[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 239 (Thursday, December 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75466-75467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29320]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0261; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Delta and Breton National Wildlife Refuges, Louisiana

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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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 Delta and Breton National 
Wildlife Refuges. In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage 
these refuges for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP may be obtained by writing to: Mr. Jack 
Bohannan, 61389 Highway 434, Lacombe, LA 70445. The CCP may also be 
accessed and downloaded from the Service's Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Bohannan; Telephone: 985/882-
2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Delta and Breton 
National Wildlife Refuges. We started this process through a notice in 
the Federal Register on May 30, 2006 (71 FR 30688). For more about the 
process, see that notice.
    Delta National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of 48,799 acres of 
wetlands at the mouth of the Mississippi River, was established on 
November 19, 1935, by Executive Order 7229.

[[Page 75467]]

    Breton National Wildlife Refuge, the second oldest national 
wildlife refuge in the United States, is a barrier island chain in 
Breton and Chandeleur Sounds in the Gulf of Mexico. It was established 
on October 4, 1903, by Executive Order 7938, signed by President 
Theodore Roosevelt.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and 
FONSI for Delta and Breton National Wildlife Refuges in accordance with 
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 Comprehensive Conservation 
Plan and Environmental Assessment (Draft CCP/EA).
    The CCP will guide us in managing these refuges for the next 15 
years.

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 this 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 July 
11, 2008 (73 FR 39978). Twenty-five public comments were received.

Selected Alternative

    Three management alternatives were considered for Delta Refuge. 
Alternative A would have continued current management with no new 
actions to improve existing programs. Alternative B would have focused 
on expanding public use opportunities to the fullest extent possible. 
Alternative C, the preferred alternative and foundation of the CCP, 
will emphasize managing natural resources based on maintaining and 
improving wetland habitats with improved techniques; providing quality 
public use programs and wildlife-dependent recreational activities; and 
expanding the outreach program.
    Three management alternatives were also considered for Breton 
Refuge. Alternative A would have continued current management 
practices. Alternative B would have focused on leaving the islands to 
the natural processes and weather events. Alternative C, the preferred 
alternative and also the foundation of the CCP, will emphasize working 
with partners to restore island habitat with large-scale projects, if 
considered feasible; improving outreach; and providing environmental 
education relating to the barrier islands to local schools.

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

    Dated: October 6, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-29320 Filed 12-10-08; 8:45 am]
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