Rules and Regulations. Notice: Update of Web site reference
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BILLING CODE 4210-67-M DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-4878-N-06] Final Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons: Update of Web Site Reference AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, HUD. ACTION: Notice: Update of Web site reference. SUMMARY: This notice updates an obsolete Web site reference that was included in HUD's final “Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient
(LEP)Persons,” as required by Executive Order
(EO)13166, published in the **Federal Register** on January 22, 2007, and which became effective on March 7, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela D. Walsh, Director, Program Standards and Compliance Division, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5226, Washington, DC 20410, telephone:
(202)708-2904 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at
(800)877-8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 22, 2007, HUD published in the **Federal Register** (72 FR 2732) final guidance to help recipients of federal financial assistance take reasonable steps to meet their regulatory and statutory obligations to ensure that LEP persons have meaningful access to HUD programs and activities (LEP Final Guidance). Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) and its implementing regulations, recipients of federal financial assistance have a responsibility to ensure meaningful access to programs and activities by LEP persons. In the preamble to the Final Guidance, which provided responses to public comments received on the proposed guidance, HUD provided the Web site to demographic information based on 2000 Census or other data (see page 2736, third column and continuing on page 2737, first column). Since publication of the Final Guidance, HUD has been advised that the Web site provided in the Final Guidance is no longer active. This notice provides the updated Web site. The demographic information based on 2000 Census or other data can be found at the following Web site: *http://www.census.gov/cac/www/007578.html* . In addition to this correction, on February 14, 2007, the Office of the Federal Register
(OFR)published in the **Federal Register** a correction to HUD's Final Guidance that corrected a printing error made by the OFR in publishing HUD's Final Guidance on January 22, 2007 (See 72 FR 7134.) On February 16, 2007, HUD published a notice that moved the effective of the Final Guidance from February 21, 2007, to March 7, 2007. HUD's Final Guidance, which incorporates these corrections, can be found at: *http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/promotingfh/lep.cfm* . Dated: March 7, 2007. Kim Kendrick, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. [FR Doc. E7-4794 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-67-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Proposed Information Collection; OMB Control Number 1018-0015; Migratory Bird Surveys AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. SUMMARY: We (Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)to approve the information collection
(IC)described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. DATES: You must submit comments on or before May 15, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the IC to Hope Grey, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 222-ARLSQ, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (mail); *hope_grey@fws.gov* (e-mail); or
(703)358-2269 (fax). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this IC, contact Hope Grey by mail, fax, or e-mail (see ADDRESSES) or by telephone at
(703)358-2482. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: **I. Abstract** The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-711) and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742d) designate the Department of the Interior as the key agency responsible for
(1)the wise management of migratory bird populations frequenting the United States, and
(2)setting hunting regulations that allow appropriate harvests that are within the guidelines that will allow for those populations' well-being. These responsibilities dictate that we gather accurate data on various characteristics of migratory bird harvest. We use the knowledge attained by determining harvests and harvest rates of migratory game birds to regulate populations (by promulgating hunting regulations) and to encourage hunting opportunity, especially where crop depredations are chronic and/or lightly-harvested populations occur. Based on information from harvest surveys, we can adjust hunting regulations as needed to optimize harvests at levels that provide a maximum of hunting recreation while keeping populations at desired levels. Under the Migratory Bird Harvest Program, State licensing authorities collect the name and address information needed to provide a sample frame of all licensed migratory bird hunters. Since Federal regulations require that the States collect this information, we are including the associated burden in our approval request to OMB. We propose to combine three surveys in this IC because the surveys are interrelated and/or dependent upon each other:
(1)Migratory Bird Hunter Surveys, currently approved under OMB Control No. 1018-0015, which expires February 28, 2008.
(2)Parts Collection Survey, also approved under OMB Control No. 1018-0015.
