Contacts
Dave Dahms, Wisconsin DNR, 414-263-8670
Dave Pederson , USFWS, 612-713-5143
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in cooperation with the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), invites the public to review
and comment on a draft generic Environmental Assessment (EA) for the construction
of public water access sites in Wisconsin.
The draft EA evaluates several alternatives, including the
proposed alternative that would continue developing and renovating access
facilities on lakes and rivers using Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration
funds. These funds come from federal excise taxes on fishing tackle and motorboat
fuels.
The DNR has determined that there is a need to continue to
construct new and renovate existing boating facilities on lakes and rivers
to provide adequate access for fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing and nature
study activities. New and improved facilities are necessary to meet increased
demand for recreational facilities generated by increased boat ownership.
Other benefits include enhanced safety for users, improved accessibility
for disabled users, and improved access for fisheries management and law
enforcement.
The proposed alternative would address this need by continuing
the current program of developing and renovating 10 to 15 facilities annually,
on lakes and rivers, with federal funding support. Officials believe that
the proposed alternative will ensure that public needs for safe recreational
boating and fishing facilities will continue to be met.
The other two alternatives considered are continued project
work at a diminished level of activity without using federal funding, and
an alternative with no new public construction/renovation work, instead depending
on private efforts to meet the public’s needs.
The EA was prepared in compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) that applies to the actions of all federal agencies. This
project is proposed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for
funding through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, administered
by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The draft EA is available on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
website at: http://midwest.fws.gov/NEPA.
Copies also may be obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Southeast Region, P.O. Box 12436, Milwaukee, WI 53212, Attn: Dave Dahms,
Public Waterway Access Coordinator (telephone 414-263-8670).
Written comments should be sent to Dahms via mail at the above
address, via email to david.dahms@dnr.state.wi.us or
via fax to 414-263-8661. Comments must be received by July 19, 2004.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal
agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife
and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally
significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands,
and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation
efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes
hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment
to state fish and wildlife agencies.
-FWS-
| 
