Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge Located Off the Coast of Darien, GA, in McIntosh County, 63344 [06-8953]

Download as PDF 63344 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 209 / Monday, October 30, 2006 / Notices plan may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service’s Web site https://southeast.fws.gov/planning/. Dated: April 10, 2006. Cynthia K. Dohner, Acting Regional Director. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Indian River County, Florida, is adjacent to the city of Sebastian and along the east coast of Florida. The refuge is over 5,400 acres in size within an acquisition boundary of about 6,184 acres. Primarily comprised of lagoonal waters, the refuge includes aquatic, transitional, and upland habitats supporting a diversity of species, including 14 federally listed species. This complex ecological system also supports hundreds of species of birds, fish, plants, and mammals, as well as important bird rookeries, key fish spawning and settlement sites, and a globally important juvenile sea turtle nursery. The availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for a 60-day public review and comment period was announced in the Federal Register on July 27, 2005 (70 FR 43446). The plan and environmental assessment identified and evaluated three alternatives for managing the refuge over the next 15 years. Alternative A, the No Action Alternative, would have continued current management of the refuge. Alternative B would have minimally expanded certain refuge management programs. Alternative C, the Proposed Alternative, would have moderately expanded refuge management activities to a level more in keeping with the resources protected in the developed and developing landscapes that surround the refuge. Based on the environmental assessment and the comments received, the Service adopted Alternative C as its Preferred Alternative. This alternative was considered to be the most effective for meeting the purposes of the refuge and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Further, Alternative C best pursues national, ecosystem, and refuge-specific goals. Editorial note: This document was received at the Office of the Federal Register October 25, 2006. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri Ehrhardt, Natural Resource Planner, telephone: 321/861–2368; fax: 321/861–1276; e-mail: PelicanIslandCCP@fws.gov; or address: Pelican Island NWR CCP, P.O. Box 6504, Titusville, Florida 32782–6504. Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105–57. VerDate Aug<31>2005 02:16 Oct 28, 2006 Jkt 211001 [FR Doc. 06–8954 Filed 10–27–06; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge Located Off the Coast of Darien, GA, in McIntosh County Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, intends to gather information necessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment for Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and its implementing regulations. 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 comprehensive conservation plan for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose is developing a comprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, plans identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. The purpose of this notice is to achieve the following: (1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and (2) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental document. DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received no later than December 29, 2006. Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 The comprehensive conservation planning process will consider many elements, including wildlife and habitat management, public recreational activities, and cultural resource protection. Public input to the planning process is essential. Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media announcements will be used to inform the public and state and local government agencies of meeting dates and opportunities for input throughout the planning process. All comments received from individuals become part of the official public record. Requests for such comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Council on Environmental Quality’s NEPA regulations [40 CFR 1506.6(f)]. Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge is approximately 12 miles off the coast of Darien, Georgia, in McIntosh County, and was established on April 3, 1930, to provide protection and habitat for migratory birds. The barrier island refuge consists of Wolf Island and two smaller islands, Egg and Little Egg. More than 75 percent of the refuge’s 5,126 acres are composed of saltwater marsh. Wolf Island Refuge was designated a National wilderness Area in 1975. In addition to providing protection for migratory birds, it also is a refuge for such threatened and endangered species as the loggerhead sea turtle and the piping plover. Due to its status as a Wilderness Area, no public use facilities are planned for the refuge. Although the refuge’s saltwaters are open to a variety of recreational activities, such as fishing and crabbing, its beach, marsh, and upland areas are closed to the public. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BILLING CODE 4310–55–M PO 00000 Address comments, questions, and requests for more information to Jane Griess, Project Leader, Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 1000 Business Center Drive, Suite 10, Savannah, Georgia 31405. ADDRESSES: Sfmt 4703 Jane Griess; Telephone: 912/652–4030, Extension 101; Fax: 912/652–4385; email: jane_griess@fws.gov; or mail (write to Project Leader at address in ADDRESSES section). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105–57. Dated: September 21, 2006. Cynthia K. Dohner, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 06–8953 Filed 10–27–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 310–55–M E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM 30OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 63344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8953]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Environmental Assessment for Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge 
Located Off the Coast of Darien, GA, in McIntosh County

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, intends to 
gather information necessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation 
plan and environmental assessment for Wolf Island National Wildlife 
Refuge, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and 
its implementing regulations.
    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 comprehensive conservation plan for 
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose is developing a 
comprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge managers with a 
15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward 
the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with 
sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal 
mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad 
management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, plans 
identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the 
public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife 
observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and 
interpretation.
    The purpose of this notice is to achieve the following:
    (1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and
    (2) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to 
include in the environmental document.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received no 
later than December 29, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Address comments, questions, and requests for more 
information to Jane Griess, Project Leader, Savannah National Wildlife 
Refuge Complex, 1000 Business Center Drive, Suite 10, Savannah, Georgia 
31405.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The comprehensive conservation planning 
process will consider many elements, including wildlife and habitat 
management, public recreational activities, and cultural resource 
protection. Public input to the planning process is essential. Special 
mailings, newspaper articles, and other media announcements will be 
used to inform the public and state and local government agencies of 
meeting dates and opportunities for input throughout the planning 
process. All comments received from individuals become part of the 
official public record. Requests for such comments will be handled in 
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Council on 
Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations [40 CFR 1506.6(f)].
    Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge is approximately 12 miles off 
the coast of Darien, Georgia, in McIntosh County, and was established 
on April 3, 1930, to provide protection and habitat for migratory 
birds. The barrier island refuge consists of Wolf Island and two 
smaller islands, Egg and Little Egg. More than 75 percent of the 
refuge's 5,126 acres are composed of saltwater marsh.
    Wolf Island Refuge was designated a National wilderness Area in 
1975. In addition to providing protection for migratory birds, it also 
is a refuge for such threatened and endangered species as the 
loggerhead sea turtle and the piping plover. Due to its status as a 
Wilderness Area, no public use facilities are planned for the refuge. 
Although the refuge's saltwaters are open to a variety of recreational 
activities, such as fishing and crabbing, its beach, marsh, and upland 
areas are closed to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Griess; Telephone: 912/652-4030, 
Extension 101; Fax: 912/652-4385; e-mail: jane_griess@fws.gov; or mail 
(write to Project Leader at address in ADDRESSES section).

    Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 
105-57.

    Dated: September 21, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 06-8953 Filed 10-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 310-55-M

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.