Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 209 / Monday, October 30, 2006 / Notices 63343 

Form Number of 

respondents 

Annual 

number of 

responses 

Average time/ 

response 

(minutes) 

Total annual 

burden hours 

7–FW–100 ....................................................................................................... 23,000 23,000 1 383 

7–FW–101 ....................................................................................................... 182 182 30 91 

7–FW–102 ....................................................................................................... 14,000 14,000 5 1,167

7–FW–103, a, b ............................................................................................... 11,500 34,500 5 2,875 

Abstract: The Migratory Bird Treaty 

Act Protocol Amendment (1995) 

(Amendment) provides for the 

customary and traditional use of 

migratory birds and their eggs for 

subsistence use by indigenous 

inhabitants of Alaska. The Amendment, 

however, states that its intent is not to 

cause significant increases in the take of 

species of migratory birds relative to 

their continental population sizes. A 

May 20, 1996, submittal letter from the 

Department of State to the White House 

accompanied the Amendment and 

specified the need for harvest 

monitoring. The letter stated that the 

Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alaska 

Department of Fish and Game, and 

Native organizations cooperatively 

would collect harvest estimates within 

the subsistence eligible areas. Harvest 

survey data help ensure that customary 

and traditional use of migratory birds 

and their eggs for subsistence use by 

indigenous inhabitants of Alaska does 

not significantly increase the take of 

species of migratory birds relative to 

their continental population sizes. 

From 1989 to 2004, we monitored 

subsistence harvest in Alaska through 

the use of annual household surveys in 

the most heavily used subsistence 

harvest areas; e.g., Yukon-Kuskokwim 

Delta. In 2004, we began monitoring 

subsistence harvest in subsistence 

eligible areas Statewide. We presently 

rotate survey areas due to budget 

constraints. This monitoring enables us 

to track significant changes or trends in 

levels of harvest and user participation. 

We gather information on the annual 

subsistence harvest of 54 species of 

birds (including geese, ducks, swans, 

cranes, loons, seabirds, shorebirds, and 

upland game birds) through surveys of 

households in the subsistence eligible 

areas of Alaska. Annually, local village 

resident surveyors produce lists of all 

households in each village and provide 

survey forms to randomly selected 

households. We combine the estimates 

of harvest per household with the 

complete list of households in the 

subsistence-eligible areas to obtain 

estimates of the total annual harvest. We 

use four forms to collect the harvest 

information. We will aggregate all 

information collected and use it only for 

statistical purposes. We do not arrange 

or retrieve forms by a personal 

identifier. 

Comments: On June 21, 2006, we 

published in the Federal Register (71 

FR 35690) a notice of our intent to 

request that OMB renew approval for 

this information collection. In that 

notice, we solicited comments for 60 

days, ending on August 21, 2006. One 

comment was received in response to 

this notice. The commenter did not 

believe that the information provided by 

respondents was truthful and objected 

to the use of taxpayer dollars for the 

surveys. 

We collect this information from 

people who are part of subsistencebased, Alaska Native cultures, whose 

ancestors have relied on migratory birds 

for food for thousands of years to 

sustain them physically, emotionally, 

and spiritually. These birds continue to 

be an important part of the Alaska 

Native diet in nonroaded, remote parts 

of Alaska, particularly in springtime. 

We believe that the information is 

basically honest and truthful, because: 

(1) The reported bird species harvest 

information corresponds to the species 

actually known to be in the areas 

surveyed; 

(2) The harvest information is 

relatively consistent from year to year, 

by time period and region, and the 

harvest trends have generally tracked 

the bird population trends; and 

(3) People have an incentive to 

accurately report their harvests, because 

they know the information is used to 

manage the birds they depend on for 

food. They also know that documenting 

their customary and traditional 

dependence on birds is important, 

especially in times of resource shortage. 

Harvest survey information aids in 

promulgating regulations that help 

protect the birds. Therefore, taxpayer 

dollars that pay for harvest surveys are 

helping protect birds that people 

depend on for food as well as for 

enjoyment by present and future 

generations. We did not make any 

changes to our information collection as 

a result of this comment. 

We again invite comments concerning 

this information collection on: 

(1) Whether or not the collection of 

information is necessary, including 

whether or not the information will 

have practical utility; 

(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the 

burden for this collection of 

information; 

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and 

(4) Ways to minimize the burden of 

the collection of information on 

respondents. Comments submitted in 

response to this notice are a matter of 

public record. 

Dated: October 16, 2006. 

Hope Grey, 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

Fish and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. E6–18149 Filed 10–27–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of the 

Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan 

and Finding of No Significant Impact for 

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge 

in Indian River County, Florida. 

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service 

announces that a Final Comprehensive 

Conservation Plan and Finding of No 

Significant Impact for Pelican Island 

National Wildlife Refuge are available 

for distribution. The plan was prepared 

pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge 

System Improvement Act of 1997 and in 

accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It 

describes how the refuge will be 

managed for the next 15 years. The 

compatibility determinations for fishing, 

environmental education and 

interpretation, wildlife observation, 

wildlife photography, research, 

mosquito control, interim citrus grove 

management, and commercial ecotour 

operations are also available within the 

plan. 

ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan may be 

obtained by writing to the Pelican Island 

National Wildlife Refuge, 1339 20th 

Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. The 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
63344 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 209 / Monday, October 30, 2006 / Notices 

plan may also be accessed and 

downloaded from the Service’s Web site 

http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pelican 

Island National Wildlife Refuge in 

Indian River County, Florida, is adjacent 

to the city of Sebastian and along the 

east coast of Florida. The refuge is over 

5,400 acres in size within an acquisition 

boundary of about 6,184 acres. Primarily 

comprised of lagoonal waters, the refuge 

includes aquatic, transitional, and 

upland habitats supporting a diversity 

of species, including 14 federally listed 

species. This complex ecological system 

also supports hundreds of species of 

birds, fish, plants, and mammals, as 

well as important bird rookeries, key 

fish spawning and settlement sites, and 

a globally important juvenile sea turtle 

nursery. 

The availability of the Draft 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 

Environmental Assessment for a 60-day 

public review and comment period was 

announced in the Federal Register on 

July 27, 2005 (70 FR 43446). The plan 

and environmental assessment 

identified and evaluated three 

alternatives for managing the refuge 

over the next 15 years. Alternative A, 

the No Action Alternative, would have 

continued current management of the 

refuge. Alternative B would have 

minimally expanded certain refuge 

management programs. Alternative C, 

the Proposed Alternative, would have 

moderately expanded refuge 

management activities to a level more in 

keeping with the resources protected in 

the developed and developing 

landscapes that surround the refuge. 

Based on the environmental 

assessment and the comments received, 

the Service adopted Alternative C as its 

Preferred Alternative. This alternative 

was considered to be the most effective 

for meeting the purposes of the refuge 

and the mission of the National Wildlife 

Refuge System. Further, Alternative C 

best pursues national, ecosystem, and 

refuge-specific goals. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cheri Ehrhardt, Natural Resource 

Planner, telephone: 321/861–2368; fax: 

321/861–1276; e-mail: 

PelicanIslandCCP@fws.gov; or address: 

Pelican Island NWR CCP, P.O. Box 

6504, Titusville, Florida 32782–6504. 

Authority: This notice is published under 

the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System Improvement Act of 1997, Public 

Law 105–57. 

Dated: April 10, 2006. 

Cynthia K. Dohner, 

Acting Regional Director. 

Editorial note: This document was 

received at the Office of the Federal Register 

October 25, 2006. 

[FR Doc. 06–8954 Filed 10–27–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Notice of Intent To Prepare a 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 

Environmental Assessment for Wolf 

Island National Wildlife Refuge 

Located Off the Coast of Darien, GA, in 

McIntosh County 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent. 

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Southeast Region, intends to 

gather information necessary to prepare 

a comprehensive conservation plan and 

environmental assessment for Wolf 

Island National Wildlife Refuge, 

pursuant to the National Environmental 

Policy Act of 1969 and its implementing 

regulations. 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997, requires the 

Service to develop a comprehensive 

conservation plan for each national 

wildlife refuge. The purpose is 

developing a comprehensive 

conservation plan 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, 

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, plans identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities 

available to the public, including 

opportunities for hunting, fishing, 

wildlife observation, wildlife 

photography, and environmental 

education and interpretation. 

The purpose of this notice is to 

achieve the following: 

(1) Advise other agencies and the 

public of our intentions, and 

(2) Obtain suggestions and 

information on the scope of issues to 

include in the environmental document. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, written 

comments must be received no later 

than December 29, 2006. 

ADDRESSES: Address comments, 

questions, and requests for more 

information to Jane Griess, Project 

Leader, Savannah National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex, 1000 Business Center 

Drive, Suite 10, Savannah, Georgia 

31405. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

comprehensive conservation planning 

process will consider many elements, 

including wildlife and habitat 

management, public recreational 

activities, and cultural resource 

protection. Public input to the planning 

process is essential. Special mailings, 

newspaper articles, and other media 

announcements will be used to inform 

the public and state and local 

government agencies of meeting dates 

and opportunities for input throughout 

the planning process. All comments 

received from individuals become part 

of the official public record. Requests 

for such comments will be handled in 

accordance with the Freedom of 

Information Act and the Council on 

Environmental Quality’s NEPA 

regulations [40 CFR 1506.6(f)]. 

Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge 

is approximately 12 miles off the coast 

of Darien, Georgia, in McIntosh County, 

and was established on April 3, 1930, to 

provide protection and habitat for 

migratory birds. The barrier island 

refuge consists of Wolf Island and two 

smaller islands, Egg and Little Egg. More 

than 75 percent of the refuge’s 5,126 

acres are composed of saltwater marsh. 

Wolf Island Refuge was designated a 

National wilderness Area in 1975. In 

addition to providing protection for 

migratory birds, it also is a refuge for 

such threatened and endangered species 

as the loggerhead sea turtle and the 

piping plover. Due to its status as a 

Wilderness Area, no public use facilities 

are planned for the refuge. Although the 

refuge’s saltwaters are open to a variety 

of recreational activities, such as fishing 

and crabbing, its beach, marsh, and 

upland areas are closed to the public. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane 

Griess; Telephone: 912/652–4030, 

Extension 101; Fax: 912/652–4385; email: jane_griess@fws.gov; or mail (write 

to Project Leader at address in 

ADDRESSES section). 

Authority: This notice is published under 

the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System Improvement Act of 1997, Public 

Law 105–57. 

Dated: September 21, 2006. 

Cynthia K. Dohner, 

Acting Regional Director. 

[FR Doc. 06–8953 Filed 10–27–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 310–55–M 


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