27576 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 94 / Monday, May 17, 2010 / Notices 

II. Data 

OMB Control Number: None. This is 

a new collection. 

Title: State Water Resources Research 

Institute Program Annual Application 

and Reporting. 

Type of Request: New. 

Affected Public: The state water 

resources research institutes authorized 

by the Water Resources Research Act of 

1983, as amended, and listed at http:// 

water.usgs.gov/wrri/institutes.html. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Required to 

obtain benefits. 

Frequency of Collection: Annually. 

Estimated Number of Annual 

Respondents: We expect to receive 54 

applications and award 54 grants per 

year. 

Estimated Annual Total Responses: 

54. 

Estimated Time per Response: 160 

hours. This includes 80 hours per 

applicant to prepare and submit the 

annual application; and 80 hours (total) 

per grantee to complete the annual 

reports. 

Annual Burden Hours: 8,640. 

III. Request for Comments 

On December 29, 2009, we published 

a Federal Register notice (74 FR 68860) 

announcing that we would submit this 

ICR to OMB for approval and soliciting 

comments. The comment period closed 

on March 1, 2010. We did not receive 

any comments in response to that 

notice. 

We again invite comments concerning 

this ICR on: (a) Whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the agency to perform its duties, 

including whether the information is 

useful; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection of information; (c) ways to 

enhance the quality, usefulness, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 

burden on the respondents, including 

the use of automated collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology. 

Comments that you submit in 

response to this notice are a matter of 

public record. 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 anytime. 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: May 10, 2010. 

John E. Schefter, 

Water Resources Research Act Program 

Coordinator. 

[FR Doc. 2010–11620 Filed 5–14–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R4–R–2010–N052; 40136–1265–0000– 

S3] 

J.N. ‘‘Ding’’ Darling National Wildlife 

Refuge, Lee County, FL 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability: Draft 

comprehensive conservation plan and 

environmental assessment; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife 

Service (Service), announce the 

availability of a draft comprehensive 

conservation plan and environmental 

assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for J.N. 

‘‘Ding’’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge 

(NWR) for public review and comment. 

In the Draft CCP/EA, we describe the 

alternative we propose to use to manage 

this refuge for the 15 years following 

approval of the final CCP. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, we 

must receive your written comments by 

June 16, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of 

the Draft CCP/EA by contacting Ms. 

Cheri M. Ehrhardt, via U.S. mail at J.N. 

‘‘Ding’’ Darling NWR, 1 Wildlife Drive, 

Sanibel, FL 33957, or via e-mail at 

DingDarlingCCP@fws.gov. Alternatively 

you may download the document from 

our Internet Site at http:// 

southeast.fws.gov/planning under ‘‘Draft 

Documents.’’ Submit comments on the 

Draft CCP/EA to the above postal 

address or e-mail address. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Cheri M. Ehrhardt, Natural Resource 

Planner, telephone: 321/861–2368; or 

Mr. Paul Tritaik, Refuge Manager, 

telephone: 239/472–1100. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we continue the CCP 

process for J.N. ‘‘Ding’’ Darling NWR. We 

started the process through a notice in 

the Federal Register on June 27, 2007 

(72 FR 35254), and extended the 

comment period in a notice in the 

Federal Register on April 2, 2008 (73 FR 

17991). For more about the refuge, its 

purposes, and our CCP process, please 

see those notices. 

Background 

The CCP Process 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee), 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 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 our policies. In addition 

to outlining broad management 

direction on conserving wildlife and 

their habitats, CCPs identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities 

available to the public, including 

hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, 

wildlife photography, and 

environmental education and 

interpretation. We will review and 

update the CCP at least every 15 years 

in accordance with the Administration 

Act. 

The 6,406.79-acre refuge supports 

hundreds of species of wildlife and 

plants, providing protection for 13 

Federal-listed species and 49 Statelisted species, as well as for migratory 

birds and native wildlife. It also 

supports habitat diversity through 

tropical hardwood forests, beaches, 

mangrove swamps, mixed wetland 

shrubs, salt marshes, open waters and 

seagrass beds, and lakes and canals. 

Comprising roughly half of Sanibel 

Island and most of Buck Key, the J.N. 

