[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 68377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27979]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-R-2010-N171; 30136-1265-0000-S3]


Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, Becker County, and Tamarac 
Wetland Management District, Minnesota

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the FinalComprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Tamarac 
Wetland Management District (WMD). Goals and objectives in the CCP 
describe how the agency intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 
years.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final CCP and FONSI/EA may be viewed at the 
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge Officeor at public libraries near the 
refuge. You may also request a copy by any of the following methods.
    1. Agency Web site: View or download a copy of the document at 
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/Tamarac/.
    2. E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``TamaracFinal CCP/EA'' in 
the subject line of the message.
    3. Mail: Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, 35704 County Road 26, 
Rochert, Minnesota 56578.
    A limited number of hardcopies will be available for distribution 
at the Refuge Headquarters.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Boyle, 218-847-2641.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we complete the CCP process for Tamarac NWR and 
WMD, which we began by publishing a notice of intent on (72 FR 27587, 
May 16, 2007). For more information about the initial process, see that 
notice. We released the draft CCP and EA to the public, announcing and 
requesting comments in a notice of availability on (75 FR 39038, July 
7, 2010).
    The 42,738-acre Tamarac NWR was established in 1938. The Refuge 
includes 2,180 Federally-designated wilderness acres. The Tamarac WMD 
consists of 8,577 acres of wetland easements distributed throughout 
five counties.
    The Draft CCP and EA were officially released for public review on 
July 7, 2010; the 31-day comment period ended on August 6, 2010. 
Planning information was sent to approximately 220 individuals and 
organizations for review and announced through local media outlets, 
resulting in six comment submissions. During the comment period the 
Refuge also hosted an open house to receive public comments and 
feedback on the CCP and EA documents. Thirteen individuals attended 
this event. Because few changes to the preferred alternative were 
recommended by Refuge audiences during the public review period, only 
minor changes were made to the drafts in preparing the final CCP/EA 
documents.

Selected Alternative

    Based on input and feedback during the planning process, 
Alternative A was selected as the preferred alternative.The preferred 
alternative for Tamarac NWR over the next 15 years directs management 
of habitats to focus on maintaining and using ecological processes that 
shaped these communities prior to European settlement and will allow 
for some emphasis of priority bird habitat. Wildlife-dependant 
recreation opportunities, biological surveys and monitoring activities, 
and native habitats would all increase under the preferred alternative.

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as 
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 
(16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee et seq.), requires the Service to develop a CCP 
for each National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District. The 
purpose in developing a CCP is to provide managers with a 15-year 
strategy 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 Service policies. In addition to outlining broad 
management direction for conserving wildlife and their habitats, the 
CCP identifies 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 National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act 
of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement 
Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321-4370d).

    Dated: August 23, 2010.
Charles M. Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 2010-27979 Filed 11-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P