conservation and enjoyment of natural resources.
    Objective 3: Create a consistent and recognizable identity 
throughout all Service units by using standard materials for readily 
observed physical elements associated with the transportation system.
     Planning: Integrate appropriate transportation planning 
into Service plans and processes.
    Objective 1: Ensure consistency and coordination between the 
project, unit, regional, and national levels of planning.
    Objective 2: Define need for infrastructure improvements, and 
prioritize projects using a scientific and objective process.
     Partnerships: Develop partnerships to leverage resources 
and develop integrated transportation solutions.
    Objective 1: Maximize leveraging opportunities for both funding and 
resources.
    Objective 2: Work with partners to address shared transportation 
issues that impact Service goals.
     Sustainability: Adopt and promote sustainable 
transportation practices.
    Objective 1: Address climate change and other environmental factors 
at all levels of transportation planning, design, project delivery, and 
maintenance.
    Objective 2: Improve access to and within Service lands by transit 
or non-motorized transportation and information systems.
    Objective 3: Reduce fossil fuel energy consumption.

Next Steps

    After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and 
address them in the form of a final LRTP.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: September 2, 2015.
 Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director.
    Note: The Federal Register received this document on December 2, 
2015.

[FR Doc. 2015-30815 Filed 12-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-55-P

76298 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 235 / Tuesday, December 8, 2015 / Notices

year, inspectors performed 350 factory outstanding achievements in promoting funds made available to the Coast Guard
visits, 218 dealer visits, and 10 boat boating safety. ($2,487). (approximately $5,132,275) may be
show visits resulting in 2,800 boats Reimbursable Salaries: Funding was retained for the allowable period for the
being inspected. Funding was also provided to carry out the work as National Recreational Boating Survey or
provided for testing of certain associated prescribed in 46 U.S.C. 13107(c) and as transferred into the pool of money
equipment and in-water testing of described herein. The first position was available for allocation through the state
atypical and used recreational boats for that of a professional mathematician/ grant program.
compliance with capacity and flotation statistician to conduct necessary
national surveys and studies on Authority
standards. ($1,587,370). Additional
expenditures regarding this topic that recreational boating activities as well as This notice is issued pursuant to 5
are accounted for in the topics below are to serve as a liaison to other Federal U.S.C. 552 and 46 U.S.C. 13107(c)(4).
Contract Personnel Support ($103,253), agencies that are conducting boating Dated: December 2, 2015.
Reimbursable Salaries ($143,222) and surveys so that we can pool our
V.B. Gifford,
New Recreational Boating Safety resources and reduce costs. The second
position was that of a Recreational Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of
Associated Travel ($5,526). Collectively, Inspections & Compliance.
these expenditures, along with other Boating Safety Specialist/Marine
[FR Doc. 2015–30884 Filed 12–7–15; 8:45 am]
potential projects, are considered to be Investigator with responsibilities that
include overseeing and managing RBS BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
applicable to the legal requirement that
‘‘not less than’’ $2 million be available projects related to carbon monoxide
to ensure compliance with Chapter 43 of poisoning, propeller injury mitigation,
Title 46, U.S. Code. and manufacturer compliance DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Boating Accident Report Database initiatives. The third position was that
(BARD) Web System: Funding was of a Legislative and Strategic Planning Fish and Wildlife Service
allocated to continue providing the Manager, with responsibilities that
include analyzing proposed and enacted [FWS–R4–R–2015–N106;
BARD Web System, which enables FXRS85510445RG0–XXX–FF04R04000]
reporting authorities in the 50 States, legislation for RBS impacts, and
five U.S. Territories, and the District of managing the development and Draft Long Range Transportation Plan
Columbia to submit their accident implementation of the National for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
reports electronically over a secure Recreational Boating Safety Program’s Lands in the Southeast Region
Internet connection. The system also strategic plan. The fourth position was
enables the user community to generate that of a Division Administrative AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
statistical reports that show the Assistant, with responsibilities that Interior.
frequency, nature, and severity of include providing administrative ACTION: Notice of availability; request
boating accidents. Funds supported support for the Boating Safety Division. for comments.
($513,045).
system maintenance, development, and
Technical Support and Analysis for SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
technical (hotline) support. ($367,332).
the Recreational Boating Safety Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
Contract Personnel Support: Funding Program: The purpose of this contract is availability of a draft long range
was provided for contract personnel to to obtain Contractor professional, transportation plan for public review
support the appropriate cost/benefit technical, and management support for and comment. The Draft Long Range
analyses for potential new regulations services relating to the national survey Transportation Plan outlines a strategy
and to conduct general boating safety- development, nonprofit grants grading for improving and maintaining
related research and analysis and to assessments, and other analysis as transportation assets that provide access
assist the manufacturer compliance needed for the enhancement of the to Service-managed lands in the
program. ($660,562). administration of the National Southeast Region (Alabama, Arkansas,
Boating Accident News Clipping Recreational Boating Safety Program. Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Services: Funding was provided to Projects covered by the contract include Mississippi, North Carolina, South
continue to gather daily news stories of statistical analyses of data collected in Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and
recreational boating accidents nationally the 2012 National Recreational Boating the Virgin Islands) over the next 20
for more real time accident information Survey and research on the implications years.
and to identify accidents that may of the findings relative to boating safety
involve regulatory non-compliances or and the National Recreational Boating DATES: We must receive written
safety defects. ($25,000). Safety Program; a review of scientific comments on or before January 7, 2016.
New Recreational Boating Safety literature covering various measures of ADDRESSES: Document Review: If you
Associated Travel: Funding was risk exposure in other transportation wish to review the draft plan, you may
provided to facilitate travel by related fields; support in designing the obtain a copy by visiting our Web site
employees of the Boating Safety next National Recreational Boating at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/
Division to carry out additional Survey; and development of a web- refuges/roads/pdf/southeast-region-
recreational boating safety actions and based system for review of national long-range-transportation-plan.pdf.
to gather background and planning nonprofit organization grant Alternatively, you may contact Jo Ann
information for new recreational boating submissions. ($130,847). Clark, Regional Transportation Program
safety initiatives. ($17,564). Of the $5.5 million made available to Manager, Southeast Region, U.S. Fish
Lhorne on DSK9F6TC42PROD with NOTICES

