[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5597-5598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00808]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-R-2016-N221]; [FXRS12610600000-178-FF06R00000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for 
the National Bison Range, Moiese, Montana

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to 
gather information necessary to prepare a draft Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan (CCP) for the National Bison Range (NBR), a unit of 
the National Wildlife Refuge System. We are furnishing this notice in 
compliance with Service Refuge Planning policy to advise other agencies 
and the public of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and 
information on the scope of issues to be considered in the planning 
process. Participation in the planning process will be encouraged and 
facilitated by various means, including news releases and public 
meetings. Notification of all such meetings will be announced in the 
local press and on the NBR Web site.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received or 
postmarked on or before February 17, 2017.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on the scope of the CCP/EIS, you may 
submit your comments by the following method: You may mail or hand-
deliver comments to Toni Griffin, Refuge Planner, NBR CCP, 134 Union 
Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, Refuge Planner, NBR CCP, 
134 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80228, or by telephone (303) 236-
4378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for 
the National Bison Range, with headquarters in Moiese, MT. The notice 
complies with our CCP policy to (1) advise other Federal and State 
agencies,

[[Page 5598]]

Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct planning on this 
refuge complex and (2) to obtain suggestions and information on the 
scope of additional issues to consider during development of the CCP. 
Through the CCP, the Service intends to evaluate both how NBR is 
managed and who manages it.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, 
(Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), requires us to develop 
a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose of 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.
    We will conduct environmental review pursuant to the provisions of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C 4321 et seq.), 
by preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS). The Service 
intends to invite the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) to 
participate as a cooperating agency as provided by 40 CFR 1508.5.
    The Service will prepare a CCP and EIS which will describe 
management of the NBR over the next 15 years. To facilitate sound 
planning and environmental assessment, the Service intends to gather 
information necessary for the preparation of the CCP/EIS and obtain 
suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the 
scope of issues to be addressed in the CCP/EIS. The Service will 
separately consider CCPs for Pablo, Ninepipe, and Lost Trail National 
Wildlife Refuges, and the Northwest Montana Lake County Wetland 
Management District and the waterfowl production areas therein, which 
are also part of the National Bison Range Complex. The Service will 
publish a notice of intent to prepare these CCPs at a later date.

The National Bison Range

    In 1855, the United States entered into the Hell Gate Treaty with 
the Salish and Kootenai Tribes of Western Montana to establish the 
Flathead Indian Reservation. Just over 50 years later, on May 23, 1908, 
Congress enacted legislation that used its power of eminent domain to 
establish the refuge. The overall mission of the NBR is to maintain a 
representative herd of bison, under reasonably natural conditions, to 
ensure the preservation of the species for continued public enjoyment. 
The NBR is 18,800 acres and supports between 350 and 500 bison. The 
National Bison Range lies entirely within the boundary of the Flathead 
Indian Reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. 
Members of the CSKT have a cultural, historical, or geographic 
connection to the land and resources of the Range. There are 
significant cultural sites located on the Range and the land was 
formerly owned in trust for the CSKT. The bison at the range today are 
descendants of bison owned and preserved by CSKT members over a century 
ago.

Additional Information

    The draft CCP/EIS for NBR will include detailed information about 
the planning process, refuge, issues, and desired resource conditions. 
Based on determination of desired conditions, regardless of which 
management option is selected, the final CCP/EIS will outline resource 
management activities and visitor recreational activities. To 
facilitate sound judgment of environmental impacts, the Service is 
gathering information necessary for the preparation of a CCP/EIS. Based 
on public input over the years, the Service believes that the range of 
management alternatives should include, at a minimum:
     Alternative A (Current Management): This alternative 
represents continuing current management and serves as a baseline for 
comparing the other alternatives. Under this alternative, we would 
continue our current habitat and visitor services management activities 
on existing refuge lands. The Service would continue to be responsible 
for the overall administration of the NBR and the day-to-day on-site 
activities. The Service would be responsible for implementation of the 
NBR CCP.
     Alternative B (Preferred Management Option): In this 
alternative, the Service intends to evaluate the preferred management 
option of a Congressional transfer of lands comprising of the NBR unit 
of the National Wildlife Refuge System to the CSKT of the Flathead 
Reservation, to be held in trust by the Secretary of the Interior for 
the benefit of the CSKT. In addition to the management of the herd of 
bison, the CSKT will conserve the natural resources and provide for 
public visitation and educational opportunities on such lands. 
Resources would be managed to perpetuate and protect the natural 
environment and to preserve cultural and historic resources and values. 
The alternative returns to the tribe control of their traditional lands 
and cultural resources.
     Alternative C: The Service would execute and carry out a 
draft negotiated Annual Funding Agreement (AFA) per the Tribal Self 
Governance Act, wherein the CSKT would be responsible for implementing 
the provisions of the AFA.

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: December 20, 2016.
Noreen Walsh,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2017-00808 Filed 1-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P