Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, 203-204 [E7-25541]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 203-204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25541]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan 
and environmental assessment for Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge 
in Citrus County, Florida.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service intends to gather information 
necessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and 
environmental assessment for Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. 
This notice is furnished in compliance with the Service's comprehensive 
conservation planning policy to advise other agencies and the public of 
our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope 
of issues to be considered in the planning process.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments must be received by March 3, 
2008. A public scoping meeting will be held on February 6, 2008, from 
6-10 p.m. The location of the meeting will be announced in the local 
media.

ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for information should be 
sent to: Joyce Kleen, Wildlife Biologist, Crystal River National 
Wildlife Refuge, 1502 SE Kings Bay Drive, Crystal River, Florida 34429; 
Telephone: 352/563-2088, Ext. 211; or electronic mail: joyce_
kleen@fws.gov. You may find additional information concerning the 
refuge at the refuge's Internet site: http: //www.fws.gov/crystalriver.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Joyce Kleen at the address in the 
ADDRESSES section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), 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 to 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. Public 
input in this planning process is essential.
    Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established 
with specific purposes. These purposes are used to develop and 
prioritize management goals and objectives with the National Wildlife 
Refuge System mission, and to guide which public uses will occur on the 
refuge. The planning process is a means for the Service and the public 
to evaluate management goals and objectives for the best possible 
conservation efforts of this important wildlife habitat, while 
providing for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are 
compatible with the refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of 
the National Wildlife Refuge System.
    A comprehensive conservation planning process will be conducted 
that will provide opportunities for Tribal, State, Federal, and local 
governments; non-governmental organizations; and the public to 
participate in issue scoping and comment. The Service invites anyone 
interested to respond to the following questions:
    1. What problems or issues do you want to see addressed in the 
comprehensive conservation plan?
    2. What improvements would you recommend for Crystal River National 
Wildlife Refuge?
    The above questions have been provided for your optional use. You 
are not required to provide any information. The Planning Team 
developed these questions to gather information about individual issues 
and ideas concerning the refuge. The Planning Team will use comments it 
receives as part of the planning process; however, it will not 
reference individual comments or directly respond to them.
    Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media outlets will 
be used to announce opportunities for input throughout the planning 
process. A public scoping meeting will be held in Crystal River, 
Florida, early in February 2008.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA regulations (40 
CFR parts 1500-1508); and other appropriate Federal laws and 
regulations. All comments received become part of the official public 
record. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is in the town of 
Crystal River, Citrus County, Florida. This 80-acre refuge is comprised 
of several islands and springs surrounded by the spring-fed waters of 
Kings Bay at the headwaters of the Crystal River. Refuge management 
activities focus on conserving and protecting the West Indian manatee 
and its habitat. The refuge's warm water springs and nearby submerged 
vegetation provide essential winter habitat for about 20 percent of 
Florida's manatee population. The refuge also provides habitat and 
protection for other wildlife species, including wading birds, raptors, 
alligators, and fish. It provides wildlife-dependent recreation and 
environmental education for the public.

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


[[Page 204]]


    Dated: November 14, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
 [FR Doc. E7-25541 Filed 12-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P