(3)Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey, currently approved under OMB Control No. 1018-0023, which expires November 30, 2007. The Migratory Bird Hunter Survey is based on the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program, under which each State annually provides a list of all migratory bird hunters in the State. We randomly select migratory bird hunters; send them either a waterfowl questionnaire, a dove and band-tailed pigeon questionnaire, a woodcock questionnaire, or a snipe, rail, gallinule and coot questionnaire; and ask them to report their harvest of those species. The resulting estimates of harvest per hunter are combined with the complete list of migratory bird hunters to provide estimates of the total harvest of those species. The Parts Collection Survey estimates the species, sex, and age composition of the harvest, and the geographic and temporal distribution of the harvest. Randomly selected successful hunters who responded to the Migratory Bird Hunter Survey the previous year are asked to complete and return a postcard if they are willing to participate in the Parts Collection Survey. We provide postage-paid envelopes to respondents before the hunting season and ask them to send in a wing or the tail feathers from each duck, goose, or coot they harvest, or a wing from each woodcock, band-tailed pigeon, snipe, rail, or gallinule they harvest. We use the wings and tail feathers to identify the species, sex, and age of the harvested sample. We also ask respondents to report on the envelope the date and location of harvest for each bird. Results of this survey are combined with the harvest estimates obtained from the Migratory Bird Hunter Survey to provide species-specific national harvest estimates. The combined results of these surveys enable us to evaluate the effects of season length, season dates, and bag limits on the harvest of each species, and thus help us determine appropriate hunting regulations. We are proposing to include the Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey (current OMB Control Number 1018-0023) with the others in this approval request, all under OMB Control Number 1018-0015. The Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey is an annual questionnaire survey of people who obtained a sandhill crane hunting permit. At the end of the hunting season, we randomly select a sample of permit holders and ask them to report the date, location, and number of birds harvested for each of their sandhill crane hunts. Their responses provide estimates of the temporal and geographic distribution of the harvest as well as the average harvest per hunter, which, combined with the total number of permits issued, enables us to estimate the total harvest of sandhill cranes. Based on information from this survey, we adjust hunting regulations as needed to optimize harvest at levels that provide a maximum of hunting recreation while keeping the population at the desired level. We are also seeking approval to add a mourning dove wing collection to the Parts Collection Survey on an experimental basis. We will use the wings to identify the age of each sample, thereby providing estimates of annual mourning dove productivity at the management unit level. Those estimates of annual productivity are needed to improve the mourning dove population models that we have developed for each management unit. We will compare the results and costs of our experimental mail survey with results and costs of mourning dove wing collection methods that are currently employed by some, but not all, States that have dove hunting seasons. If mourning dove productivity estimates are similar for the two methods, we would propose to adopt the more cost-effective method on a national scale. **II. Data** *OMB Control Number:* 1018-0015. *Title:* Migratory Bird Surveys. *Service Form Number(s):* 3-165, 3-165A, 3-165B, 3-165C, and 3-2056J-N. *Type of Request:* Revision of currently approved collection. *Affected Public:* Migratory game bird hunters. *Respondent's Obligation:* Voluntary. *Frequency of Collection:* Annually. Activity Number of annual respondents Number of annual responses Completion time per response Annual burden hours Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program 3,800,000 3,800,000 0.033 hours 125,400 Migratory Bird Hunter Survey 85,000 85,000 0.067 hours 5,695 Parts Collection Survey 10,000 110,000 0.033 hours 3,630 Sandhill Cane Harvest Survey 7,500 7,500 0.067 hours 503 Totals 3,902,500 4,002,500 135,228 **III. Request for Comments** We invite comments concerning this IC on:
(1)whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
(2)the accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information;
(3)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(4)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. Comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include and/or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this IC. Dated: March 1, 2007 Hope Grey, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service. FR Doc. E7-4842 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 4310-55-S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Proposed Information Collection; OMB Control Number 1018-0094; Federal Fish and Wildlife License/Permit Applications, Native Endangered and Threatened Species, 50 CFR 13 and 17 AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. SUMMARY: We (Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)to approve the information collection
(IC)described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC, which is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2007. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. DATES: You must submit comments on or before May 15, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the IC to Hope Grey, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 222-ARLSQ, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (mail); *hope_grey@fws.gov* (e-mail); or
(703)358-2269 (fax). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this IC, contact Hope Grey by mail, fax, or e-mail (see ADDRESSES) or by telephone at
(703)358-2482. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: **I. Abstract** Our Endangered Species Program uses information that we collect on permit applications to determine the eligibility of applicants for permits requested in accordance with the criteria in various Federal wildlife conservation laws, including:
(1)Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
(2)Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.).
