[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 241 (Friday, December 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65591-65592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31679]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Management Plan and
Associated Environmental Document
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) intends to gather information necessary to prepare a
Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) and an environmental document
(environmental assessment or environmental impact statement) for Little
Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, Stevens County, Washington. The
Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with service CMP policy
and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and implementing
regulations: (1) To advise other agencies and the public of our
intentions, and (2) to obtain suggestions and information on the scope
of issues to include in the environmental document.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before January 13,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for more information to:
Refuge Manager, Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, 1310 Bear
Creek Road, Colville, Washington 99114.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service started the comprehensive
management planning process for Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife
Refuge (Little Pend Oreille NWR) in 1995. We held open houses at the
Refuge headquarters in July and October 1995, and a public meeting in
Colville, Washington in October 1995. We recorded issues and concerns
expressed by people at these gatherings and have also received written
comments. The Service informed people of the open houses and meeting
through special mailings, newspaper articles, and radio announcements.
Comments received to date will be considered in the development of the
CMP and NEPA documentation.
It is U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy to have all lands
within the National Wildlife Refuge System managed in accordance with
an approved CMP. The CMP guides management decisions and identifies
refuge goals, long-range objectives, and strategies for achieving
refuge purposes. Public input into this planning process is encouraged.
The CMP will provide other agencies and the public with a clear
understanding of the desired conditions for the Refuge and how the
Service will implement management strategies.
Established in 1939, the Service managed Little Pend Oreille NWR
until 1965, when the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife assumed
management through a cooperative agreement. In 1994, the Service
resumed management. We need a CMP because no formal, long-term
management direction exists for managing Little Pend Oreille NWR. Until
the CMP is completed, Refuge management will be guided by official
Refuge purposes; Executive Order 8104; Federal legislation regarding
management of national wildlife refuges; and other legal, regulatory
and policy guidance.
Upon implementation, the CMP would apply only to Federal lands
within the boundaries of Little Pend Oreille NWR. Issues to be
addressed in the plan include grazing, pests including noxious weeds,
degraded aquatic and riparian habitats, overstocked forest habitats,
Air Force Survival School training, and public uses. The plan will
include the following topics:
[[Page 65592]]
(a) Habitat management, including management of forest, riparian
areas, water courses, reservoirs, wetlands, old farm fields, and
meadows;
(b) Wildlife population management, including federally-listed
endangered and threatened species, migratory birds, and native mammals
and fish;
(c) Public use management, including hunting, fishing, trapping,
wildlife observation and photography, environmental education, camping,
horseback riding, mountain-bike riding, and snowmobiling;
(d) Cultural resource identification and protection; and
(e) Management of other special uses including military training.
Alternatives that address the issues and management strategies
associated with these topics will be included in the environmental
document.
We have evaluated and grouped concerns, issues, and opportunities
identified by various publics to date in the following categories:
Wildlife, wildlife habitat, recreation, and Air Force training. With
the publication of this notice, the public is encouraged to send
written comments on these and other issues, courses of action that the
Service should consider, and potential impacts that could result from
CMP implementation on Little Pend Oreille NWR. Comments already
received are on record and need not be resubmitted.
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40
CFR 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal laws and regulations,
Executive Order 12996, and Service policies and procedures for
compliance with those regulations.
We estimate that the draft environmental document will be available
by October 1997.
Dated: December 6, 1996.
John H. Doebel,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 96-31679 Filed 12-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
