[Federal Register: June 13, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 115)]
[Notices]
[Page 33847-33848]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13jn08-82]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0150; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation
Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Sabine National Wildlife
Refuge in Cameron Parish, LA.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) for Sabine National Wildlife Refuge and the East Cove
Unit of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is available for
distribution. This CCP was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and describes how the refuge
and the East Cove Unit of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge will
be managed for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP/FONSI may be obtained by writing to: Mr.
Donald J. Voros, Project Leader, Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife
Refuge Complex, 1428 Highway 27, Bell City, Louisiana 70630. You may
also access and download a copy of the CCP/FONSI from the Service's Web
site address: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald J. Voros; Telephone: 337/
598-2216.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sabine National Wildlife Refuge is one of
four refuges that comprise the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife
Refuge Complex. It is located 8 miles south of Hackberry on State
Highway 27 in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Sabine National Wildlife
Refuge was established by Executive Order 7764, dated December 6, 1937,
as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife
and by the Migratory Bird Conservation Act as a sanctuary for migratory
birds. The refuge occupies the marshes between Calcasieu and Sabine
Lakes and consists of 125,790 acres of open water and marsh grassland.
It is
[[Page 33848]]
managed to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds and
to conserve and enhance coastal marshes for wildlife and fish.
Compatibility determinations for recreational freshwater
sportfishing; recreational sportfishing tournaments; recreational
hunting; environmental education and interpretation; wildlife
observation and photography; research and monitoring; commercial
alligator harvest; commercial video and photography; commercially
guided wildlife viewing, photography, environmental education, and
interpretation; beneficial use of dredge material; and commercially
guided fishing on the East Cove Unit only are also included in the CCP.
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Sabine National
Wildlife Refuge begun as announced in the Federal Register on January
17, 2003 (68 FR 2566). We released the Draft CCP/EA to the public,
announcing and requesting comments for 30 days in a notice of
availability in the Federal Register on June 29, 2007 (72 FR 35717).
The Draft CCP/EA evaluated three alternatives for managing Sabine
National Wildlife Refuge over the next 15 years. The Service chose
Alterative B, which will keep the refuge operational with minimal
public use programs functional but at a reduced cost in the short term;
the refuge was severely damaged by Hurricane Rita in September 2005,
and is currently closed to most activities other than essential
operations, hurricane clean-up and restoration activities, and very
limited public use activities. After hurricane damages are repaired,
management will increase marsh restoration, enhance fish and wildlife
management, and expand public use in the long-term. For the East Cove
Unit of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, water control
structures will be operated to restore preferred vegetated plant
communities associated with intermediate or slightly brackish
environments. The CCP discusses opportunities to improve vegetation in
open-water areas by constructing terraces, assessing the need for
waterfowl sanctuary, monitoring and controlling invasive plant species,
and improving public fishing access. Commercially guided fishing will
be permitted in this unit under special use permit only. The
alternative will be the most effective one to contribute to the purpose
for which the refuge was established and to the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System. Implementation of the goals, objectives, and
strategies within the CCP will allow the Service to manage the refuge
to maintain and perpetuate Gulf Coast wetlands for migratory wintering
waterfowl, provide for endangered plants and animals, allow appropriate
and compatible wildlife-dependent recreation, and promote research on
marsh and aquatic wildlife.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the
Federal Register on June 10, 2008.
Dated: October 30, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-13314 Filed 6-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P