[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 947-948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00176]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R5-R-2015-N216; BAC-4333-99]


Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Wallops Island National 
Wildlife Refuge, Accomack County, VA; Record of Decision for Final 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; final comprehensive conservation plan 
and record of decision.

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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 
record of decision (ROD) for Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge 
(NWR) and Wallops Island NWR. We prepared this ROD pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and its implementing 
regulations. The Service is furnishing this notice to advise the public 
and other agencies of our decision and of the availability of the ROD.

DATES: The ROD was signed on November 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and ROD by 
any of the following methods.
    Agency Web site: Download a copy of the document at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Chincoteague/what_we_do/conservation.html.
    Email: Send requests to [email protected]. Include 
``Chincoteague NWR'' in the subject line of your email.
    U.S. Mail: Thomas Bonetti, Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Visit during regular business hours at 
refuge headquarters, 8231 Beach Road, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Bonetti, Natural Resource 
Planner, 413-253-8307 (phone); [email protected] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Chincoteague NWR 
and Wallops Island NWR. We began this process through a notice of 
intent in the Federal Register (75 FR 57056) on September 17, 2010. For 
more about the initial process and the history of the refuges, see that 
notice. On May 15, 2014, we announced the release of the draft CCP/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the public and requested 
comments in a notice of availability in the Federal Register (79 FR 
27906). We subsequently extended the public comment period in another 
notice in the Federal Register (79 FR 41300) on July 15, 2014. We 
released the final CCP/EIS for public review on September 11, 2015 (80 
FR 54799).
    In the draft and final CCP/EIS, we evaluated three alternatives for 
managing the refuge and completed a thorough analysis of the 
environmental, social, and economic considerations of each alternative. 
Based on comments received on the draft CCP/EIS, we made minor 
modifications to alternative B, the Service's preferred alternative in 
the final CCP/EIS. During the public review period for the final CCP/
EIS, we did not receive any comments that raised significant new 
issues, resulted in changes to our analysis, or warranted any further 
changes to alternative B.
    In accordance with NEPA (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements, this 
notice announces our decision to select alternative B for 
implementation and the availability of the ROD and final CCP for 
Chincoteague NWR and Wallops Island NWR. The final CCP will guide our 
management and administration of the refuges over the next 15 years.

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to 
develop a CCP for each NWR. The purpose for developing a CCP is to 
provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving refuge 
purposes and goals and contributing to the mission of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System). CCPs should be consistent with 
sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal 
mandates, and our policies, as well as respond to key issues and public 
concerns. 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 Refuge Administration Act.

CCP Alternatives

    During the scoping phase of the planning process, we identified 
issues and concerns based on input from the public, State or Federal 
agencies, other Service programs, and our planning team. We developed 
refuge management alternatives to address issues; help achieve refuge 
goals, objectives, and purposes; and support the Refuge System mission. 
Our draft CCP/EIS (79 FR 27906) and final CCP/EIS (80 FR 54799) fully 
analyze three alternatives for the future management of the refuge: (1) 
Alternative A, Current Management; (2) Alternative B, Balanced 
Approach; and (3) Alternative C, Reduced Disturbance. Alternative A 
satisfies the NEPA requirement of a ``No Action'' alternative. Both the 
draft and final plans identify alternative B as the Service-preferred 
alternative. Please refer to the final CCP/EIS for more details on each 
of the alternatives.

Basis for Selected Alternative

    Our decision is to adopt alternative B, as described in the final 
CCP. We provide a brief summary of our decision below. For the full 
basis of our decision, please see the ROD (see ADDRESSES).
    The decision to adopt alternative B for implementation was made 
after considering the follow factors: (1) The impacts identified in 
Chapter 4, Environmental Consequences, of the draft and final CCP/EIS; 
(2) The results of public and agency comments; (3) How well the 
alternative achieves the stated purpose and need for a CCP and the 
seven goals presented in the final CCP/EIS chapter 1; (4) How well the 
alternative addresses the relevant issues, concerns, and opportunities 
identified in the planning process; and (5) Other relevant factors, 
including fulfilling the purposes for which the refuge was established, 
contributing to the mission and goals of the Refuge System, and 
statutory and regulatory guidance.
    Compared to the other two alternatives, alternative B includes the

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suite of actions that best meet the factors above using the most 
balanced and integrated approach, and with due consideration for both 
the biological and human environment. Alternative B will best fulfill 
the CCP's biological goals, by managing for particular Federal trust 
species and habitats that are of regional conservation concern. It 
clearly defines which Federal trust species and habitat will be a 
management priority in both uplands and wetlands, and details specific 
objectives and strategies for their management. The refuge's 
establishment purposes emphasize the conservation of migratory birds; 
thus, protecting the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental 
health of Chincoteague NWR and its habitat and wildlife, particularly 
migratory birds, is paramount.
    In summary, we selected alternative B for implementation because it 
best meets the factors identified above when compared to alternatives A 
and C. Alternative B provides the greatest number of opportunities for 
Chincoteague NWR and Wallops Island NWR to contribute to the 
conservation of fish, wildlife, and habitat in the Region, will 
increase the capacity of the refuges to meet their purposes and 
contribute to the Refuge System mission, and will provide the means to 
better respond to changing ecological conditions within the surrounding 
environment.

Public Availability of Documents

    You can view or obtain the final CCP and ROD as indicated under 
ADDRESSES.

    Dated: December 9, 2015.
Wendi Weber,
Regional Director, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00176 Filed 1-7-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P