[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66673-66674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29866]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2009-N172; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, Terrebonne Parish, LA

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 the environmental 
assessment for Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the final 
CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the CCP by writing to: Mr. Paul 
Yakupzack, Refuge Manager, Mandalay NWR, 3599 Bayou Black Drive, Houma, 
LA 70360. You may also access and download the document from the 
Service's Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Yakupzack; telephone: 985/
853-1078; fax: 985/853-1079; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Mandalay NWR. We 
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on March 
19, 2007 (72 FR 12811). For more about the process, see that notice. .
    Mandalay NWR, approximately 5 miles west of Houma, Louisiana, was 
established on May 2, 1996, with the purchase of 4,416 acres under the 
authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 and the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973. The refuge, predominately freshwater 
marsh and cypress-tupelo swamp, provides excellent habitat for 
waterfowl, wading birds, and neotropical migratory songbirds.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and 
FONSI for Mandalay NWR in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act

[[Page 66674]]

(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 and administering 
Mandalay NWR for the next 15 years.
    The compatibility determinations for boating, recreational fishing, 
recreational hunting, wildlife observation/photography, control of 
mammals (nutria) and alligators, and environmental education/
interpretation are available in the CCP.

Background

    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 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 every15 years in accordance with the Administration 
Act.

Comments

    Approximately 100 copies of the Draft CCP/EA were made available 
for a 30-day public review period as announced in the Federal Register 
on May 28, 2009 (74 FR 25577). We received 11 comments from local 
citizens, the Safari Club, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and 
Fisheries, and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

Selected Alternative

    After considering the comments we received, and based on the 
professional judgment of the planning team, we selected Alternative B 
to implement the CCP. The primary focus of the CCP is to optimize 
migratory bird and resident wildlife habitats. We consider Alternative 
B to be the most effective for meeting the purposes of the refuge by 
maintaining and enhancing a diversity of habitats for a variety of fish 
and wildlife species, enhancing resident wildlife populations, 
restoring wetlands, and providing opportunities for a variety of 
compatible wildlife-dependent recreation, education, and interpretive 
activities.

Authority

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

    Dated: August 24, 2009.
Patrick Leonard,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E9-29866 Filed 12-15-09; 8:45 am]
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