[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 48 (Monday, March 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12709-12710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3118]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental
Assessment for the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and the
Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that
the draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR) is available for review. The CCP/EA includes Nansemond NWR, an
unstaffed refuge managed by the Great Dismal Swamp NWR. The Service
prepared this CCP/EA in compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, and the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd, et seq.).
This notice also advises the public that the Service is withdrawing
a previous notice, published in 2002, stating that an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) would be developed for the refuge complex. After
completing the environmental analysis, we determined that an EIS is not
warranted.
DATES: The draft CCP/EA will be available for public review and comment
for a 30-day period starting with the publication of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft CCP/EA on compact diskette or in print
may be obtained by writing or visiting Great Dismal Swamp NWR, 3100
Desert Road, Suffolk, Virginia 23434, or you may download an electronic
copy from the http://library.fws.gov/ccps.htm Web site. We plan to host
three public meetings in the Cities of Suffolk and Chesapeake,
Virginia, and in Camden and Gates Counties in North Carolina. We will
announce the details at least 2 weeks in advance in local papers and
post them at the refuge.
Comments should be submitted to Deloras Freeman, Great Dismal Swamp
NWR, 3100 Desert Road, Suffolk, Virginia 23434, by fax at 757-986-2353,
or email at [email protected]. Comments via email should include
the comments in the body of the email, since email security programs
could delete attached files.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deloras Freeman, Great Dismal Swamp
NWR at 787-986-3706 or Bill Perry, Refuge Planner, Northeast Regional
Office at 413-253-8371.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997, requires the Service to develop a CCP
for each refuge. The purpose of developing a CCP describes the desired
future conditions of the refuge and provides refuge managers with a 15-
year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing to the
mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, in conformance with the
sound principles of fish and wildlife science, natural resources
conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to
outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and
habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities
available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and
interpretation. The Service will review and update each CCP at least
once every 15 years, in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997 and the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969.
Established in 1974, Great Dismal Swamp NWR encompasses 111,201
acres, the largest intact remnant of a vast habitat that once covered
more than one million acres of southeastern Virginia and northeastern
North Carolina. The Nansemond NWR, established December 12, 1973, is an
unstaffed satellite refuge encompassing 423 acres.
The draft CCP/EA analyzes three alternatives for managing the
refuge over the next 15 years. Alternative A (the ``No Action''
Alternative) would continue our present management and provides a
baseline for comparing and
[[Page 12710]]
contrasting other alternatives. It continues to focus on restoring
hydrology and habitat, maintaining roads, acquiring 4,000 acres of land
inside the refuge boundary as it becomes available from willing
sellers, restoring 1,000 acres of Atlantic white cedar, and enhancing
2,000 acres of pocosin/pine habitat for reintroduction of red-cockaded
woodpeckers. It continues to provide current levels of environmental
education and interpretation, boating and fishing on Lake Drummond, and
annual deer hunting.
Alternative B (the Service-preferred alternative) directs the
refuge toward an optimal level of habitat management and public use
based on the vision for the refuge at the time of its establishment in
1974. Alternative B proposes the restoration of 8,000 acres of Atlantic
white cedar habitat; the restoration of 10,000 acres of red-cockaded
woodpecker habitat; and the restoration of a remnant marsh to its
original 250 acres from its present 30 acres. We would establish a
neotropical migratory bird focus area near Jericho Lane, in which we
would focus habitat management and modeling, population surveys, and
education and interpretation related to neotropical migratory bird
populations. As a part of our preferred alternative, we have proposed
to implement a limited bear hunt. This hunt would occur on a total of 2
days during November and December, with a total maximum of 100 permits
issued. We anticipate a harvest of approximately 11 bears with a
harvest limit target of 20 bears. If 10 or more bears are taken the
first day, various parameters will be evaluated and the second hunt day
may be cancelled. As with the deer hunt, dogs will not be allowed as a
means to hunt bears. The bear hunt is currently authorized in the code
of federal regulations (50 CFR part 32), but has never been
implemented.
Our preferred alternative also proposes the following building
projects: The development of an environmental education site at Jericho
Ditch in Suffolk, Virginia. We will also develop an exhibit to be sited
at the downtown visitor center that is run by the City of Suffolk.
Additionally, we propose the conversion of the current administrative
building for concessions, and the construction of a new visitor center
and headquarters between the old and new Route 17 in Chesapeake,
Virginia, and the construction of new trails, observation and
photography platforms, or towers. The CCP proposes to enhance
environmental education and outreach, establish hunter safety and youth
hunting programs, and provide interpretative canoe or kayak tours
through a concessionaire.
Alternative C (limited habitat management) reduces our emphasis on
habitat management compared to current refuge operations, but
significantly expands visitor services and public use. It also
emphasizes monitoring and researching opportunities.
All three alternatives share some priorities. They manage invasive
or exotic species and pine/pocosin habitats. They manage hydrology to
slow the rate of surface drainage from the refuge, maintain normal
flooding patterns, manage stands of Atlantic white cedar, and conserve
water for suppressing fires. Finally, they continue to provide
opportunities for compatible public use such as hunting, fishing,
environmental education and interpretation, wildlife observation and
photography, and off-refuge outreach and partnerships.
A Wilderness Review was also conducted for Great Dismal Swamp NWR
as part of this planning process. No areas were recommended for
designation because none of the wilderness inventory areas met
wilderness criteria.
Dated: February 24, 2006.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E6-3118 Filed 3-10-06; 8:45 am]
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