[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89138-89139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29518]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-NWRS-2016-N192; FXRS12610800000-178-FF08R00000]


Lower Klamath, Clear Lake, Tule Lake, Upper Klamath, and Bear 
Valley National Wildlife Refuges, Klamath County, OR; Siskiyou and 
Modoc Counties, CA: Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for Lower Klamath, Clear Lake, 
Tule Lake, Upper Klamath, and Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuges 
(Refuges). The Refuges are part of the Klamath Basin Complex. The final 
CCP/EIS, prepared under the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 
1997, and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, describes how the Service proposes to manage the refuges for the 
next 15 years. Final compatibility determinations for uses proposed 
under the preferred alternative are also included as an appendix.

ADDRESSES: Document Availability: You may obtain copies of the 
documents in the following places:
     Internet: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Tule_Lake/what_we_do/conservation.html.
     In Person:
    [cir] Klamath Refuge Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex 
Headquarters, 4009 Hill Road, Tulelake, CA 96134.
    [cir] The following libraries:

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            Library                     Address             Phone No.
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Klamath County Main...........  126 South Third           (541) 882-8894
                                 Street, Klamath
                                 Falls, OR 97601.
Keno Branch...................  15555 Hwy 66, #1,         (541) 273-0750
                                 Keno, OR 97627.
Malin Branch..................  2307 Front Street,        (541) 723-5210
                                 Malin, OR 97632.
Merrill Branch................  365 Front Street,         (541) 798-5393
                                 Merrill, OR 97633.
S. Suburban Branch............  3625 Summers Lane,        (541) 273-3679
                                 Klamath Falls, OR
                                 97603.
Tulelake Branch...............  451 Main Street,          (530) 667-2291
                                 Tulelake, CA 96134.
Butte Valley Branch...........  800 West Third Street,    (530) 397-4932
                                 Dorris, CA 96023.
Redding.......................  1100 Parkview Ave.,       (530) 245-7250
                                 Redding, CA 96001.
Multnomah Co. Central.........  801 SW 10th Ave,          (530) 988-5123
                                 Portland, OR 97205.
Sacramento Public Central       828 I St., Sacramento,    (916) 264-2700
 Branch.                         CA 95814.
Medford.......................  205 S. Central Ave,       (541) 774-8689
                                 Medford, OR 95701.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Klamath Refuge Planner, (916) 414-6464 
(phone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We publish this notice to announce the 
availability of the final CCP/EIS for the Klamath Basin Refuges. The 
final CCP/EIS, which we prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), describes and analyzes a range 
of management alternatives for the Klamath Basin Refuges.

EPA's Role in the EIS Process

    The EPA is charged under section 309 of the CAA (42 U.S.C. 7401 et 
seq.) to review all Federal agencies' environmental impact statement 
(EISs) and to comment on the adequacy and acceptability of the 
environmental impacts of proposed actions in the EISs.
    EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs prepared 
by Federal agencies and provides notice of their availability in the 
Federal Register. The EIS database provides information about EISs 
prepared by Federal agencies, as well as EPA's comments concerning the 
EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which publishes a notice of 
availability on Fridays in the Federal Register.
    The notice of availability is the start of the 30-day ``wait 
period'' for final EISs, during which agencies are generally required 
to wait 30 days before making a decision on a proposed action. For more 
information, see http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/eisdata.html. You 
may search for EPA comments on EISs, along with the EISs themselves, at 
https://

[[Page 89139]]

cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cds-enepa-public/action/eis/search.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), which amended the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966, requires the Service to develop a CCP for 
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in 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. In addition 
to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and 
their habitats, CCPs also evaluate the potential for providing 
wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities 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 Improvement Act.

Klamath Basin Refuges

    The Klamath Basin Refuges consist of a variety of habitats, 
including freshwater marshes, open water, grassy meadows, coniferous 
forests, sagebrush and juniper grasslands, agricultural lands, and 
rocky cliffs and slopes. These habitats support diverse and abundant 
populations of resident and migratory wildlife, with 433 species having 
been observed on or near the Refuges. In addition, each year the 
Refuges serve as a migratory stopover for about three-quarters of the 
Pacific Flyway waterfowl, with peak fall concentrations of over 1 
million birds.

NEPA Compliance

    We are conducting environmental review in accordance with the 
requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its 
implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), other applicable 
regulations, and our procedures for compliance with those regulations. 
The final EIS discusses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of 
the alternatives on biological resources, cultural resources, water 
quality, and other environmental resources. Measures to minimize 
adverse environmental effects are identified and discussed in the final 
CCP/EIS.

Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2016-29518 Filed 12-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P