16556 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 55 / Wednesday, March 21, 2012 / Notices 

Next Steps 

The Service will evaluate the HCP 

and comments received to determine 

whether the applications meet the 

requirements of section 10(a) of the Act. 

The Service will also evaluate whether 

issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITPs 

complies with section 7 of the Act by 

conducting an intra-Service section 7 

consultation. The results of this 

consultation, in combination with the 

above findings, will be used in the final 

analysis to determine whether or not to 

issue the ITPs. If it is determined that 

the requirements of the Act are met, the 

ITPs will be issued for the incidental 

take of loggerhead, green, leatherback, 

hawksbill, and Kemp’s Ridley sea 

turtles. 

Submitting Comments 

If you wish to submit comments or 

information, you may do so by any one 

of several methods. Please reference 

permit numbers TE65165A–0, 

TE65167A–0, and TE65168A–0 in such 

comments. You may mail comments to 

the Service’s South Florida Ecological 

Services Office (see ADDRESSES). You 

may also submit comments via email to 

trish_adams@fws.gov. Please also 

include your name and return address 

in your email message. If you do not 

receive a confirmation from us that we 

have received your email message, 

contact us directly at the telephone 

number listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. Finally, you may 

hand deliver comments to the Service 

office listed under ADDRESSES. 

Availability of Public Comments 

Before including your address, phone 

number, email address, or other 

personal identifying information in your 

comments, 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. 

Authority 

This notice is provided pursuant to 

Section 10 of the Act and NEPA 

regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). 

Dated: March 15, 2012. 

Larry Williams, 

Field Supervisor, South Florida Ecological 

Services Office. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6776 Filed 3–20–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R2–R–2012–N230; 1265–0000–10137– 

S3] 

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, 

Boundary County, ID; Final 

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 

Finding of No Significant Impact for 

Environmental Assessment 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 

availability of our final comprehensive 

conservation plan (CCP) and finding of 

no significant impact for the 

environmental assessment for the 

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge 

(NWR/refuge). In this final CCP, we 

describe how we will manage the refuge 

for the next 15 years. 

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain 

copies of the final CCP and finding of 

no significant impact (FONSI) for the 

environmental assessment (EA) by any 

of the following methods. You may 

request a hard copy or CD–ROM. 

Agency Web Site: Download a copy of 

the document at http://www.fws.gov/ 

pacific/planning. 

Email: 

FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. 

Include ‘‘Kootenai NWR FCCP/EA’’ in 

the subject line. 

Fax: Attn: Dianna Ellis, Refuge 

Manager, (208) 267–3888. 

U.S. Mail: Dianna Ellis, Refuge 

Manager, Kootenai National Wildlife 

Refuge, 287 Westside Road, Bonners 

Ferry, ID 83805. 

In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 

(208) 267–3888 to make an appointment 

during regular business hours at the 

above address. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dianna Ellis, Refuge Manager, (208) 

267–3888. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we announce the 

completion of the CCP process for 

Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. The 

Service started this process through a 

notice of intent in the Federal Register 

(74 FR 8102; February 23, 2009). We 

released the draft CCP/EA to the public, 

announcing and requesting comments 

in a notice of availability in the Federal 

Register (76 FR 48877; August 9, 2011). 

Kootenai NWR encompasses 2,774 

acres along the lower Kootenai River in 

Boundary County, Idaho. Habitat types 

on the refuge include seasonal, 

semipermanent, and permanent 

wetlands; floodplain forests; coniferous 

forests; managed pastures; and 

croplands. The refuge was established 

under the Migratory Bird Conservation 

Act ‘‘for use as an inviolate sanctuary, 

or for any other management purpose, 

for migratory birds.’’ The refuge 

provides important habitat for 

waterbirds, migratory landbirds, and 

raptors; a variety of mammals including 

white-tailed deer, elk, and moose; and 

bull trout, which is listed as a 

threatened species under the Federal 

Endangered Species Act. 

We announce our CCP decision and 

the availability of a FONSI for Kootenai 

NWR in accordance with the National 

Wildlife Refuge System Administration 

Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee) 

(Refuge Administration Act) and 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) 

requirements. We prepared an analysis 

of environmental impacts, which we 

included in an EA that accompanied the 

draft CCP. 

The CCP will guide us in managing 

and administering the refuges for the 

next 15 years. Alternative 2, as 

described in the draft CCP, is the basis 

for the final CCP. 

Background 

The Refuge 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 

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 compatible 

wildlife-dependent recreational 

opportunities available to the public, 

including opportunities for compatible 

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 

Refuge Administration Act. 

CCP Alternatives, Including Selected 

Alternative 

Our draft CCP/EA (76 FR 48877; 

August 9, 2011) discussed several 

issues. To address these, we developed 

and evaluated the following 

alternatives. 


erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 55 / Wednesday, March 21, 2012 / Notices 16557 

Alternative 1 (No Action) 

Under Alternative 1, we analyzed the 

following ongoing actions: 

• Continuing to manage wetlands, 

croplands, and grasslands for migratory 

waterfowl, shorebirds, deer, and elk. 

• Growing 200 acres of grain crops 

annually. 

• Maintaining existing riparian and 

forest habitat; minimal management of 

instream habitat. 

• Allowing waterfowl hunting on the 

740-acre hunt area, 4 days per week, in 

accordance with the State’s season. A 

200-yard no-shooting area (91 acres) 

would continue along the auto tour 

route to provide for safety. 

• Allowing big game and upland 

game (grouse) hunting on the 295 acres 

of timber on the west side of Lions Den 

and Westside Roads. 

• Allowing fishing from the banks of 

Myrtle Creek only. 

• Providing a 4.5-mile auto tour route 

that is open year-round to vehicles, 

walking, bicycling, jogging, dog walking 

(on leash only), cross-country skiing, 

and snowshoeing as weather and road 

conditions permit. 

• Providing slightly over 5 miles of 

trails that are open to walking, jogging, 

and dog walking (on leash only) yearround, except for Island Pond Trail, 

which would be closed on hunt days 

during the waterfowl hunting season. 

• Providing an Environmental 

Education Center for teacher-led, and 

occasionally staff-led, programs. 

Alternative 2 (Selected Action) 

Alternative 2, our preferred 

alternative, represents a balanced 

approach among the many competing 

needs at the refuge. An emphasis on 

managing wetlands, croplands, and 

grasslands for migratory waterfowl, 

shorebirds, deer, and elk would 

continue. The Service will pursue 

measures to improve habitat quality and 

restore native habitats, such as: 

• Repairing and improving the 

existing water management 

infrastructure to increase the refuge’s 

ability to manage wetlands. 

• Increasing the acreage of moist-soil 

wetlands from 10–20 acres (current) to 

75–100 acres to provide natural food 

sources for waterfowl. Once moist soil 

habitat is established, 50–75 acres of 

croplands would be restored to native 

upland grassland or wet meadow, while 

125–200 acres of small grains and green 

browse would continue to be provided 

annually for migratory waterfowl. 

• Maintaining 200 acres of existing 

riparian habitat and restoring 35–50 

acres of native riparian and grassland 

habitats. White-tailed deer and elk 

populations would be managed, in 

consultation with the Idaho Department 

of Fish and Game (IDFG), through 

special permit hunts in order to protect 

restored riparian habitat. 

• Suppressing wildfires and thinning 

forests to maintain an open understory 

and reduce ladder fuels. 

• Working with partners to examine 

the feasibility of restoring degraded 

stream habitats for the benefit of native 

fish. 

• Initiating a land protection plan 

study to analyze alternatives for 

possible refuge boundary expansion to 

include 120 acres of floodplain owned 

by the Idaho Department of Lands. 

The refuge would continue to provide 

opportunities for compatible wildlifedependent recreation, including 

waterfowl hunting, wildlife observation 

and photography, big game and upland 

game hunting, environmental education, 

and interpretation. Waterfowl hunting 

will continue be permitted 4 days per 

week, in accordance with the State’s 

season. Current fishing regulations 

would continue (fishing is allowed from 

the banks of Myrtle Creek only). The 

4.5-mile auto tour route will remain 

open year round to vehicles, walking, 

bicycling, jogging, dog walking (on leash 

only), cross-country skiing, and 

snowshoeing as weather and road 

conditions permit. A number of changes 

would be implemented to improve the 

quality of and access to these programs, 

increase public safety, and reduce 

disturbance to wildlife, including: 

• The waterfowl hunt area will be 

reduced to 582 acres due to increasing 

the size of the 200-yard non-shooting 

area to include the area along the Deep 

Creek Trail (266 acres) to provide for 

safety. Overall, waterfowl hunting 

opportunities will be the same as under 

current management because the nonshooting area is rarely hunted. 

• The location of fixed blinds and 

free-roam hunt areas would be adjusted 

as necessary based on habitat quality, 

waterfowl use of wetlands, and data 

from hunter surveys. 

• An additional ADA-accessible blind 

will be constructed on the north hunt 

unit. South Pond will be open to 

hunting from the ADA blind only. 

• Big game, upland game (grouse 

only), and turkey hunting will be 

allowed west of Lions Den Road (173 

acres). Big game and upland game 

hunting will be discontinued west of 

Westside Road (122 acres). To reduce 

damage to riparian vegetation on the 

refuge flats, special permit and/or 

depredation hunts will be developed for 

white-tailed deer and elk, in 

consultation with Idaho Department of 

Fish and Game, if monitoring 

demonstrates a need for population 

control. Overall, opportunities for big 

game and upland game hunting will 

increase compared to current 

management. 

• Wildlife observation, photography, 

walking, cross-country skiing, and 

snowshoeing will be allowed on four 

trails (3.7 miles total) year round, 

weather permitting. The Island Pond 

Trail will be closed to reduce 

disturbance to waterfowl. 

• Environmental education programs 

will increase. 

Alternative 3 

This alternative was analyzed but not 

selected. Under Alternative 3, actions to 

protect, maintain, and restore habitat for 

priority species are the same as under 

Alternative 2, except that fewer areas 

would be planted to crops since more 

acres are managed as moist soil 

wetlands. The acreage in crops and 

moist soil would be intermediate 

between Alternatives 1 and 2. 

Waterfowl, big game, upland game, 

and turkey hunting would be the same 

as in Alternative 2. As in Alternative 2, 

special permit hunts for white-tailed 

deer and elk on the refuge flats would 

be developed to reduce damage to 

riparian vegetation. Catch-and-release 

fishing would be allowed from the 

banks of Myrtle Creek using single, 

barbless, non-baited hooks only. 

The 4.5-mile auto tour route would 

remain open year-round to vehicles, 

walking, bicycling, jogging, dog walking 

(on leash only), cross-country skiing, 

and snowshoeing as weather and road 

conditions permit. Wildlife observation, 

photography, walking, cross-country 

skiing, and snowshoeing would be 

allowed on five trails (4.8 miles total) 

year round, weather permitting. The 

Island Pond Trail would be closed, but 

the 1.1-mile Kootenai River Trail would 

be reopened. Environmental education 

programs would increase. 

Comments 

We solicited comments on the draft 

CCP/EA from August 9, 2011, to 

September 12, 2011 (76 FR 48877; 

August 9, 2011). To address the public 

comments we received, responsive 

changes and clarifications were made to 

the final CCP where appropriate. These 

changes are summarized in the FONSI. 

Selected Alternative 

After considering the public 

comments, we have selected Alternative 

2 for implementation. The goals, 

objectives, and strategies under 

Alternative 2 best achieve the purpose 

and need for the CCP while maintaining 

balance among the varied management 


erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
16558 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 55 / Wednesday, March 21, 2012 / Notices 

needs and programs. Alternative 2 

addresses the refuge purposes, issues, 

and relevant mandates, and is consistent 

with principles of sound fish and 

wildlife management. 

Dated: November 10, 2011. 

Hugh Morrison, 

Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, 

Portland, Oregon. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6250 Filed 3–20–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

[NPS–NER–HPPC–0206–9480; 4350–HAMP– 

409] 

General Management Plan/Final 

Environmental Impact Statement, 

Hampton National Historic Site, 

Maryland 

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: The National Park Service 

(NPS) announces the availability of the 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

for the General Management Plan (Final 

GMP/EIS) for Hampton National 

Historic Site (NHS), Maryland. The 

Final GMP/EIS identifies Alternative 3 

as the NPS preferred alternative for the 

new GMP for Hampton NHS. When 

approved, the GMP will provide 

guidance to park management for 

administration, development, and 

interpretation of park resources over the 

next 20 years. 

DATES: The NPS will execute a Record 

of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 

days after the date of publication by the 

Environmental Protection Agency of a 

Notice of Availability of the Final GMP/ 

EIS in the Federal Register. 

ADDRESSES: The Final GMP/EIS is 

available for online at the NPS Planning, 

Environment, and Public Comment 

(PEPC) Web site (http:// 

parkplanning.nps.gov/hamp), and the 

park’s Web site (http://www.nps.gov/ 

hamp). Printed hardcopies can be 

viewed at the following locations: 

Hampton National Historic Site, 535 

Hampton Lane, Towson, Maryland 

21286. 

Fort McHenry National and Historic 

Shrine, End of East Fort Avenue, 

Baltimore, Maryland 21230. 

Towson Branch Library/Baltimore 

County Library, 320 York Avenue, 

Towson, Maryland 21204. 

Baltimore County Tourism Office and 

Towson Chamber of Commerce, 44 

West Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, 

Maryland 21204. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina 

Orcutt, Superintendent, Hampton 

National Historic Site, 535 Hampton 

Road, Towson, Maryland 21286–1397, 

(410) 823–1309 ext. 101. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS 

prepared a Draft GMP/EIS to evaluate 

alternatives to guide the development 

and future management of Hampton 

NHS. Alternative 1 would continue 

current management direction and 

visitor experience. Alternative 2 would 

remove post-1948 development and 

consolidate administrative functions in 

an effort to recreate the feeling of the 

Hampton Estate near the end of its 

period of greatest significance (mid to 

late 19th century). Alternative 3, the 

NPS preferred alternative, would 

expand the visitor experience to include 

the entire story of the park from the 19th 

century through the changes of activity 

and ownership in the 20th century; 

broaden the stories to include all those 

who lived and worked at the mansion, 

the plantations and related Ridgely 

family enterprises; and provide visitor 

services and accommodate park 

operations within the historic and 

modern buildings existing on the 

property now. Alternative 3 was also 

identified as the Environmentally 

Preferred Alternative. The Draft GMP/ 

EIS was available for public and agency 

review from October 11, 2010, through 

December 24, 2010. Printed copies of 

the Draft GMP/EIS were available at the 

locations listed above and online at the 

NPS PEPC Web site (http:// 

parkplanning.nps.gov/hamp). Three 

public open houses were held in 

November, 2010. 

The Final GMP/EIS responds to, and 

incorporates, agency and public 

comments received on the Draft GMP/ 

EIS. Agency and public comments with 

NPS responses are provided on page 135 

of the Final GMP/EIS. After careful 

review of all comments received, 

Alternative 3 remains the NPS preferred 

alternative for the new GMP for 

Hampton NHS. The public release of the 

Final GMP/EIS will be followed by a noaction period that will end no sooner 

than 30 days from the date of 

publication by the Environmental 

Protection Agency of a Notice of 

Availability of the Final GMP/EIS in the 

Federal Register. After the 30-day no 

action period, a Record of Decision will 

be prepared to document the selected 

alternative and set forth any stipulations 

for implementation of the GMP. 

Dated: January 27, 2012. 

Dennis R. Reidenbach, 

Regional Director, Northeast Region, National 

Park Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6757 Filed 3–20–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–56–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Yakima River Basin Conservation 

Advisory Group Charter Renewal 

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of renewal. 

SUMMARY: Following consultation with 

the General Services Administration, 

notice is hereby given that the Secretary 

of the Interior is renewing the charter 

for the Yakima River Basin Conservation 

Advisory Group (CAG). The purpose of 

the CAG is to provide recommendations 

to the Secretary of the Interior and the 

State of Washington on the structure 

and implementation of the Yakima 

River Basin Water Conservation 

Program. 

The basin conservation program is 

structured to provide economic 

incentives with cooperative Federal, 

State, and local funding to stimulate the 

identification and implementation of 

structural and nonstructural costeffective water conservation measures in 

the Yakima River basin. Improvements 

in the efficiency of water delivery and 

use will result in improved streamflows 

for fish and wildlife and improve the 

reliability of water supplies for 

irrigation. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Timothy McCoy, Manager, Yakima 

River Basin Water Enhancement Project, 

telephone 509–575–5848, extension 

209. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice is published in accordance with 

Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92–463, 

as amended). The certification of 

renewal is published below. 

Certification 

I hereby certify that Charter renewal 

of the Yakima River Basin Conservation 

Advisory Group is in the public interest 

in connection with the performance of 

duties imposed on the Department of 

the Interior. 

Ken Salazar, 

Secretary of the Interior. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6768 Filed 3–20–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P 


erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES