[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 74747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29071]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0249; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge, Currituck County, NC

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: final comprehensive conservation plan 
and finding of no significant impact.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for Mackay Island National 
Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP may be obtained by writing to: Mike Hoff, 
Refuge Manager, Mackay Island NWR, P.O. Box 39, Knotts Island, NC 
27950. The CCP may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service's 
Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Hoff; Telephone: 252/429-3100; 
Fax: 252/429-3185.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Mackay Island 
NWR. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register 
on November 3, 2000 (65 FR 66256). Mackay Island NWR, in northeastern 
North Carolina, consists of 8,219 acres, of which 4,251 acres are 
brackish marsh, 1,515 acres are coastal fringe evergreen forest, 995 
acres are managed wetlands (impoundments), and 298 acres are cropland. 
These habitats support a variety of wildlife species, including 
waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, marsh birds, neotropical migratory 
songbirds, and deer.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and 
FONSI for Mackay Island NWR in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [40 CFR 1506.6(b)] requirements. We 
completed a thorough analysis of impacts on the human environment, 
which we included in the Draft CCP/EA. The CCP will guide us in 
managing and administering Mackay Island NWR for the next 15 years. 
Alternative 2 is the foundation for the CCP.
    The compatibility determinations for recreational hunting, fishing, 
wildlife observation, wildlife photography, environmental education and 
interpretation, trapping of selected furbearers for nuisance animal 
management, forest management, and refuge resource research studies are 
also available in the CCP.

Background

    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. In addition to outlining broad management direction on 
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including 
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will 
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with 
the Improvement Act.

Comments

    Approximately 100 copies of the Draft CCP/EA were made available 
for a 30-day review period as announced in the Federal Register on 
January 17, 2006 (71 FR 2560). Twenty-one comments on the Draft CCP/EA 
were received. The Draft CCP/EA identified and evaluated three 
alternatives for managing the refuge over a 15-year period.

Selected Alternative

    After considering the comments we received and based on the 
professional judgment of the planning team, we selected Alternative 2 
for implementation. The refuge will develop a habitat management plan 
and manage all habitats on the refuge. It will survey a wide range of 
wildlife. The refuge will continue to allow the priority public uses 
(e.g., hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, 
and environmental education and interpretation) and will have the 
capacity to increase the number of opportunities for public use.

    Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 
105-57.

    Dated: September 29, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
 [FR Doc. E8-29071 Filed 12-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P