[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64376-64377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26916]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

FWS-R1-R-2011-N064; 10137-8555-11RG-8H]


Long Range Transportation Plan for Fish and Wildlife Service 
Lands in Hawai`i, Idaho, Northern Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and the 
Pacific Island Territories

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the final draft Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) 
for Fish and Wildlife Service Lands in Hawai`i, Idaho, Northern Nevada, 
Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Island Territories (the Service's 
Region 1) for public review and comment. The Draft LRTP outlines a 
strategy for improving and maintaining transportation assets that 
provide access to Service-managed lands in Region 1 over the next 20 
years.

DATES: Please provide your comments by November 17, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The Draft LRTP is available on our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/. We also have a limited number of printed 
and CD-ROM copies of the Draft LRTP. You may request a copy or submit 
comments by any of the following methods.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     U.S. mail: Jeff Holm, Regional Transportation Coordinator, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232.
     Fax: Attn: Jeff Holm, (503) 231-2364.
     In-Person Drop-off: During regular business hours to Jeff 
Holm, Regional Transportation Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Holm, (503) 231-2126.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) of August 10, 2005, (Pub. L. 109-
59) requires all Federal land management agencies to conduct long-range 
transportation planning in a manner that is consistent with 
metropolitan planning organizations and state departments of 
transportation planning. With this notice, we make the Draft

[[Page 64377]]

LRTP for Region 1 available for public review and comment. We developed 
the Draft LRTP to achieve the following:
     Establish a defensible structure for transportation 
planning and decision-making.
     Establish a vision, mission, goals, and objectives for 
transportation planning.
     Implement coordinated and cooperative transportation 
partnerships in an effort to improve the Service's transportation 
infrastructure.
     Comply with SAFETEA-LU.
     Integrate transportation planning and funding for refuges 
and fish hatcheries into our existing and future management plans and 
strategies (e.g., comprehensive conservation plans and comprehensive 
hatchery management plans).
     Increase awareness of alternative transportation systems 
and associated benefits.
     Develop best management practices for transportation 
improvements on Service lands.
     Serve as a pilot project for the implementation of a 
regional transportation planning process within the Service.

Draft LRTP Mission, Goals, and Objectives

    The Draft LRTP's mission, goals, and objectives are intended to 
provide a systematic approach to guide the process for evaluating and 
selecting transportation improvement projects for lands managed by 
Region 1. These guiding principles have shaped the development, 
conclusions, and recommendations of the Draft LRTP.
    The mission of the LRTP is to support the Service's mission, by 
connecting people to fish, wildlife, and their habitats, through 
strategic implementation of transportation programs. The LRTP has six 
overall goals: (1) Protecting natural resources; (2) ensuring 
reliability and safety; (3) welcoming and orienting visitors; (4) 
integrating with larger Service planning; (5) developing and enhancing 
partnerships; and (6) adopting and promoting sustainability. Each goal 
includes distinct objectives that identify how the Service will 
accomplish each goal. The objectives for each goal follow.

Goal 1: Ensure That the Transportation Program Helps Conserve and 
Enhance Fish, Wildlife, and Plant Resources and Their Habitats

     Objective 1: Identify, research, and adopt best management 
practices for planning, design, construction, and maintenance of 
transportation activities and facilities that mitigate or avoid 
negative impacts.
     Objective 2: Reduce transportation-related conflicts 
within fish and wildlife corridors and habitat on or adjacent to 
Service lands.

Goal 2: Provide a Safe and Reliable Transportation Network to and 
Within Service Lands

     Objective 1: Identify and reduce safety problems and modal 
conflicts (i.e., between pedestrians, automobiles, horseback riders, 
off-road vehicles, maintenance vehicles, etc.) to and within Service 
lands.
     Objective 2: Ensure that mission-critical transportation 
assets are maintained in good condition.

Goal 3: Develop and Maintain a Transportation Network That Welcomes and 
Orients Visitors

     Objective 1: Provide information that enables visitors to 
easily find and navigate refuge and hatchery sites.
     Objective 2: Engage visitors in wildlife conservation and 
enhance their enjoyment of natural resources by providing compelling 
information about the National Wildlife Refuge System and Fisheries 
Program.
     Objective 3: Create a consistent and recognizable identity 
throughout Service units by using standard materials for readily 
observed physical elements associated with the transportation system.

Goal 4: Integrate Transportation Planning Into Service Plans and 
Processes

     Objective 1: Ensure consistency and coordination between 
the project, unit, and regional and national levels of planning.
     Objective 2: Define need for transportation improvements 
and prioritize projects using a scientific and objective process.

Goal 5: Develop Partnerships To Leverage Resources and Develop 
Integrated Transportation Solutions

     Objective 1: To the extent authorized by law, pursue 
opportunities for transportation funding and resources.
     Objective 2: Cooperate with public and private sector 
partners to address shared transportation issues that impact Service 
goals.

Goal 6: Adopt and Promote Sustainable Transportation Practices

     Objective 1: Address climate change and other 
environmental factors at all levels of transportation planning, design, 
project delivery, operations, and maintenance.
     Objective 2: Reduce the Service's carbon footprint by 
improving access to and within Service lands by transit and 
nonmotorized transportation modes, and providing improved visitor 
information systems.
     Objective 3: Reduce fossil fuel energy consumption by 
staff and visiting public.

Next Steps

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

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email 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: September 19, 2011.
Richard R. Hannan,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-26916 Filed 10-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P