(3)Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.).
(4)Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668).
(5)Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1374). Service regulations implementing these statutes and treaties are in Chapter I, Subchapter B of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These regulations stipulate general and specific requirements that when met allow us to issue permits to authorize activities that are otherwise prohibited. This IC includes the following permit application forms and the reporting requirements for each permit:
(1)FWS Form 3-200-54 - Enhancement of Survival Permits Associated with Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances.
(2)FWS Form 3-200-55 - Permits for Scientific Purposes, Enhancement of Propagation or Survival (i.e, Recovery) and Interstate Commerce.
(3)FWS Form 3-200-56 - Incidental Take Permits Associated with a Habitat Conservation Plan. **II. Data** *OMB Control Number:* 1018-0094. *Title:* Federal Fish and Wildlife License/Permit Applications, Native Endangered and Threatened Species, 50 CFR 13 and 17. *Service Form Number(s):* 3-200-54, 3-200-55, and 3-200-56. *Type of Request:* Revision of currently approved collection. *Affected Public:* Individuals/households, businesses, State and local agencies, private organizations, and scientific and research institutions. *Respondent's Obligation:* Required to obtain or retain a benefit. *Frequency of Collection:* On occasion for application forms and notifications; annually for reports.. *Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden:* $64,450 for fees associated with permit applications. Activity Number of annual respondents Number of annual responses Completion time per response Annual burden hours 3-200-54 - permit application 11 11 3 hours 33 3-200-54 - annual report 64 64 8 hours 512 3-200-54 - notification of change in landowner 1 1 1 hour 1 2-200-55 - permit application 579 579 4 hours 2,316 3-200-55 - annual report 1,034 1,034 8 hours 8,272 3-200-55 - notification of escape of living wildlife 1 1 1 hour 1 3-200-56 - permit application 60 60 3 hours 180 3-200-56 - annual report 748 748 10 hours 7,480 Totals 2,498 2,498 18,795 **III. Request for Comments** We invite comments concerning this IC on:
(1)whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
(2)the accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information;
(3)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(4)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. Comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include and/or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this IC. Dated: March 1, 2007 Hope Grey, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service. FR Doc. E7-4843 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 4310-55-S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Proposed Information Collection; OMB Control Number 1018-0123; International Conservation Grant Programs AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. SUMMARY: We (Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)to approve the information collection
(IC)described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC, which is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2007. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. DATES: You must submit comments on or before May 15, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the IC to Hope Grey, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 222-ARLSQ, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (mail); *hope_grey@fws.gov* (e-mail); or
(703)358-2269 (fax). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this IC, contact Hope Grey by mail, fax, or e-mail (see ADDRESSES) or by telephone at
(703)358-2482. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: **I. Abstract** The Division of International Conservation awards grants funded under the:
(1)African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4201-4245).
(2)Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4261).
(3)Great Apes Conservation Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-411).
(4)Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 5306).
(5)Marine Turtle Conservation Act (Pub. L. 108-266).
(6)Wildlife Without Borders Programs - Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Russia. The information that we collect for grants awarded under the Marine Turtle Conservation Act is approved under OMB Control No. 1018-0128, which expires March 31, 2009. We are proposing to include that information collection with the others in this approval request, all under OMB Control Number 1018-0123. Applicants submit proposals for funding in response to Notices of Funding Availability that we publish on Grants.gov. We collect the following information under each Notice of Funding Availability:
(1)Cover page with basic project details (FWS Form 3-2338). This is a new form that we propose to replace the six forms currently approved under OMB Control No. 1018-0123.
