[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 186 (Monday, September 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49399-49400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23169]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-2009-N146; 1265-0000-10137-S3]


Kaua`i National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Kaua`i County, HI

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan 
and environmental assessment and announcement of public open house 
meetings; 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 K[imacr]lauea 
Point, Hanalei, and Hul[emacr]`ia National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). We 
will also prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the 
potential effects of various CCP alternatives. We provide this notice 
in compliance with our CCP policy to advise the public, other Federal 
and State agencies, and Native Hawaiian organizations of our intentions 
and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be 
considered in the planning process. We are also announcing public open 
house meetings and requesting public comments; see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for details.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
November 27, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any 
of the following methods:
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Kaua`i NWR Complex 
CCP Scoping Comments'' in the subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Shannon Smith, (808) 828-1413.
    U.S. Mail: Kaua`i National Wildlife Refuge Complex, P.O Box 1128, 
Kilauea, HI 96754.
    Additional information concerning the NWRs is available on the 
Internet at http://www.fws.gov/hanalei/; http://www.fws.gov/huleia/; 
and http://www.fws.gov/kilaueapoint/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Smith, (808) 828-1413, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to develop 
a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose of developing a 
CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year direction for 
achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), consistent with sound 
principles of fish and wildlife conservation, legal mandates, and 
Service 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.
    The Service will prepare a CCP/EA in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et

[[Page 49400]]

seq.); 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.
    Each unit of the NWRS was established for specific purposes. We use 
these purposes to develop and prioritize management goals and 
objectives within the NWRS mission and to guide which public uses occur 
on a refuge. The planning process is a way for us and the public to 
evaluate management goals and objectives for the best possible approach 
to wildlife, plant, and habitat conservation, while providing for 
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities that are compatible with 
a refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of the NWRS.
    We will conduct a planning process that provides opportunities for 
the public, Federal and local government agencies, Native Hawaiian 
organizations, and others to participate in issue scoping and public 
comment. We request input for issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions 
for the future management of the Hanalei, Hul[emacr]`ia and 
K[imacr]lauea Point NWRs.
    We will also give the public an opportunity to provide input at 
open houses to identify issues and concerns. All information provided 
voluntarily by mail, phone, or at public meetings becomes part of our 
official public record. We will handle requests for comments received 
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and other 
applicable statutory authorities.

The Refuges

    Hanalei, Hul[emacr]`ia, and K[imacr]lauea Point National Wildlife 
Refuges (NWRs) are part of the Kaua`i National Wildlife Refuge Complex 
(NWRC or Complex). Hanalei NWR, located along the lower reach and 
floodplain of the Hanalei River along the northern shore of Kaua`i, was 
established in 1972 for the purpose of providing habitat for Hawai`i's 
endangered water birds and the Hawaiian goose. Hul[emacr]`ia NWR, 
located along the Hul[emacr]`ia River on Kaua`i's eastern shore, was 
established in 1973 for the purpose of providing habitat for Hawai`i's 
endangered water birds. K[imacr]lauea Point NWR, located at the 
northern most point of Kaua`i, was established in 1985 for the purpose 
of providing habitat for seabirds, n[emacr]n[emacr], and native plants, 
to preserve the historic light station, and provide environmental 
education to the public. K[imacr]lauea Point NWR's purpose was expanded 
in 2004 to include conserving and managing the biological diversity of 
native coastal strand, riparian, and aquatic habitats, and continue the 
protection and recovery of endangered Hawaiian water birds and other 
endangered birds, including the Hawaiian goose.

Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities

    We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities 
to be addressed in the CCP; additional issues may be identified through 
public scoping.
    During the CCP planning process, the Service will analyze methods 
for protecting the resources of the Hanalei, Hul[emacr]`ia, and 
K[imacr]lauea Point NWRs while providing quality opportunities for 
wildlife-dependent recreation. The Service will evaluate public use 
programs and facilities, cultural and historic resources, cooperative 
farming, alternative transportation opportunities, wetland management, 
land acquisition, and endangered species interactions with humans.

Public Meetings

``Talk Story'' Sessions

    To begin the public scoping phase of the planning process, we will 
hold a number of facilitated ``Talk Story'' Sessions for the public, 
Refuge neighbors, and others. These facilitated sessions are designed 
to gather information about local knowledge and cultural ties for each 
of the refuges, including stories passed down through generations of 
living on, working on, and enjoying the Refuges' lands, waters, and 
natural and cultural resources. These sessions will be open to the 
public and held in communities near the Refuges to encourage local 
participation.

Public Open House Meetings

    We will also hold Public Open House Meetings as part of public 
scoping to answer questions, obtain comments on Refuge management 
issues, and learn about natural resource issues important to the 
public, the State, and other agencies and organizations. In order to 
incorporate the information we gain from the Talk Story Sessions into 
the Public Open House Meetings, the meetings will be held several weeks 
after the Talk Story Sessions. We will provide additional opportunities 
for public involvement throughout our CCP planning process. Public 
involvement opportunities will be announced in local news media, on our 
websites, and through our mailing list.

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 in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: August 13, 2009.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. E9-23169 Filed 9-25-09; 8:45 am]
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