[Federal Register: May 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 86)] [Notices] [Page 24168-24169] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr05my99-73] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Availability of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that a Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge is available for public review. The Refuge is located in Stevens County, Washington. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with Service CCP policy and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and implementing regulations for the following purposes: (1) To advise the public and other agencies of the availability of the document; (2) to solicit public comment on the Draft CCP and DEIS; and (3) to announce public open house meetings. DATES: Submit comments on or before June 30, 1999. See Supplementary Information for meeting dates and locations. ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for more information to: Refuge Manager, Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, 1310 Bear Creek Road, Colville, Washington 99114. E-mail comments may be sent to: FWS1Public__ Comments__LPO@fws.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Langelier, Refuge Manager (509) 684-8384 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to develop a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge that best achieves the unit's purpose, vision and goals; contributes to the System mission; addresses the significant issues and relevant mandates, and is consistent with principles of sound fish and wildlife management. Major issues addressed in the draft CCP/EIS include grazing; management of degraded aquatic and riparian habitats; overstocked forest habitats; military training; and various recreational public uses. The plan includes the following topics: (a) An assessment of existing biological, physical, and cultural resources, and their condition; (b) a summary of significant issues identified through scoping; (c) identification of five alternatives which incorporate varying objectives and strategies for habitat management, management of public access and uses, and management of other programs including military training, grazing, and cultural resources; (d) an analysis of the environmental consequences that would be predicted under adoption of any of the identified alternatives; (e) compatibility determinations for public uses, as required by Service law and policy; (f) an appendix summarizing the projects that would be undertaken under the preferred alternative. A range of alternatives are considered in the draft CCP/EIS: (A) The no Action Alternative--Make no changes to the prevailing practices and uses at the refuge. (B) Restore Wildlife Habitat While Managing Existing Public Uses-- This alternative incorporates an active forest and riparian restoration program. It also accomodates most existing public uses, but adopts some restrictions on some uses to ensure less impact to the environment. (C) Restore Wildlife Habitat While Emphasizing Priority Uses--This alternative adopts a greater emphasis on priority uses identified under the Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-57) and eliminates non-priority uses. This alternative also incorporates a strong forest and riparian restoration program. (D) Manage the Refuge as an Ecological Reserve and Reduce Human Disturbances--This alternative minimizes human access and use of the refuge while conducting a habitat restoration program. This alternative includes a greater emphasis on hydrologic restoration than other alternatives. (E) Combination of Alternatives B and C--Agency Preferred Alternative--This alternative places management emphasis on restoration of forest and riparian habitat components. A wide range of recreational activities would be supported including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and interpretation. Snowmobiling would be eliminated. Other recreational uses, such as camping and horseback riding would continue, but would be managed to reduce impacts to the environment. Camping would be restricted in environmentally sensitive areas such as riparian zones and during some seasons. The annual livestock grazing program would be discontinued, however some periodic grazing may occur to meet wildlife objectives. The Air Force survival training program would be phased out over 5 years. With the publication of this notice, the public is encouraged to attend public open houses and/or submit written comments on draft CCP/ EIS. Two public open houses will be held as follows: May 12, 1999, 5pm-8pm, Community Colleges of Spokane, Colville Center, 985 South Elm, Theater, Colville, Washington. (Presentation at 7:00 pm) May 13, 1999, 5pm-8pm, Inland NW Wildlife Council Building, 6116 North Market St., Spokane, Washington. (Presentation at 7:00 pm) The Service started the process of developing a management plan for Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge (Little Pend Oreille NWR) in 1995. Open houses and public meetings were held in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. Previous notices have been published in the Federal Register (61 FR 65591, Dec. 13, 1996 and 63 FR 39884, July 24, 1998). Persons and organizations involved in the scoping process have included: the U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; U.S. Air Force; Washington Department of Natural Resources; interested local tribes, members of conservation organizations; timber industry representatives; grazing permittees; recreational interest groups; inholders and neighboring landowners; [[Page 24169]] and other interested citizens. Comments and concerns received have been used to identify issues, prepare alternatives and identify a preferred alternative (Alternative E) for the draft CCP/EIS. All comments received from individuals on Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements become part of the official public record. Requests for such comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations [40CFR 1506.6(f)], and other Service and Departmental policy and procedures. When requested, the Service generally will provide comment letters with the names and addresses of the individuals who wrote the comments. However, the telephone number of the commenting individual will not be provided in response to such requests to the extent permissible by law. Additionally, public comment letters are not required to contain the commentator's name, address, or other identifying information. Such comments may be submitted anonymously to the Service. The environmental review of this project will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and Service policies and procedures for compliance with those regulations. We estimate that the Final CCP/Environmental Impact Statement will be available in November, 1999. Dated: April 28, 1999. Tom Dwyer, Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. 99-11240 Filed 5-4-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P