Recreational Boating Safety Outreach the Coast Guard in fiscal year 2015, and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century
Initiatives: Funding was provided to $2,120,466 has been committed, Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30345 (404–679–
produce signage promoting recreational obligated, or expended and an 4114).
boating safety at the U.S. Coast Guard’s additional $1,183,741 of prior fiscal year Submitting Comments: If you wish to
Douglas A. Munro Headquarters funds have been committed, obligated, comment on the plan, you may submit
Building, and to provide appropriate or expended, as of September 30, 2015. your comments in writing by any one of
recognition to select individuals for The remainder of the FY14 and FY15 the following methods:

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 235 / Tuesday, December 8, 2015 / Notices 76299

• U.S. mail: Regional Transportation LRTP Mission, Goals, and Objectives Service units by using standard
Program Manager, at the above address. Through a collaborative effort, the materials for readily observed physical
• Hand-delivery: Regional National Wildlife Refuge System and elements associated with the
Transportation Program Manager, at the Fisheries Programs, in cooperation with transportation system.
above address. the Divisions of Planning and Visitor • Planning: Integrate appropriate
• Email: JoAnn_Clark@fws.gov. Services within the Service’s Southeast transportation planning into Service
For additional information about Region, have contributed to defining the plans and processes.
submitting comments, see the ‘‘Public mission, goals, and objectives presented Objective 1: Ensure consistency and
Availability of Comments’’ section in this document. The resulting mission, coordination between the project, unit,
below. goals, and objectives are intended to regional, and national levels of
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jo provide a systematic approach to guide planning.
Ann Clark, at the above address, phone the process for evaluating and selecting
transportation improvement for the Objective 2: Define need for
number, or email. infrastructure improvements, and
Service lands in the Southeast Region.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: prioritize projects using a scientific and
These guiding principles have shaped
Introduction the development, conclusions, and objective process.
recommendations of this LRTP. • Partnerships: Develop partnerships
With this notice, we make the Draft to leverage resources and develop
LRTP for the Southeast Region of the Mission
integrated transportation solutions.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service available To support the Service’s mission by
for public review and comment. When Objective 1: Maximize leveraging
connecting people to fish, wildlife, and
finalized, the LRTP will apply to opportunities for both funding and
their habitats through strategic
Service-managed lands in Alabama, resources.
implementation of transportation
Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, programs. Objective 2: Work with partners to
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, address shared transportation issues
South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, Goals and Objectives that impact Service goals.
and the Virgin Islands. This long-range transportation plan • Sustainability: Adopt and promote
Background has six categories of goals: Resource sustainable transportation practices.
protection, safety and condition,
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the welcome and orientation, planning, Objective 1: Address climate change
21st Century Act (MAP–21) requires all partnerships, and sustainability. Under and other environmental factors at all
Federal land management agencies to each goal, we present distinct objectives levels of transportation planning,
conduct long-range transportation that move us to the goal. design, project delivery, and
planning in a manner that is consistent • Natural Resource Protection: Ensure maintenance.
with metropolitan planning that the transportation program helps to Objective 2: Improve access to and
organization and State departments of conserve and enhance fish, wildlife, and within Service lands by transit or non-
transportation planning. This LRTP was plant resources and their habitats. motorized transportation and
initiated within the Service to achieve Objective 1: Identify, research, and information systems.
the following: adopt BMPs for planning, design, Objective 3: Reduce fossil fuel energy
• Establish a defensible structure for construction, and maintenance that consumption.
sound transportation planning and mitigate impacts of transportation.
decision-making. Objective 2: Reduce transportation- Next Steps
• Establish a vision, mission, goals, related conflicts with fish and wildlife
corridors on or adjacent to Service After this comment period ends, we
and objectives for transportation
lands. will analyze the comments and address
planning in the Service’s Southeast
Region. • Safety and Conditions: Provide a them in the form of a final LRTP.
• Implement coordinated and safe and reliable transportation network Public Availability of Comments
cooperative transportation partnerships to and within Service lands.
in an effort to improve the Service’s Objective 1: Identify and reduce safety Before including your address, phone
transportation infrastructure. problems and modal conflicts to and number, email address, or other
within Service lands. personal identifying information in your
• Integrate transportation planning Objective 2: Ensure that mission-
and funding for wildlife refuges and fish comment, you should be aware that
critical transportation assets are your entire comment—including your
hatcheries into existing and future maintained in ‘‘good’’ condition.
Service management plans and personal identifying information—may
• Welcome and Orientation: Develop be made publicly available at any time.
strategies—e.g., comprehensive and maintain a transportation network
conservation plans (CCPs) and While you can ask us in your comment
that enhances the welcoming and to withhold your personal identifying
comprehensive hatchery management orienting experience of visitors.
plans (CHMPs). information from public review, we
Objective 1: Provide public cannot guarantee that we will be able to
• Increase awareness of Alternative information to enable visitors to easily
Transportation Systems (ATS) and do so.
get to refuges and hatcheries and to use
associated benefits. their sites. Dated: September 2, 2015.
• Develop best management practices
Lhorne on DSK9F6TC42PROD with NOTICES

Objective 2: Engage the visitors with Mike Oetker,
(BMP) for transportation improvements compelling information so they have a Acting Regional Director.
on Service lands. better understanding of the purpose of
• Serve as a pilot project for the wildlife conservation and enjoyment of Note: The Federal Register received
implementation of a region-level natural resources. this document on December 2, 2015.
transportation planning process within Objective 3: Create a consistent and [FR Doc. 2015–30815 Filed 12–7–15; 8:45 am]
the Service. recognizable identity throughout all BILLING CODE 4333–55–P

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Document Created: 2015-12-14 13:27:32
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 13:27:32

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability; request for comments.
Dates		We must receive written comments on or before January 7, 2016.
FR Citation		80 FR 76298

80 FR 76298 - Draft Long Range Transportation Plan for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lands in the Southeast Region

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 235 (December 8, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service