81 FR 4061 - Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, LA; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for 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 | 4061-4062 | |
| FR Document | 2016-01417 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 4061-4062] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-01417] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R4-R-2015-N235]; [FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000] Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge, LA; 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 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 Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years. ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by writing to: Lower Mississippi River NWR Complex, P.O. Box 217, Sibley, MS 39165. Alternatively, you may download the document from our Internet Site at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning under ``Final Documents.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jimmy Laurent, Project Leader, Lower Mississippi River NWR Complex, by telephone at (601) 442-6696 or by email at jimmy_laurent@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Cat Island NWR. We started the process through a notice in the Federal Register on November 25, 2013 (78 FR 70318). For more about the process, see that notice. Cat Island NWR was established in October 2000, as the 526th refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It is located in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, near the town of St. Francisville, 25 miles north of Baton Rouge. Acquisition has occurred in stages, beginning in 2000 when The Nature Conservancy (TNC) of Louisiana made the first purchase of about 9,500 acres of forested wetlands. That and subsequent acquisitions by TNC were purchased by the Service using both the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. Today, the refuge encompasses 10,473 acres. The congressionally approved acquisition boundary encloses 36,500 acres. Cat Island NWR was created by Congress through Public Law 106-369, which states: ``The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall be managed are: (1) To conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary to contribute to the migratory bird population goals and habitat objective [sic] as established through the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture; (2) to conserve, restore, and manage the significant aquatic resource values associated with the area's forested wetlands and to achieve the habitat objectives of the Mississippi River Aquatic Resources Management Plan; (3) to conserve, enhance, and restore the historic native bottomland community characteristics of the lower Mississippi alluvial valley and its associated fish, wildlife, and plant species; (4) to conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain and assist in the recovery of endangered and threatened plants and animals; and (5) to encourage the use of [[Page 4062]] volunteers and facilitate partnerships among the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, local communities, conservation organizations, and other non-Federal entities to promote public awareness of the resources of the Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System and public participation in the conservation of those resources'' (Cat Island NWR Establishment Act, 114 Stat. 1418, October 27, 2000). Background The CCP Process The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan 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 our 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, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration Act. Comments We made copies of the Draft CCP/EA available for a 30-day public review and comment period via a Federal Register notice on May 1, 2015 (80 FR 24958). Copies of the Draft CCP/EA were posted at refuge headquarters and also were available for download at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/planning/CCP/cat-island.html. Over 100 letters with links to the draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment were distributed to local landowners, the public, and local, State, and Federal agencies. Three respondents, consisting of the Humane Society of the United States, the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, and local citizens, submitted comments on the Draft CCP/EA by mail or email. CCP Alternatives, Including Our Preferred Alternative We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge (Alternatives A, B, and C), with Alternative B selected for implementation. This alternative will focus on managing the refuge's natural resources to enhance habitats for priority species including waterfowl and other migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, species of concern, and resident fish and wildlife. Additionally, wildlife surveys would be conducted using established protocols to establish baseline habitat conditions, estimate wildlife population indices, determine responses to management actions, and contribute to larger scale biological assessments. Invasive exotic and nuisance species would be actively managed to minimize their impacts on refuge resources. Refuge forests would be actively managed to enhance wildlife habitat. Aquatic habitats on the refuge would be inventoried and assessed, and where feasible, access to them would be improved for recreational anglers. Refuge cultural resources would continue to be protected as they have been in the past. In addition, the refuge would seek funding to survey and catalog cultural resources on the refuge. Protection of cultural resources would be integrated into refuge planning at all levels, and management actions would be reviewed in order to avoid or mitigate impacts to cultural resources. Under the preferred alternative, public use would be more actively managed by refuge staff. Hunting and fishing would continue to be managed and made available with the active partnership of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. More law enforcement personnel hours would be allocated by the Service for Cat Island NWR. New partnerships with organizations interested in promoting nonconsumptive refuge use would be sought, and existing ones strengthened. In particular, environmental education opportunities would be enhanced by active participation of Service personnel with local schools and nonprofit organizations. Refuge infrastructure would be maintained as in the past. The refuge would seek to improve access via the main refuge road and various trails. Efforts would be made to provide access to the northeast section of the refuge, and access via Cat Island Road would be pursued. The refuge would hire or assign staff to the refuge. Staff may include one or more of the following: Refuge manager, volunteer coordinator, equipment operator, law enforcement officer, forester, and biologist. Any or all of these may be shared positions among refuges in the Lower Mississippi River Refuge Complex. Full staffing under this alternative is anticipated to be 1.5 to 2 full-time employees. 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. 2016-01417 Filed 1-22-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![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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![4062 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 2016 / Notices
volunteers and facilitate partnerships implementation. This alternative will Authority
among the United States Fish and focus on managing the refuge’s natural This notice is published under the
Wildlife Service, local communities, resources to enhance habitats for authority of the National Wildlife
conservation organizations, and other priority species including waterfowl Refuge System Improvement Act of
non-Federal entities to promote public and other migratory birds, threatened 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.).
awareness of the resources of the Refuge and endangered species, species of
and the National Wildlife Refuge concern, and resident fish and wildlife. Dated: November 10, 2015.
