Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 39 / Wednesday, February 28, 2007 / Notices 9019 

unexploded ordnance would be 

restricted, the alternatives presented in 

this Draft Plan were developed with the 

assumption that these lands would be 

cleaned of any contaminants that would 

pose a threat to either wildlife or 

humans. 

Before the Service began the 

development of the Draft Plan, it hosted 

a series of public scoping meetings to 

solicit public opinion and identify 

issues that should be addressed. To 

address the existing habitat conditions, 

the ongoing cleanup activities, the 

issues identified by the public, and the 

mission and purpose of the refuge, the 

planning team developed a series of 

goals for the plan. The goals are: (1) 

Conserve, enhance, and restore native 

plant communities and wetland habitats 

and their associated fish, wildlife, and 

plants, representative of the native 

biological diversity that would have 

been found on Vieques Refuge lands 

prior to major agricultural and military 

use of the lands; (2) monitor, protect, 

and recover special status animals, 

plants, and species of management 

interest; (3) provide opportunities for 

wildlife-dependent recreation and 

education to enhance public 

appreciation, understanding, and 

enjoyment of refuge wildlife, habitats, 

and cultural history; (4) ensure, through 

the cooperative efforts of partners, that 

the refuge is cleaned of all classes of 

contaminants that could pose a threat to 

the health and safety of the wildlife, 

residents, staff, and visitors; (5) provide 

the resources needed to implement the 

selected management alternative and 

ensure the other goals and objectives 

identified in the plan can be achieved; 

and (6) develop effective and open 

communication with the community to 

raise public awareness of refuge 

programs, management decisions, the 

missions of the Fish and Wildlife 

Service and the National Wildlife 

Refuge System by working closely with 

Vieques citizens and interested groups 

and organizations. 

Based on these goals and information 

obtained during the scoping process, the 

plan offers three alternatives to help 

address the issues identified and 

achieve the vision of the Vieques 

National Wildlife Refuge. 

Alternative A (Current Management or 

No Action) 

The current management alternative 

provides for a continuation of the 

existing level of management. Staffing 

would remain at the current levels and 

ongoing programs and activities would 

continue with only minor changes and 

no new programs. 

Alternative B (Resource Emphasis) 

This alternative focuses on wildlife 

and habitat management but maintains 

the existing visitor programs and public 

uses. Habitat management and 

monitoring would be expanded and 

agreements with research, 

governmental, and non-governmental 

organizations would be developed to 

provide information needed for the 

management of forests, grasslands, 

coastal wetlands, beaches, and listed 

species and their habitats. In 

partnership with others, programs 

would be developed for management of 

nesting sea turtle populations on 

Vieques Refuge beaches. 

Alternative C (Habitat Management and 

Public Use Emphasis) (Proposed 

Alternative) 

This alternative directs the refuge 

toward a realistic and achievable level 

of both habitat management and public 

use and provides a management 

program that addresses the needs of the 

resources and, where appropriate and 

compatible with the refuge purposes, 

the needs of the community. This 

alternative provides for an increase in 

management efforts to restore the refuge 

habitats without diminishing the 

wildlife values associated with the 

current conditions. There is also a focus 

on management activities to benefit 

threatened and endangered species. 

This includes the possible 

reintroduction of species extirpated 

from Vieques and expansion of 

populations of species already found on 

the refuge. Priority public uses, as 

identified in the National Wildlife 

Refuge System Improvement Act of 

1997, would be expanded and other 

uses that are determined to be 

compatible with the refuge mission may 

be permitted. Historic and 

archaeological resources would be 

stabilized and, where possible, 

interpretation of their significance and 

role in the evolution of Vieques Refuge 

would be provided. 

After the review and comment period 

for the Draft Plan and Environmental 

Impact Statement, all comments will be 

analyzed and considered by the Service. 

All comments become part of the 

official public record. Requests for such 

comments will be handled in 

accordance with the Freedom of 

Information Act and other Service and 

Departmental policies and procedures. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Gisella Burgos; Telephone: 787/741–

2138. 

Authority: This notice is published under 

the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System Improvement Act of 1997, Public 

Law 105–57. 

Dated: November 21, 2006. 

Cynthia K. Dohner, 

Acting Regional Director. 

[FR Doc. E7–3478 Filed 2–27–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

National Wildlife Refuges, North 

Dakota 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a 

comprehensive conservation plan and 

environmental assessment; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service, we) intend to 

gather information necessary to prepare 

a comprehensive conservation plan 

(CCP) and associated environmental 

documents for twelve (12) National 

Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) located in the 

State of North Dakota. The twelve (12) 

NWRs are Stump Lake, Lake Alice, 

Kellys Slough, Audubon, Chase Lake, 

Lake Nettie, McLean, Lake Zahl, Shell 

Lake, White Lake, Lake Ilo, and Stewart 

Lake. We furnish this notice in 

compliance with our CCP policy to 

advise other agencies and the public of 

our intentions, and to obtain suggestions 

and information on the scope of issues 

to be considered in the planning 

process. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, we 

must receive your written comments by 

March 30, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or 

requests for more information to John 

Esperance, Planning Team Leader, 

Division of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box 

25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, 

CO 80225. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John 

Esperance, 303–236–4369, or Michael 

Spratt, 303–236–4366. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this 

notice, the Service initiates a CCP for 

twelve (12) NWRs in various locations 

throughout the State of North Dakota. 

Background 

The CCP Process 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee), requires the Service to 

develop a CCP for each NWR. The 

purpose in developing a CCP is to 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
9020 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 39 / Wednesday, February 28, 2007 / Notices 

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 Service established each unit of 

the National Wildlife Refuge System, 

including these twelve (12) NWRs, with 

specific purposes. We use these 

purposes to develop and prioritize 

management goals and objectives within 

the National Wildlife Refuge System 

mission, and to guide which public uses 

will occur on these NWRs. The planning 

process is a way for the Service and the 

public to evaluate management goals 

and objectives for the best possible 

conservation efforts of this important 

wildlife habitat, while providing for 

wildlife-dependent recreation 

opportunities that are compatible with 

each NWR and the mission of the 

National Wildlife Refuge System. 

The Service will conduct a 

comprehensive conservation planning 

process that will provide opportunity 

for Tribal, State, and local governments; 

agencies; organizations; and the public 

to participate in issue scoping and 

public comment. We request input for 

issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions 

for the future management of these 

NWRs in North Dakota. We invite 

anyone interested to respond to the 

following two questions. 

(1) What problems or issues do you 

want to see addressed in the CCP? 

(2) What improvements would you 

recommend for these twelve (12) NWRs? 

We have provided the above 

questions for your optional use; you are 

not required to provide information to 

us. The planning team developed these 

questions to gather information about 

individual issues and ideas concerning 

these NWRs. Our planning team will 

use the comments it receives as part of 

the planning process; however, we will 

not reference individual comments in 

our reports or directly respond to them. 

We will also give the public an 

opportunity to provide input at an open 

house to scope issues and concerns. You 

can obtain the schedule from the 

Planning Team Leaders (see 

ADDRESSES). You may also submit 

comments anytime during the planning 

process by writing to the above 

addresses. All information provided 

voluntarily by mail, phone, or at public 

meetings becomes part of our official 

public record (i.e., names, addresses, 

letters of comment, input recorded 

during meetings). If a private citizen or 

organization requests this information 

under the Freedom of Information Act, 

we may provide informational copies. 

The Service will conduct the 

environmental review of this project in 

accordance with the requirements of the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969, as amended (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 regulations. All comments we 

receive from individuals on our 

environmental assessments and 

environmental impact statements 

become part of the official public 

record. We will handle requests for such 

comments in accordance with the 

Freedom of Information Act, NEPA (40 

CFR 1506.6(f)), and other Departmental 

and Service policies and procedures. 

When we receive a request, we generally 

will provide comment letters with the 

names and addresses of the individuals 

who wrote the comments. However, to 

the extent permissible by law, we will 

not provide the telephone number of the 

commenting individual in response to 

such requests. 

North Dakota NWRs 

These twelve (12) NWRs were 

established for the protection of critical 

migratory waterfowl habitat within the 

State of North Dakota. Through these 

NWRs, the Service manages a complex 

of wetlands in 34 counties within North 

Dakota. The wetlands range from 

seasonal shallow basins to deeper, more 

permanent ponds that provide resting 

and feeding areas for millions of birds 

during Spring and Fall migration. 

Dated: January 30, 2007. 

James J. Slack, 

Deputy Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, 

Colorado. 

[FR Doc. E7–3463 Filed 2–27–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Wetland Management Districts, North 

Dakota 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a 

comprehensive conservation plan and 

environmental assessment; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service, we) intend to 

gather information necessary to prepare 

a comprehensive conservation plan 

(CCP) and associated environmental 

documents for nine (9) Wetland 

Management Districts (WMDs) located 

in the State of North Dakota. The nine 

(9) WMDs are Devils Lake, Arrowwood, 

Valley City, Chase Lake, Kulm, 

Audubon, J. Clark Salyer, Lostwood and 

Crosby. We furnish this notice in 

compliance with our CCP policy to 

advise other agencies and the public of 

our intentions, and to obtain suggestions 

and information on the scope of issues 

to be considered in the planning 

process. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, we 

must receive your written comments by 

March 30, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or 

requests for more information to John 

Esperance, Planning Team Leader, 

Division of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box 

25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, 

CO 80225. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John 

Esperance, 303–236–4369, or Michael 

Spratt, 303–236–4366. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this 

notice, the Service initiates a CCP for 

nine (9) WMDs in various locations 

throughout the State of North Dakota. 

Background 

The CCP Process 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee), requires the Service to 

develop a CCP for each national wildlife 

refuge. The purpose in developing a 

CCP 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 Service established each unit of 

the National Wildlife Refuge System, 

including these nine (9) WMDs, with 

specific purposes. We use these 


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