[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35036-35037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12799]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

National Park Service

[FWS-R6-R-2015-N091; FF06R06000-FXRS12610600000-167]


Niobrara Confluence and Ponca Bluffs Conservation Areas, NE and 
SD; Withdrawal of Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Land 
Protection Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that we, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Park Service (NPS), as lead 
agencies, are withdrawing our proposal to establish the Niobrara 
Confluence and Ponca Bluffs Conservation Areas in Nebraska and South 
Dakota.

DATES: This action will become effective with this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, Acting Chief of Refuge 
Planning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, 
CO 80225. Telephone (303) 236-4378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 15, 2012, the FWS and the NPS, 
as lead agencies, published a notice of intent (77 FR 8892) to prepare 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Niobrara 
Confluence Conservation Area and Ponca Bluffs Conservation Area in 
Nebraska and South Dakota. On April 8, 2013, a draft EIS and land 
protection plan (LPP) were made available for public review and comment 
(78 FR 20942). In these documents, we described alternatives, including 
our proposed action, for implementing conservation actions along the 
Missouri River and its tributaries.
    However, after considering the public comments received and 
analyzing other priorities for each agency, the FWS and NPS are hereby 
withdrawing the DEIS

[[Page 35037]]

and LPP from further consideration. The FWS and NPS will continue to 
support locally driven conservation efforts along the Missouri River in 
northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota. The FWS and NPS will 
continue to work with interested landowners on other conservation 
options in the area.

    Authority: We provide this notice in accordance with the 
requirements of NEPA as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its 
implementing regulations set forth by the Council on Environmental 
Quality (40 CFR 1500 et seq.), the Department of Interior's NEPA 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 46) and other appropriate 
Federal laws, regulations and administrative materials.

    Dated: May 6, 2016.
Matt Hogan,
Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
    Dated: May 16, 2016.
Cameron H. Sholly
Regional Director, Midwest Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-12799 Filed 5-31-16; 8:45 am]
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