22140 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 20, 2011 / Notices 

ACTION: Notice of initiation of reviews; 

request for information; reopening of 

comment period. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, recently initiated 5- 

year reviews for the Oregon silverspot 

butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta), 

northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis 

caurina), and Stephanomeria 

malheurensis (Malheur wire-lettuce) 

under the Endangered Species Act of 

1973, as amended (Act). See 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for details. 

Because we may not have received some 

comments submitted by email, we now 

reopen the comment period. We request 

any new information on these species 

that may have a bearing on their 

classification as endangered or 

threatened. Based on the results of our 

5-year reviews we will determine 

whether these species are properly 

classified under the Act. 

DATES: To ensure consideration in our 

reviews, we are requesting submission 

of new information no later than May 

20, 2011. However, we will continue to 

accept new information about any listed 

species at any time. 

ADDRESSES: Submit information to: 

Field Supervisor, Attention: 5-Year 

Review, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office, 2600 

SE. 98th Avenue, Suite 100, Portland, 

OR 97266. Information can also be 

submitted by e-mail to: 

fw1or5yearreview@fws.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff 

Dillon, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office, 503– 

231–6179. Individuals who are hearing 

impaired or speech impaired may call 

the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877– 

8337 for TTY assistance. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

November 24, 2010, we published a 

notice initiating 5-year reviews for 58 

species in Washington, Oregon, 

California, and Hawaii and requesting 

public comment for a 60-day comment 

period (75 FR 71726). Due to a 

typographical error in the email address 

for the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office, 

we may not have received some 

comments for three of these species 

(Oregon silverspot butterfly, northern 

spotted owl, and Stephanomeria 

malheurensis) if they were submitted by 

email. Therefore, we are reopening the 

comment period for these three species 

to allow comments to be resubmitted if 

necessary. Comments that were 

originally sent by regular mail, or 

comments addressing the other 55 

species in the original notice, need not 

be resubmitted. 

Please refer to our notice of November 

24, 2010, for background information on 

the 5-year review process. As stated in 

that notice, to ensure that a 5-year 

review is complete and based on the 

best available scientific and commercial 

information, we request new 

information from all sources. If you 

submit information, please support it 

with documentation such as maps, 

bibliographic references, methods used 

to gather and analyze the data, and/or 

copies of any pertinent publications, 

reports, or letters by knowledgeable 

sources. 

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. 

Comments and materials received will 

be available for public inspection, by 

appointment, during normal business 

hours at the offices where the comments 

are submitted. 

Authority 

This document is published under the 

authority of the Endangered Species Act 

of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

seq.). 

Dated: March 8, 2011. 

Richard R. Hanman, 

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Fish and 

Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–9542 Filed 4–19–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R5–R–2010–N267; BAC–4311–K9–S3] 

Parker River and Thacher Island 

National Wildlife Refuges, Essex 

County, MA; Comprehensive 

Conservation Plan and Environmental 

Assessment 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement 

of public meetings; 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 Parker River and 

Thacher Island National Wildlife 

Refuges (NWR). 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. We 

are also announcing public meetings 

and requesting public comments. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, please 

send your written comments by May 20, 

2011. We will hold public meetings and 

other scheduled events throughout the 

CCP planning process. 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 of 

the following methods. 

E-mail: northeastplanning@fws.gov. 

Include ‘‘Parker River CCP’’ in the 

subject line of the message. 

Fax: Attention: Graham Taylor, at 

978–465–2807. 

U.S. Mail: Parker River NWR, 6 Plum 

Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA 

01950. 

In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off 

comments during regular business hours 

or call for an appointment (978–465– 

5753) at Parker River NWR, 6 Plum 

Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA 

01950. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl 

Melberg, Planning Team Leader, at 978– 

443–4661, or carl_melberg@fws.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we initiate our 

process for developing a CCP for Parker 

River and Thacher Island NWRs, in 

Essex County, Massachusetts. 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 these refuges, 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 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 20, 2011 / Notices 22141 

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 Parker 

River and Thacher Island NWRs. 

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. 

Parker River and Thacher Island 

National Wildlife Refuges 

Parker River NWR was established in 

1942 to provide feeding, resting, and 

nesting habitat for migratory birds. The 

refuge occupies 4,653 acres on Plum 

Island, a 9-mile-long barrier island off 

the northeastern coast of Massachusetts, 

and is a vital stopover site along the 

Atlantic Flyway for waterfowl, 

shorebirds, and songbirds. The primary 

purpose of Parker River NWR is to 

preserve and manage habitat for a 

diversity of species, particularly 

migratory birds and wintering American 

black ducks. A focus of management is 

to serve as a land management, research, 

and demonstration area for salt marsh 

systems. Adjacent to the refuge, and at 

the extreme southern tip of Plum Island, 

is the 77-acre Sandy Point State 

Reservation. This park’s only overland 

access is through the refuge. 

Parker River NWR staff also 

administer Thacher Island NWR, an 

unstaffed satellite refuge off the coast of 

Rockport, Massachusetts. Thacher 

Island NWR encompasses the northern 

22 acres of the 50-acre island, and was 

established in 1972 to provide feeding, 

resting, and nesting habitat for 

migratory birds. The refuge is managed 

to protect migratory birds, endangered 

species and other wildlife and their 

habitats. 

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. 

Concerns about the management of 

several key habitats on the refuges 

include the protection of the beach/ 

dune for Federally endangered piping 

plovers and roseate terns, and marsh 

habitat for saltmarsh sparrows, bitterns 

and rails, all of which are species of 

conservation concern. Manmade 

impoundments provide freshwater 

wetlands for priority bird species, but 

these modified habitats are threatened 

by sea level rise. The feasibility of their 

long-term maintenance, in comparison 

to restoring native habitats, will be 

evaluated. A recent sea level rise study 

predicts that Plum Island’s natural and 

cultural resources are imminently 

threatened. Management of native 

grasslands and maritime shrub, which 

currently require prescribed fire and 

mechanical treatments for restoration 

and maintenance, will also be 

evaluated. Water quantity and quality 

issues on the refuge and in the 

surrounding watershed are additional 

habitat issues. 

Concerns about the management of 

the barrier island system as a unit 

involves issues of public access, visitor 

use, and vehicle ‘‘carrying capacity’’ in 

relation to the adjacent State 

reservation’s differing management and 

enforcement of recreation. Parking lot 

and seasonal beach closures to protect 

key refuge and adjacent State 

reservation resources result in traffic 

and visitor use challenges. Also 

complicating management is the ability 

of the refuge to provide quality 

compatible use, as general beach use 

often precludes wildlife-dependent 

priority public uses. 

Many partnerships are in place and 

other key opportunities exist with the 

Massachusetts Department of 

Conservation and Recreation, as well as 

with refuge neighbor Massachusetts 

Audubon Society, which provides 

programming and tours on the refuge. 

These relationships, however, also raise 

issues related to refuge visibility and 

visitor and community awareness of 

refuge ownership and management. 

Public Meetings 

We will give the public an 

opportunity to provide input throughout 

the planning process at public meetings 

and other scheduled events. You can 

obtain schedules and meeting 

information from the planning team 

leader or project leader (see ADDRESSES). 

You may also send comments anytime 

during the planning process by mail, email, 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: April 8, 2011. 

Wendi Weber, 

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Hadley, MA 01035. 

[FR Doc. 2011–9541 Filed 4–19–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLMT926000–11–L19100000–BJ0000– 

LRCME0R04773] 

Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey; 

Montana 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of filing of plats of 

survey. 

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) will file the plat of 

survey of the lands described below in 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES