[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 241 (Friday, December 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65591-65592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31679]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Management Plan and 
Associated Environmental Document

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) intends to gather information necessary to prepare a 
Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) and an environmental document 
(environmental assessment or environmental impact statement) for Little 
Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, Stevens County, Washington. The 
Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with service CMP policy 
and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and implementing 
regulations: (1) To advise other agencies and the public of our 
intentions, and (2) to obtain suggestions and information on the scope 
of issues to include in the environmental document.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before January 13, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for more information to: 
Refuge Manager, Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, 1310 Bear 
Creek Road, Colville, Washington 99114.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service started the comprehensive 
management planning process for Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife 
Refuge (Little Pend Oreille NWR) in 1995. We held open houses at the 
Refuge headquarters in July and October 1995, and a public meeting in 
Colville, Washington in October 1995. We recorded issues and concerns 
expressed by people at these gatherings and have also received written 
comments. The Service informed people of the open houses and meeting 
through special mailings, newspaper articles, and radio announcements. 
Comments received to date will be considered in the development of the 
CMP and NEPA documentation.
    It is U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policy to have all lands 
within the National Wildlife Refuge System managed in accordance with 
an approved CMP. The CMP guides management decisions and identifies 
refuge goals, long-range objectives, and strategies for achieving 
refuge purposes. Public input into this planning process is encouraged. 
The CMP will provide other agencies and the public with a clear 
understanding of the desired conditions for the Refuge and how the 
Service will implement management strategies.
    Established in 1939, the Service managed Little Pend Oreille NWR 
until 1965, when the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife assumed 
management through a cooperative agreement. In 1994, the Service 
resumed management. We need a CMP because no formal, long-term 
management direction exists for managing Little Pend Oreille NWR. Until 
the CMP is completed, Refuge management will be guided by official 
Refuge purposes; Executive Order 8104; Federal legislation regarding 
management of national wildlife refuges; and other legal, regulatory 
and policy guidance.
    Upon implementation, the CMP would apply only to Federal lands 
within the boundaries of Little Pend Oreille NWR. Issues to be 
addressed in the plan include grazing, pests including noxious weeds, 
degraded aquatic and riparian habitats, overstocked forest habitats, 
Air Force Survival School training, and public uses. The plan will 
include the following topics:

[[Page 65592]]

    (a) Habitat management, including management of forest, riparian 
areas, water courses, reservoirs, wetlands, old farm fields, and 
meadows;
    (b) Wildlife population management, including federally-listed 
endangered and threatened species, migratory birds, and native mammals 
and fish;
    (c) Public use management, including hunting, fishing, trapping, 
wildlife observation and photography, environmental education, camping, 
horseback riding, mountain-bike riding, and snowmobiling;
    (d) Cultural resource identification and protection; and
    (e) Management of other special uses including military training.
    Alternatives that address the issues and management strategies 
associated with these topics will be included in the environmental 
document.
    We have evaluated and grouped concerns, issues, and opportunities 
identified by various publics to date in the following categories: 
Wildlife, wildlife habitat, recreation, and Air Force training. With 
the publication of this notice, the public is encouraged to send 
written comments on these and other issues, courses of action that the 
Service should consider, and potential impacts that could result from 
CMP implementation on Little Pend Oreille NWR. Comments already 
received are on record and need not be resubmitted.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 
CFR 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, 
Executive Order 12996, and Service policies and procedures for 
compliance with those regulations.
    We estimate that the draft environmental document will be available 
by October 1997.

    Dated: December 6, 1996.
John H. Doebel,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 96-31679 Filed 12-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M