[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16247]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 6, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Notice of Record of Decision for Walnut Creek National Wildlife 
Refuge Master Plan, Jasper County, IA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Services, U.S. Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice makes available to the public a summary of the 
Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed Master Plan for the Walnut 
Creek National Wildlife Refuge, located in Jasper County, Iowa. 
Establishment of the 8,654-acre Refuge was approved on September 5, 
1990. Federal funding for design, construction, and operation of the 
Refuge is provided through appropriations by the U.S. Congress. 
Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1505.2), the 
Service issues this ROD upon consideration of the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) prepared for the Proposed Action. The U.S. 
Department of Army, Corps of Engineers (USCOE), acting as a cooperating 
agency in the preparation of the FEIS also adopts the FEIS and ROD as 
its NEPA documentation.
    A Notice of Availability of the FEIS was published by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register on July 23, 
1993.
    The FEIS evaluated alternatives for four elements of the Master 
Plan: habitat/wildlife emphasis, management, programs, and facilities 
siting. Based upon an evaluation of the impacts of the various 
alternatives on the physical, biological, social, and economic 
environments, the Preferred Alternative was identified. The Preferred 
Alternative is a balance of several options and is comprised of the 
following elements:

    Alternative I.D: Restoration and reconstruction of over 7000 
acres of tallgrass prairie/savanna habitat with reintroduction of 
bison and elk.
    Alternative II.E: Active habitat reconstruction and management 
to maximize environmental education.
    Alternative III.C: Intermediate refuge program including indoor 
and outdoor environmental education programs and facilities, a 
visitor center with a tour route and trail system, small laboratory 
facilities and overnight accommodations for researchers; and other 
opportunities for interpretation and recreational public use.
    Alternative IV.B: Consolidated facilities siting the visitor 
center, research facilities and maintenance facility in a central 
campus.

    Other alternatives considered included: the no build alternative, 
creation of extensive wetland habitat for waterfowl and fisheries, 
limited public use programs and facilities and active prairie 
reconstruction to maximize research.

Comments Received

    Prior to preparation of the FEIS, the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) on the Proposed Master Plan for the Walnut Creek 
National Wildlife Refuge was circulated for public review and comment. 
Comments were received from agencies and individuals expressing 
concerns about the findings of the DEIS. Issues raised in these 
comments included but were not limited to the habitat reconstruction 
process including seed sources, the potential for habitat 
fragmentation, and the reintroduction of bison and elk; the potential 
environmental effects of recreational facilities; the siting of Refuge 
facilities to minimize environmental impacts; Section 404 permit 
requirements; Refuge access; and historic resource issues. All 
substantive issues raised in the comments have been addressed to the 
satisfaction of the Service and the USCOE either through revisions 
incorporated into the FEIS text or responses contained in Section 6.5 
of the FEIS. These responses are incorporated by reference into the 
ROD. No comments were received on the FEIS.

Findings and Decision

    Based upon a careful review and consideration of the impacts 
identified in the FEIS, results of the various studies and surveys 
conducted in conjunction with the DEIS and FEIS, public comments 
received on the DEIS, and other relevant factors, including the 
purposes for which the Refuge was established by Congress and statutory 
and regulatory guidance for funding such projects, the Service, with 
concurrence by the USCOE, finds as follows:
    (1) The Preferred Alternative consists of the programs and 
facilities mentioned above.
    (2) The Preferred Alternative represents the best balance between 
provision of environmental education, interpretive, recreational, and 
research facilities and programs, minimization of environmental 
impacts, and public and agency concerns identified during the public 
participation process.
    (3) Consistent with economic, social, and other essential 
considerations, to the maximum extent practicable, potential adverse 
environmental effects identified in the FEIS will be minimized or 
avoided by incorporating mitigative measures as conditions of Federal 
funding approval and permit issuance. These measures are described in 
Section 4.0 of the FEIS.
    (4) A wetland mitigation plan providing in-kind and on-site 
replacement for unavoidable adverse impacts to existing wetlands has 
been developed and will be implemented, resulting in no net loss of 
wetland habitat values over time. Specific details regarding the 
mitigation plan have been developed through the Section 404 permit 
process.
    (5) No state or federally listed endangered or threatened species 
or their critical habitats are known to be adversely affected by the 
project.
    (6) No historic properties listed in or eligible for listing in the 
National Register of Historic Places are known to be adversely affected 
by the project.
    (7) Statutory authority for the Service to fund and implement, and 
for the USCOE to permit, the project exists.
    (8) The requirements of NEPA and the implementing regulations (40 
CFR Parts 1500-1508) have been satisfied.
    The ROD serves as the written facts and conclusions relied upon in 
reaching this decision. A complete copy of the ROD is filed at the 
Refuge together with the other NEPA documents. For further information 
contact: Mr. Richard M. Birger, Refuge Manager, Walnut Creek National 
Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 399, Prairie City, Iowa 50228. Telephone: 
(515) 994-2415.

    Dated: June 22, 1994.
Thomas J. Kerze,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-16247 Filed 6-5-94; 8:45 am]
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