80 FR 79353 - Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Bayfield County, Wisconsin; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 244 (December 21, 2015)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 244 (December 21, 2015)
| Page Range | 79353-79354 | |
| FR Document | 2015-31987 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 79353-79354] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-31987] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R3-R-2015-N197]; [FXRS1261030000-167-FF03R02000] Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Bayfield County, Wisconsin; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental assessment (EA) for the Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge, NWR). In this final CCP, we describe how we intend to manage the refuge for the next 15 years. ADDRESSES: You will find the final CCP, a summary of the final CCP, and the EA/FONSI on the planning Web site at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/whittleseycreek/index.html. A limited number of hard copies and CD-ROMs are available. You may request one by any of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Include ``Whittlesey Creek Final CCP'' in the subject line of the message. U.S. Mail: Whittlesey Creek NWR, c/o Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, 29270 County Highway G, Ashland, WI 54806. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Kerr, 715-246-7784. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we complete the CCP process for Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge, which we began by publishing a notice of intent in the Federal Register (78 FR 3909) on January 17, 2013. For more about the initial process and the history of this refuge, see that notice. We released the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing and requesting comments in a notice of availability (80 FR 15249) on March 23, 2015. The 30-day comment period ended on April 22, 2015. A summary of public comments and the agency responses is included in the final CCP. 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) (Administration Act), requires us to develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in 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 (NWRS), consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify 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 Administration Act. Each unit of the NWRS was established for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for each refuge within the NWRS mission, and to determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a way for us and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives that will ensure the best possible approach to wildlife, plant, and habitat conservation, while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of the NWRS. Additional Information The final CCP may be found at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/whittleseycreek/index.html. The final CCP includes detailed information about the planning process, refuge, issues, and management alternative selected. The Web site also includes an EA and FONSI, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The EA/FONSI includes discussion of four alternative Refuge management options. [[Page 79354]] The Service's selected alternative is reflected in the final CCP. The selected alternative focuses on continued participation in the interagency coaster brook trout restoration program in Whittlesey Creek. The quantity and quality of coldwater stream, forest, and coastal wetland habitat for native fish, migratory birds, and other wildlife will increase. Floodplain and watershed hydrology will better emulate natural seasonal and long-term variability. Service participation in the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center (NGLVC) partnership will continue. Refuge staff will participate in NGLVC programs that align with the NWRS mission and Refuge purposes. A detailed description of objectives and actions included in this selected alternative is found in chapter 4 of the final CCP. Charles M. Wooley, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 2015-31987 Filed 12-18-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 244 / Monday, December 21, 2015 / Notices 79353
seeking approval from OMB for the C. Authority announcing and requesting comments
information collection described in Section 3507 of the Paperwork in a notice of availability (80 FR 15249)
Section A. Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. on March 23, 2015. The 30-day
Chapter 35. comment period ended on April 22,
A. Overview of Information Collection
2015. A summary of public comments
Title of Information Collection: Dated: December 15, 2015. and the agency responses is included in
Generic Customer Satisfaction Surveys. Colette Pollard, the final CCP.
OMB Approval Number: 2535–0116. Department Paperwork Reduction Act Officer,
Office of the Chief Information Officer. Background
Type of Request: Extension on a
currently approved. [FR Doc. 2015–31988 Filed 12–18–15; 8:45 am] The National Wildlife Refuge System
Description of the need for the BILLING CODE 4210–67–P Administration Act of 1966, as amended
information and proposed use: by the National Wildlife Refuge System
Executive Order 12862, ‘‘Setting Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C.
Customer Service Standards’’ requires DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 668dd–668ee) (Administration Act),
that Federal agencies provide the requires us to develop a CCP for each
highest quality service to our customers Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuge. The purpose in
by identifying them and determining [FWS–R3–R–2015–N197];
developing a CCP is to provide refuge
what they think about our services. The [FXRS1261030000–167–FF03R02000] managers with a 15-year strategy for
surveys covered in the request for a achieving refuge purposes and
generic clearance will provide HUD a Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife contributing toward the mission of the
means to gather this data directly from Refuge, Bayfield County, Wisconsin; National Wildlife Refuge System
our customers. HUD will conduct Final Comprehensive Conservation (NWRS), consistent with sound
various customer satisfaction surveys to Plan and Finding of No Significant principles of fish and wildlife
gather feedback and data directly from Impact for Environmental Assessment management, conservation, legal
our customers to determine the kind mandates, and Service policies. In
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, addition to outlining broad management
and quality of services and products Interior.
they want and expect to receive. direction on conserving wildlife and
ACTION: Notice of availability. their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
OMB Control Number, if applicable:
dependent recreational opportunities
N/A. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and available to the public, including
Estimation of the total number of Wildlife Service (Service), announce the opportunities for hunting, fishing,
hours needed to prepare the information availability of a final comprehensive wildlife observation and photography,
collection including number of conservation plan (CCP) and finding of and environmental education and
respondents, frequency of response, and no significant impact (FONSI) for the interpretation. We will review and
hours of response: The number of environmental assessment (EA) for the update the CCP at least every 15 years
burden hours is 13,229. The number of Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife in accordance with the Administration
respondents is 117,248, the number of Refuge (Refuge, NWR). In this final CCP, Act.
responses is 117,248, the frequency of we describe how we intend to manage
response is on occasion, and the burden Each unit of the NWRS was
the refuge for the next 15 years.
hour per response is .80. established for specific purposes. We
ADDRESSES: You will find the final CCP, use these purposes as the foundation for
B. Solicitation of Public Comment a summary of the final CCP, and the EA/ developing and prioritizing the
FONSI on the planning Web site at management goals and objectives for
This notice is soliciting comments http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/ each refuge within the NWRS mission,
from members of the public and affected whittleseycreek/index.html. A limited and to determine how the public can
parties concerning the collection of number of hard copies and CD–ROMs use each refuge. The planning process is
information described in Section A on are available. You may request one by a way for us and the public to evaluate
the following: any of the following methods: management goals and objectives that
(1) Whether the proposed collection • Email: r3planning@fws.gov. Include will ensure the best possible approach
of information is necessary for the ‘‘Whittlesey Creek Final CCP’’ in the to wildlife, plant, and habitat
proper performance of the functions of subject line of the message. conservation, while providing for
the agency, including whether the • U.S. Mail: Whittlesey Creek NWR, wildlife-dependent recreation
information will have practical utility; c/o Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, opportunities that are compatible with
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s 29270 County Highway G, Ashland, WI each refuge’s establishing purposes and
estimate of the burden of the proposed 54806. the mission of the NWRS.
collection of information; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
(3) Ways to enhance the quality, Kerr, 715–246–7784. Additional Information
utility, and clarity of the information to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final CCP may be found at http://
be collected; and www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of Introduction whittleseycreek/index.html. The final
the collection of information on those With this notice, we complete the CCP includes detailed information
who are to respond; including through
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
CCP process for Whittlesey Creek about the planning process, refuge,
the use of appropriate automated National Wildlife Refuge, which we issues, and management alternative
collection techniques or other forms of began by publishing a notice of intent in selected. The Web site also includes an
information technology, e.g., permitting the Federal Register (78 FR 3909) on EA and FONSI, prepared in accordance
electronic submission of responses. January 17, 2013. For more about the with the National Environmental Policy
HUD encourages interested parties to initial process and the history of this Act (NEPA) (43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The
submit comment in response to these refuge, see that notice. We released the EA/FONSI includes discussion of four
questions. draft CCP and EA to the public, alternative Refuge management options.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:38 Dec 18, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_79597/page/1.svg)
![79354 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 244 / Monday, December 21, 2015 / Notices
The Service’s selected alternative is FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: university professors). Some will have
reflected in the final CCP. Abigail Lynch, Research Fish Biologist, federal affiliations.
The selected alternative focuses on at (703) 648–4097 or ajlynch@usgs.gov. Estimated Total Number of Annual
continued participation in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Responses: 100.
interagency coaster brook trout Estimated Time per Response: 5
restoration program in Whittlesey Creek. I. Abstract minutes per response.
