[Federal Register: January 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 16)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3959-3967]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ja99-109]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment and 
the Strategy and Guidelines for the Recovery and Management of the Red-
cockaded Woodpecker and Its Habitat on National Wildlife Refuges

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) announces the 
availability of a finalized Strategy and Guidelines for the Recovery of 
the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) and Its Habitat on National Wildlife 
Refuges (Guidelines). Included in the Guidelines are population 
management objectives for 644-654 active clusters of RCWs on 
approximately 141,900 acres of pine and pine hardwood forest on 13 
refuges in the southeastern United States. We will implement actions 
directed at protection of clusters, management of nesting habitat, 
population management, management of foraging habitat, forest 
management (including silvicultural activities), and management of RCWs 
in federally designated Wilderness.

    We also announce the availability of a final environmental 
assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The EA 
includes an evaluation of the environmental impact of four 
alternatives: (1) implementing the Guidelines as proposed; (2) taking 
no action to comprehensively implement revised recovery guidelines and 
strategies; (3) implementing the Guidelines, intensifying management 
efforts and expanding the area to be managed for RCWs; and (4) 
implementing the Guidelines on a smaller area of refuge land.

    You may obtain copies of the Strategy and Guidelines and the EA by 
making a request in writing to the Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). 
This notice also advises the public that we have made a determination 
that issuing the Guidelines is not a major Federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of 
Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), as amended. We base the FONSI on an evaluation of the 
information contained in the Guidelines and provide this notice 
pursuant to NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

DATES: We plan to implement the strategy and Guidelines effective upon 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to obtain a copy of the Strategy and 
Guidelines, should submit a request in writing to: U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Southeast Regional Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30345. (Attn: Assistant Regional Director, Refuges and 
Wildlife.) You may also obtain copies at the Southeast Regional Office 
(address above) and at the following locations: Office of the Red-
cockaded Woodpecker Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Clemson University, Department of Forest Resources, 261 
Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-1003, and Office of the Refuge 
Manager, Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Route 1, Brooksville, MS 
39739.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ralph Costa, Red-cockaded 
Woodpecker Recovery Coordinator, Clemson Field Office, (see ADDRESSES 
above), telephone: 864/656-2432, or Mr. David Richardson, Biologist, 
Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge (see ADDRESSES above), 601/323-5548.