81 FR 93951 - Establishment of Bear River Watershed Conservation Area, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 246 (December 22, 2016)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 246 (December 22, 2016)
| Page Range | 93951-93951 | |
| FR Document | 2016-30826 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 246 (Thursday, December 22, 2016)] [Notices] [Page 93951] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-30826] [[Page 93951]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R6-R-2016-N139; FF06R06000-FXRS12610600000-178] Establishment of Bear River Watershed Conservation Area, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has established the Bear River Watershed Conservation Area, the 565th unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Service established the Bear River Watershed Conservation Area on June 28, 2016, with the donation of approximately 30 acres in Box Elder County, Utah. ADDRESSES: A map depicting the approved Refuge boundary and other information regarding the Refuge is available on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/refuges/lpp_brr.php. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, Refuge Planning Branch, USFWS, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225; 303-236-4378. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service established the Bear River Watershed Conservation Area, which encompasses more than 4.5 million acres in the States of Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah, in 2013. The establishment of the conservation area authorizes the Service to work in partnership with private landowners to conserve wildlife habitat through perpetual easements. Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area are previously established National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) units within the watershed that are largely owned in fee-title. Along with the existing refuge units in the watershed, the conservation area supports more than 200 species of birds, particularly migratory birds within the Central and Pacific Flyways. The conservation area also provides habitat and important migratory linkages for many mammals, such as elk and pronghorn; and its rivers and lakes support a number of native fish species, such as Bonneville cutthroat trout. The Bear River is the largest surface water source for the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and is the meeting point of the Great Basin and Southern Rockies in the region. The Service will work with conservation partners and landowners to protect priority habitat for priority native species such as the American avocet, Bonneville cutthroat trout, greater sage-grouse, and sage thrasher on up to 920,000 acres in the 4.5-million-acre watershed. This goal will be accomplished primarily through the purchase of perpetual conservation easements from willing sellers in Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. The Service recognizes the importance of working with private landowners and other partners for mutual conservation interests. Farming and ranching have played an essential role in conserving valuable fish and wildlife habitat throughout the Bear River watershed. The establishment of the Bear River Watershed Conservation Area allows the Service to purchase conservation easements using the acquisition authority of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-j). The federal money used to acquire conservation easements is primarily from the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended (16 U.S.C. 460l-4 through 11) (derived primarily from oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf, motorboat fuel taxes, and the sale of surplus Federal property). Additional funding to acquire lands, water, or interests for fish and wildlife conservation purposes could be identified by Congress or donated by nonprofit organizations. The Service has involved the public, agencies, partners, and legislators throughout the planning process for the easement program. At the beginning of the planning process, the Service initiated public involvement for the proposal to protect habitats primarily through acquisition of conservation easements for management as part of the Refuge System. The Service spent time discussing the proposed project with landowners; conservation organizations; Federal, State and County government agencies; Tribes; and other interested groups and individuals in Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. These open houses were announced in local media. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Service prepared an environmental assessment (EA) that evaluated two alternatives and their potential impacts on the project area. The Service released the draft EA and land protection plan (LPP), on November 28, 2012, for a 32-day public review period. The draft documents were made available to federal elected officials and agencies, state elected officials and agencies, Native American Tribes with aboriginal or tribal interests, and other members of the public that were identified during the scoping process that included six public meetings. The Service held six additional open- house public meetings to discuss the draft EA and LPP on December 4, 2012 in Logan, Utah; December 5, 2012 in Randolph, Utah; December 6, 2012 in Montpelier, Idaho; December 7, 2012 in Preston, Idaho; December 10, 2012 in Cokeville, Wyoming; and December 11, 2012 in Evanston, Wyoming. These meetings were announced in advance in local media. Approximately 213 landowners, citizens, and elected representatives attended the meetings. The Service received 19 letters from agencies, organizations, and other entities, and 260 general public comments. After all comments were received, they were reviewed and incorporated into the EA and administrative record. Based on the documentation contained in the EA, a Finding of No Significant Impact was signed on February 27, 2013, and approval from Director Dan Ashe was received on May 1, 2013, for the establishment of the Bear River Watershed Conservation Area. Dated: August 15, 2016. Matt Hogan, Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region. [FR Doc. 2016-30826 Filed 12-21-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 246 / Thursday, December 22, 2016 / Notices 93951
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR region. The Service will work with Tribes with aboriginal or tribal interests,
conservation partners and landowners and other members of the public that
Fish and Wildlife Service to protect priority habitat for priority were identified during the scoping
[FWS–R6–R–2016–N139; FF06R06000–
native species such as the American process that included six public
FXRS12610600000–178] avocet, Bonneville cutthroat trout, meetings. The Service held six
greater sage-grouse, and sage thrasher on additional open-house public meetings
Establishment of Bear River up to 920,000 acres in the 4.5-million- to discuss the draft EA and LPP on
Watershed Conservation Area, Idaho, acre watershed. This goal will be December 4, 2012 in Logan, Utah;
Wyoming, and Utah accomplished primarily through the December 5, 2012 in Randolph, Utah;
purchase of perpetual conservation December 6, 2012 in Montpelier, Idaho;
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, easements from willing sellers in Idaho, December 7, 2012 in Preston, Idaho;
Interior. Wyoming, and Utah. December 10, 2012 in Cokeville,
ACTION: Notice. The Service recognizes the Wyoming; and December 11, 2012 in
importance of working with private Evanston, Wyoming. These meetings
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public landowners and other partners for were announced in advance in local
that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mutual conservation interests. Farming media. Approximately 213 landowners,
(Service) has established the Bear River and ranching have played an essential citizens, and elected representatives
Watershed Conservation Area, the 565th role in conserving valuable fish and attended the meetings. The Service
unit of the National Wildlife Refuge wildlife habitat throughout the Bear received 19 letters from agencies,
System. The Service established the River watershed. organizations, and other entities, and
Bear River Watershed Conservation The establishment of the Bear River 260 general public comments. After all
Area on June 28, 2016, with the Watershed Conservation Area allows the comments were received, they were
donation of approximately 30 acres in Service to purchase conservation reviewed and incorporated into the EA
Box Elder County, Utah. easements using the acquisition and administrative record.
