[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 92 (Monday, May 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27003-27005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10480]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2008-N0101; 1265000010137-S3]
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Lakeview, OR
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental impact statement; announcement of four public open
house meetings; and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for the Sheldon
National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). An environmental impact statement
(EIS) evaluating effects of various CCP
[[Page 27004]]
alternatives, will also be prepared. The Refuge is located in Washoe
and Humboldt County, Nevada, and Lake County, Oregon. We provide this
notice in compliance with our CCP policy to: advise other Federal and
State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and obtain
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the
planning process. We are also announcing public open house meetings and
requesting public comments.
DATES: Please provide your written comments by June 30th, 2008. We will
hold four open house public meetings to begin the CCP planning process;
see Public Meetings under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times,
and locations.
ADDRESSES: Additional information concerning CCP development is
available on the following Internet site: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the addresses of the four
public open house meeting locations. Send your comments or requests for
more information by any of the following methods.
E-mail: [email protected].
U.S. Mail: Paul Steblein, Project Leader, Sheldon-Hart Mountain
National Wildlife Refuge Complex, P.O. Box 111, Lakeview, OR 97630.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Steblein, Project Leader, via E-
mail: [email protected] or at phone number: (541) 947-3315.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Washoe and Humboldt Counties,
Nevada, and Lake County, Oregon. This notice complies with our CCP
policy and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended
(NEPA) to (1) Advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the
public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on this refuge,
and (2) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to
consider in the environmental document and during development of the
CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for
achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of
fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our
policies. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in
accordance with the Improvement Act.
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System was established
for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for
developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to
determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a
way for us and the public to identify and evaluate management goals and
objectives for wildlife habitat conservation and wildlife-dependent
recreation opportunities compatible with each refuge's establishing
purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal,
state, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
At this time we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas,
and suggestions for the future management of Sheldon National Wildlife
Refuge.
We will conduct the environmental review of the Sheldon CCP/EIS in
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, NEPA regulations (40 CFR
parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws and regulations; and
our policies and procedures for compliance with those laws and
regulations.
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge
The Refuge's approved boundary encompasses approximately 572,876
acres of high desert sagebrush-steppe ecosystem in Washoe and Humboldt
Counties, Nevada and Lake County, Oregon. The Refuge was originally
established in 1931, and the Refuge purposes are:
``* * * as a refuge and breeding ground for wild animals
and birds * * *'' (Executive Order 5540 dated January 26, 1931 signed
by Herbert Hoover);
``* * * set apart for the conservation and development of
natural wildlife resources and for the protection and improvement of
public grazing lands and natural forage resources * * * '' and ``* * *
the natural resources therein shall be first utilized for the purpose
of sustaining in a healthy condition a maximum of three thousand five
hundred (3,500) antelope, the primary species, and such non-predatory
secondary species in such numbers as may be necessary to maintain a
balanced wildlife population * * *.'' (Executive Order 7522 dated
December 21, 1936);
``* * * to conserve (1) fish or wildlife which are listed
as endangered species or threatened species * * * or (B) plants * * *''
16 U.S.C. 1534 (Endangered Species Act of 1973); and
``* * * for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any
other management purpose, for migratory birds.'' 16 U.S.C. 715d
(Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929).
The high desert is characterized by wide-open spaces and a variety
of landforms. The two most common landforms include narrow canyons that
empty into rolling valleys with no drainage outlets to the ocean, and
broad flat tables that end abruptly in vertical cliffs. The elevations
of these landforms range from a high of 7,294 feet on Catnip Mountain,
to a low of approximately 4,200 feet on the northeastern boundary. The
area generally decreases in altitude from west to east.
The extent of the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem has substantially
declined across the landscape primarily as a result of habitat
conversion, catastrophic wildfire, and introduced exotic species. The
Refuge currently represents one of the last reasonably intact examples
of a sagebrush-steppe ecosystem in the Great Basin. It provides a
variety of critical habitats for a host of species endemic to
sagebrush-steppe, including pronghorn antelope, mule deer, greater
sage-grouse, pygmy rabbit, migratory birds, desert fishes, and a range
of rare plants and invertebrates.
Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities
that we may address in the CCP. Additional issues may be identified
during public scoping.
Habitat Management and Restoration: What actions shall the Service
take to sustain and restore priority species and habitats over the next
15 years?
Public Use and Access: What type and level of recreational
opportunities should be provided? How will public use and associated
facilities be managed, taking into consideration wildlife disturbance,
restrictions, liability, compatibility, and future needs?
Cultural Resources: How will the Refuge protect and manage its
significant archaeological and historic
[[Page 27005]]
sites? What level and type of cultural resources education should be
provided to the public?
Feral Horses and Burros: How can feral horses and burros best be
managed for the long term consistent with refuge purposes? Should
interim management guidelines adopted under the recent Feral Horse and
Burro Management EA continue in the future?
Public Open House Meetings
Four public open house meetings will be held to provide
opportunities for the public to learn more about the Refuge and its
programs from the CCP planning team and to obtain public comments.
Meeting details follow.
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Date Time Location
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May 14, 2008.................. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Daly Middle School
Gym, 220 South H
Street, Lakeview,
Oregon.
May 22, 2008.................. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. West Hall, Convention
and Visitors
Authority, 50 W.
Winnemucca Blvd.,
Winnemucca, NV.
June 4, 2008.................. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Christian Life
Assembly, 225 West B
Street, Alturas, CA.
June 11, 2008................. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Pantera/Tartuca
Rooms, Siena Hotel
and Casino, One
South Lake Street,
Reno, NV.
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Public Availability of Comments
Before including your 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 to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Dated: April 14, 2008.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. E8-10480 Filed 5-9-08; 8:45 am]
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