[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 161 (Monday, August 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50155-50156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20359]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-R-2012-N119; FXRS1265030000S3-123-FF03R06000]
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Jasper County, IA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
environmental assessment (EA) for Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
(Refuge, NWR) for public review and comment. In this draft CCP/EA we
describe how we propose to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by September 19, 2012. We will hold an open house-style meeting during
the comment period to receive comments and provide information on the
draft plan. In addition, we will use special mailings, newspaper
articles, internet postings, and other media announcements to inform
people of opportunities for input.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
one of the following methods:
Email: r3planning@fws.gov. Include ``Neal Smith Draft CCP/
EA'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attention: Refuge Manager, 515-994-3459.
U.S. Mail: Attention: Refuge Manager Christy Smith, Neal
Smith National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 399, 9981 Pacific Street,
Prairie City, IA 50228.
In-Person Drop Off: You may drop off comments during
regular business hours at the above address.
You will find the draft CCP/EA, as well as information about the
planning process and a summary of the CCP, on the planning Web site:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/nealsmith/index.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christy Smith, 515-994-3400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Neal Smith
National Wildlife Refuge, which we began by publishing a notice of
intent in the Federal Register (73 FR 7667) on December 17, 2008. For
more about the initial process and the history of this refuge, see that
notice.
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), 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 draft CCP/EA, which includes detailed information about the
planning process, refuge, issues, and management alternatives
considered and proposed, may be found at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/nealsmith/index.html. There are four alternative refuge
management options considered in the EA. The Service's preferred
alternative is reflected in the draft CCP.
[[Page 50156]]
The alternatives analyzed in detail include:
Alternative A: Current Management (No Action): This no-
action alternative, reflects the current management of Neal Smith NWR.
It provides the baseline against which to compare other alternatives.
Alternative B: Refuge Habitat Focus (Preferred
Alternative): This alternative focuses upon increasing the amount and
diversity of native vegetation on the Refuge, and providing the varied
habitat structure needed to support wildlife, especially declining
populations of migratory grassland birds. Additional effort is directed
toward restoring floristic quality on prairie and savanna remnants and
monitoring and learning from the results of management actions. The
Refuge boundary is expanded to the east and west by 3,210 acres, to
include all tributaries of Walnut Creek that flow through the Refuge.
Alternative C: Watershed Focus: This alternative
emphasizes restoration of hydrologic function and native vegetation to
the entire Walnut Creek watershed. Refuge staff builds and leads a new
public/private partnership to develop and begin implementation of a
long-term restoration plan for the watershed. The Refuge land
acquisition boundary is expanded by 14,600 acres to include all lands
within the watershed. Restoration of the southernmost reaches of the
watershed creates a contiguous habitat connection between Neal Smith
NWR and Lake Red Rock.
Alternative D: Corridor Focus: This alternative emphasizes
creation of a permanent wildlife habitat corridor connecting Neal Smith
NWR with Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt to the north and Lake Red Rock to
the south. Refuge staff builds and leads a new public/private
partnership focused on increasing the wildlife value of lands within
the corridor and supporting environmentally sound development. The
Refuge land acquisition boundary is expanded by 20,550 acres to include
the entire corridor area. Prairie restoration and management focus on
creation of large connected tracts of diverse habitat structure for
wildlife, especially declining populations of grassland birds.
Public Involvement
We will give the public an opportunity to provide input at a public
meeting. You can obtain the schedule from the address or web site
listed in this notice (see ADDRESSES). You may also submit comments
anytime during the comment period.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Thomas O. Melius,
Regional Director, Midwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-20359 Filed 8-17-12; 8:45 am]
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