System and public participation in the Additionally, wildlife surveys would be Brett E. Hunter,
conservation of those resources’’ (Cat conducted using established protocols Deputy Chief, National Wildlife Refuge
Island NWR Establishment Act, 114 to establish baseline habitat conditions, System Southeast Region.
Stat. 1418, October 27, 2000). estimate wildlife population indices, [FR Doc. 2016–01417 Filed 1–22–16; 8:45 am]
determine responses to management BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
Background
actions, and contribute to larger scale
The CCP Process biological assessments. Invasive exotic
and nuisance species would be actively DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. managed to minimize their impacts on
refuge resources. Refuge forests would Geological Survey
668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as
amended by the National Wildlife be actively managed to enhance wildlife [GX16EE000101000]
Refuge System Improvement Act of habitat. Aquatic habitats on the refuge
would be inventoried and assessed, and Agency Information Collection
1997, requires us to develop a CCP for Activities: Request for Comment on
each national wildlife refuge. The where feasible, access to them would be
improved for recreational anglers. Proposed Revisions to the United
purpose for developing a CCP is to States Thoroughfare, Landmark and
provide refuge managers with a 15-year Refuge cultural resources would
continue to be protected as they have Postal Address Data Standard
plan for achieving refuge purposes and
contributing toward the mission of the been in the past. In addition, the refuge AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
National Wildlife Refuge System, would seek funding to survey and Department of the Interior.
consistent with sound principles of fish catalog cultural resources on the refuge.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments
and wildlife management, conservation, Protection of cultural resources would
legal mandates, and our policies. In be integrated into refuge planning at all SUMMARY: The Federal Geographic Data
addition to outlining broad management levels, and management actions would Committee (FGDC) is conducting a
direction on conserving wildlife and be reviewed in order to avoid or public review of proposed revisions to
their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife- mitigate impacts to cultural resources. the United States Thoroughfare,
dependent recreational opportunities Under the preferred alternative, Landmark and Postal Address Data
available to the public, including public use would be more actively Standard (Address Data Standard).
opportunities for hunting, fishing, managed by refuge staff. Hunting and The primary purposes of the Address
wildlife observation, wildlife fishing would continue to be managed Data Standard are to develop content
photography, and environmental and made available with the active specifications for address information,
education and interpretation. We will partnership of Louisiana Department of provide classifications for different
review and update the CCP at least Wildlife and Fisheries. More law types of addresses, establish appropriate
every 15 years in accordance with the enforcement personnel hours would be standards and measures for evaluation
Administration Act. allocated by the Service for Cat Island of address data quality, and support
NWR. New partnerships with exchange of address data. The FGDC
Comments organizations interested in promoting endorsed the Address Data Standard in
We made copies of the Draft CCP/EA nonconsumptive refuge use would be 2011, and numerous federal, state and
available for a 30-day public review and sought, and existing ones strengthened. local government agencies have since
comment period via a Federal Register In particular, environmental education used it to manage their address data.
notice on May 1, 2015 (80 FR 24958). opportunities would be enhanced by Over the last five years, users and the
Copies of the Draft CCP/EA were posted active participation of Service personnel authors identified a number of desirable
at refuge headquarters and also were with local schools and nonprofit minor corrections to the Address Data
available for download at http:// organizations. Standard. Additionally, the U.S. Census
www.fws.gov/southeast/planning/CCP/ Refuge infrastructure would be Bureau, as the maintenance authority
cat-island.html. Over 100 letters with maintained as in the past. The refuge for the Standard, has proposed adding a
links to the draft comprehensive would seek to improve access via the new Map Position element.
conservation plan and environmental main refuge road and various trails. Reviewers are requested to review and
assessment were distributed to local Efforts would be made to provide access comment on the proposed revisions
landowners, the public, and local, State, to the northeast section of the refuge, and/or submit additional comments on
and Federal agencies. Three and access via Cat Island Road would be the Address Data Standard.
respondents, consisting of the Humane pursued. The refuge would hire or The draft revision of the standard may
Society of the United States, the Jena assign staff to the refuge. Staff may be downloaded from: https://
include one or more of the following: www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Band of Choctaw Indians, and local
citizens, submitted comments on the Refuge manager, volunteer coordinator, FGDC-standards-projects/street-
Draft CCP/EA by mail or email. equipment operator, law enforcement address/AddressDataStandardRevised.
officer, forester, and biologist. Any or all The change log lists proposed changes
CCP Alternatives, Including Our of these may be shared positions among identified since publication of the
Preferred Alternative refuges in the Lower Mississippi River Address Data Standard in 2011. These
We developed three alternatives for Refuge Complex. Full staffing under this changes are reflected in the version of
managing the refuge (Alternatives A, B, alternative is anticipated to be 1.5 to 2 the standard posted for the 2015
and C), with Alternative B selected for full-time employees. maintenance review and are subject to
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:35:16
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:35:16
| 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 | Jimmy Laurent, Project Leader, Lower Mississippi River NWR Complex, by telephone at (601) 442-6696 or by email at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 4061 |
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