52670 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 176 / Wednesday, September 10, 2008 / Notices 

environments. Although the cave is 

gated and entrance is limited to 

biological surveys, some cave 

environmental education can still occur 

(i.e., supervised visits by small groups 

to observe emergence of gray bats from 

a safe distance during the summer). The 

refuge will develop a community-based 

volunteer program by establishing a 

Cave Steward or Friends program. 

Volunteers will be educated on 

management issues and utilized to help 

complete wildlife and plant surveys, 

maintenance projects, and to conduct 

public recreation and education 

programs. 

Authority: This notice is published under 

the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System Improvement Act of 1997, Public 

Law 105–57. 

Dated: July 1, 2008. 

Cynthia K. Dohner, 

Acting Regional Director. 

[FR Doc. E8–20977 Filed 9–9–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R4–R–2008–N00160; 40136–1265–

0000–S3] 

Upper Ouachita and Handy Brake 

National Wildlife Refuges, Morehouse, 

Union, Richland, East Carroll, West 

Carroll, Natchitoches, and Grant 

Parishes, LA 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability: final 

comprehensive conservation plan and 

finding of no significant impact. 

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife 

Service (Service), announce the 

availability of our final comprehensive 

conservation plan (CCP) and finding of 

no significant impact (FONSI) for Upper 

Ouachita and Handy Brake National 

Wildlife Refuges. In the final CCP, we 

describe how we will manage these 

refuges for the next 15 years. 

ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP may be 

obtained by writing to: North Louisiana 

National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 

11372 Highway 143, Farmerville, LA 

71241. The CCP may also be accessed 

and downloaded from the Service’s Web 

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

George Chandler; Telephone: 318–726–

4222; Fax: 318–726–4667; e-mail: 

george_chandler@fws.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we finalize the CCP 

process for Upper Ouachita and Handy 

Brake National Wildlife Refuges. We 

started this process through a notice in 

the Federal Register on July 13, 2005 

(70 FR 40396). 

The Upper Ouachita and Handy Brake 

National Wildlife Refuges, including 44 

Farm Service Agency (FSA) lands, 

ranging in size from 3 acres to 1,000 

acres, are units of the North Louisiana 

National Wildlife Refuge Complex. 

Upper Ouachita Refuge is in 

northeastern Louisiana. The northern 

boundary lies on the LouisianaArkansas state line. The refuge borders 

both sides of the Ouachita River, 

running north-south for 13.7 miles, 

extending 3.3 miles to the east and 16 

miles to the west. The southernmost 

point on the refuge is approximately 20 

miles north of Monroe, Louisiana. The 

current acquisition area encompasses 

61,633 acres of which 42,594 acres have 

been purchased with 26,304 acres in 

Union Parish and 16,290 acres in 

Morehouse Parish. 

Upper Ouachita Refuge was 

established in November 1978. The 

federally legislated purposes are ‘‘for 

use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any 

other management purpose, for 

migratory birds’’ (Migratory Bird 

Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 715d); and 

for ‘‘* * * the conservation of the 

wetlands of the nation in order to 

maintain the public benefits they 

provide and to help fulfill international 

obligations contained in various 

migratory bird treaties and conventions 

***’’ (16 U.S.C. 3901(b)). 

Upper Ouachita Refuge consists of 

4,540 acres of pine and pine/hardwood 

forests, 19,767 acres of bottomland 

hardwood forests, 9,236 acres of 

reforested bottomlands, 2,000 acres of 

scrub/shrub, 1,182 acres of moist-soil 

plantings, 2,541 acres of agricultural 

fields, 418 acres of fallow agricultural 

fields, and 2,910 acres of open water. 

The USDA Farm Service Agency units 

were established in 1990, in response to 

growing Fish and Wildlife Service landbased responsibilities off of traditional 

refuges. The Wetlands Office is 

responsible for the administration of 

wetland easements and fee title land 

transfers from the Farm Service Agency 

for conservation purposes (Consolidated 

Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 

U.S.C. 2002) and for the benefit of 

endangered species, resident and 

migratory waterfowl, neotropical 

migratory birds, and other wildlife. The 

units also include the first fee title tract 

transfer from the Farm Service Agency 

to the Service, with the establishment of 

Handy Brake National Wildlife Refuge 

in 1988. The units consist of 36 Farm 

Service Agency easements, 7 fee title 

tracts, and 1 lease, all concentrated in 

northeastern Louisiana and 

encompassing 6 parishes. These units 

are spread across north Louisiana, 

ranging in size from 3 acres to 1,000 

acres. 

Handy Brake Refuge is primarily a 

permanent wetland of excellent habitat 

for wintering waterfowl, wading birds, 

and many other wetland-dependent 

species. A free lease of 35 acres of 

International Paper Company land 

provides an upland area overlooking the 

wetland. An observation deck in the 

upland area provides wildlife viewing 

opportunities into the wetlands. Habitat 

management within these units focuses 

primarily on reforestation of marginal 

agricultural areas and development and 

maintenance of moist-soil units. These 

varied habitats provide for a diverse 

array of wildlife. There is no hunting or 

fishing permitted throughout these 

units. 

We announce our decision and the 

availability of the final CCP and FONSI 

for Upper Ouachita and Handy Brake 

National Wildlife Refuges in accordance 

with the National Environmental Policy 

Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) 

requirements. We completed a thorough 

analysis of impacts on the human 

environment, which we included in the 

draft comprehensive conservation plan 

and environmental assessment (Draft 

CCP/EA). The CCP will guide us in 

managing and administering Upper 

Ouachita and Handy Brake Refuges for 

the next 15 years. Alternative B is the 

foundation for the CCP. 

The compatibility determinations for 

(1) wildlife observation and 

photography; (2) environmental 

education and interpretation; (3) fishing; 

and (4) cooperative farming are also 

available within the CCP. 

Background 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

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

668dd–668ee) (Improvement Act), 

which amended the National Wildlife 

Refuge System Administration Act of 

1966, 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 wildlifeVerDate Aug<31>2005 16:52 Sep 09, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10SEN1.SGM 10SEN1

pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 176 / Wednesday, September 10, 2008 / Notices 52671 

dependent recreational opportunities 

available to the public, including 

opportunities for 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 

Improvement Act. 

Comments 

Approximately 100 copies of the Draft 

CCP/EA were made available for a 30- 

day public review period as announced 

in the Federal Register on March 21, 

2008 (73 FR 15186). No comments on 

the Draft CCP/EA were received. The 

Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated 

three alternatives for managing the 

refuge over the next 15 years. 

Selected Alternative 

After considering the comments we 

received and based on the professional 

judgment of the planning team, we 

selected Alternative B for 

implementation. 

Biological potential of historical 

habitats will be restored and enhanced, 

with most management actions 

emphasizing natural ecological 

processes to foster habitat functions and 

wildlife populations. The biological 

program will be enhanced with 

inventorying and monitoring so that 

adaptive management can be 

implemented not only for migratory 

birds, but for other species of wildlife as 

well. A close evaluation of migratory 

bird use and nesting success on the 

refuge will be evaluated using granting 

opportunities and partnerships. To 

determine how forest management is 

affecting wildlife, partnerships will be 

developed to establish scientifically 

valid protocols and to collaboratively 

work on research projects. Upland forest 

management will focus on restoring the 

biological integrity of a mixed 

hardwood/pine forest by promoting 

upland hardwood species and reducing 

pine basal area. The Red-cockaded 

Woodpecker Habitat Unit will be 

managed using a more historic fire 

regime while providing red-cockaded 

woodpecker habitat as required in the 

recovery guidelines. Bottomland 

hardwood forest management will be 

developed on an inventory defining 

current condition that could be 

conducted in a logical and feasible 

manner. Bottoms will have management 

increased to open canopy cover and 

increase understory vegetation. Water 

control structures and pumping 

capability will be improved to enhance 

moist-soil and cropland management for 

the benefit of wintering waterfowl. 

Invasive species will be mapped and 

protocols for control established with 

the addition of a forester. Partnerships 

will continue to be fostered for several 

biological programs, hunting 

regulations, law enforcement issues, and 

research projects. 

Public use will be similar to current 

management with a few improvements 

based on additional resources. Deer 

hunting will be allowed while 

monitoring the availability, diversity, 

and deer use of understory woody and 

herbaceous plants. This will allow 

refuge personnel to better understand 

the pressure being exerted on the 

habitat, enabling better habitat and 

harvest recommendations. On Upper 

Ouachita Refuge, youth turkey hunting 

will be allowed. Fishing events and boat 

launch facilities will be improved. 

Environmental education, wildlife 

observation, and wildlife photography 

will be accommodated at present levels, 

with minimal disturbance to wildlife 

and habitat. An enhanced nature trail, 

interpretive panels, and ‘‘check-out 

kits’’ for teachers will be developed. 

Law enforcement will be increased to 

gain better compliance with refuge 

regulations. Staffing will increase by 

four positions (e.g., biological 

technician, forestry technician, 

maintenance worker, and law 

enforcement officer). This will enable 

the refuges to increase biological 

inventorying and monitoring, enhance 

forest management, increase invasives 

control, enhance the public use 

program, and provide safe and 

compatible wildlife-dependent 

recreation. 

Authority: This notice is published under 

the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System Improvement Act of 1997, Public 

Law 105–57. 

Dated: July 2, 2008. 

Cynthia K. Dohner, 

Acting Regional Director. 

[FR Doc. E8–20978 Filed 9–9–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

Proposed Renewal of Agency 

Information Collection Activities; 

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 

announces that the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs (BIA) is proposing to renew the 

information collections for OMB Control 

Number 1076–0114, Application for 

Admission to Haskell Indian Nations 

University (HINU) and Southwestern 

Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI); OMB 

Control Number 1076–0134, Student 

Transportation Form, Subpart H, 25 CFR 

39; and OMB Control Number 1076–

0122, Data Elements for Student 

Enrollment in Bureau-funded Schools. 

These collections help support the 

educational efforts for Native American 

students from elementary through postsecondary levels. These collections help 

fulfill the trust responsibility of the 

Secretary of the Department of the 

Interior. We are requesting comments on 

these information collections. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

submitted on or before November 10, 

2008. 

ADDRESSES: You are requested to send 

any comments to Kevin Skenandore, 

Acting Director, Bureau of Indian 

Education, 1849 C Street NW., MS 3610, 

Washington, DC 20240. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Keith Neves, Bureau of Indian 

Education, Department of the Interior, 

1849 C Street NW., MS 3609 MIB, 

Washington, DC 20240; Telephone 202–

208–3601. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice is published in exercise of 

authority delegated to the Assistant 

Secretary–Indian Affairs under 25 

U.S.C. 2 and 9 and 209 DM 8. 

I. Abstract 

Application for Admission to HINU & 

SIPI 

The BIA is providing the admission 

forms for Haskell Indian Nations 

University (HINU) and the 

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic 

Institute (SIPI) for review. These 

admission forms are used in 

determining program eligibility of 

American Indian and Alaska Native 

students for educational services. These 

forms are utilized pursuant to Blood 

Quantum Act, Public Law 99–228; the 

Snyder Act, Chapter 115, Public Law 

67–85; and, the Indian Appropriations 

of the 48th Congress, Chapter 180, page 

91, For Support of Schools, July 4, 1884. 

Student Transportation Form 

The Student Transportation 

regulations in 25 CFR part 39, subpart 

H, contain the program eligibility and 

criteria which govern the allocation of 

transportation funds. Information 

collected from the schools will be used 

to determine the rate per mile. The 

information collection provides 

transportation mileage for Bureaufunded schools, which determines the 

allocation of transportation funds. 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES