57080 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 184 / Thursday, September 23, 2004 / Notices 

acquisition within existing boundaries; 

and 

Alternative D—Existing Boundaries 

and Least River Connectivity, enhancing 

habitat conservation via more flood 

protection and less river connectivity on 

refuge lands within existing boundaries. 

Components of the final 

comprehensive conservation plan and 

environmental assessment include: 

Habitat and Public Use—Under the 

selected alternative identified for 

Complex management in the final 

environmental assessment, habitats and 

public use would be enhanced on 

current divisions. Some flood-friendly 

nature trails, observation platforms, and 

information kiosks would offer 

recreational and educational 

opportunities to the public. Additional 

hunting, fishing, and non-consumptive 

wildlife uses would be implemented 

where biologically compatible. Habitats 

are improved through a process of 

ensuring the appropriate management 

options are being applied at each site. 

Partnerships—The final 

comprehensive conservation plan for 

the Mark Twain National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex emphasizes the 

importance of the close working 

relationships the Complex has 

established with three Upper 

Mississippi River states and the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers. Along with 

these partners, the Service operates a 

mosaic of habitat and public use 

opportunities along the corridor. All 

partners are involved in the effort to 

reverse a trend of declining resource 

values on the River. These relationships 

will be strengthened under the plan. 

Resource Conservation—The Plan 

proposes a resource conservation plan 

incorporating partnership programs 

offered through the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, such as the Wetlands 

Reserve Program and flood reduction 

projects. Service acquisition of land 

would be staged, occurring as willing 

sellers emerged and as funds became 

available. Acquisition would target the 

most flood-prone lands that have high 

natural resource values and also would 

produce benefits to federal policy 

efforts, such as providing storage 

capacity, reducing disaster assistance 

payments, and increasing water quality 

through increased nutrient cycling.

Dated: May 17, 2004. 

Charles M. Wooley, 

Acting Regional Director, , U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota.

[FR Doc. 04–21374 Filed 9–22–04; 8:45 am] 

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Final Comprehensive Conservation 

Plan (CCP) and Environmental 

Assessment (EA) for the Minnesota 

Valley National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) 

and Minnesota Valley Wetland 

Management District (WMD), 

Bloomington, MN

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service announces that the final CCP 

and EA is available for Minnesota 

Valley NWR and Minnesota Valley 

WMD, Bloomington, Minnesota. The 

CCP was prepared pursuant to the 

National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997, and the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969. The goals and objectives 

presented in the CCP describe how the 

agency intends to manage the Refuge 

and waterfowl production areas over the 

next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final CCP and 

EA are available on compact disk or 

hard copy. You may access and 

download a copy via the Refuge Web 

site at: http://midwest.fws.gov/planning/

MinnesotaValley/index.html or by 

writing to the Refuge at: Minnesota 

Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 3815 

East 80th Street, Bloomington, 

Minnesota 55425–1600.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick 

Schultz, Refuge Manager, (952) 854–

5900.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Minnesota Valley NWR is located along 

34 miles of the lower Minnesota River 

from near the City of Jordan to historic 

Fort Snelling and the river’s confluence 

with the Mississippi River. The Refuge 

is also responsible for a 14-county 

region known as the Minnesota Valley 

Wetland Management District. It 

consists of more than 5,000 acres of 

waterfowl production areas and 

conservation easements. 

The CCP recommends an expansion 

of the current boundaries by a total of 

10,737 acres in 6 new units of the 

Refuge. 

Funding for land acquisition will in 

large part be available through a Refuge 

Trust Fund established as mitigation for 

damages caused by expansion of the 

Minneapolis/St. Paul International 

Airport. 

We intend to increase hunting 

opportunities by expanding archery 

deer hunts, providing wild turkey and 

deer hunts for disabled hunters, 

improving the youth waterfowl hunting 

program, and by opening newlyacquired lands to appropriate hunting 

uses. 

The CCP proposes interpretive 

programs and improvements to existing 

facilities that will maintain or increase 

visitation from the present 250,000–

300,000 visitors a year.

Dated: July 2, 2004. 

Charles M. Wooley, 

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota.

[FR Doc. 04–21375 Filed 9–22–04; 8:45 am] 

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey 

Patent, Trademark and Copyright Acts

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, 

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of prospective intent to 

award exclusive license. 

SUMMARY: The United States Geological 

Survey (USGS) is contemplating 

awarding an exclusive license to Westco 

Scientific Instruments, Inc., of Danbury, 

CT, on U.S. Patent Application Serial 

No. 10/251,696, entitled ‘‘Reduction 

Devise for Nitrate Determination.’’

Inquiries: If other parties are 

interested in similar activities, or have 

comments related to the prospective 

award,please contact Neil Mark, USGS, 

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 201, 

Reston, Virginia 20192, voice (703) 648–

4344, fax (703) 648–7219, or e-mail 

nmark@usgs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice is submitted to meet the 

requirements of 35 U.S.C. 208 et seq.

Dated: September 3, 2004. 

Carol F. Aten, 

Chief, Office of Administrative Policy and 

Services.

[FR Doc. 04–21383 Filed 9–22–04; 8:45 am] 

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