[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8394-8395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3588]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

FWS-R6-R-2009-N218; 60138-1265-6CCP-S3]


Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, Stafford, KS

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan 
and environmental assessment. 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) and environmental 
assessment (EA) for Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Stafford, 
Kansas. We provide this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to 
advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our 
intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of 
issues to consider in the planning process.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
March 26, 2010. We will hold public meetings to begin the CCP planning 
process; see Public Meetings under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, 
times, and locations.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any 
of the following methods.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Quivira CCP'' in the subject 
line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, 303/236-4792.
    U.S. Mail: Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, Division of Refuge 
Planning, 134 Union Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80225.
    In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular 
business hours at the above address, or at the Quivira National 
Wildlife Refuge office located at 1434 NE 80th Street, Stafford, KS 
67578.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, 303-236-4378 (phone); or 
David C. Lucas, Chief, Division of Planning, P.O. Box 25486, Denver 
Federal Center, Denver, CO 80228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for 
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Stafford, KS. This notice complies 
with our CCP policy to (1) advise other Federal and State agencies, 
Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on 
this refuge and (2) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of 
issues to consider in the environmental document and during development 
of the CCP.

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 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 and photography, and 
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update 
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration 
Act.
    Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System was established 
for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for 
developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for 
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System, and to 
determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a 
way for us and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives 
that will ensure the best possible approach to wildlife, plant, and 
habitat conservation, while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation 
opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's establishing 
purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
    Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal, 
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public. 
At this time we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, 
and suggestions for the future management of the Quivira National 
Wildlife Refuge.
    We will conduct the environmental review of this project and 
develop an EA in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
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.

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

    The Quivira NWR was established in 1955 to provide wintering and 
migration stopover habitat for migratory birds along the Central Flyway 
of North America. The refuge has two purposes:

[[Page 8395]]

    (1) ``For use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other 
management purpose, for migratory birds'' (Migratory Bird Conservation 
Act); and
    (2) ``For the development, advancement, management, conservation, 
and protection of fish and wildlife resources for the benefit of the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service'' (Fish and Wildlife Act of 
1956).
    The refuge is located in Stafford, Rice, and Reno Counties, Kansas. 
Wetlands, large and small, are present throughout the refuge; there are 
approximately 7,000 acres of wetlands with slightly to moderately 
saline water. Thousands of Canada geese, ducks, and other migratory 
birds, such as sandhill cranes and shorebirds, use these wetlands as 
they pass through the refuge on their annual migrations. The refuge 
provides numerous opportunities for the public including hunting, 
fishing, wildlife observation and photography, interpretation, and 
environmental education for students and visitors.

Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities

    We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities 
that we may address in the CCP. During public scoping, we may identify 
additional issues.
    We request input as to which issues affecting management or public 
use should be addressed during the planning process. We are especially 
interested in receiving public input in the following areas:
    (a) What do you value most about this refuge?
    (b) What problems or issues do you see affecting management of this 
refuge?
    (c) What changes, if any, would you like to see in the management 
of this refuge?
    We provide the above questions for your optional use. We have no 
requirement that you provide information; however, any comments the 
planning team receives will be used as part of the planning process.

Public Meetings

    We will hold the following public meetings. For more, contact the 
person under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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             Date                      Time               Location
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March 8, 2010.................  4-7 p.m..........  Stafford Senior
                                                    Center, 103 South
                                                    Main, Stafford, KS
                                                    67578.
March 9, 2010.................  4-7 p.m..........  Front Door Community
                                                    Center, 1615 Tenth
                                                    Street, Great Bend,
                                                    KS 67530.
March 10, 2010................  4-7 p.m..........  Great Plains Nature
                                                    Center, 6232 East
                                                    29th Street North,
                                                    Wichita, KS 67220-
                                                    2200.
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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: December 14, 2009.
Hugh Morrison,
Acting Regional Director, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2010-3588 Filed 2-23-10; 8:45 am]
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