[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4719-4720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1606]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-R-2011-N003; 70133-1265-0000-S3]


Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental 
Assessment, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, Kotzebue, AK

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice to reopen the public comment period for the Revised 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for 
Selawik National Wildlife Refuge.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published FR Doc. 2010-
26655 in the Federal Register on October 21, 2010, announcing 
availability of the draft revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) 
and Environmental Assessment (EA) for Selawik National Wildlife Refuge. 
The document identified a review period ending on January 15, 2011. Due 
to the holiday rush and delayed postal delivery of some materials for 
public involvement, we are concerned that many people will not be able 
to meet our deadline; therefore we are reopening the comment period 
until March 15, 2011.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
the new deadline of March 15, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies of the draft 
CCP and the EA or more information by any of the following methods. You 
may request hard copies or a CD-ROM of the document.
    Agency Web Site: Download a copy of the document at http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/plans.htm.
    E-mail: [email protected]; please include ``Selawik 
National

[[Page 4720]]

Wildlife Refuge draft CCP and EA'' in the subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Jeffrey Brooks, (907) 786-3965, or Lee Anne Ayres, (907) 
442-3124.
    U.S. Mail: Jeffrey Brooks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional 
Office, 1011 E. Tudor Road Mailstop 231, Anchorage, AK 99503.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call (907) 786-3357 to make an 
appointment during regular business hours at the above address; or call 
(907) 442-3799 to make an appointment during regular business hours at 
the Selawik Refuge Headquarters in Kotzebue, AK.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Brooks, Planning Team Leader, 
at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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, and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 
1980 (94 Stat. 2371; ANILCA) require us to develop a CCP for each 
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. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
published FR Doc. 2010-26655 in the Federal Register on October 21, 
2010, announcing availability of the draft revised Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for Selawik 
National Wildlife Refuge (75 FR 65026). The document identified a 
review period ending on January 15, 2011. Due to the holiday rush and 
delayed postal delivery of some materials for public involvement, we 
are concerned that many people will not be able to meet our original 
deadline; therefore we announce a reopening of the public comment 
period with a new deadline of March 15, 2011.

Public Events

    We will involve the public through open houses, meetings, written 
comments, and personal interviews with community members. We will mail 
documents to our national and local Refuge mailing lists. Public 
meetings will be held in communities in the Refuge area, including 
Kotzebue, Noorvik, and Selawik. Dates, times, and locations of each 
meeting or open house will be announced in advance in local media.

Submitting Comments/Issues for Comment

    We particularly seek comments on the following issues:
     Management of use by commercial guides and transporters to 
maintain big game hunting opportunities while reducing social conflict 
in the region;
     How to best conduct a traditional access study of use for 
subsistence purposes on Refuge lands;
     Proactively addressing climate change; and
     Providing more outreach and better communication for the 
public.
    We consider comments substantive if they:
     Question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of the 
information in the document;
     Question, with reasonable basis, the adequacy of the 
environmental assessment;
     Present reasonable alternatives other than those presented 
in the draft CCP and the EA; and/or
     Provide new or additional information relevant to the 
assessment.

Next Steps

    After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and 
address them in the form of a final CCP and decision document.

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: January 19, 2011.
Cynthia Jacobson,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, 
Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2011-1606 Filed 1-25-11; 8:45 am]
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