Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 2001 / Notices 10313

both Edwin B. Forsythe and Cape May

National Wildlife Refuges in New

Jersey, collectively referred to as the

Jersey Coast Refuges. These documents

were prepared in compliance with the

National Wildlife Refuge System

Improvement Act of 1997, and the

National Environmental Policy Act of

1969 and its implementing regulations.

The Acting Regional Director,

Northeast Regional Office, in making his

decision considered a reasonable range

of three management alternatives

discussed in the Environmental

Assessment. The three alternatives

were:

Alternative A. This was the No Action

Alternative requirement by the Council

of Environmental Quality’s regulations

on the implementation of the National

Environmental Policy Act. Under this

Alternative there would be no change

from our current management programs

and emphasis at both Refuges. Seasonal

travel and parking of motor vehicles

would continue to be allowed in the

Holgate Unit of the Brigantine

Wilderness Area, on lands above mean

high tide, in violation of the Wilderness

Act of 1964. The beach at the Two Mile

Beach Unit would continue to be closed

to access by the public.

Alternative B. This was the Service’s

Proposed Action. This Alternative

would initiate new wildlife population

and habitat management programs;

provide new wildlife-dependent

recreation opportunities; increase our

land protection efforts; and provide new

office and visitor facilities at both

Refuges. All lands above mean high tide

in the Holgate Unit of the Brigantine

Wilderness Area would be closed to

motor vehicles by the public year-round

in compliance with the Wilderness Act.

We would initiate efforts to establish a

seasonal boat concession to ferry anglers

and other Refuge visitors to the southern

tip of the Holgate Peninsula. The beach

at the Two Mile Beach Unit would be

open to seasonal access by the public.

Alternative C. This Alternative would

initiate new wildlife population and

habitat management programs; provide

new wildlife-dependent recreation

opportunities Refuge-wide; increase our

land protection efforts; and provide new

or remodeled office and visitor facilities

at both Refuges. All lands above mean

high tide in the Holgate Unit of the

Brigantine Wilderness Area would be

closed to motor vehicle access by the

public year-round in compliance with

the Wilderness Act. We would also seek

to further restrict motor vehicle access

at the Holgate Unit by obtaining a

license from the New Jersey Tidelands

Council to close State-owned riparian

lands below the mean high line. We

would initiate efforts to establish a

seasonal boat concession to ferry anglers

and other Refuge visitors to the southern

tip of the Holgate Peninsula. The beach

at the Two Mile Beach Unit would be

open year-round to access by the public.

Based on the analysis provided in the

Environmental Assessment and the

comments received from the public, the

Acting Regional Director selected

Alternative B (the Service’s Proposed

Action) to be enacted on the Refuges.

Alternative B was selected because it

best achieves Refuge purposes, vision

and goals; helps fulfill the mission of

the National Wildlife Refuge System;

maintains and, where appropriate,

restores the ecological integrity of both

Refuges and the Refuge System;

addresses the significant issues and

mandates; and is consistent with the

principles of sound fish and wildlife

management.

Based on his evaluation, the Acting

Regional Director determined that the

implementation of Alternative B would

not have a significant impact on the

quality of the human environment in

accordance with Section 102(2)(c) of the

National Environmental Policy Act and

concluded that an environmental

impact statement is not required.

However, since the proposed closure of

the Holgate Unit of the Brigantine

Wilderness Area to motor vehicle use by

the public above mean high tide has

been highly controversial, he decided to

provide a 30-day public review period

for this period for this Finding of No

Significant Impact prior to signing it.

The public review period will end 30

days after this Notice is published. This

public review period is in compliance

with Council of Environmental Quality

Regulation 1501.4(e)(2).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of either Refuge Comprehensive

Conservation Plan, or the Finding of No

Significant Impact, may be obtained by

contacting: Mr. Stephen Atzert, Refuge

Manager, Ediwn B. Forsythe National

Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 72, Great

Creek Road, Oceanville, NJ 08231.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

National Wildlife Refuge System

Improvement Act of 1997 and Service

policy require that all lands within the

National Wildlife Refuge System be

managed in accordance with an

approved refuge Comprehensive

Conservation Plan. The Plan guides

management decisions and identifies

refuge goals, objectives, and strategies

for achieving refuge purposes. The

Service’s planning process considered

many elements, including habitat and

wildlife management, habitat protection

and land acquisition, wildlifedependent recreational uses, and

cultural resources. Public input into the

planning process also assisted in the

development of the Refuge

Comprehensive Conservation Plans,

Environmental Assessment, and Finding

of No Significant Impact. The Plans will

provide other agencies and the public

with a clear understanding of the

desired conditions for the Refuges and

how the Service will implement its

management strategies.

Dated: January 25, 2001.

G. Adam O’Hara,

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Hadley, Massachusetts.

[FR Doc. 01–3691 Filed 2–13–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National

Wildlife Refuge System Improvement

Act of 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) has published a Draft

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and

Environmental Assessment for Ohio

River Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

This plan describes how the Service

intends to manage the refuge over the

next 15 years. The refuge is composed

of all or part of 21 islands covering over

3,200 acres in four states (West Virginia,

Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Ohio).

DATES: A public meeting will be held in

each of the four states, with dates, times

and addresses to be announced later in

local newspapers and on the regional

website (http://northeast.fws.gov). The

meetings will provide an opportunity

for all interested parties to present oral

or written testimony on the draft

document. The public meetings will be

held in late February and early March.

All other comments should be sent by

either traditional or electronic mail, no

later than 45 days from date of this

publication, to: Thomas Bonetti,

Planning Team Leader, Northeast

Regional Office, 300 Westgate Center

Drive, Hadley, MA 01035–9589; or

FW5RWlCCP@fws.gov.

ADDRESSES: Additional information or

copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be

obtained by contacting Thomas Bonetti

at the above address, or by contacting

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife

Refuge, 3004 7th Street, Parkersburg,

WV 26102–1811, telephone 304/422–

0752.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and

Environmental Assessment fully

10314 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 14, 2001 / Notices

describes, evaluates, and compares four

alternatives for managing the natural

resources and public use opportunities

for the Ohio River Islands National

Wildlife Refuge. One of the alternatives

represents the Service’s Proposed

Action. The four alternatives are:

Alternative A. This alternative is the

No Action alternative as required by

National Environmental Policy Act

regulations. Selection of this alternative

would maintain the status quo; there

would be no significant changes to

current management practices. This

alternative serves as the baseline from

which to compare the other three

alternatives.

Alternative B. This alternative

represents the Service’s Proposed

Action; that is, the alternative currently

recommended for approval. Selection of

this alternative would include

expansion of the Refuge by acquiring

remaining islands and embayments,

which total to over 8,000 acres.

Alternative B would emphasize

restoration and reforestation of native

bottomland floodplain forest to the Ohio

River. Opportunities for all six priority

public uses would improve, including

an increased importance on

environmental education and outreach

programs.

Alternative C. This alternative would

increase Refuge habitat diversity with

increased management of early

successional habitat. This habitat would

also be more favorable for many game

species and associated expanded

consumptive recreational uses. Fishing,

hunting and trapping allowable by state

laws regulations would be offered and

promoted. Selection of this alternative

would also increase acquisition to over

8,000.

Alternative D. This alternative would

manage Refuge lands to provide and

maximize undisturbed resting, feeding,

and breeding areas for wildlife,

especially migratory birds. All visitation

would be tightly regulated and confined

to certain designated areas. Hunting and

fishing would be eliminated from all

Refuge lands under this Alternative.

Boating and shore use would also be

prohibited on Refuge lands. Selection of

this alternative would also increase

acquisition to over 8,000 acres.

Dated: February 2, 2001.

G. Adam O’Hara,

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Hadley, Massachusetts.

[FR Doc. 01–3692 Filed 2–13–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Letters of Authorization To Take

Marine Mammals

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Services, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of a letter of

authorization to take marine mammals

incidental to oil and gas industry

activities.

SUMMARY: In accordance with section

101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended, and

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

implementing regulations [50 CFR

18.27(f)(3)], notice is hereby given that

a Letter of Authorization to take polar

bears incidental to oil and gas industry

exploration activities has been issued to

the following company:

Company: BP Exploration (Alaska)

Inc.

Activity: Production.

Location: Northstar.

Date Issued: January 9, 2001.

CONTACT: Mr. John W. Bridges at the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine

Mammals Management Office, 1011 East

Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503,

(800) 362–5148 or (907) 786–3810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Letters of Authorization are issued in

accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service Federal Rules and Regulations

‘‘Marine Mammals; Incidental Take

During Specified Activities (65 FR

16828; March 30, 2000).’’

Dated: January 29, 2001.

David B. Allen,

Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 01–3736 Filed 2–13–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV–020–1430–EU]

Termination of Desert Land Entry

Classification and Segregation;

Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This action terminates the

desert-land classification N–58996,

dated April 8, 1982, and also terminates

the segregation for desert-land entries

N–24429, N–24431, and N–24432, dated

December 18, 1996. The land will be

opened to the operation of the public

land laws, including location and entry

under the mining laws.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 16, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mary L. Figarelle, Winnemucca Field

Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Boulevard,

Winnemucca, Nevada 89445, 775–623–

1500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

desert-land classification for N–58996

was made on April 8, 1982, pursuant to

Section 7 of the Taylor Grazing Act (43

U.S.C., etc. seq.). When entry to the land

was allowed on December 18, 1996 for

desert-land entries N–24429, N–24431,

and N–24432, the lands became

segregated from all other forms of

appropriation under the public land

laws, including location and entry

under the mining laws. All three desertland entrymen withdrew their

applications after failing to provide final

proof by the deadline of December 28,

2000.

Pursuant to Section 7 of the Taylor

Grazing Act (43 U.S.C., et. seq.), the

desert land classification N–58996 made

on April 8, 1982, and the desert-land

entries allowed on December 18, 1996,

are hereby terminated for the following

described lands:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 41 N., R. 28 E.,

Sec. 2: SW1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 3: S1⁄2S1⁄2;

Sec. 4: SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 9: NE1⁄4NE1⁄4; S1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4,

NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 10: N1⁄2, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 11: W1⁄2NW1⁄4.

The area described contains 960 acres

in Humboldt County.

1. At 9 a.m. on March 16, 2001, the

land described above will be opened to

the operation of the public land laws

generally, subject to valid existing

rights, the provision of existing

withdrawals, other segregation of

record, and the requirements of

applicable law. All valid applications

received at or prior to 9 a.m. on March

16, 2001, shall be considered as

simultaneously filed at that time. Those

received thereafter shall be considered

in the order of filing.

2. At 9 a.m. on March 16, 2001, the

land described above will be opened to

location and entry under the United

States mining laws, subject to valid

existing rights, the provisions of existing

withdrawals, other segregation of

record, and the requirements of

applicable law. Appropriation of any of

the land described in this order under

the general mining laws prior to the date

and time of restoration is unauthorized.

Any such attempted appropriation,

including attempted adverse possession

under 30.U.S.C. 38 (1988), shall best not

rights against the United States. Acts