81 FR 4060 - Theodore Roosevelt and Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuges, Mississippi Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Environmental Assessment
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 15 (January 25, 2016)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 15 (January 25, 2016)
| Page Range | 4060-4061 | |
| FR Document | 2016-01414 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 4060-4061] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-01414] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R4-R-2015-N236]; [FXRS12610400000S3-167-FF04R02000] Theodore Roosevelt and Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuges, Mississippi Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the final Comprehensive Conservation plan (CCP) and finding of no significant impact for the environmental assessment for Theodore Roosevelt and Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs), Washington and Sharkey Counties, Mississippi. In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage the two refuges for the next 15 years. ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by downloading the document from our Internet Site at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning under ``Final Documents.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Rich, Project Leader, at (662) 836-3004 (phone) or [email protected] (email). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we complete the CCP process for Theodore Roosevelt and Holt Collier NWRs. We started the process through a notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 45953) on July 30, 2013. For more about the process, see that notice. The Theodore Roosevelt NWR Complex (Complex) is comprised of seven refuges: Hillside (est. 1975), Holt Collier (est. 2004), Mathews Brake (est. 1980), Morgan Brake (est. 1977), Panther Swamp (est. 1978), Theodore Roosevelt (est. 2004), and Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge (est. 1936). The Complex was originally known as the Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge Complex and then briefly named the Central Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge Complex. On January 23, 2004, section 145 of Public Law 108-199, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, was signed into law by then President George W. Bush. The Act renamed the Complex as the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex. It designated the geographically separate Bogue Phalia Unit of Yazoo NWR as Holt Collier NWR. The refuge consists of 2,233 acres with an approved acquisition boundary of 18,000 acres. The Service lists its purpose as being designated under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 664): It ``shall be administered . . . for the conservation, maintenance, and management of wildlife, resources thereof, and its habitat thereon.'' The Act also directed the Secretary of the Interior to establish the 6,600-acre Theodore Roosevelt NWR. No additional land was purchased for the two new refuges, but rather they were assembled from disjunct Farm Service Agency (FSA, formerly known as Farmers Home Administration) lands already in Service possession. To date 1,674 acres have been acquired in the Theodore Roosevelt NWR. The Service lists both new refuges as being established ``for conservation purposes.'' The habitat consists mainly of converted agricultural lands now reforested to trees more indicative of the native bottomland hardwood forest. Farmlands and open water also occur. The refuge is not open to the public. There are no public facilities located on either refuge. Background The CCP Process The National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act) requires us to develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. CCPs are developed to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving refuges' purposes and contributing toward the mission of the NWR System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our policies. CCPs describe a broad management direction for conserving wildlife and their habitats. They propose wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities to be made available to the public. These include opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will review the CCP annually and revise it as needed in accordance with the Improvement Act. Comments We made the Draft CCP and Environmental Assessment available online for a 30-day public review and comment period via a Federal Register notice (80 FR 13420) on March 13, 2015. A total of seven comments were [[Page 4061]] received by mail, email or verbally at the April 2, 2015, public meeting in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Comments supporting the plan and preferred alternative were received from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Safari Club International, and Mississippi Wildlife. CCP Alternatives, Including Our Preferred Alternative We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge (Alternatives A, B, and C), with Alternative B, Minimally Developed Refuges, selected for implementation. As these are newer refuges authorized by Congress in 2004, the focus of this plan is to develop them. Therefore, our efforts over the next 15 years will be focused on land acquisition to build-out the refuges to their approved acquisition boundaries. Passive habitat protection and the addition of new resource lands beneficial to wildlife will help preserve habitat in perpetuity and to lessen fragmentation. This plan has the objective of providing sanctuary to migratory species as a group, not just priority waterfowl species. White-tailed deer management would continue through the Holt Collier NWR hunt program and eventually at Theodore Roosevelt NWR. Integrated damage control of invasive and nuisance species would lessen the negative effects on the refuges' habitats. Another primary focus of the plan is to create a visitor services program to enhance environmental education and outreach efforts substantially and to reach larger numbers of residents, students, educators, and visitors. It places priority on wildlife-dependent uses, such as hunting, fishing and wildlife observation. Priority public uses, such as hunting, are allowed at Holt Collier NWR. At a time when sufficient land is amassed and resources are available to allow for ample public use opportunities, Theodore Roosevelt NWR would be opened to hunting. Public use would be phased into both refuges. Compatibility determinations are updated for the priority public uses and for research and monitoring. For both refuges, some commercial uses would be allowed under a Commercial Special Use Permit, including commercial photography, firewood gathering, timber harvest for forest management, and trapping. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004 authorized construction of a Visitor Center to provide visitor services and to promote the Delta area's natural resources and cultural heritage. Funding was appropriated in 2009, in the amount of $2.6 million for the building of the Theodore Roosevelt NWR Visitor Center. On February 11, 2015, a total of 6.58 acres (originally proposed as approximately 5 acres) located off of Highway 61 in Sharkey County, Mississippi) was donated to the Service to construct a Visitor Center. A major focus of this plan and Service efforts will be to build and staff the Visitor Center. Since the location is secured for the Visitor Center, regular Service procedures will be followed for building design and construction. Staffing is proposed to run the Visitor Center, to provide environmental and interpretive programs, and to coordinate volunteers. Positions include a Park Ranger, Wildlife Refuge Manager and a Maintenance Worker. This CCP assumes a modest growth of refuge resources over its 15- year implementation period, with three new positions as new funding is available. Current partnerships would be maintained and new ones would be sought. Daily operation of the refuges will be guided by this CCP and through the implementation of nine projects and six step-down management plans as detailed in the CCP. Authority This notice is published under the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.). Dated: November 10, 2015. Brett E. Hunter, Deputy Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 2016-01414 Filed 1-22-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![4060 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Notices
information collection described in DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR geographically separate Bogue Phalia
section A. Unit of Yazoo NWR as Holt Collier
Fish and Wildlife Service NWR. The refuge consists of 2,233 acres
A. Overview of Information Collection with an approved acquisition boundary
[FWS–R4–R–2015–N236];
Title of Information Collection: Home [FXRS12610400000S3–167–FF04R02000] of 18,000 acres. The Service lists its
Equity Conversion Mortgage Counseling purpose as being designated under the
Client Session Evaluation. Theodore Roosevelt and Holt Collier Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16
National Wildlife Refuges, Mississippi U.S.C. 664): It ‘‘shall be administered
OMB Approval Number: 2505–0585. Final Comprehensive Conservation . . . for the conservation, maintenance,
Type of Request: Extension. Plan and Finding of No Significant and management of wildlife, resources
Form Number: HUD 92911. Impact for the Environmental thereof, and its habitat thereon.’’
Assessment The Act also directed the Secretary of
Description of the need for the the Interior to establish the 6,600-acre
information and proposed use: Tool to AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Theodore Roosevelt NWR. No
determine quality of client counseling Interior. additional land was purchased for the
sessions as part of periodic agency ACTION: Notice of availability. two new refuges, but rather they were
performance reviews. assembled from disjunct Farm Service
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Agency (FSA, formerly known as
Respondents: Individuals or Service (Service), announce the
Household. Farmers Home Administration) lands
availability of the final Comprehensive already in Service possession. To date
Estimated Number of Respondents: Conservation plan (CCP) and finding of 1,674 acres have been acquired in the
300. no significant impact for the Theodore Roosevelt NWR. The Service
Estimated Number of Responses: 250. environmental assessment for Theodore lists both new refuges as being
Roosevelt and Holt Collier National established ‘‘for conservation
Frequency of Response: 1. Wildlife Refuges (NWRs), Washington purposes.’’
Average Hours per Response: .06. and Sharkey Counties, Mississippi. In The habitat consists mainly of
Total Estimated Burdens: 50. the final CCP, we describe how we will converted agricultural lands now
manage the two refuges for the next 15 reforested to trees more indicative of the
B. Solicitation of Public Comment years. native bottomland hardwood forest.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of Farmlands and open water also occur.
This notice is soliciting comments
the CCP by downloading the document The refuge is not open to the public.
from members of the public and affected
from our Internet Site at http:// There are no public facilities located on
parties concerning the collection of
southeast.fws.gov/planning under either refuge.
information described in section A on ‘‘Final Documents.’’
the following: (1) Whether the proposed Background
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
collection of information is necessary
Mike Rich, Project Leader, at (662) 836– The CCP Process
for the proper performance of the
3004 (phone) or mike_rich@fws.gov The National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)
functions of the agency, including
(email). System Improvement Act of 1997
whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (Improvement Act) requires us to
agency’s estimate of the burden of the develop a CCP for each national wildlife
Introduction
proposed collection of information; (3) refuge. CCPs are developed to provide
With this notice, we complete the refuge managers with a 15-year plan for
Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
CCP process for Theodore Roosevelt and achieving refuges’ purposes and
clarity of the information to be
Holt Collier NWRs. We started the contributing toward the mission of the
collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the
process through a notice in the Federal NWR System, consistent with sound
burden of the collection of information Register (78 FR 45953) on July 30, 2013. principles of fish and wildlife
on those who are to respond; including For more about the process, see that management, conservation, legal
through the use of appropriate notice. mandates, and our policies. CCPs
automated collection techniques or The Theodore Roosevelt NWR describe a broad management direction
other forms of information technology, Complex (Complex) is comprised of for conserving wildlife and their
e.g., permitting electronic submission of seven refuges: Hillside (est. 1975), Holt habitats. They propose wildlife-
responses. Collier (est. 2004), Mathews Brake (est. dependent recreational opportunities to
HUD encourages interested parties to 1980), Morgan Brake (est. 1977), Panther be made available to the public. These
submit comment in response to these Swamp (est. 1978), Theodore Roosevelt include opportunities for hunting,
questions. (est. 2004), and Yazoo National Wildlife fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife
Refuge (est. 1936). photography, and environmental
Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork
The Complex was originally known as education and interpretation. We will
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35.
the Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge review the CCP annually and revise it as
Dated: January 15, 2016. Complex and then briefly named the needed in accordance with the
Central Mississippi National Wildlife
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Janet M. Golrick, Improvement Act.
Associate General Deputy Assistant Secretary Refuge Complex. On January 23, 2004,
section 145 of Public Law 108–199, the Comments
for Housing Associate Deputy Federal
Housing Commissioner. Consolidated Appropriations Act of We made the Draft CCP and
[FR Doc. 2016–01376 Filed 1–22–16; 8:45 am] 2004, was signed into law by then Environmental Assessment available
President George W. Bush. The Act online for a 30-day public review and
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
renamed the Complex as the Theodore comment period via a Federal Register
Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge notice (80 FR 13420) on March 13, 2015.
Complex. It designated the A total of seven comments were
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Notices 4061
received by mail, email or verbally at of the Theodore Roosevelt NWR Visitor CCP, we describe how we will manage
the April 2, 2015, public meeting in Center. On February 11, 2015, a total of this refuge for the next 15 years.
Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Comments 6.58 acres (originally proposed as ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of
supporting the plan and preferred approximately 5 acres) located off of the CCP by writing to: Lower
alternative were received from the Highway 61 in Sharkey County, Mississippi River NWR Complex, P.O.
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Mississippi) was donated to the Service Box 217, Sibley, MS 39165.
Fisheries and Parks, Safari Club to construct a Visitor Center. A major Alternatively, you may download the
International, and Mississippi Wildlife. focus of this plan and Service efforts document from our Internet Site at
CCP Alternatives, Including Our will be to build and staff the Visitor http://southeast.fws.gov/planning under
Preferred Alternative Center. Since the location is secured for ‘‘Final Documents.’’
the Visitor Center, regular Service FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
We developed three alternatives for procedures will be followed for building
managing the refuge (Alternatives A, B, Jimmy Laurent, Project Leader, Lower
design and construction. Staffing is Mississippi River NWR Complex, by
and C), with Alternative B, Minimally proposed to run the Visitor Center, to
Developed Refuges, selected for telephone at (601) 442–6696 or by email
provide environmental and interpretive at jimmy_laurent@fws.gov.
implementation. As these are newer programs, and to coordinate volunteers.
refuges authorized by Congress in 2004, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Positions include a Park Ranger,
the focus of this plan is to develop Wildlife Refuge Manager and a Introduction
them. Therefore, our efforts over the Maintenance Worker.
next 15 years will be focused on land With this notice, we finalize the CCP
This CCP assumes a modest growth of process for Cat Island NWR. We started
acquisition to build-out the refuges to refuge resources over its 15-year
their approved acquisition boundaries. the process through a notice in the
implementation period, with three new Federal Register on November 25, 2013
Passive habitat protection and the positions as new funding is available.
addition of new resource lands (78 FR 70318). For more about the
Current partnerships would be process, see that notice.
beneficial to wildlife will help preserve maintained and new ones would be
habitat in perpetuity and to lessen Cat Island NWR was established in
sought. Daily operation of the refuges October 2000, as the 526th refuge in the
fragmentation. This plan has the will be guided by this CCP and through
objective of providing sanctuary to National Wildlife Refuge System. It is
the implementation of nine projects and located in West Feliciana Parish,
migratory species as a group, not just six step-down management plans as
priority waterfowl species. White-tailed Louisiana, near the town of St.
detailed in the CCP. Francisville, 25 miles north of Baton
deer management would continue
through the Holt Collier NWR hunt Authority Rouge. Acquisition has occurred in
program and eventually at Theodore stages, beginning in 2000 when The
This notice is published under the Nature Conservancy (TNC) of Louisiana
Roosevelt NWR. Integrated damage authority of the National Wildlife
control of invasive and nuisance species made the first purchase of about 9,500
Refuge System Improvement Act of acres of forested wetlands. That and
would lessen the negative effects on the 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.).
refuges’ habitats. subsequent acquisitions by TNC were
Another primary focus of the plan is Dated: November 10, 2015. purchased by the Service using both the
to create a visitor services program to Brett E. Hunter, Land and Water Conservation Fund and
enhance environmental education and Deputy Chief, National Wildlife Refuge Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.
outreach efforts substantially and to System, Southeast Region. Today, the refuge encompasses 10,473
reach larger numbers of residents, [FR Doc. 2016–01414 Filed 1–22–16; 8:45 am] acres. The congressionally approved
students, educators, and visitors. It BILLING CODE 4333–15–P acquisition boundary encloses 36,500
places priority on wildlife-dependent acres.
uses, such as hunting, fishing and Cat Island NWR was created by
wildlife observation. Priority public DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Congress through Public Law 106–369,
uses, such as hunting, are allowed at which states: ‘‘The purposes for which
Holt Collier NWR. At a time when Fish and Wildlife Service the Refuge is established and shall be
sufficient land is amassed and resources managed are: (1) To conserve, restore,
are available to allow for ample public [FWS–R4–R–2015–N235]; and manage habitats as necessary to
[FXRS12650400000S3–123–FF04R02000] contribute to the migratory bird
use opportunities, Theodore Roosevelt
NWR would be opened to hunting. population goals and habitat objective
Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge,
Public use would be phased into both [sic] as established through the Lower
LA; Final Comprehensive
refuges. Compatibility determinations Mississippi Valley Joint Venture; (2) to
Conservation Plan and Finding of No
are updated for the priority public uses conserve, restore, and manage the
Significant Impact for Environmental
and for research and monitoring. For significant aquatic resource values
Assessment
both refuges, some commercial uses associated with the area’s forested
would be allowed under a Commercial AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, wetlands and to achieve the habitat
Special Use Permit, including Interior. objectives of the Mississippi River
commercial photography, firewood ACTION: Notice of availability. Aquatic Resources Management Plan;
gathering, timber harvest for forest (3) to conserve, enhance, and restore the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
management, and trapping. SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife historic native bottomland community
The Consolidated Appropriations Act Service (Service), announce the characteristics of the lower Mississippi
of 2004 authorized construction of a availability of the final comprehensive alluvial valley and its associated fish,
Visitor Center to provide visitor services conservation plan (CCP) and finding of wildlife, and plant species; (4) to
and to promote the Delta area’s natural no significant impact for the conserve, enhance, and restore habitat
resources and cultural heritage. Funding environmental assessment for Cat Island to maintain and assist in the recovery of
was appropriated in 2009, in the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in West endangered and threatened plants and
amount of $2.6 million for the building Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. In the final animals; and (5) to encourage the use of
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:35:19
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:35:19
| 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 | Mike Rich, Project Leader, at (662) 836-3004 (phone) or [email protected] (email). | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 4060 |
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