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77406 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 26, 2006 / Notices

species’ range for the purpose of Administration Act of 1966, as amended main , benefiting the enhancing its survival and recovery. by the System Monument. Dated: November 14, 2006. Improvement Act of 1997, and the The development of this Draft VSP/ National Environmental Policy Act of EA began prior to the establishment of James J. Slack, 1969, in consultation with the Secretary the Monument to fulfill Service Deputy Regional Director, Denver, . of Commerce through the National requirements necessary to allow a [FR Doc. E6–22035 Filed 12–22–06; 8:45 am] Oceanic and Atmospheric regularly scheduled visitor services BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Administration (NOAA), and the State program to resume at the Refuge. As of . such, the focus of activities under the Important elements of the Draft VSP/ Draft VSP/EA is limited to initial visitor DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR EA include: Allowing visitation only in services within the Midway limited numbers, and only from Special Management Area only. Future Fish and Wildlife Service November through July, to ensure no planning for a Monument-wide visitor Notice of Availability of the Draft adverse impacts to wildlife or their services program will be further Interim Visitor Services Plan for the habitats occurs and to maintain a high developed to more fully realize the National Wildlife Refuge/ quality visitor experience; and President’s vision to create a visitor National Memorial/ developing and maintaining a window to the Monument at the Refuge. Midway Atoll Special Management financially self-sustaining program and In addition, future planning will explore Area an associated table of proposed fees. opportunities for visitor use at Kure The Draft VSP/EA will be available Atoll (under the jurisdiction of the State AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, for viewing and downloading online at of Hawaii) and in the main Hawaiian Interior. http://www.fws.gov/midway. Limited Islands, using distance learning and ACTION: Notice of availability. copies of the Draft VSP/EA may be remote educational opportunities. The obtained by writing to the U.S. Fish and Service will continue to work closely SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Service, Attn: Barbara with its co-trustees of the Monument, (Service) has completed a Draft Interim Maxfield, Chief, Pacific Islands Division NOAA and the State of Hawaii, when Visitor Services Plan (VSP) and of External Affairs and Visitor Services, the final VSP is implemented, and in associated Environmental Assessment 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 5–231, the development of the Monument’s (EA) for the Midway Atoll National , HI, 96850. Copies of the Draft management plan. Longer-term Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway VSP/EA may be viewed at the Hawaiian strategies are included in this Draft National Memorial/Midway Atoll and Pacific Islands National Wildlife VSP/EA, so the interested public may Special Management Area (Refuge). The Refuge Complex Office, Monday gain a vision of what the co-trustees Draft VSP/EA is available for public through Friday, during regular business envision at the Refuge. review and comments. This remote hours from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office This Draft VSP/EA evaluates Pacific island Refuge is a U.S. territory is located in the Prince Jonah Kuhio recreational activities at the Refuge, and located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Kalanianaole Federal Building at 300 describes the structure of the proposed Islands, and part of the newly Ala Moana Blvd., Room 5–231, visitor services program. It also outlines established Northwestern Hawaiian Honolulu, HI. activities that honor and interpret the World War II history at Midway Atoll, Islands Marine National Monument Background (Monument). The VSP is intended to in recognition of its status as the Battle guide visitor activities on the Refuge for In 1996, the Service prepared a public of Midway National Memorial. It an interim period of time until a broader use plan to guide visitor services on the discusses operational limitations, Monument management plan is Refuge. Since then, new laws and policy biological constraints, and partnership completed that meets the applicable regarding wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities beyond Midway Atoll. requirements of a refuge comprehensive in the National Wildlife Refuge System Since 1995, the Service has been conservation plan. have been promulgated, and a new strongly committed to welcoming visitor services plan is required to DATES: Written comments must be visitors to the Refuge. This is the first ensure recreational uses at the Refuge received (see ADDRESSES) by midnight and only remote island national wildlife on February 6, 2007. are compatible with the National refuge in the to provide Wildlife Refuge System mission and the the general public with an opportunity ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft purposes of the Refuge and the Battle of to learn about and experience these VSP/EA should be submitted via Midway National Memorial. In addition, unique ecosystems. A regularly electronic mail to [email protected]. all recreational activities must be scheduled visitor program operated on Please use ‘‘VSP’’ in the subject line. compliant with the requirements of the the Refuge until early in 2002, when it Alternatively, comments may be newly designated Monument, which ended after our cooperator left the atoll. addressed to: Barbara Maxfield, Chief, refers to the Refuge as a Special Since then, visitors have arrived almost Pacific Islands Division of External Management Area. exclusively by the occasional cruise Affairs and Visitor Services, 300 Ala The Draft VSP/EA is an interim plan ship or sailboat, or for a Battle of Moana Blvd., Room 5–231, Honolulu, to guide visitor activities on the Refuge Midway commemorative event. In the HI 96850. You may view or obtain until such time as the broader Draft VSP/EA, opportunities to expand copies of the Draft VSP/EA as indicated management plan is completed for the the visitor program and allow more under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Monument that meets the applicable people to experience Midway’s wildlife FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara requirements of a refuge comprehensive and historic treasury are proposed. Maxfield, Chief, Pacific Islands Division conservation plan. The Monument’s Preliminary compatibility of External Affairs and Visitor Services, management plan will incorporate determinations are provided in the Draft phone number (808) 792–9531. opportunities to participate in broader VSP/EA that would allow the following SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft management and conservation wildlife-dependent recreational uses: VSP and EA were prepared pursuant to activities, within the Northwestern Wildlife observation and photography, the National Wildlife Refuge System Hawaiian Islands and throughout the environmental education and