The quantity and quality of coldwater Inland fisheries are especially Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 8.3
stream, forest, and coastal wetland vulnerable to the impacts of climate hours.
habitat for native fish, migratory birds, change at a global scale; although inland Estimated Reporting and
and other wildlife will increase. fish are vital to ecosystem health and Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’
Floodplain and watershed hydrology function and provide invaluable Burden: None.
will better emulate natural seasonal and ecosystem services to communities
long-term variability. Service worldwide, much research remains to III. Request for Comments
participation in the Northern Great be done. Researchers have been We are soliciting comments as to: (a)
Lakes Visitor Center (NGLVC) projecting and documenting impacts of Whether the proposed collection of
partnership will continue. Refuge staff climate change on fisheries since the information is necessary for the agency
will participate in NGLVC programs that 1980s; thus, there is a large body of to perform its duties, including whether
align with the NWRS mission and literature available online. Traditional the information is useful; (b) the
Refuge purposes. A detailed description search engines provide large outputs of accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the
of objectives and actions included in studies and reports that must be burden of the proposed collection of
this selected alternative is found in individually screened for relevance information; (c) ways to enhance the
chapter 4 of the final CCP. when searching for climate change quality, usefulness, and clarity of the
effects on fisheries. This large output information to be collected; and (d) how
Charles M. Wooley,
could result in the exclusion of some to minimize the burden on the
Acting Regional Director. respondents, including the use of
studies in analyses of the effects of
[FR Doc. 2015–31987 Filed 12–18–15; 8:45 am] climate change on inland fisheries. Our automated collection techniques or
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P goal is to compare traditional literature other forms of information technology.
search methods with using a network of Please note that the comments
fisheries professionals to identify submitted in response to this notice are
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR relevant climate change and fisheries a matter of public record. Before
studies to determine if both methods including your personal mailing
Geological Survey
yield similar or dissimilar results. address, phone number, email address,
[GX16EN05ESB0500] We plan to query research scientists or other personally identifiable
belonging to major professional fisheries information in your comment, you
Agency Information Collection societies via electronic correspondence should be aware that your entire
Activities: Request for Comments and request a list of their already comment, including your personally
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), published references to include in the identifiable information, may be made
Interior. collection. We are specifically looking publicly available at any time. While
ACTION: Notice of a new information
for published studies addressing you can ask us in your comment to
collection, Are literature searches projected and documented effects of withhold your personally identifiable
finding your publications? climate change on fisheries. The information from public view, we
information will be used to generate a cannot guarantee that we will be able to
SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological scientific manuscript. The only Personal do so.
Survey) will ask the Office of Identifiable Information we will collect
Shawn Carter,
Management and Budget (OMB) to is the scientist’s name. Our information
collection request directly aligns to the Senior Scientist, National Climate Change
approve the information collection (IC)
and Wildlife Science Center.
described below. As required by the mission of the USGS National Climate
[FR Doc. 2015–31983 Filed 12–18–15; 8:45 am]
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of Change and Wildlife Science Center
(NCCWSC). One of NCCWSC’s goals is BILLING CODE 4338–11–P
1995, and as part of our continuing
efforts to reduce paperwork and to deliver products, information, and
respondent burden, we invite the tools to scientists and stakeholders on
climate change and wildlife science, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
general public and other Federal
agencies to take this opportunity to and the resulting manuscript aligns with [ Geological Survey
comment on this IC. these goals. [GX16EN05ESB0500]
DATES: To ensure that your comments II. Data
are considered, we must receive them Agency Information Collection
on or before February 19, 2016. OMB Control Number: 1028–NEW. Activities: Request for Comments
Title: Are literature searches finding
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
your publications?
on this information collection to the Type of Request: New information Department of the Interior.
Information Collection Clearance collection. ACTION: Notice of a new information
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Affected Public: English-speaking collection, Climate Change Effects on
Sunrise Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, research scientists. Wildlife Virtual Library
VA 20192 (mail); (703) 648–7197 (fax); Respondent’s Obligation: None.
or gs-info_collections@usgs.gov (email). Participation is strictly voluntary. SUMMARY: We, U.S. Geological Survey,
Please reference ‘Information Collection Frequency of Collection: One time. will ask the Office of Management and
1028–NEW, Are literature searches Estimated Annual Number of Budget (OMB) to approve the
finding your publications? in all Respondents: 100. Respondents will be information collection (IC) described
correspondence. made up of mostly academics (i.e., below. As required by the Paperwork
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:38 Dec 18, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_79597/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-19 02:57:00
Document Modified: 2015-12-19 02:57:00
| 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. | |
| Contact | Tom Kerr, 715-246-7784. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 79353 |
2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR