Notice of Intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge in Charleston County, SC, 141 [E6-22455]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22455]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Environmental Assessment for ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge in 
Charleston County, SC

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, intends to 
gather information necessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation 
plan and environmental assessment 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 in 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: Please provide written comments on the scope of issues to 
include in the environmental document by March 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for more information 
regarding the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge planning process 
should be sent to: Van Fischer, Natural Resource Planner, South 
Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex, 5801 Highway 17 North, Awendaw, 
South Carolina 29429; Telephone: 843/928-3264; Fax: 843/928-3803; 
Electronic mail: van_fischer@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Special mailings, newspaper articles, and 
other media announcements will be used to inform the public and state 
and local government agencies of the opportunities for input throughout 
the planning process. Open-house style public meetings will be held 
during the scoping phase of the comprehensive conservation plan 
development process. During this process, many elements will be 
considered, including wildlife and habitat management, public use 
opportunities, and cultural resource protection. Public input during 
the planning process is essential. All comments received become part of 
the official public record. Requests for such comments will be handled 
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and other Service and 
Departmental policies and procedures.
    ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge was established on September 20, 
1990, to help protect the largest undeveloped estuary along the 
Atlantic Coast. It consists of rich bottomland hardwoods and freshwater 
and saltwater marshes, offering food and cover to a variety of 
wildlife. The refuge is part of an overall ACE Basin Project Habitat 
Protection and Enhancement Plan implemented by a coalition consisting 
of the Fish and Wildlife Service, South Carolina Department of Natural 
Resources, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, The Low Country 
Open Land Trust, Westvaco, and private landowners of the ACE Basin.
    The name ACE Basin represents the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto 
Rivers, which form the estuary and parts of the refuge boundary. The 
entire basin encompasses more than 350,000 acres, of which the refuge 
comprises just less than 12,000 acres. Additional information 
concerning this refuge may be found at the Service's Internet site: 
https://www.fws.gov/refuges.

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

    Dated: December 1, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
 [FR Doc. E6-22455 Filed 12-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P