[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 29, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61239-61240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29107]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 32

RIN 1018-AD43


Addition of Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge to the 
List of Open Areas for Sport Fishing in West Virginia

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to add 
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge to the list of areas open 
for sport fishing in West Virginia along with pertinent refuge-specific 
regulations for such activities. The Service has determined that such 
use will be compatible with the purposes for which the refuge was 
established. The Service has further determined that this action is in 
accordance with the provisions of all applicable laws, is consistent 
with principles of sound wildlife management, and is otherwise in the 
public interest by providing additional recreational opportunities of a 
renewable natural resource.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before January 29, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Assistant Director--Refuges and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street NW., MS 670 ARLSQ, Washington, DC 
20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen R. Vehrs, at the address above; Telephone: 703-358-2029 X-5242.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National wildlife refuges are generally 
closed to hunting and sport fishing until opened by rulemaking. The 
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) may open refuge areas to hunting 
and/or fishing upon a determination that such uses are compatible with 
the purpose(s) for which the refuge was established. The action must 
also be in accordance with provisions of all laws applicable to the 
areas, must be consistent with the principles of sound wildlife 
management, and must otherwise be in the public interest. This 
rulemaking proposed to open Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge 
to sport fishing

Request for Comments

    Department of the Interior policy is, whenever practicable, to 
afford the public a meaningful opportunity to participate in the 
rulemaking process. A 60-day comment period is specified in order to 
facilitate public input. Accordingly, interested persons may submit 
written comments concerning this proposed rule to the person listed 
above under the heading ADDRESSES. All substantive comments will be 
reviewed and considered.

Statutory Authority

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as 
amended (NWRSAA) (16 U.S.C. 668dd), and the Refuge Recreation Act of 
1962 (RRA) (16 U.S.C. 460k) govern the administration and public use of 
national wildlife refuges. Specifically, Section 4(d)(1)(A) of the 
NWRSAA authorizes the Secretary to permit the use of any areas within 
the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) for any purpose, 
including but not limited to hunting, fishing, public recreation and 
accommodations, and access, when he determines that such uses are 
compatible with the purposes for which each refuge was established. The 
Director administers the Refuge System on behalf of the Secretary. The 
RRA gives the Secretary additional authority to administer refuge areas 
within the Refuge System for public recreation as an appropriate 
incidental or secondary use only to the extent that it is practicable 
and not inconsistent with the primary purposes for which the refuges 
were established.

Opening Package

    In preparation for this opening, the refuge unit has included in 
its ``openings package'' for Regional review and approval from the 
Washington Office the following documents: a management plan for 
recreational fishing; an environmental assessment; a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI); a Section 7 statement, pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act, that this opening is not likely to adversely 
affect a listed species or its critical habitat; and refuge-specific 
regulations to administer the fishing program. From a review of the 
totality of these documents, the Service has determined that the 
opening of the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge to sport 
fishing is compatible with the principles of sound wildlife management 
and will otherwise be in the public interest.
    In accordance with the NWRSAA and the RRA, the Service has also 
determined that this opening for sport fishing is compatible and 
consistent with the primary purposes for which the refuge was 
established. A brief description of the fishing program is as follows:

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge

    Established in 1990, the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife 
Refuge is located on the Ohio River from Shippingport, Pennsylvania to 
Manchester, Ohio. There are currently eighteen islands in the refuge 
totaling 1,020 acres. Through ongoing acquisition efforts, the refuge 
has the potential to include all, or portion of, 38 islands located 
along 362 river miles encompassing up to 3,500 acres of wildlife 
habitat.
    The Ohio River islands and their back channels are recognized for 
high quality fish and wildlife, recreation, scientific, and natural 
heritage values. These areas provide some of the regions' highest 
quality riverine, wetland, and bottomland habitats, and are used by 
waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, warmwater fish, and freshwater 
mussels.
    The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge was established 
under the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 
742a-742j). The refuge's primary purposes is

``* * * for the development, advancement, management, conservation, and 
protection of fish and wildlife resources'', and ``for the benefit of 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in performing its 
activities and services.'' The objectives of the sport fishing program 
are (1) to provide for the wise use of renewable natural resources, (2) 
provide an opportunity for sport fishing and minimal interference from 
other anglers and freedom to participate in a natural setting, and (3) 
provide sport fishing opportunity when 

[[Page 61240]]
such use will not be detrimental to the refuge's primary objective and 
that will be compatible with other wildlife-oriented recreation.
    A total of 55 species of fish have been collected by the West 
Virginia Department of Natural Resources and the Service in the 
vicinity of the islands. The shallow water areas against the islands, 
particularly the back channels, are important nursery areas for a 
variety of game fish. With respect to the impact on the fishery 
resource itself, opening the refuge to sport fishing would have a 
negligible impact.
    The 18 refuge islands consist on only 1,020 acres and State surveys 
of recreational fishing indicate that only a small percentage of impact 
would be realized on the island habitats. The overwhelming majority of 
fish harvest occurs at dam tailwaters and main channel borders.
    Opening the refuge to fishing has been found to be compatible in a 
separate compatibility determination. The fishing program will be 
reviewed, as appropriate, to ensure that sensitive habitats are 
protected from disturbance. A Section 7 evaluation pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act was conducted. The Service determined that the 
proposed action will not affect any federally listed or proposed for 
listing threatened or endangered species or their critical habitats. 
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an 
environmental assessment was made and a Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) was made regarding the fishing program.
    The Service has determined that there would be sufficient funds to 
administer the proposed fishing program. Sufficient funds would be 
available within the refuge unit budget to operate such a fishing 
program as proposed.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirements for Part 32 are found in 50 
CFR Part 25 and have been approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget under Public Law 104-13 and assigned clearance number 1018-0014. 
The information is being collected to assist the Service in 
administering these programs in accordance with statutory authorities 
which require that recreational uses be compatible with the primary 
purposes for which the areas were established. The information 
requested in the application form is required to obtain a benefit.
    The public reporting burden for the application form is estimated 
to average six (6) minutes per response, including time for reviewing 
instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing the form. 
Direct comments on the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form 
to the Service Information Collection Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 1849 C Street NW., MS 224 ARLSQ, Washington, DC 20240; and the 
Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (1018-
0014), Washington, DC 20503.

Economic Effect

    This rulemaking was not subject to Office of Management and Budget 
review under Executive Order 12866. In addition, a review under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) has revealed 
that the rulemaking would not have a significant effect on a 
substantial number of small entities, which include businesses, 
organizations or governmental jurisdictions. While the proposed fishing 
program could increase the fishing licenses purchased and boost sales 
of fishing gear and tackle, the impact would not be considered 
significant as other surrounding areas are, also, open to fishing and 
the addition of the refuge to fishing waters would be only 
proportionally relevant to small entities. Therefore, this proposed 
rule would have minimal effect on such entities.

Federalism

    This proposed rule will not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive 
Order 12612, it is determined that this rule does not have sufficient 
Federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism 
Assessment.

Environmental Considerations

    Pursuant to the requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), an 
environmental assessment has been prepared for this opening. Based upon 
the Environmental Assessment, the Service issued a Finding of No 
Significant Impact with respect to the opening. A Section 7 evaluation 
was prepared pursuant to the Endangered Species Act with a finding that 
the opening of the refuge for sport fishing will not affect any 
identified threatened or endangered species or designated critical 
habitat.

    Primary Author Stephen R. Vehrs, Division of Refuges, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, is the primary author of this 
rulemaking document.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 32

    Hunting, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Wildlife, Wildlife refuges.

    Accordingly, part 32 of chapter I of Title 50 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended as set forth below:

PART 32--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 32 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k, 664, 668dd, and 715i.


Sec. 32.68  [Amended]

    2. Section 32.68 West Virginia is amended by adding paragraph D, 
under ``Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge'' to read as 
follows:


Sec. 32.68  West Virginia.

    Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge
* * * * *
    D. Sport Fishing. Sport fishing is permitted on designated areas of 
the refuge pursuant to the following condition: Fishing will be 
conducted during West Virginia's State fishing seasons and under West 
Virginia's State regulations and guidelines, unless otherwise posted on 
the refuge.
* * * * *
    Dated: October 20, 1995.
George T. Frampton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 95-29107 Filed 11-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M