[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 155 (Thursday, August 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40837-40838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19444]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-R-2009-N0105; 70133-1265-0000-S3]


Koyukuk/Nowitna National Wildlife Refuges, Galena, AK

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the revised comprehensive 
conservation plan and finding of no significant impact for 
environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, USFWS), announce 
the availability of our revised comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) 
and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the Koyukuk, Northern 
Unit Innoko, and Nowitna National Wildlife Refuges (Refuges). In this 
revised CCP, we describe how we will manage the Refuges for the next 15 
years.

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the revised CCP and FONSI 
by any of the following methods. You may request a paper copy, a 
summary, or a CD-ROM containing both.
    Agency Web Site: Download a copy of the documents at http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/plans.htm.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Please include 
``Revised CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
    Mail: Mikel R. Haase, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1011 E. Tudor Road, MS-231, Anchorage, AK 99503-6199, 
or Refuge Manager, Koyukuk/Nowitna NWRs, P.O. Box 287, Galena, AK 
99741.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call (907) 786-3357 to make an 
appointment during regular business hours at the USFWS Regional Office, 
1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage AK 99053, or call (907) 656-1231 to make 
an appointment during business hours at the Koyukuk/Nowitna Refuges' 
office in Galena, AK.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mikel Haase, (907) 786-3402 (phone); 
(907) 786-3965 (fax); or [email protected] (e-
mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    With this notice, we finalize the revised CCP for Koyukuk, Northern 
Unit Innoko, and Nowitna National Wildlife Refuges. We started this 
process through a notice of intent in the Federal Register (72 FR 
57343; October 9, 2007). We made available our draft CCP and 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and requested comments in a notice of 
availability in the Federal Register (73 FR 58259; October 6, 2008). 
The draft CCP and EA evaluated two alternatives for managing the 
Refuges for the next 15 years.
    Established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act (ANILCA: 16 U.S.C. 410hh et seq., 43 U.S.C. 1602 et 
seq.), Koyukuk, Northern Unit Innoko, and Nowitna Refuges encompass 
approximately 6 million acres under Service jurisdiction. The purposes 
for which the Refuges were established include: (i) To conserve fish 
and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity; (ii) 
to fulfill international treaty obligations of the United States with 
respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats; (iii) to provide the 
opportunity for continued subsistence use by local residents; and (iv) 
to ensure water quality and necessary water quantity within the Refuge. 
The Draft CCP and EA for the Refuges 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.).
    CCPs were originally prepared for the Refuges in 1987. The revised 
plan includes management direction updated by changes to policy since 
completion of the 1987 plans. It also includes a vision statement, 
goals, and objectives for management of the Refuge. Management of the 
Refuges would generally continue to follow management direction 
described in the 1987 CCPs and records of decisions as modified by 
subsequent program-specific plans (e.g., fisheries, cultural resources, 
and fire management plans). As required by ANILCA, areas of the Refuges 
were designated in the 1987 CCPs according to their respective 
resources. Under the original CCPs and the revised CCP, 91 percent of 
the Refuge is Minimal management, 7

[[Page 40838]]

percent is designated Wilderness, and 2 percent is Wild River 
management. The revised plan would continue to protect and maintain 
existing wildlife values, natural diversity, and ecological diversity 
of the Refuge. Human disturbances to fish and wildlife habitats and 
populations would be minimal. Private and commercial uses of the 
Refuges would not change, and public uses employing existing access 
methods would continue to be allowed. Opportunities to pursue 
traditional subsistence activities, and recreational hunting, fishing, 
and other wildlife-dependent activities, would be maintained. 
Opportunities to pursue research would be maintained.
    We selected Alternative B, the preferred alternative, because it 
provides a realistic balance between public use of the Refuges and the 
conservation needs of the Refuges. Alternative B best accomplishes the 
Refuges' purposes, best helps achieve the missions of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System and the Service, and best meets the vision and 
goals identified in the plan. It provides long-term protection of fish 
and wildlife populations and their habitats while allowing for 
appropriate levels of fish and wildlife-dependent recreation, 
interpretation and environmental education, subsistence, and other 
public uses. Objectives identified in the plan address the effects of 
climate change on the Refuges now and in the future.
    We are furnishing this notice to advise other agencies and the 
public of the availability of the final CCP and FONSI. Based on the 
review and evaluation of the information contained in the draft CCP and 
EA, we have determined that implementation of the final CCP does not 
constitute a major Federal action that would significantly affect the 
quality of the human environment within the meaning of Section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Therefore, 
an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared. Future site-
specific proposals discussed in the final CCP requiring additional NEPA 
compliance will be addressed in separate planning efforts with full 
public involvement.

    Dated: August 7, 2009.
Gary Edwards,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, 
Alaska.
[FR Doc. E9-19444 Filed 8-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P