14984 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2011 / Notices 

extending the comment period and will 

continue to accept comments on the IFR 

and this information collection. 

Therefore, all comments received to 

date, and those that may be received 

during the extended comment period, 

will be considered, addressed, and 

consolidated in the final rulemaking, 

and we will revise this collection of 

information accordingly. 

If you wish to comment in response 

to this notice, you may send your 

comments to the offices listed under the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. The 

OMB has up to 60 days to approve or 

disapprove the information collection 

but may respond after 30 days. 

Therefore, to ensure maximum 

consideration, OMB should receive 

public comments by April 18, 2011. 

Public Availability of Comments: 

Before including your address, phone 

number, e-mail 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. 

BOEMRE Information Collection 

Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (703) 

787–1025. 

Dated: March 3, 2011. 

Doug Slitor, 

Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory 

Programs. 

[FR Doc. 2011–6411 Filed 3–17–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R5–R–2011–N006; BAC–4311–K9–S3] 

Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife 

Refuge, Penobscot, Kennebec, and 

Waldo Counties, ME, and Carlton Pond 

Waterfowl Production Area, Waldo 

County, ME; Comprehensive 

Conservation Plan and Environmental 

Assessment 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), intend to 

prepare a comprehensive conservation 

plan (CCP) and environmental 

assessment (EA) for Sunkhaze Meadows 

National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and 

Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production 

Area (WPA). We provide this notice in 

compliance with our CCP policy to 

advise other Federal and State agencies, 

Tribes, and the public of our intentions, 

and to obtain suggestions and 

information on the scope of issues to 

consider in the planning process. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, please 

send your written comments by April 

30, 2011. We will announce 

opportunities for public input in local 

news media throughout the CCP 

process. 

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or 

requests for more information by any 

one of the following methods. 

E-mail: northeastplanning@fws.gov. 

Include ‘‘Sunkhaze Meadows NWR 

CCP’’ in the subject line of the message. 

Fax: Attention: Lia McLaughlin, 413– 

253–8468. 

U.S. Mail: Lia McLaughlin, U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate 

Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035. 

In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off 

comments during regular business hours 

at 9 Water Street, Rockland, ME 04841. 

Comments can also be dropped off at 

Milford Town Hall, 62 Davenport Street, 

Milford, ME 04461. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth 

Goettel, 207–594–0600 (phone); 

Beth_Goettel@fws.gov (e-mail). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we initiate our 

process for developing a CCP for 

Sunkhaze Meadows NWR, located in 

Kennebec, Penobscot, and Waldo 

Counties, ME, and Carlton Pond WPA, 

located in Waldo County, ME. This 

notice complies with our CCP policy to: 

(1) Advise other Federal and State 

agencies, Tribes, and the public of our 

intention to conduct detailed planning 

on this refuge, and (2) obtain 

suggestions and information on the 

scope of issues to consider in the 

environmental document and during 

development of the CCP. 

Background 

The CCP Process 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee) (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 with a 15-year 

plan 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 our policies. In addition 

to outlining broad management 

direction on conserving wildlife and 

their habitats, CCPs identify wildlifedependent 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. 

Our CCP process provides 

participation opportunities for Tribal, 

State, and local governments; agencies; 

organizations; and the public. At this 

time we encourage input in the form of 

issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions 

for the future management of Sunkhaze 

Meadows NWR and Carlton Pond WPA. 

We will conduct the environmental 

review of this project and develop an 

EA in accordance with the requirements 

of the National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA regulations 

(40 CFR parts 1500–1508); other 

appropriate Federal laws and 

regulations; and our policies and 

procedures for compliance with those 

laws and regulations. 

Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife 

Refuge and Carlton Pond Waterfowl 

Production Area 

Sunkhaze Meadows NWR is 

comprised of three units: The Sunkhaze 

Meadows Unit, the Benton Unit, and the 

Sandy Stream Unit. The Sunkhaze 

Meadows Unit is the largest of the three, 

at 11,485 acres. It is located in the Town 

of Milford, Penobscot County, ME, 

approximately 14 miles north of Bangor. 

The Benton Unit is a 334-acre former 

dairy farm in the Town of Benton in 

Kennebec County. The Sandy Stream 

Unit is a 58-acre parcel in the Town of 

Unity in Waldo County. 


Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2011 / Notices 14985 

The refuge was established in 1988 to 

ensure the ecological integrity of the 

Sunkhaze Meadows peat bog and the 

continued availability of its wetland, 

stream, forest, and wildlife resources to 

the citizens of the United States. The 

purpose of acquisition, under the 

authority of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 

1956 was ‘‘for the development, 

advancement, management, 

conservation, and protection of fish and 

wildlife resources’’ and ‘‘for the benefit 

of the United States Fish and Wildlife 

Service, in performing its activities and 

services.’’ The Land and Water 

Conservation Fund was the source of 

funding for the purchase. 

