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[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38668-38669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18427]

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 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2008-N0292; 80230-1265-0000-S3]

Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Klamath County, OR

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments: draft 
comprehensive conservation plan/environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental 
Assessment (CCP/EA) for the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge for 
public review and comment. The CCP/EA, prepared pursuant to the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
describes how the Service will manage the Refuge for the next 15 years. 
Draft compatibility determinations for several existing and proposed 
public uses are also available for review and public comment with the 
Draft CCP/EA.

DATES: Written comments must be received at the address below on or 
before Friday, September 18, 2009.

ADDRESSES: For more information on obtaining documents and submitting 
comments, see ``Review and Comment'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 
For public meeting location see ``Public Meetings.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Pelz, Chief, Refuge Planning, 
2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825, phone (916) 414-6500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), which amended the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us 
to develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in 
developing a CCP is to provide refuge

[[Page 38669]]

managers with a 15-year plan for achieving refuge purposes and 
contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, 
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 wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities 
available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, 
wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and 
interpretation.
    We initiated the CCP/EA for the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife 
Refuge in February 2007. At that time and throughout the process, we 
requested, considered, and incorporated public scoping comments in 
numerous ways. Our public outreach has included a Federal Register 
notice of intent published on January 29, 2007, agency and Tribal 
scoping meetings, two public workshops, planning updates, and a CCP Web 
page. We received over 180 scoping comments during the 60-day public 
comment period.

Background

    Klamath Marsh was established in 1958 and is located in south 
central Oregon on the east slope of the Cascade Mountain Range along 
the Williamson River. The Service owns approximately 40,960 acres 
within the 49,583-acre acquisition boundary. The Refuge protects one of 
the largest remaining natural freshwater marshes on the west coast. 
Other important habitats on the refuge include sedge meadow, grassland, 
riverine, riparian scrub, and ponderosa pine forest. The refuge 
protects habitat for a variety of unique species including greater 
sandhill cranes, yellow rails, Oregon spotted frogs, red-naped 
sapsuckers, pygmy nuthatches, bald eagles, beaver, and red band trout. 
The entire Refuge is located within the former reservation of the 
Klamath Tribes.

Alternatives

    The Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates three alternatives for 
managing Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge for the next 15 years. 
The alternative that appears to best meet the Refuge purposes is 
identified as the preferred alternative. The preferred alternative is 
identified based on the analysis presented in the Draft CCP/EA, which 
may be modified following the completion of the public comment period 
based on comments received from other agencies, Tribal governments, 
non-governmental organizations, or individuals.
    Under Alternative A, the no action alternative, we would continue 
to manage the Refuge as we have in the recent past. No major changes in 
habitat management would occur. The existing wildlife observation, 
photography, environmental education, and interpretation programs would 
remain unchanged.
    Under Alternative B, (preferred alternative), the Service would 
restore the portion of the Williamson River and Big Spring Creek on the 
Refuge; substantially improve management of emergent marsh, meadows, 
ponderosa pine forest and aspen to increase habitat value for migratory 
birds and other wildlife; improve and expand visitor services by 
developing new trails, interpretive exhibits, an environmental 
education program, and a visitor contact station; maintain existing 
hunting and fishing programs with minor modifications; increase 
cultural resources protection; and recommend no units for wilderness 
designation. The Service would also revise and update the MOU with the 
Klamath Tribes regarding subsistence hunting and gathering.
    Under Alternative C, the Service would restore the portions of the 
Williamson River and Big Springs Creek on the Refuge; improve 
management of emergent marsh, meadows, ponderosa pine forest and aspen 
using a more limited tool set (fire only for non-forested areas); 
minimally expand opportunities for non-consumptive public uses; 
eliminate public hunting; increase cultural resource protection; and 
recommend 11,165 acres for wilderness designation. The Service would 
also revise and update the MOU with the Tribes regarding subsistence 
hunting and gathering.

Public Meetings

    The locations, dates, and times of public meetings will be listed 
in a planning update distributed to the project mailing list and posted 
on the Refuge Web site at http://www.fws.gov/klamathbasinrefuges/KlamathMarshCCP/kmarshccp.html.

Review and Comment

    Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained by writing to the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Mark Pelz, CA/NV Refuge Planning 
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825-1846. Copies of 
the Draft CCP/EA may be viewed at this address or at the Klamath 
National Wildlife Refuge, HC 63 Box 303, Chiloquin, OR 97624. The Draft 
CCP/EA will also be available for viewing and downloading online at: 
http://www.fws.gov/klamathbasinrefuges/KlamathMarshCCP/kmarshccp.html.
    Comments on the Draft CCP/EA should be addressed to: Mark Pelz, 
Chief, Refuge Planning, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825-
1846. Comments may also be faxed to (916) 414-6497 or if you choose to 
submit comments via electronic mail, submit them to the following 
address: [email protected].
    At the end of the review and comment period for this Draft CCP/EA, 
comments will be analyzed by the Service and addressed in the Final 
CCP/EA. 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: July 28, 2009.
Ren Lohoefener,
Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. E9-18427 Filed 8-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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