[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38775-38776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13848]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-NWRS-2022-N221; FF06R0ZS00-FXRS12610600000-223]


Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Units of 
Charles M. Russell Complex, 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 reinitiate the process of developing a 
comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for certain refuge, wetland 
management district, and waterfowl production area units of the Charles 
M. Russell Complex in south-central Montana. We are publishing this 
notice in compliance with Service Refuge Planning policy to advise 
other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our 
intentions and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of 
issues to be considered in the planning process.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive written comments by 
July 29, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments and questions by one of the following 
methods:
     Email: Alice Lee, via email at [email protected]; or
     U.S. mail: Alice Lee, Conservation Planner, via mail at 
Branch of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, 
Denver, CO 80225.
    For more information, please see Public Comment Process in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alice Lee, Conservation Planner, by 
phone at 720-601-1821 or via email at [email protected]. Individuals in 
the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a 
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United 
States should use the relay services offered within their country to 
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, we, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Service), reinitiate the process of developing a 
comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for the following units of the 
Charles M. Russell Complex in south central Montana: Charles M. Russell 
Wetland Management District (WMD), Hailstone Waterfowl Production Area 
(WPA) and National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Grass Lake NWR, Lake Mason 
NWR, and War Horse NWR. The headquarters for all units in the complex 
is located in Lewistown, Montana.
    We began scoping activities in 2016 for development of the CCP; 
however, in 2017, CCP development was placed on hold because of 
changing agency priorities.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee; Administration Act), as amended by the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to develop 
a CCP for each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). The 
purpose for developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-
year plan for achieving refuge purposes and

[[Page 38776]]

contributing toward the mission of the NWRS, 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 identify 
compatible wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to 
the public, including, where appropriate, opportunities for hunting, 
fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental 
education and interpretation. We will review and update the CCPs 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 unit within the NWRS, 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 unit's establishing 
purposes and the mission of the NWRS.
    Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal, 
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public. 
At this time, we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, 
ideas, and suggestions for the future management of the Charles M. 
Russell WMD, Hailstone WPA and NWR, Grass Lake NWR, Lake Mason NWR, and 
Warhorse NWR. Only the aforementioned units of the Charles M. Russell 
Complex are covered by this CCP process. The CCP for the Charles M. 
Russell NWR has been completed, and we are not seeking public input for 
the management of Charles M. Russell NWR at this time.

National Environmental Policy Act

    We will conduct the environmental review of this project in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA); NEPA 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and 43 CFR part 46); other 
appropriate Federal laws and regulations; and our policies and 
procedures for compliance with those laws and regulations.

Units Under Scoping

Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District (WMD)

    The Charles M. Russell WMD is located in south-central Montana and 
includes parts of five counties: Golden Valley, Musselshell, Petroleum, 
Stillwater, and Yellowstone. The WMD includes three WPAs and several 
types of easements. The Clark's Fork WPA is a 271-acre (ac) tract of 
land located along the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. Spidel WPA 
is a 1,246-ac tract of land located nearly 3 miles northeast of 
Broadview, Montana. The Tew WPA is 692 ac, and is located 15 miles 
northeast of Broadview in Musselshell County. Additional information 
about these WPAs is available at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/charles-m-russell-wetland-management-district.

Hailstone Waterfowl Production Area and National Wildlife Refuge

    Hailstone WPA and NWR were established primarily as breeding 
grounds for waterfowl and other wildlife. The Service purchased 1,988 
ac of easement in 1979 to create the Hailstone WPA. Hailstone WPA and 
NWR are part of the Lake Basin area and are managed as a flowage and 
refuge easement. The current size of the flowage easement at Hailstone 
is 760 ac.

Grass Lake National Wildlife Refuge

    Grass Lake NWR is a 4,318-ac refuge that is one of the most 
productive migratory bird areas in central Montana. This Refuge is 
currently closed to all public uses.

Lake Mason National Wildlife Refuge

    Lake Mason NWR consists of three separate tracts of land in central 
Montana: the Lake Mason Unit, Willow Creek Unit, and North Unit. With 
the exception of the northern half of the Lake Mason Unit, the refuge 
is open to hunting of migratory game birds, upland game birds, and big 
game, as well as hiking and wildlife observation. The northern half of 
the Lake Mason Unit is closed to all public access, in order to 
increase the security and attractiveness of this area to migratory 
birds.

Warhorse National Wildlife Refuge

    War Horse NWR consists of three separate land units: Wild Horse, 
440 ac; War Horse, 1,152 ac; and Yellow Water, 1,640 ac. War Horse NWR 
was established in 1958 as a ``refuge and breeding ground for migratory 
birds and other wildlife'' through a transfer of lands by the authority 
of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act. More information on the above 
NWRs can be found at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/charles-m-russell.

Public Comment Process

    We have considered comments received in response to our previous 
scoping activities. With this notice, we respectfully request comments 
that may contain information not previously provided. You may send 
comments any time during the planning process by mail or email (see 
ADDRESSES). There will be additional opportunities for the public to 
provide input once we have prepared a draft CCP.
    All information provided voluntarily by mail, by phone, or at 
public meetings (e.g., names, addresses, letters of comment, input 
recorded during meetings) becomes part of the official public record. 
Before submitting comments that include your address or other personal 
identifying information, you should be aware that your entire comment, 
including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly 
available at any time. If requested under the Freedom of Information 
Act by a private citizen or organization, the Service may provide 
copies of such information. While you may 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.

Anna Munoz,
Deputy Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2022-13848 Filed 6-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P