81 FR 79516 - National Elk Refuge, Teton County, Wyoming; 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 219 (November 14, 2016)

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 National Elk Refuge (Refuge, NWR). In this final CCP, we describe how we intend to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79516-79517]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27268]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-R-2016-N040; FF06R06000-FXRS12610600000-167]


National Elk Refuge, Teton County, Wyoming; Final Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for 
Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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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 National Elk 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: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/refuges/wy_ner.php. 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 ``National Elk 
Refuge CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
     U.S. Mail: National Elk Refuge, P.O. Box 510, Jackson, WY, 
83001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Kallin, Refuge Manager, at 307-
733-9212 (phone), or Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, 303-236-4378 
(phone) or [email protected] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the National Elk 
Refuge, which we began by publishing a notice of intent in the Federal 
Register (75 FR 65370) on October 22, 2010. 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 (79 FR 53440) on September 9, 2014. The 45-
day comment period ended on October 24, 2014. 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),

[[Page 79517]]

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/mountain-prairie/refuges/wy_ner.php. The final CCP includes detailed information about 
the planning process, refuge, issues, and management alternative 
selected. The Web site also includes an EA, prepared in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (43 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
The EA includes discussion of four alternative refuge management 
options. The Service's selected alternative is reflected in the final 
CCP, and also in the FONSI.
    The selected alternative focuses on habitat and wildlife management 
that allow for natural processes to promote habitats. Some habitats, 
such as wetlands, will be managed to enhance swan habitat and improve 
forage quantity and quality for elk and bison. The refuge will increase 
opportunities for wildlife-dependent public uses such as hunting, 
fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental 
education. We will keep some areas undeveloped, return some areas to a 
natural state, and increase development in other areas to enhance 
visitor services. A detailed description of objectives and actions 
included in this selected alternative is found in chapter 4 of the 
final CCP.

    Dated: September 23, 2016.
Noreen Walsh,
Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-27268 Filed 11-10-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P