[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34151-34152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14439]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2009-N264; 80230-1265-0000-S3]


Availability: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding 
of No Significant Impact; Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, Modoc County, 
CA

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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Modoc National Wildlife 
Refuge (NWR). The CCP describes how we will manage the Refuge for the 
next 15 years.

DATES: The CCP and FONSI are available now. The FONSI was signed On 
December 15, 2009. Implementation of the CCP may begin immediately.

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI/EA 
by any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD-ROM.
    Agency Web site: Download a copy of the document(s) at http://www.fws.gov/modoc.
    E-mail: [email protected].
    Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Jackie Ferrier, 
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 752 County Road 99W, 
Willows, CA 95988.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 530-934-2801 to make an 
appointment during regular business hours at Modoc National Wildlife 
Refuge, 5364 County Road 115, Alturas, CA 96101.
    Local Library or Libraries: The documents are also available for 
review at the libraries listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Clay, Project Leader at Modoc NWR, 
(530) 233-3572 (telephone) or Jackie Ferrier, Refuge Planner at 
Sacramento NWR Complex, 752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988, or at 
(530) 934-2801 (telephone), or [email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The 7,021-acre Modoc National Wildlife Refuge is located southeast 
of Alturas, California. The Refuge was established in 1960 under the 
Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715d) and the Refuge 
Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 460k-460 K.4). Lands within the Refuge have 
been set aside for use as an inviolate sanctuary, and other management 
purposes, for migratory birds, for incidental fish and wildlife-
oriented recreational development, for the protection of natural 
resources, and for the conservation of endangered species or threatened 
species.
    Located near the confluence of the north and south forks of the Pit 
River, the Refuge conserves, protects, and manages a mosaic of 
freshwater lakes and ponds, seasonal wetlands, irrigated meadows, 
grasslands, and sagebrush/juniper upland habitats. These habitats 
provide important resting, feeding, and nesting areas for ducks, geese, 
and other migratory birds, including the greater sandhill crane.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the 
final CCP in accordance with 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 EA that 
accompanied the draft CCP.
    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

[[Page 34152]]

interpretation. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 
years in accordance with the Administration Act.
    Our Draft CCP and Environmental Assessment (EA) were available for 
a 45-day public review and comment period, which we announced via 
several methods, including press releases, updates to constituents, and 
a Federal Register notice (74 FR 28271, June 15, 2009). The Draft CCP/
EA identified and evaluated four alternatives for managing the Refuge 
for the next 15 years. Alternative A was the no-action alternative, 
which described current Refuge management activities. Alternative B 
placed greater emphasis on biological resources than on visitor 
services. Alternative C (the selected alternative) provided an optimal 
balance of improved biological resource objectives and expanded visitor 
services opportunities. Alternative D placed greater emphasis on 
visitor services than on biological resources.
    We received 82 comment letters on the Draft CCP and EA during the 
review period. We incorporated these received comments into the CCP 
when possible, and we responded to the comments in an appendix to the 
CCP. In the FONSI, we selected Alternative C, the basis for the CCP, 
for implementation. The FONSI documents our decision and is based on 
the information and analysis contained in the EA.
    Under the selected alternative, the Refuges will achieve an optimal 
balance of biological resource objectives and visitor services 
opportunities. Habitat management and associated biological resource 
monitoring will be improved. Visitor service opportunities will focus 
on quality wildlife-dependent recreation distributed throughout the 
Refuge. Waterskiing on the Refuge-owned portion of Dorris Reservoir 
will be prohibited. In addition, environmental education, 
interpretation, wildlife observation, photography, fishing, and hunting 
programs will be improved and/or expanded.
    The selected alternative best meets the Refuge's purposes, vision, 
and goals; contributes to the Refuge System mission; addresses the 
significant issues and relevant mandates; and is consistent with 
principles of sound fish and wildlife management.

Public Availability of Documents

    In addition to the methods in ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain 
documents at the following locations:
     Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/modoc.
     Public Libraries: during regular library hours, at the 
following libraries:

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                Library                              Address
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Modoc County Library...................  212 West Third Street, Alturas,
                                          CA 96101.
Cedarville Branch Library..............  460 Main Street, Cedarville, CA
                                          96104.
USFWS-NCTC Library.....................  698 Conservation Way,
                                          Shepherdstown, WV 25443.
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    Dated: June 8, 2010.
Ren Lohoefener,
Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2010-14439 Filed 6-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P