81 FR 91185 - Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 242 (December 16, 2016)

Page Range		91185-91187
FR Document		2016-30420

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability for review of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental impact statement (EIS) for Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Conte NFWR). The CCP/EIS describes how we propose to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 242 (Friday, December 16, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91185-91187]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30420]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R5-R-2016-N207; BAC-4333-99]


Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge; Final 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; final comprehensive conservation plan 
and environmental impact statement.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability for review of our final comprehensive conservation plan 
(CCP) and environmental impact statement (EIS) for Silvio O. Conte 
National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Conte NFWR). The CCP/EIS describes 
how we propose to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.

DATES: The Service's decision on issuance of an the final CCP/EIS will 
occur no sooner than 30 days after the publication of the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) notice of the final EIS in the 
Federal Register and will be documented in a Service Record of Decision 
(ROD).

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP/EIS by any of 
the following methods. You may also request a copy on CD-ROM and 
limited hard copies will be available.
    Agency Web site: Download a copy of the document at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Silvio_O_Conte/what_we_do/conservation.html.
    Email: Send requests to [email protected], and include 
``Conte NFWR CCP'' in the subject line of your email.
    U.S. Mail: Nancy McGarigal, Refuge Planner, 300 Westgate Center 
Drive, Hadley, MA 01035.
    Fax: Attention: Nancy McGarigal, 413-253-8468.
    To view comments on the final CCP/EIS from the EPA, or for 
information on EPA's role in the EIS process, see EPA's Role in the EIS 
Process under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew French, Refuge Manager, 413-
548-9725 (phone); [email protected] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Conte NFWR, which 
we began by publishing a notice of intent in the Federal Register (71 
FR 62006) on October 20, 2006. For more about the initial process and 
the history of this refuge, please see that notice. On August

[[Page 91186]]

18, 2015, we announced the release of the draft CCP/EIS to the public 
and requested comments in a notice of availability in the Federal 
Register (80 FR 50023). In addition, EPA published a notice in the 
Federal Register (80 FR 52273) announcing the draft CCP/EIS on August 
28, 2015, as required under section 309 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) (42 
U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). We now announce the final CCP/EIS. Under the CAA, 
EPA also will announce the final CCP/EIS via the Federal Register.

EPA's Role in the EIS Process

    The EPA is charged under section 309 of the CAA with reviewing all 
Federal agencies' EISs and commenting on the adequacy and the 
acceptability of the environmental impacts of proposed actions in the 
EISs.
    EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs prepared 
by Federal agencies and provides notice of their availability in the 
Federal Register. The EIS database provides information about EISs 
prepared by Federal agencies, as well as EPA's comments concerning the 
EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which publishes a notice of 
availability on Fridays in the Federal Register.
    A notice of availability is published at the start of the 45-day 
public comment period for draft EISs, as well as at the start of the 
30-day ``wait period'' for final EISs. With final EISs, agencies are 
generally required to wait 30 days before making a decision on a 
proposed action. For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/eisdata.html. You may search for EPA comments on EISs, 
along with EISs themselves, at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/action/eis/search.
    This notice announces the availability of the final CCP/EIS for 
Conte NFWR in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)). The final CCP/EIS includes a detailed 
description of the four management alternatives we considered to guide 
us in managing and administering the refuge for the next 15 years. That 
document also contains a thorough analysis of impacts predicted from 
implementing each of the alternatives on the surrounding natural and 
human environments. We propose that alternative C, the Service-
preferred alternative, serve as the foundation for the final, stand-
alone CCP. We highlight the modifications we made to alternative C 
between the draft and final CCP/EIS in Comments, below.
    Our next planning step is to complete a record of decision no 
sooner than 30 days after publication of this notice (40 CFR 
1506.10(b)(2)).

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge 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 and the public with a 
15-year plan for achieving refuge purposes and goals and contributing 
to the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). CCPs 
should be consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife 
management, conservation, legal mandates, and our policies, as well as 
respond to key issues and public concerns. 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 Refuge Administration Act.

Silvio O. Conte NFWR

    Conte NFWR was established in 1997 to conserve, protect, and 
enhance the abundance and diversity of native plant, fish, and wildlife 
species, and the ecosystems on which they depend throughout the 7.2-
million-acre Connecticut River watershed (watershed). Currently, the 
refuge is comprised of 37,000 acres within parts of the four watershed 
states of New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

CCP Alternatives

    During the scoping phase of the planning process, we identified a 
variety of major issues based on input from the public, State or 
Federal agencies, other Service programs, and our planning team. We 
developed refuge management alternatives and strategies to address 
these issues; help achieve refuge goals, objectives, and purposes; 
support our partners' conservation efforts, and support the NWRS 
mission. Our draft CCP/EIS (80 FR 50023) and final CCP/EIS fully 
analyze four alternatives for the future management of the refuge: (1) 
Alternative A, Current Management; (2) Alternative B, Consolidated 
Stewardship; (3) Alternative C, Enhanced Conservation Connections and 
Partnerships (Service-preferred Alternative); and (4) Alternative D, 
Conservation Connections Emphasizing Natural Processes. Alternative A 
satisfies the NEPA requirement of a ``No Action'' alternative. Both the 
draft and final plans identify alternative C as the Service-preferred 
alternative, although Alternative C has been slightly modified in the 
final plan in response to public comments, as discussed below. Please 
refer to the final CCP/EIS for more details on each of the 
alternatives.

Comments

    We solicited comments on the draft CCP/EIS for Conte NFWR from 
August 18 to November 16, 2015 (80 FR 50023). During this comment 
period, we held 14 public information meetings in towns across the 
Connecticut River watershed and four public hearings; one in each of 
the four states in the watershed. Overall, we received 363 separate 
written responses and collected 73 oral comments at the public 
hearings. We also received a petition to ban trapping at the refuge's 
Nulhegan Basin Division, signed by approximately 2,546 individuals. We 
evaluated all of the substantive comments we received, and include a 
summary of those comments, and our responses to them, as appendix O in 
the final CCP/EIS.

Changes to the Alternative C, the Service's Preferred Alternative

    After considering the comments we received on our draft CCP/EIS, we 
have made several modifications to alternative C, including adding or 
revising several management strategies. Below we present a brief 
overview of these changes; a full description of the changes is 
included in appendix O in the final CCP/EIS.
     Conservation Partnership Areas (CPAs)--We added two CPAs, 
increased the size of five CPAs, and reduced the size of one CPA.
     Conservation Focus Areas (CFAs)--We updated maps to 
reflect new refuge acquisitions and an updated conserved lands base, 
and to incorporate core areas identified in the Connect the Connecticut 
landscape conservation design. We increased the size of one CFA. 
Combined total acreage in CFAs increased by 41 acres.
     Land Acquisition Process--We refined our proposal to 
pursue acquisition of 90 percent of target acreage in CFAs, on average, 
and 10 percent of target acreage in surrounding CPAs. The total 
acquisition authority we are seeking (197,337 acres) increased by the 
41 acres noted above.
     Public Uses--We emphasize our intent to continue to allow 
priority public uses on newly acquired lands wherever compatible. We 
withdrew our

[[Page 91187]]

proposal to eliminate one section of snowmobile trail on Nulhegan Basin 
Division. We determined that recreational drone use is not appropriate.
     Habitat Management--We emphasize our intent to develop 
refuge division-specific habitat management plans with state agency and 
public involvement.
    Alternative C, with these changes, is still our preferred 
alternative in the final CCP/EIS for Conte NFWR for several reasons. 
First, alternative C comprises a mix of actions that, in our 
professional judgment, work best towards achieving the refuge's 
purposes, vision, and goals, NWRS policies, and the goals of other 
state and regional conservation plans. Second, we also believe that 
alternative C most effectively addresses key issues raised during the 
planning process.

Public Availability of Documents

    See ADDRESSES, above.

Next Steps

    We will document the final decision in a record of decision, which 
will be published in the Federal Register after the 30-day ``wait 
period'' that begins when EPA announces this final CCP/EIS. For more 
information, see EPA's Role in the EIS Process.

    Dated: December 1, 2016.
Deborah Rocque,
Deputy Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-30420 Filed 12-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Notices 91185

CBPL No. ASTM Title

27–03 ........... D 4006 Standard Test Method for Water in Crude Oil by Distillation.
27–04 ........... D 95 Standard Test Method for Water in Petroleum Products and Bituminous Materials by Distillation.
27–05 ........... D 4928 Standard Test Method for Water in Crude Oils by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration.
27–06 ........... D 473 Standard Test Method for Sediment in Crude Oils and Fuel Oils by the Extraction Method.
27–08 ........... D 86 Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure.
27–11 ........... D 445 Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic
Viscosity).
27–13 ........... D 4294 Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum and Petroleum Products by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluores-
cence Spectrometry.
27–46 ........... D 5002 Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density of Crude Oils by Digital Density Analyzer.
27–48 ........... D 4052 Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density of Liquids by Digital Density Meter.
27–50 ........... D 93 Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester.
27–53 ........... D 2709 Standard Test Method for Water and Sediment in Middle Distillate Fuels by Centrifuge.
27–54 ........... D 1796 Standard Test Method for Water and Sediment in Fuel Oils by the Centrifuge Method (Laboratory Procedure).
27–58 ........... D 5191 Standard Test Method For Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Mini Method).

Anyone wishing to employ this entity 20410; telephone (202) 402–3970; TTY and environmental impact statement
to conduct laboratory analyses and number for the hearing- and speech- (EIS) for Silvio O. Conte National Fish
gauger services should request and impaired (202) 708–2565 (these and Wildlife Refuge (Conte NFWR). The
receive written assurances from the telephone numbers are not toll-free), CCP/EIS describes how we propose to
entity that it is accredited or approved call the toll-free Title V information line manage the refuge for the next 15 years.
by the U.S. Customs and Border at 800–927–7588 or send an email to DATES: The Service’s decision on
Protection to conduct the specific test or title5@hud.gov. issuance of an the final CCP/EIS will
gauger service requested. Alternatively, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In occur no sooner than 30 days after the
inquiries regarding the specific test or accordance with the December 12, 1988 publication of the U.S. Environmental
gauger service this entity is accredited court order in National Coalition for the Protection Agency’s (EPA) notice of the
or approved to perform may be directed Homeless v. Veterans Administration, final EIS in the Federal Register and
to the U.S. Customs and Border No. 88–2503–OG (D.D.C.), HUD will be documented in a Service Record
Protection by calling (202) 344–1060. publishes a Notice, on a weekly basis, of Decision (ROD).
The inquiry may also be sent to identifying unutilized, underutilized, ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain
CBPGaugersLabs@cbp.dhs.gov. Please excess and surplus Federal buildings copies of the final CCP/EIS by any of the
reference the Web site listed below for and real property that HUD has following methods. You may also
a complete listing of CBP approved reviewed for suitability for use to assist request a copy on CD–ROM and limited
gaugers and accredited laboratories. the homeless. Today’s Notice is for the hard copies will be available.
http://www.cbp.gov/about/labs- purpose of announcing that no Agency Web site: Download a copy of
scientific/commercial-gaugers-and- additional properties have been the document at https://www.fws.gov/
laboratories. determined suitable or unsuitable this refuge/Silvio_O_Conte/what_we_do/
Dated: December 5, 2016. week. conservation.html.
Ira S. Reese, Dated: December 8, 2016. Email: Send requests to
Executive Director, Laboratories and northeastplanning@fws.gov, and include
Brian P. Fitzmaurice,
Scientific Services Directorate. ‘‘Conte NFWR CCP’’ in the subject line
Director, Division of Community Assistance,
[FR Doc. 2016–30297 Filed 12–15–16; 8:45 am] of your email.
Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs.
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
U.S. Mail: Nancy McGarigal, Refuge
[FR Doc. 2016–29821 Filed 12–15–16; 8:45 am]
Planner, 300 Westgate Center Drive,
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P Hadley, MA 01035.
Fax: Attention: Nancy McGarigal,
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
413–253–8468.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR To view comments on the final CCP/
[Docket No. FR–5907–N–51] EIS from the EPA, or for information on
Fish and Wildlife Service EPA’s role in the EIS process, see EPA’s
Federal Property Suitable as Facilities [FWS–R5–R–2016–N207; BAC–4333–99] Role in the EIS Process under
To Assist the Homeless SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Silvio O. Conte National Fish and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Secretary for Community Planning and Wildlife Refuge; Final Comprehensive Andrew French, Refuge Manager, 413–
Development, HUD. Conservation Plan and Environmental 548–9725 (phone); andrew_french@
Impact Statement fws.gov (email).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY: This Notice identifies Interior.
unutilized, underutilized, excess, and Introduction
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