The Sunkhaze Meadows Unit protects 

the second-largest peatland in Maine. 

Sunkhaze Stream bisects this unit along 

a northeast-to-southwest orientation 

and, with its six tributaries, creates a 

diversity of wetland communities. The 

bog and stream wetlands, along with the 

adjacent uplands and associated 

transition zones, provide important 

habitat for many wildlife species. The 

Benton Unit is comprised of grassland, 

young mixed softwood-hardwood forest, 

and small wetland habitats. A variety of 

landbird species of conservation 

concern are known to breed there, 

including American woodcock, redwinged blackbird, and bobolink. The 

Sandy Stream Unit is mainly comprised 

of upland shrub, abandoned fields, and 

floodplain forest. The tidewater mucket 

and yellow lampmussel, two mussel 

species listed as threatened by the State 

of Maine, have been observed at the 

Sandy Stream Division. Combined, the 

three units provide habitat for at least 

three plants, seven birds, two mollusks, 

and three invertebrates listed as 

endangered or threatened by the State of 

Maine. 

Carlton Pond WPA is a 1,055-acre 

artificial impoundment located in the 

town of Troy in Waldo County. The area 

was acquired by the Service in 1966 to 

protect the waterfowl and other wildlife 

associated with this area in central 

Maine. Carlton Pond WPA has 

historically provided good nesting 

habitat for waterfowl and other birds, 

and is one of the few areas in the State 

that provides nesting habitat for the 

black tern, which is State-listed as 

endangered. Many bird species that use 

Carlton Pond have been listed by the 

Partners-in-Flight organization as 

species that are declining. Slender blue 

flag iris, a plant species listed as 

threatened by the State of Maine, has 

also been observed at Carlton Pond. 

Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, 

and Opportunities 

We have identified preliminary 

issues, concerns, and opportunities that 

we may address in the CCP. We have 

briefly summarized these issues below. 

During public scoping, we may identify 

additional issues. 

(1) Ecoregional or ecosystem-wide 

issues, such as climate change, regional 

land conservation, and protection of 

water quality throughout the Penobscot 

River watershed; 

(2) Biological program issues, such as 

habitat and species management needs, 

protection, restoration, monitoring, 

inventories, and research; 

(3) Public use program issues, such as 

the breadth and quality of programs, 

public access, user conflicts, and use 

impacts on natural resources; 

(4) Infrastructure and staffing issues, 

such as appropriateness of facilities, 

safety, accessibility, and additional 

staffing needs; 

(5) Community relations and outreach 

issues and opportunities, such as 

increasing local awareness of the refuge 

and NWRS; 

(6) Coordination and communication 

issues and opportunities with Federal, 

State, and Tribal Governments and with 

nongovernmental conservation partners; 

and 

(7) Potential for both wilderness and 

wild and scenic rivers designations on 

refuge lands. 

Public Meetings 

We will give the public an 

opportunity to provide input at one or 

more public meetings. You can obtain 

the schedule from the planning team 

leader or refuge manager (see 

ADDRESSES). You may also send 

comments anytime during the planning 

process by mail, e-mail, or fax (see 

ADDRESSES). There will be additional 

opportunities to provide public input 

once we have prepared a draft CCP. 

Public Availability of Comments 

Before including your address, phone 

number, e-mail 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. 

Dated: February 16, 2011. 

Salvatore M. Amato, 

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Hadley, MA 01035. 

[FR Doc. 2011–6373 Filed 3–17–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R9–IA–2011–N059; 96300–1671– 

0000–P5] 

Endangered Species; Receipt of 

Applications for Permit 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of receipt of applications 

for permit. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, invite the public to 

comment on the following applications 

to conduct certain activities with 

endangered species. With some 

exceptions, the Endangered Species Act 

(ESA) prohibits activities with listed 

species unless a Federal permit is issued 

that allows such activities. The ESA 

laws require that we invite public 

comment before issuing these permits. 

DATES: We must receive comments or 

requests for documents on or before 

April 18, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Brenda Tapia, Division of 

Management Authority, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax 

Drive, Room 212, Arlington, VA 22203; 

fax (703) 358–2280; or e-mail 

DMAFR@fws.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Brenda Tapia, (703) 358–2104 

(telephone); (703) 358–2280 (fax); 

DMAFR@fws.gov (e-mail). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Comment Procedures 

A. How do I request copies of 

applications or comment on submitted 

applications? 

Send your request for copies of 

applications or comments and materials 

concerning any of the applications to 

the contact listed under ADDRESSES. 

Please include the Federal Register 

notice publication date, the PRTnumber, and the name of the applicant 

in your request or submission. We will 

not consider requests or comments sent 

to an e-mail or address not listed under 

ADDRESSES. If you provide an email 

address in your request for copies of 

applications, we will attempt to respond 

to your request electronically. 

Please make your requests or 

comments as specific as possible. Please 


Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES