[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8107-8108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3482]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2009-N240; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Bibb and Twiggs Counties, GA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. 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 Bond Swamp 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: Ms. Carolyn 
Johnson, Assistant Refuge Manager, Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, 
718 Round Oak-Juliette Road, Round Oak, GA 31038. You may also access 
and download the document from the Service's Internet Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carolyn Johnson; telephone: 478/
986-5441; fax: 478/986-9646; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Bond Swamp NWR. 
We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register on May 
16, 2007 (72 FR 27586). For more about the process, see that notice.

[[Page 8108]]

    Bond Swamp NWR is in Bibb and Twiggs Counties, Georgia, about 6 
miles south of the city of Macon, Georgia. The refuge covers a total of 
7,348 acres within the 18,000-acre acquisition boundary and is situated 
along the Ocmulgee River. The refuge has a diversity of vegetation 
communities, including upland mixed pine/hardwood, bottomland hardwood, 
and tupelo gum swamp forests. Creeks, beaver swamps, and oxbow lakes 
traverse the forested wetlands. Annually, 8,000 to 10,000 visitors 
participate in refuge activities.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and 
FONSI for Bond Swamp 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 comprehensive conservation plan and environmental 
assessment (Draft CCP/EA). The CCP will guide us in managing and 
administering Bond Swamp NWR for the next 15 years.
    The compatibility determinations for hunting, fishing, wildlife 
observation/photography, environmental education/interpretation, 
boating, firewood cutting, forest management, off-road vehicle use 
(disabled persons only), resource research studies, and walking/
jogging/bicycling are also 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 every 15 years in accordance with the Administration 
Act.

Comments

    Approximately 60 copies of the Draft CCP/EA were made available for 
a 30-day public review period as announced in the Federal Register on 
June 22, 2009 (74 FR 29511). A total of 61 comments were received from 
state and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations, 
and local citizens.

Selected Alternative

    After considering the comments we received, and based on the sound 
professional judgment of the planning team, we selected Alternative C 
to implement the CCP. This alternative will emphasize biological and 
visitor services programs on the refuge, which will be protected, 
maintained, and enhanced by adding more staff, equipment, and 
facilities. This management alternative will restore and manage the 
forested wetlands and associated uplands in support of wildlife, 
especially waterfowl, neotropical migratory birds, and other native 
wildlife. We considered this alternative to be the most effective for 
meeting the purposes of the refuge. Alternative C best achieves 
national, ecosystem, and refuge-specific goals and objectives and 
positively addresses significant issues and concerns expressed by the 
public.

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

    Dated: November 24, 2009.
Jeffrey M. Fleming,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-3482 Filed 2-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P