ACTION: Notice of availability; final
surplus Federal property reviewed by With this notice, we continue the CCP
comprehensive conservation plan and
HUD for suitability for possible use to process for Conte NFWR, which we
environmental impact statement.
assist the homeless. began by publishing a notice of intent in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and the Federal Register (71 FR 62006) on
Juanita Perry, Department of Housing Wildlife Service (Service), announce the October 20, 2006. For more about the
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh availability for review of our final initial process and the history of this
Street SW., Room 7266, Washington, DC comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) refuge, please see that notice. On August

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 242 / Friday, December 16, 2016 / Notices 91187

proposal to eliminate one section of business as Rocky Mountain Power) to electricity generated from renewable
snowmobile trail on Nulhegan Basin construct and operate an extra-high sources at planned facilities in
Division. We determined that voltage alternating-current transmission Wyoming, as well as from existing
recreational drone use is not system; and amending certain BLM land thermal sources.
appropriate. use plans. The decisions are effective The Project will begin in south central
• Habitat Management—We immediately. Wyoming near Medicine Bow, at the
emphasize our intent to develop refuge ADDRESSES: The complete text of the
permitted Aeolus Substation, and
division-specific habitat management ROD along with the Final traverses from northeast to southwest
plans with state agency and public Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) across northwestern Colorado to the
involvement. and supporting documents are available existing Clover Substation near Mona,
Alternative C, with these changes, is Utah, a distance of approximately 416
for public viewing on the BLM Web site:
still our preferred alternative in the final miles.
http://bit.ly/2eErxWA.
CCP/EIS for Conte NFWR for several Copies of the ROD text will be placed The facilities will include:
reasons. First, alternative C comprises a • Construction of a single-circuit,
in all involved BLM offices for public
mix of actions that, in our professional alternating current 500kV overhead
viewing as well as at public libraries in
judgment, work best towards achieving transmission line (including associated
Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. For a list
the refuge’s purposes, vision, and goals, structures, shield wires, conductors, and
of these libraries, please see the
NWRS policies, and the goals of other insulators) between the Aeolus
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
state and regional conservation plans. Substation and Clover Substation;
below. • Construction of two series
Second, we also believe that alternative
C most effectively addresses key issues FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: compensation stations, at points
raised during the planning process. Tamara Gertsch, National Project between the Aeolus and Clover
Manager, Bureau of Land Management, substations, to improve the transport
Public Availability of Documents Wyoming State Office, P.O. Box 21150, capacity and efficiency of the
See ADDRESSES, above. Cheyenne, WY 82003; by telephone at transmission line;
(307) 775–6115; or email to • Construction of communication
Next Steps GatewaySouth_WYMail@blm.gov. regeneration stations associated with the
We will document the final decision Persons who use a telecommunications transmission line (approximately every
in a record of decision, which will be device for the deaf may call the Federal 55 miles);
published in the Federal Register after Relay Service (FRS) at (800) 877–8339 to • Rebuilding of two existing 345kV
the 30-day ‘‘wait period’’ that begins contact the above individual during transmission lines between the Clover
when EPA announces this final CCP/ normal business hours. The FRS is and Mona Substations (in the existing
EIS. For more information, see EPA’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, rights-of-way);
Role in the EIS Process. to leave a message or question with the • Rerouting of the Mona to
Dated: December 1, 2016. above individual. You will receive a Huntington 345kV transmission line
Deborah Rocque, reply during normal business hours. through the Clover Substation; and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of • Relocation of an approximate 2-
Deputy Regional Director, Northeast Region. mile portion of an existing line (Bears
[FR Doc. 2016–30420 Filed 12–15–16; 8:45 am]
the ROD text are available at the
following public libraries: Ears to Bonanza 345kV transmission
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
• Carbon County Library, Rawlins, line) to eliminate multiple line crossings
WY; in a short distance and avoid the BLM
• Carbon County Library-Little Snake Raven Ridge Area of Critical
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Environmental Concern.
River Branch, Baggs, WY;
• Moffat County Library, Craig, CO; The Selected Alternative is the
Bureau of Land Management
• Rangely Regional Library District, Agency Preferred Alternative identified
[LLWY920000.L51010000.ER0000. Rangely, CO; in the Final EIS. The EIS has been
LVRWK09K1000.15X; WYW174597; • Mesa County Library, Grand developed in accordance with
COC72909; UTU87237] applicable laws, regulations, policies,
Junction, CO;
Notice of Availability of the Record of • Grand County Public Library, Moab, and plans, and discloses the impacts of
UT; the Project. The Selected Alternative
Decision for the Energy Gateway
• Uintah County Library, Vernal, UT; was identified as the route that best
South Transmission Project and
• Duchesne County Library, meets the BLM’s purpose and need, and
Approved Land Use Plan Amendments
Duchesne, UT; the Applicant’s objectives, and that
in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming • Emery County Library, Castle Dale, avoids and minimizes minimized
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, UT; and impacts to sensitive resources to the
Interior. • Nephi Public Library, Nephi, UT. extent possible. The ROD addresses the
ACTION: Notice. PacifiCorp (doing business as Rocky mitigation and monitoring requirements
Mountain Power), a regulated public applicable to the Project, including
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land utility, filed an application for a right- identifying and requiring compensatory
Management (BLM) announces the of-way to construct, operate and mitigation where impacts to sensitive
availability of the Record of Decision maintain a 500-kilovolt (kV) overhead, resources cannot be avoided, as further
(ROD) for the Energy Gateway South alternating current transmission line
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

described in the ROD and its
Transmission Project (Project) and across public and private lands for the appendices.
approved land use plan amendments of Project on November 28, 2007. Based on the analysis in the Final EIS,
the Rawlins, Little Snake, Pony Express, Pacificorp amended the application on the ROD also amends five BLM RMPs,
Price, and Vernal Resource Management December 17, 2008; October 11, 2010; as follows:
Plans (RMPs). The ROD constitutes the January 15, 2013; and April 8, 2015. • Rawlins RMP (Wyoming)—modifies
BLM’s final decision regarding: granting When completed, the Project will 21 acres of visual resource management
a right-of-way to PacifiCorp (doing transmit about 1,500 megawatts of (VRM) Class III to Class IV;

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Document Created: 2018-02-14 09:07:46
Document Modified: 2018-02-14 09:07:46

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; final comprehensive conservation plan and environmental impact statement.
Dates		The Service's decision on issuance of an the final CCP/EIS will occur no sooner than 30 days after the publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) notice of the final EIS in the Federal Register and will be documented in a Service Record of Decision (ROD).
Contact		Andrew French, Refuge Manager, 413- 548-9725 (phone); [email protected] (email).
FR Citation		81 FR 91185

81 FR 91185 - Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 242 (December 16, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service