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interpretation, and participatory 2007 and 500 people in 2008 and and Budget for Review Under the research. Hunting and fishing, two uses beyond. Paperwork Reduction Act. normally given priority on national For the next 5 years (2007–2011), wildlife refuges, will not take place on visitor programs would operate from SUMMARY: The proposal to initiate the the Refuge. All animal species occurring November through July, which collection of information described on the Refuge are protected by law, or coincides with the season on below will be submitted to the Office of occur in numbers too low to provide the Refuge. The months of August Management and Budget for approval hunting opportunities. Recreational through October would be reserved under the provisions of the Paperwork fishing is precluded under the primarily for planned construction and Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Presidential proclamation (Proclamation major maintenance activities. Copies of the proposed collection of 8031) designating the Monument. With no additional Service funding information and related forms may be Additional preliminary compatibility available to support a visitor program, obtained by contacting the Bureau’s determinations allow for beach use visitation at the Refuge must be Clearance Officer at the phone number activities such as swimming and financially self-sustaining. Fees listed below. OMB has up to 60 days to volleyball, non-administrative airport reflecting actual costs for transportation, approve the information collection, but operations, limited outdoor sports such lodging, food services, and visitor may respond after 30 days; therefore as bicycling and jogging, and amateur services staffing are included in this public comments should be submitted radio use. Each preliminary Draft VSP/EA. Additional permitting to OMB within 30 days in order to compatibility determination includes requirements also are discussed. assure maximum consideration. stipulations necessary to ensure For this interim period, the Service Comments and suggestions on the protection of the Refuge’s natural and intends to operate the visitor program proposal should be made directly to the historic resources. Any additional primarily with its own staffing and with Desk Officer for the Interior Department, help from Monument co-trustees and OMB–OIRA, via e-mail to activities that may be proposed within _ the Refuge would need to be evaluated volunteers. Outside entities may be OIRA [email protected] or via through the compatibility determination needed to provide assistance with facsimile to (202) 395–6566, and to the process with formal public review. marketing the program, and to establish Bureau Clearance Officer, U.S. Activities that are determined to be a dive program at the Refuge. These Geological Survey, 807 National Center, compatible are authorized through the options will be evaluated over the 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, issuance of Monument permits, which coming year. 20192. Specific public comments are fall within six permit types: Public Comments requested as to: Conservation and management, Public comments are requested, 1. Whether the collection of research, education, Native Hawaiian considered, and incorporated information is necessary for the proper uses, special ocean uses, and recreation. throughout the planning process. After performance of the functions of the Goals, objectives, and strategies for the review and comment period ends for Bureau, including whether the the visitor program are discussed in the Draft VSP/EA, comments will be information will have practical utility; Chapter 4 of the Draft VSP/EA. The analyzed by the Service and addressed 2. The accuracy of the Bureau’s Service will encourage individual in revised planning documents. All estimate of the burden of the collection visitors as well as organized groups to comments received from individuals, of information, including the validity of visit the Refuge. Opportunities for including names and addresses, become the methodology and assumptions use; teacher workshops in environmental part of the official public record and 3. The quality, utility, and clarity of education, college courses, and distance may be released. Requests for such the information to be collected; and learning will be explored. comments will be handled in 4. How to minimize the burden of the Improvements to trails and installation accordance with the Freedom of collection of information on those who of blinds will benefit wildlife Information Act, the Council on are to respond, including the use of the observation and photography Environmental Quality’s NEPA appropriate automated, electronic, opportunities, as will snorkeling and regulations [40 CFR 1506.6(f)], and mechanical, or other forms of guided kayaking tours. Onsite and Service and Department of the Interior information technology. offsite interpretation of Midway Atoll’s policies and procedures. Title: Inventory of Geological and historic and wildlife resources will be Geophysical Collections at State enhanced. Dated: December 6, 2006. Surveys. In order to ensure a quality visitor David J. Wesley, OMB approval number: 1028–. experience using the limited Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Abstract: Section 351 of the Energy infrastructure currently available, . Policy Act of 2005 directs the Secretary limiting the total number of overnight [FR Doc. E6–22112 Filed 12–22–06; 8:45 am] of the Interior, through the Director of visitors that would be allowed on BILLING CODE 4310–55–P the U.S. Geological Survey, ‘‘to carry out Midway Atoll at any one time to 30 a National Geological and Geophysical people in 2007, and 50 people in 2008 data Preservation Program’’ (NGGDPP). and beyond, as long as the VSP is DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR The Implementation Plan for the effective, is proposed. The number of National Geological and Geophysical Geological Survey visitors may exceed these limits for Data Preservation Program submitted to short periods of time (less than a day) Inventory of Geological and Congress in August 2006 outlines the for prearranged visits by ocean vessels Geophysical Collections at State vision and purpose of the program and or aircraft. In these cases, visitor Surveys makes recommendations for activities are closely supervised and implementation of the program. One of primarily consist of guided tours or AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey. the action items in the FY 2007 participation in commemorative events. ACTION: Request for Public Comments on implementation plan is to ‘‘begin Annual goals for the number of Proposed Information Collection interactions with State geological overnight visitors are 100 people in Submitted to the Office of Management surveys and other DOI agencies that

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