[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 187 (Thursday, September 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54921-54922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19086]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Dillingham, AK

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Draft Revised Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan, Draft Revised Public Use Management Plan, and 
Environmental Assessment for Togiak National Wildlife Refuge; request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we) announce 
that the Draft Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Revised Public Use Management 
Plan (PUMP) and EA for Togiak National Wildlife Refuge is available for 
public comment. This Draft CCP/PUMP/EA describes how the Service 
intends to manage the Togiak Refuge for the next 15 years.

DATES: We must receive written comments on the draft CCP/PUMP/EA by 
January 18, 2008.

ADDRESSES: To provide written comments or to request a paper copy or a 
compact disk of the Draft CCP/PUMP/EA, contact Maggi Arend, Planning 
Team Leader, Division of Comprehensive Planning and Policy, MS 231, 
1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503-6199, phone 907-786-3393, fax 
907-786-3965 or electronically at [email protected]. You 
may also view or download the plan at: http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/togpol.htm. Copies of the Draft plan may be viewed at the 
Togiak Refuge Office in Dillingham, Alaska; local area libraries, and 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office in Anchorage, 
Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maggi Arend at the above address or 
phone number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act (ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 410hh et seq., 43 U.S.C. 1602 et 
seq.) requires development of a CCP for all national wildlife refuges 
in Alaska. The Draft CCP for Togiak Refuge was developed consistent 
with Section 304(g) of ANILCA and the Refuge Administration Act as 
amended by the Refuge Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.). The 
purpose of developing CCPs is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year 
strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the 
mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound 
principles of fish, wildlife, and habitat management and conservation; 
legal mandates; and Service policies. Plans define long-term goals and 
objectives toward which refuge management activities are directed and 
identify which uses may be compatible with the purposes of the refuge. 
They identify wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities available to 
the public, including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. 
Comprehensive conservation plans are updated in accordance with 
planning direction in Section 304(g) of ANILCA and with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.).
    Togiak Refuge was established as Cape Newenham National Wildlife 
Refuge in 1969 to protect and preserve the outstanding wildlife values, 
including bird colonies and important habitat for other terrestrial and 
marine wildlife. The refuge was expanded to 4,156,522 acres and 
established as Togiak National Wildlife Refuge in 1980 by ANILCA. The 
Togiak Refuge CCP was approved in 1987. The PUMP was approved in 1991 
and incorporated the State of Alaska Special Land Use Designation for 
the management of State lands within the boundary of the refuge and 
including the lower Goodnews River drainage. The current document 
includes revisions of each of these three plans. The core planning 
team, which developed the range of alternatives for the CCP/PUMP, 
included representatives of the State of Alaska and five recognized 
Native Alaskan tribes from the vicinity of the refuge.

Comprehensive Plan

    This Draft CCP describes and evaluates two alternatives for 
managing Togiak Refuge for the next 15 years.
    Alternative 1: This alternative encompasses policy development, 
changes, and clarifications made in the years since the implementation 
of the original Comprehensive Plan in 1987. It also includes a refuge 
vision statement, goals, objectives, and certain strategies which will 
guide refuge management into the future. Restrictions on helicopter use 
for recreational purposes would be maintained.
    Alternative 2 (Current Management): Under this alternative, the 
Refuge would continue to implement current management as outlined in 
the 1987 Comprehensive Plan. The Refuge would continue to be managed 
much as it is today, but without goals and objectives.

Public Use Plan

    The Draft Public Use Management Plan describes and evaluates five 
alternatives for managing public use on Togiak Refuge. These 
alternatives address four issues: public use at Cape Peirce Wildlife 
Viewing Area; unguided recreational opportunites in the Kanektok and 
Goodnews river watersheds; human waste management; and commercial sport 
fishing guide opportunities.
    Alternative A: This alternative would carry forward existing 
management into the future. At Cape Peirce, management would emphasize 
wildlife viewing that complements the research and study of fish, 
wildlife, plants, and their habitats and would continue current limits 
on visitors to the area. There would be no limits on unguided 
recreational users on the Kanektok and Goodnews rivers and no 
additional management of human waste disposal. Commercial sport fishing 
guide opportunities would remain at current levels.
    Alternative B: This alternative makes limited adjustments to 
current management. At Cape Peirce, management would remain the same 
except that 50% of permits would be allocated to the general public. 
Unguided use of the Kanektok River watershed would be limited to the 
same levels currently allowed for guided use. On the Goodnews River, 
unguided use would be limited to the current level of use. Commercial 
sport fishing guide opportunities would be expanded on the middle fork 
of the Goodnews River.
    Alternative C (the preferred alternative): Under this alternative, 
adjustments would be made to management in each of the issue areas. At 
Cape Peirce, management would facilitate wildlife viewing that 
complements the protection and preservation of the area's natural and 
cultural resource values and opportunities for visitation would be 
doubled. The allocation of permits would be the same as Alternative B, 
but at low use levels the refuge manager may waive the requirement for 
permits. Minimal facilities could be constructed for public health and 
safety. Limits on the unguided recreational use of the Kanektok and 
Goodnews rivers would be established for the peak use periods

[[Page 54922]]

only. The refuge would work with partners to facilitate the voluntary 
use of approved disposal sites for human waste. Guided motorized access 
to the North Fork Goodnews River would be limited from current maximum 
allowable levels but would be above current use levels.
    Alternative D: This alternative would provide additional 
opportunities for commercially guided recreation throughout the refuge. 
At Cape Peirce, opportunities for visiting the area would be doubled 
from current levels and would be commercially guided. Unguided 
recreation on the Kanektok and Goodnews rivers would remain 
unrestricted. Additional commercial sport fishing guide opportunities 
would be provided on the Goodnews, Togiak, Osviak, and Matogak rivers.
    Alternative E: This alternative would reduce the level of use on 
the Kanektok and Goodnews rivers and implement a human waste pack out 
program on the Kanektok River. It would also provide additional 
opportunities for public use at Cape Peirce. Commercial sport fishing 
guide opportunities would be continued at current levels.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should 
be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: September 21, 2007.
Thomas O. Melius,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
 [FR Doc. E7-19086 Filed 9-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P