‘‘Ding’’ Darling NWR provides key 

habitats supporting a variety of species 

in a highly developed landscape. The 

city of Sanibel, Lee County, SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation, and 

the Service work together to continue 

conservation work on Sanibel Island, 

which is one of the top birding hot spots 

in the nation, with beautiful beaches, 

shelling, fishing, and wildlife. This 

partnership has resulted in land use 

planning to guide growth and 

development, ensuring that future 

generations will be able to enjoy the 

special ambience and quiet harmony 

that Sanibel Island offers. 

The priority management issues 

facing this refuge are addressed in the 

Draft CCP/EA, including: (1) Increasing 

and changing human population, 

development of the landscape, 

recreational uses and demands, and 

associated impacts; (2) issues and 

impacts associated with water quality, 

water quantity, and timing of flows; (3) 

invasion and spread of exotic, invasive, 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 94 / Monday, May 17, 2010 / Notices 27577 

and nuisance species; (4) climate change 

impacts; (5) need for long-term 

protection of important resources; (6) 

declines in and threats to rare, 

threatened, and endangered species; (7) 

insufficient baseline wildlife and habitat 

data and lack of a comprehensive 

habitat management plan; and (8) 

insufficient resources to address refuge 

needs. 

CCP Alternatives, Including Our 

Proposed Alternative 

We developed four alternatives for 

managing the refuge and chose 

Alternative C as the proposed 

alternative. A full description of each 

alternative is in the Draft CCP/EA. We 

summarize each alternative below. 

Alternative A (Current Management, No 

Action) 

Alternative A would continue 

management activities and programs at 

levels similar to past management, 

providing a baseline for the comparison 

of the action alternatives. Funding and 

staffing levels would remain similar to 

current levels, and programs would 

follow the same direction, emphasis, 

and intensity as under current 

management. Working with partners, we 

would conduct several surveying and 

monitoring activities, providing 

information for a variety of birds; 

juvenile and baitfish populations; and 

key rare, threatened, and endangered 

species. Habitat management activities 

on the refuge would include an 

impounded wetland reconnection/ 

mangrove restoration project, 

impoundment management, prescribed 

fire, fuel and fire-effect monitoring, 

exotic plant control, limited water 

quality monitoring, and limited ditch 

clearing. Further, we would work with 

the partners to address exotic, invasive, 

and nuisance animals; water quality, 

quantity, and timing of flows concerns; 

and climate change. We would continue 

to offer a robust visitor services 

program, facilitating fishing, wildlife 

observation, wildlife photography, and 

environmental education and 

interpretation, while continuing to use a 

concessionaire to help provide these 

opportunities. Management and use of 

the Wilderness Area would continue. 

We would work with numerous 

governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other 

partners to foster and promote refuge 

management goals, including through 

existing management and cooperative 

agreements. 

Alternative B (Native Wildlife and 

Habitat Diversity) 

Alternative B would expand or 

initiate our management activities, with 

a focus on native wildlife and habitat 

diversity, providing a new focus for 

refuge management actions, decisions, 

and priorities. Increased surveying and 

monitoring activities and increased 

water management capabilities for the 

impoundments, the Bailey Tract, and 

the State Botanical Site would better 

serve a variety of species. Habitat 

management and restoration activities 

would better provide for a mix of native 

species. Control of exotic, invasive, and 

nuisance plants and animals would be 

expanded. Benefitting numerous species 

and habitats of management concern, 

we would expand activities to better 

coordinate with the partners to address 

water quality, quantity, and timing of 

flows related to Lake Okeechobee 

regulatory releases, drainage in the 

Caloosahatchee Basin, local runoff 

issues, water quality in Tarpon Bay and 

on the refuge, and operation of the city 

of Sanibel’s weir. With a focus on native 

wildlife and habitat diversity, we would 

utilize the best available science and 

employ a strategic habitat conservation 

approach to anticipate wildlife and 

habitat adaptation tendencies and to 

target management actions to facilitate 

successful adaptation responses to the 

impacts of climate change. We would 

better protect the archaeological and 

historical resources of the refuge on 

Sanibel and Captiva Islands, including 

conducting a complete archaeological 

and historical resources survey and 

protecting in perpetuity the historically 

significant site of ‘‘Ding’’ Darling’s 

fishing cabin off Captiva Island. We 

would complete the approved 

acquisition boundary; develop 

management agreements to protect key 

resources; and pursue additional special 

designations for the refuge, including 

Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve 

Network and RAMSAR Wetlands of 

International Importance. We would 

enhance our Wilderness Area program. 

Although we currently have a robust 

visitor services program, Alternative B 

would focus more on native wildlife 

and habitat diversity and the 

minimization of human impacts on 

these resources. In general, existing 

visitor uses would continue, including 

fishing, wildlife observation and 

photography, and environmental 

education and interpretation, while we 

would increase efforts to improve 

ethical behavior, expand and enhance 

education and outreach activities, and 

maintain the concession approach to 

facilitating visitor activities and 

experiences. To provide additional 

visitor opportunities, we would locate 

and develop an observation tower at the 

Bailey Tract. The Wildlife Drive would 

be evaluated for any needed changes. 

We would evaluate the need for and 

ability to provide parking at the Shell 

Mound Trail to address existing ad-hoc 

parking and Wildlife Drive congestion 

issues at this site. We would convert the 

temporary fee-funded law enforcement 

officer position to a permanent position 

and add five refuge-specific staff: 

Wildlife biologist, biological science 

technician, two law enforcement 

officers, and park ranger (Environmental 

Education/Outreach). Historically, a 

single commercial bait fisherman has 

operated on the refuge. In line with 

regional compatibility guidance and to 

limit the impacts from commercial 

fishing activities, we would phase out 

commercial bait fishing activities from 

the refuge during the life of the CCP. 

Alternative C (Migratory Birds, Proposed 

Action) 

Alternative C would expand 

management with a focus on the needs 

of migratory birds, providing direction 

for management actions, decisions, and 

priorities, and prioritizing migratory 

birds in all restoration plans. This 

alternative addresses the management 

needs of all birds covered under the 

Migratory Bird Treaty Act, including 

resident species of native birds that are 

found using the refuge year-round. 

Expanded and new surveying and 

monitoring activities, habitat 

management, and habitat restoration 

would benefit a variety of species, 

including rare, threatened, and 

endangered species, with an emphasis 

on migratory birds. Increased water 

management capabilities for the 

impoundments, the Bailey Tract, and 

the State Botanical Site would also 

benefit a variety of species, 

predominantly migratory birds. Control 

of exotic, invasive, and nuisance plants 

and animals would be expanded, with 

a focus on migratory birds. To benefit 

migratory birds while also serving 

numerous species and habitats of 

management concern, we would expand 

activities to better coordinate with the 

partners to address water quality, 

quantity, and timing of flows related to 

Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases, 

drainage in the Caloosahatchee Basin, 

local runoff issues, water quality in 

Tarpon Bay and on the refuge, and 

operation of the city of Sanibel’s weir. 

We would work with partners to 

evaluate water quality impacts on algal 

blooms, bird usage, seagrasses, and fish 

populations in and around the refuge. 

With a focus on migratory birds, we 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
27578 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 94 / Monday, May 17, 2010 / Notices 

would utilize the best available science 

and employ a strategic habitat 

conservation approach to anticipate 

wildlife and habitat adaptation 

tendencies and to target management 

actions to facilitate successful 

adaptation responses to the impacts of 

climate change. We would better protect 

the archaeological and historical 

resources of the refuge on Sanibel and 

Captiva Islands, including conducting a 

complete archaeological and historical 

resources survey and protecting in 

perpetuity the historically significant 

site of ‘‘Ding’’ Darling’s fishing cabin off 

Captiva Island. We would complete the 

approved acquisition boundary, with a 

focus on migratory birds; develop 

management agreements to protect key 

resources, including nesting and 

roosting areas; and pursue additional 

special designations for the refuge, 

including Western Hemisphere 

Shorebird Reserve Network and 

RAMSAR Wetlands of International 

Importance. We would enhance our 

Wilderness Area program. Although we 

currently have a robust visitor services 

program, Alternative C would focus 

more on migratory birds and the 

minimization of human impacts on 

these resources. In general, existing 

visitor uses would continue, including 

fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife 

photography, and environmental 

education and interpretation, while we 

would increase our efforts to improve 

ethical behavior, expand and enhance 

education and outreach activities, and 

maintain the concession approach to 

facilitating visitor activities and 

experiences. To provide additional 

visitor opportunities, we would locate 

and develop an observation tower at the 

Bailey Tract and a handicappedaccessible fishing pier at Smith Pond on 

the Bailey Tract. The Wildlife Drive 

would be evaluated for any needed 

changes. Further, we would evaluate the 

need for and ability to provide parking 

at the Shell Mound Trail to address 

existing ad-hoc parking and Wildlife 

Drive congestion issues at this site. We 

would convert the temporary fee-funded 

law enforcement officer position to a 

permanent position and would add five 

refuge-specific staff: Wildlife biologist, 

biological science technician, two law 

enforcement officers, and park ranger 

(Environmental Education/Outreach). 

Historically, a single commercial bait 

fisherman has operated on the refuge. In 

line with regional compatibility 

guidance and to limit the impacts from 

commercial fishing activities, we would 

phase out commercial bait fishing 

activities from the refuge during the life 

of the CCP. 

Alternative D (Rare, Threatened, and 

Endangered Species) 

Alternative D would focus on 

initiating and increasing management 

actions that promote the recovery of 

rare, threatened, and endangered 

species occurring within the refuge, 

providing a new direction for 

management actions, decisions, and 

priorities. Expanded and initiated 

surveying and monitoring efforts, 

habitat management, habitat restoration, 

and research would benefit a variety of 

species, with an emphasis on rare, 

threatened, and endangered species. 

Control of exotic, invasive, and 

nuisance plants and animals would be 

expanded under Alternative D, with a 

focus on high-priority habitats serving 

rare, threatened, and endangered 

species. To benefit rare, threatened, and 

endangered species while also serving 

numerous species and habitats of 

management concern, we would expand 

activities to better coordinate with 

partners to address water quality, 

quantity, and timing of flows related to 

Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases, 

drainage in the Caloosahatchee Basin, 

local runoff issues, water quality in 

Tarpon Bay and the refuge, and 

operation of the city of Sanibel’s weir. 

We would work with partners to 

evaluate water quality impacts on algal 

blooms, bird usage, seagrasses, and fish 

populations in and around the refuge to 

better understand the impacts on rare, 

threatened, and endangered species. We 

would coordinate with researchers and 

the partners to understand the impacts 

of climate change on refuge resources 

with a focus on rare, threatened, and 

endangered species, fostering and 

conducting research as possible, 

establishing benchmarks, and adapting 

management. We would better protect 

the archaeological and historical 

resources of the refuge on Sanibel and 

Captiva Islands, including conducting a 

complete archaeological and historical 

resources survey and protecting in 

perpetuity of the historically significant 

site of ‘‘Ding’’ Darling’s fishing cabin off 

Captiva Island. We would complete the 

approved acquisition boundary; develop 

management agreements to protect key 

resources; and pursue additional special 

designations for the refuge, including 

Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve 

Network and RAMSAR Wetlands of 

International Importance. In addition, 

we would expand our Wilderness Area 

program. Although we currently have a 

robust visitor services program, 

Alternative D would focus more on rare, 

threatened, and endangered species and 

the minimization of human impacts on 

these resources. In general, existing 

visitor uses would continue, including 

fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife 

photography, and environmental 

education and interpretation, while we 

would increase efforts to improve 

ethical behavior, expand and enhance 

education and outreach activities, and 

maintain the concession approach to 

facilitating visitor activities and 

experiences. To provide additional 

visitor opportunities, we would locate 

and develop an observation tower at the 

Bailey Tract. The Wildlife Drive would 

be evaluated for any needed changes. 

Further, we would evaluate the need for 

and ability to provide parking at the 

Shell Mound Trail to address existing 

ad-hoc parking and Wildlife Drive 

congestion issues at this site. To help 

accomplish the outlined actions, 

Alternative D would be similar to 

Alternatives B and C. We would convert 

the temporary fee-funded law 

enforcement officer position to a 

permanent position and would add five 

refuge-specific staff: Wildlife biologist, 

biological science technician, two law 

enforcement officers, and park ranger 

(Environmental Education/Outreach). 

Historically, a single commercial bait 

fisherman has operated on the refuge. In 

line with regional compatibility 

guidance and to limit the impacts from 

commercial fishing activities, we would 

phase out commercial bait fishing 

activities from the refuge during the life 

of the CCP. 

Next Step 

After the comment period ends, we 

will analyze the comments and address 

them. 

Public Availability of Comments 

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. 

Authority 

This notice is published under the 

authority of the National Wildlife 

Refuge System Improvement Act of 

1997, Public Law 105–57. 

Dated: March 22, 2010. 

Mark J. Musaus, 

Acting Regional Director. 

[FR Doc. 2010–11684 Filed 5–14–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES