Findings of Appropriateness and Compatibility Determinations

Appendix D USFWS Mowing a woodcock roosting area on the Nulhegan Basin Division Findings of Appropriateness and Compatibility Determinations Table of Contents Findings of Appropriateness and Compatibility Determinations Finding of Appropriateness—All-terrain Vehicles and Other Off-road Vehicles �� D-1 Finding of Appropriateness—Manned and Unmanned Aircraft Use for Recreational or Commercial Purposes � � � � � D-5 Finding of Appropriateness—Target Shooting �� D-9 Finding of Appropriateness—Camping Along the Nulhegan River in Support of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail � � � � D-13 Compatibility Determination—Camping Along the Nulhegan River in Support of Northern Forest Canoe Trail � � � � � � D-15 Finding of Appropriateness—Commercial Forestry for Habitat Management � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-25 Compatibility Determination—Commercial Forestry for Habitat Management � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-27 Finding of Appropriateness—Commercial Guiding for Wildlife-dependent Recreation� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-39 Compatibility Determination—Commercial Guiding for Wildlife-dependent Recreation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-41 Finding of Appropriateness—Commercial Haying to Manage Grassland Habitat �� D-49 Compatibility Determination—Commercial Haying to Manage Grassland Habitat �� D-51 Finding of Appropriateness—Non-traditional Geocaching �� D-63 Compatibility Determination—Non-traditional Geocaching �� D-65 Finding of Appropriateness—Pet Walking � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-75 Compatibility Determination—Pet Walking � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-77 Finding of Appropriateness—Privately Owned Recreational Cabins at the Nulhegan Basin Division �� D-85 Compatibility Determination—Privately Owned Recreational Cabins at the Nulhegan Basin Division �� D-87 Finding of Appropriateness—Research Conducted by Non-Service Personnel �� D-101 Compatibility Determination—Research Conducted by Non-service Personnel � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-103 Finding of Appropriateness— Recreational Gathering of Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Mushrooms, Fiddleheads, and Antler Sheds �� D-117 Compatibility Determination— Recreational Gathering of Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Mushrooms, Fiddleheads, and Antler Sheds �� D-119 Finding of Appropriateness—Snowmobiling on Designated Snowmobile Trails on the Dead Branch Division � � � � � D-129 Compatibility Determination—Snowmobiling on Designated Snowmobile Trails on the Dead Branch Division �� D-133 Finding of Appropriateness—Snowmobiling on Designated Snowmobile Trails on the Nulhegan Basin Division �� D-147 Compatibility Determination—Snowmobiling on Designated Snowmobile Trails on the Nulhegan Basin Division �� D-149 Finding of Appropriateness—Snowmobiling on Designated Snowmobile Trails on the Pondicherry Division � � � � � � D-169 Compatibility Determination—Snowmobiling on Designated Snowmobile Trails on the Pondicherry Division � � � � � D-171 Compatibility Determination—Furbearer Management (Trapping) on the Nulhegan Basin Division �� D-187 Compatibility Determination—Hunting on Silvio O� Conte Refuge Lands in Vermont � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-211 Compatibility Determination— Interpretation, Environmental Education, Wildlife Observation, and Wildlife Photography �� D-231 Table of Contents i Table of Contents List of Figures Figure D.1. Acceptable Impact Thresholds for Camping� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-23 List of Maps Map D.1. Proposed Northern Forest Canoe Trail Campsite at Nulhegan Basin Division� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-22 Map D.2. Mowed and hayed fields at the Fort River Division of the Silvio O� Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-53 Map D.3. Mowed Fields at the Pondicherry Division of the Silvio O� Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge� �� D-54 Map D.4. Snowmobile Trail at Dead Branch Division� �� D-134 Map D.5. Proposed Snowmobiling Trails at the Nulhegan Basin Division. � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-168 Map D.6. Snowmobile Trails at Pondicherry Division� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � D-173 ii Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Finding of Appropriateness – All-terrain Vehicles and Other Off-road Vehicles FWS Form 3-2319 FINDING OF APPROPRIATENESS OF A REFUGE USE 02/06 Refuge Name: Silvio O� Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Use: All-terrain Vehicles and Other Off-road Vehicles This form is not required for wildlife-dependent recreational uses, take regulated by the State, or uses already described in a refuge CCP or step-down management plan approved after October 9, 1997� Decision Criteria: YES NO (a) Do we have jurisdiction over the use? 4 (b) Does the use comply with applicable laws and regulations (Federal, State, Tribal, and local)? 4 (c) Is the use consistent with applicable Executive orders and Department and Service policies? 4 (d) Is the use consistent with public safety? 4 (e) Is the use consistent with goals and objectives in an approved management plan or other document? 4 (f) Has an earlier documented analysis not denied the use or is this the first time the use has been proposed? 4 (g) Is the use manageable within available budget and staff? 4 (h) Will this be manageable in the future within existing resources? 4 (i) Does the use contribute to the public’s understanding and appreciation of the refuge’s natural or cultural 4 resources, or is the use beneficial to the refuge’s natural or cultural resources? (j) Can the use be accommodated without impairing existing wildlife-dependent recreational uses or reducing the 4 potential to provide quality (see section 1�6D, 603 FW 1, for description), compatible, wildlife-dependent recreation into the future? Where we do not have jurisdiction over the use [“no” to (a)], there is no need to evaluate it further as we cannot control the use� Uses that are illegal, inconsistent with existing policy, or unsafe [“no” to (b), (c), or (d)] may not be found appropriate� If the answer is “no” to any of the other questions above, we will generally not allow the use� If indicated, the refuge manager has consulted with State fish and wildlife agencies� Yes No 4 � When the refuge manager finds the use appropriate based on sound professional judgment, the refuge manager must justify the use in writing on an attached sheet and obtain the refuge supervisor’s concurrence� Based on an overall assessment of these factors, my summary conclusion is that the proposed use is: Not Appropriate 4 Appropriate Refuge Manager: __________________________________________ Date: ________________________ If found to be Not Appropriate, the refuge supervisor does not need to sign concurrence if the use is a new use� If an existing use is found Not Appropriate outside the CCP process, the refuge supervisor must sign concurrence� If found to be Appropriate, the refuge supervisor must sign concurrence: Refuge Supervisor: _________________________________________ Date: _______________________ A compatibility determination is required before the use may be allowed. Appendix D. Findings of Appropriateness and Compatibility Determinations D-1 Finding of Appropriateness – All-terrain Vehicles and Other Off-road Vehicles 603 FW 1 Exhibit 1 Page 2 JUSTIFICATION FOR A FINDING OF APPROPRIATENESS OF A REFUGE USE Refuge Name: Silvio O� Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Use: All-terrain Vehicles and Other Off-road Vehicles1 NARRATIVE: As part of the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) planning process for Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Conte Refuge, refuge), refuge staff have evaluated all existing or requested non-priority public uses to determine if they are an appropriate use for the refuge. The use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other off-road vehicles, such as dirt bikes, is a not a priority public use of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System), as defined under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd- 668ee), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-57). The use of ATVs and other off-road vehicles on the refuge does not contribute to any priority public uses. This finding of appropriateness also covers the off-road use of bicycles, cars, and motorcycles.

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