[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14939-14940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4265]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
for Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge, Kirwin, KS

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that a 
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is available. 
This CCP, prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act) and the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the Service intends to 
manage this Refuge for the next 15 years.

DATES: Written comments must be received at the postal or electronic 
address listed below on or before April 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Please provide written comments to Toni Griffin, Planning 
Team Leader, Division of Refuge Planning, Branch of Comprehensive 
Conservation Planning, Mountain-Prairie Region, P.O. Box 25486, Denver 
Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225-0486, or electronically to 
[email protected]. A copy of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained by 
writing to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 134 Union Blvd., Suite 
300, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-1807; or download from http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Mowry, Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish

[[Page 14940]]

and Wildlife Service, Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge, 702 East Xavier 
Road, Kirwin, Kansas 67644; telephone: 785-543-6673; fax: 785-543-5464; 
or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Consisting of 10,778 acres, Kirwin NWR was 
established in 1954 as an overlay Refuge on a U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation) irrigation and flood control reservoir. 
Reclamation owns the land and controls reservoir water levels. The 
Service staff manage all other activities on the land and water. The 
purpose of the Refuge is for the ``* * * conservation, maintenance, and 
management of wildlife, resources thereof, and its habitat thereon * * 
*'' 16 U.S.C. 715d (Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act), with an 
emphasis on migratory birds.
    This Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates two alternatives for 
managing Kirwin NWR for the next 15 years. Alternative A, the No Action 
Alternative, proposes continuation of current management of the Refuge. 
The Refuge will continue to be managed in accordance with the current 
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Reclamation and the Service; the 
Cooperative Agreement with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks 
(KDWP); and the Kirwin Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP), completed 
in 1996. Alternative B (Proposed Action) emphasizes wildlife, habitat, 
and wildlife-dependent public use. This alternative fully strives to 
implement the Improvement Act, which directs that each refuge shall be 
managed to fulfill both the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System and the individual purpose of the refuge. Under this 
alternative, management emphasis will be placed on wildlife and habitat 
management for migratory birds and species of conservation concern. 
Wildlife-dependent recreation uses (i.e., hunting, fishing, wildlife 
observation, photography, interpretation, and environmental education) 
will be promoted and emphasized. Non-wildlife-dependent uses such as 
water skiing, jet skiing, personal watercrafts, camping, swimming, 
horseback riding, campfires, volleyball, basketball, power/speed 
boating, and fishing tournaments would be discontinued.
    The Proposed Action was selected because it best meets the purpose 
and goals of Kirwin NWR, as well as the mission of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System. The Proposed Action will improve Refuge habitat 
to benefit migrating waterfowl, neotropical migrants, shore birds, and 
federally listed species. Habitat improvements will enhance the quality 
of wildlife-dependent public use programs by attracting more wildlife 
to the area. Additional wildlife-dependent public use programs will be 
added where feasible. Environmental education and partnerships will 
result in greater support of Kirwin NWR and the National Wildlife 
Refuge System. Cultural and historical resources will be protected.

    Dated: August 12, 2006.
Sharon R. Rose,
Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, CO.
    Editorial note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register March 21, 2006.
[FR Doc. E6-4265 Filed 3-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P