[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 28763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11483]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-R-2013-N290; FXRS12610600000-145-FF06R06000]


Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, Stafford, Kansas; Final 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact 
for Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental 
assessment (EA) we prepared on the CCP for Quivira National Wildlife 
Refuge. The final CCP describes how we intend to manage the refuge for 
the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You will find the final CCP, the EA, and the FONSI on our 
planning Web site at http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairielplanning/ccp/ks/qvrlqvr.html. A limited number of hard copies are available. You may 
request one by any of the following methods:
    Email: [email protected]. Include ``Quivira NWR'' in the 
subject line of the message.
    U.S. Mail: Toni Griffin, Planning Team Leader, Suite 300, 134 Union 
Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, (303) 236-4378 (phone); 
(303) 236-4792 (fax); or [email protected] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we continue 
the CCP process for Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, which we began by 
publishing a notice of intent in the Federal Register (75 FR 8394) on 
February 24, 2010. For more about the initial process and the history 
of this refuge, see that notice. We released the draft CCP and EA to 
the public, announcing and requesting comments in a notice of 
availability (78 FR 23778) on April 22, 2013.. The 40-day comment 
period ended on May 31, 2013. A summary of public comments and the 
agency responses is included in the final CCP.

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) (Administration Act), requires us to develop a 
CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a CCP 
is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving 
refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), consistent with sound principles of fish 
and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service 
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 NWRS 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 NWRS 
mission, 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 NWRS.

Additional Information About the CCP,[middot]EA, and FONSI

    The final CCP includes detailed information about the planning 
process, refuge; management issues, and management alternative 
selected. The EA includes discussion of alternative refuge management 
options. The Service's selected alternative is reflected in the final 
CCP, and also in the FONSI.
    The selected alternative for the refuge focuses on restoring native 
communities and promoting the potential natural range of conditions on 
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge that help focal resources or focal 
species and their respective habitats, and on increasing public use 
opportunities for hunting. We will increase our attention and 
understanding of the connectedness of habitats and the effectiveness of 
our management. To achieve this alternative, relatively minor changes 
will likely be required in our operations; inventory, monitoring 
programs, and research; staff; and infrastructure. A detailed 
description of objectives and actions included in this selected 
alternative is found in chapter 4 of the final CCP.

    Dated: March 20, 2014.
 Matt Hogan,
Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie region, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11483 Filed 5-16-14; 8:45 am]
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