(2)Project summary and narrative.
(3)Letter of appropriate government endorsement.
(4)Brief curricula vitae for key project personnel.
(5)Complete Standard Forms 424, 424a and 424b (nondomestic applicants do not submit the standard forms). Proposals may also include, as appropriate, a copy of the organization's Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NIRCA) and any additional documentation supporting the proposed project. The project summary and narrative is the basis for this information collection request for approval. A panel of technical experts reviews each proposal to assess how well the project addresses the priorities identified by each program's authorizing legislation. As all of the on-the-ground projects funded by these programs are conducted outside the United States, the letter of appropriate government endorsement ensures that the proposed activities will not meet with local resistance or work in opposition to locally identified priorities and needs. Brief curricula vitae for key project personnel allow the review panel to assess the qualifications of project staff to effectively carry out the project goals and objectives. As all Federal entities must honor the indirect cost rates an organization has negotiated with its cognizant agency, we require all organizations with a NICRA to submit the agreement paperwork with their proposals to verify how their rate is applied in their proposed budget. Applicants may provide any additional documentation that they believe best supports their proposal. **II. Data** *OMB Control Number:* 1018-0123. *Title:* International Conservation Grant Programs. *Service Form Number(s):* 3-2338. *Type of Request:* Revision of currently approved collection. *Affected Public:* Domestic and nondomestic Federal, State, and local governments; nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; and any other organization or individual with demonstrated perience deemed necessary to carry out the proposed project.. *Respondent's Obligation:* Required to obtain or retain a benefit. *Frequency of Collection:* Annually. Activity Number of annual respondents Number of annual responses Completion time per response Annual burden hours Cover page (FWS Form 3-2338) 489 489 1 hour 489 Narratives 489 489 11 hours 5,379 Reports (mid-term and final) 231 231 30 hours 6,930 Totals 1,209 1,209 12,798 **III. Request for Comments** We invite comments concerning this IC on:
(1)whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
(2)the accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information;
(3)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(4)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. Comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include and/or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this IC. Dated: March 1, 2007 Hope Grey, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service. FR Doc. E7-4844 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 4310-55-S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for Construction of a Combination of Commercial Buildings and Residential Units in Palm Beach County, FL AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an incidental take permit
(ITP)and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Royal Tequesta LLC (Applicant) requests an ITP pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Applicant anticipates taking about 2.24 acres of Florida scrub-jay ( *Aphelocoma coerulescens* ) (scrub-jay) foraging and sheltering habitat incidental to partial land clearing of their 6-acre lot and subsequent commercial and residential construction and supporting infrastructure in Palm Beach County, Florida (Project). The destruction of 2.24 acre of foraging and sheltering habitat is expected to result in the take of one family of scrub-jays. The Applicant's Habitat Conservation Plan
(HCP)describes the mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the effects of the Project to the Florida scrub-jay. DATES: Written comments on the ITP applications and HCPs should be sent to the South Florida Ecological Services Office (see ADDRESSES ) and should be received on or before April 16, 2007. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application and HCP may obtain a copy by writing the Service's South Florida Ecological Services Office. Please reference permit number TE 136147-0 in such requests. Documents will also be available for public inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the South Florida Ecological Services Office, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960-3559. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Trish Adams, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, South Florida Ecological Services Office, Vero Beach, Florida (see ADDRESSES ), telephone: 772/562-3909, ext. 232. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you wish to comment, you may submit comments by any one of several methods. Please reference permit number TE 136147-0 in such requests. You may mail comments to the Service's South Florida Ecological Services Office (see ADDRESSES ). You may also comment via the Internet to *trish_adams@fws.gov* . Please also include your name and return address in your Internet message. If you do not receive a confirmation from us that we have received your internet message, contact us directly at the telephone number listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . Finally, you may hand deliver comments to the Service office listed under ADDRESSES . Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the administrative record. We will honor such requests to the extent allowable by law. There may also be other circumstances in which we would withhold from the administrative record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. Construction of the Project will take place within Section 30, Township 40 South, Range 43 East, Tequesta, Palm Beach County, Florida. The Project site is bounded by the Casa del Sol development project on the north, County Line Plaza on the south, U.S. Highway 1 on the east, and by the Village of Tequesta water treatment plant on the west. Scrub-jays occupy 3.58 acres of the 6-acre site. The Applicant proposes to minimize take of scrub-jays by avoiding land clearing activities during the breeding or nesting season (March through June) and by preserving, restoring, and maintaining 1.34 acres of scrub-jay habitat on their 6-acre lot in perpetuity. The Applicants propose to mitigate for the loss of 2.24 acres of occupied scrub-jay habitat by contributing a total of $384,017.78 to the Florida Scrub-jay Conservation Program Fund administered by The Nature Conservancy. Funds in this account are ear-marked for use in the conservation and recovery of scrub-jays and may include habitat acquisition, restoration, and management. The Service has determined that the Applicant's proposal, including the proposed mitigation and minimization measures, will have a minor or negligible effect on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, the ITP is for a “low-effect” project and qualifies as a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as provided by the Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 2, Appendix 1 and 516 DM 6, Appendix 1). This preliminary information may be revised based on our review of public comments that we receive in response to this notice. Low-effect HCPs are those involving
(1)minor or negligible effects on federally listed or candidate species and their habitats, and
(2)minor or negligible effects on other environmental values or resources. The Service will evaluate the HCP and comments submitted thereon to determine whether the application meets the requirements of section 10(a) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.). If it is determined that those requirements are met, the ITP will be issued for the incidental take of the Florida scrub-jay. The Service will also evaluate whether issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP complies with section 7 of the Act by conducting an intra-Service section 7 consultation. The results of this consultation, in combination with the above findings, will be used in the final analysis to determine whether or not to issue the ITP. Authority: This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Dated: March 9, 2007. Paul Souza, Field Supervisor, South Florida Ecological Services Office. [FR Doc. E7-4853 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR)Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan
(CCP)and Environmental Assessment (EA). It describes how we intend to manage Missisquoi NWR during the next 15 years. We prepared this Draft CCP/EA in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA)and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended. DATES: The Draft CCP/EA will be available for public review and comment for a 30-day period starting with the publication of this notice. ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the draft CCP/EA on compact diskette or in print by writing to Carl Melberg, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Regional Office, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, Massachusetts 01035-9589, or by electronic mail at *northeastplanning@fws.gov* , noting in the subject line “Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge.” You may also view the draft on the Web at *http://library.fws.gov/ccps.htm* . During the 30-day comment period, we plan to host public meetings in the local area. We will post the details of each meeting at least 2 weeks in advance to our project mailing list in local papers, at the refuge and at our Web site, *http://www.fws.gov/northeast/missisquoirefuge/* . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Melberg, 413-253-8521. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires the Service to develop a CCP for each refuge. The purpose of developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing to the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), in conformance with the sound principles of fish and wildlife science, natural resources conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental interpretation and education. The Service will review and update each CCP at least once every 15 years, in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). This Draft CCP/EA identifies goals, long-range objectives, and strategies for achieving the purposes for which this refuge was established. The document poses two management alternatives: Alternative A (Current Management): This alternative is the “No Action” alternative required by NEPA. Alternative A defines our current management activities, including those planned, funded, or underway, and serves as the baseline for comparing Alternative B, our preferred alternative. It would maintain our present levels of approved refuge staffing and the biological and visitor programs now in place. The refuge would continue to pursue acquisition of the eight parcels composing 253 acres that remain within the original approved acquisition boundary of the refuge, and the occasional parcel that becomes available adjacent to the refuge. Alternative B (the Service-preferred alternative): This alternative represents the combination of actions that we believe will most effectively achieve the purposes and goals of the refuge and address the major issues. It builds on the programs identified under Alternative A. Funding and staffing would need to increase to adequately support the program expansions we propose. Key strategies in this alternative include greater inventory, monitoring, and management of the Missisquoi River Delta wetlands to maintain their ecological integrity and diversity of plants and animals on the refuge; increased management of high-quality grasslands, shrublands, and other early successional habitats for a range of wildlife species of conservation concern; enhanced, expanded programs of outreach, and environmental education and interpretation; expanded wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities, including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography; greater inventory, protection, and interpretation of the rich cultural history of the Missisquoi River Delta and enhanced partnerships with the local Abenaki Tribe; a new $1.00 Refuge Activity Fee that will raise additional funds for trail maintenance, informational kiosks, educational programs, and other actions to benefit all visitors to the refuge; a critical new law enforcement position to enhance staff and visitor safety; other new critical positions, including a park ranger, maintenance worker, and biological technician. Alternative B also proposes that, within 1 year of CCP completion, upon Director's approval, we will conduct a study with our partners to determine if undeveloped lands within 5 miles of the refuge warrant additional Service protection to conserve Federal trust resources and aid in fulfilling the mission of the NWRS and the purposes of the refuge. A wilderness review of the refuge was completed in 1974. This review, based on refuge management needs and public input at the time, proposed that Shad Island be designated wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964. As part of the CCP process, we completed a wilderness review, evaluating all refuge land for its current wilderness potential. The review concluded no lands at the refuge are suitable for inclusion into the National Wilderness Preservation System, and we propose to withdraw Shad Island as a proposed wilderness to the U.S. Congress. After the 30-day review and comment period ends, we will analyze, address, and consider all comments received and prepare a final CCP. Availability of the final CCP will be published in the **Federal Register** . All comments, including names and addresses, become part of the official public record. Requests for the public record of this plan will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations, and other Service and Departmental policies and procedures. Dated: August 2, 2006. Marvin E. Moriarty, Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, MA 01035-9589. This document was received at the Office of the Federal Register on March 13, 2007. [FR Doc. E7-4854 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CA-110] Meeting of the Central California Resource Advisory Council ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
(BLM)Central California Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below. DATES: The meeting will be held Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21, 2007, in the University of California Lindcove Research and Extension Center meeting room, 22963 Carson Ave., Exeter, California. On April 20, the members will convene at 8 a.m. for a business meeting, followed by a field trip to Atwell Island beginning at noon. Members of the public are welcome to attend the tour and meeting. Field tour participants must provide their own transportation and lunch. The Advisory Council will resume its meeting at 8 a.m. on April 21 in the Lindcove Research and Extension Center meeting room. Time for public comment is reserved from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on April 21. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BLM Bakersfield Field Office Acting Manager Patty Gradek,
(661)391-6006; or BLM Central California Public Affairs Officer David Christy,
(916)985-4474. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The twelve-member Central California Resource Advisory Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, on a variety of public land issues associated with public land management in the Central California. At this meeting, agenda items include discussion of the Caliente Resource Management Plan update by the Bakersfield Field Office and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The RAC members will also hear status reports from managers for the Folsom, Hollister, Bakersfield and Bishop field offices. The meeting is open to the public. The public may present written comments to the Council, and time will be allocated for hearing public comments. Depending on the number of persons wishing to comment and the time available, the time for individual oral comments may be limited. Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations should contact the BLM as indicated above. Dated: March 6, 2007. David Christy, Public Affairs Officer. [FR Doc. 07-1233 Filed 3-15-07; 8:45 am]
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U.S. Code
- Investigations; preparation and dissemination of information; reports§ 742d
- Congressional findings and declaration of purposes and policy§ 1531
- Taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds unlawful§ 703
- Definitions§ 3371
- Bald and golden eagles§ 668
- Permits§ 1374
- Findings§ 4261
- Authorization of appropriations§ 5306
6 references not yet in our index
- 16 USC 703-711
- 50 CFR 13
- 16 USC 4201-4245
- Pub. L. 106-411
- Pub. L. 108-266
- 40 CFR 1506.6
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Cite16 USC 703-711
Cite50 CFR 13
Cite16 USC 4201-4245
Pub. L.Pub. L. 106-411
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