ADDRESSES: A map depicting the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Act of
Based on the documentation
approved Refuge boundary and other 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a–j). The federal
contained in the EA, a Finding of No
information regarding the Refuge is money used to acquire conservation
Significant Impact was signed on
available on the Internet at https:// easements is primarily from the Land
February 27, 2013, and approval from
www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/refuges/ and Water Conservation Fund Act of
Director Dan Ashe was received on May
lpp_brr.php. 1965, as amended (16 U.S.C. 460l–4
1, 2013, for the establishment of the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni
through 11) (derived primarily from oil
Bear River Watershed Conservation
and gas leases on the Outer Continental
Griffin, Planning Team Leader, Refuge Area.
Shelf, motorboat fuel taxes, and the sale
Planning Branch, USFWS, P.O. Box Dated: August 15, 2016.
of surplus Federal property). Additional
25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225; 303–
funding to acquire lands, water, or Matt Hogan,
236–4378.
interests for fish and wildlife Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The conservation purposes could be [FR Doc. 2016–30826 Filed 12–21–16; 8:45 am]
Service established the Bear River identified by Congress or donated by BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
Watershed Conservation Area, which nonprofit organizations.
encompasses more than 4.5 million The Service has involved the public,
acres in the States of Idaho, Wyoming, agencies, partners, and legislators DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
and Utah, in 2013. The establishment of throughout the planning process for the
the conservation area authorizes the easement program. At the beginning of U.S. Geological Survey
Service to work in partnership with the planning process, the Service
private landowners to conserve wildlife initiated public involvement for the [GX.16.CG00.GDQ03.00]
habitat through perpetual easements. proposal to protect habitats primarily
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, through acquisition of conservation Agency Information Collection
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, easements for management as part of the Activities: Request for Comments on
Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge System. The Service spent time the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Berry
Refuge, and Oxford Slough Waterfowl discussing the proposed project with Outlook Survey
Production Area are previously landowners; conservation organizations;
established National Wildlife Refuge Federal, State and County government AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
System (Refuge System) units within the agencies; Tribes; and other interested Interior.
watershed that are largely owned in fee- groups and individuals in Idaho, ACTION: Notice of a new information
title. Along with the existing refuge Wyoming, and Utah. These open houses collection, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
units in the watershed, the conservation were announced in local media. Berry Outlook.
area supports more than 200 species of In compliance with the National
birds, particularly migratory birds Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological
within the Central and Pacific Flyways. U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Service Survey) are notifying the public that we
The conservation area also provides prepared an environmental assessment have submitted to the Office of
habitat and important migratory (EA) that evaluated two alternatives and Management and Budget (OMB) the
linkages for many mammals, such as elk their potential impacts on the project information collection request (ICR)
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
and pronghorn; and its rivers and lakes area. The Service released the draft EA described below. To comply with the
support a number of native fish species, and land protection plan (LPP), on Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA)
such as Bonneville cutthroat trout. The November 28, 2012, for a 32-day public and as part of our continuing efforts to
Bear River is the largest surface water review period. The draft documents reduce paperwork and respondent
source for the Great Salt Lake ecosystem were made available to federal elected burden, we invite the general public and
and is the meeting point of the Great officials and agencies, state elected other Federal agencies to take this
Basin and Southern Rockies in the officials and agencies, Native American opportunity to comment on this ICR.
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Document Created: 2016-12-21 23:52:29
Document Modified: 2016-12-21 23:52:29
| 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. | |
| Contact | Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, Refuge Planning Branch, USFWS, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225; 303-236-4378. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 93951 |
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