[Federal Register: September 10, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 176)]
[Notices]
[Page 52668]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10se08-54]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0248; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Alligator River 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 Alligator River National
Wildlife Refuge in Manteo, North Carolina.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact
for Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is available for
distribution. The plan 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
will be managed for the next 15 years. The compatibility determinations
for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography,
environmental education and interpretation, and trapping of selected
furbearers are also available in the plan.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan may be obtained by writing to the
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 1969, Manteo, North
Carolina 27954. The plan may also be accessed and downloaded from the
Service's Web site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The availability of the Draft Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for a 45-day public
review and comment period was announced in the Federal Register on May
30, 2006 (71 FR 30687). The plan and environmental assessment
identified and evaluated three alternatives for managing the refuge
over the next 15 years. Alternative 1, the no-action alternative, would
have continued current management of the refuge. Alternative 3 would
have resulted in substantial program increases.
Based on the environmental assessment and the comments received,
the Service adopted Alternative 2 as its preferred alternative.
Alternative 2 directs the development of programs to best achieve the
refuge purpose and goals; emphasizes wildlife conservation as our
highest priority in refuge management; collects habitat and wildlife
data; and ensures long-term achievement of refuge and Service
objectives. At the same time, these management actions provide balanced
levels of compatible public use opportunities consistent with existing
laws, Service policies, and sound biological principles. Alternative 2
provides the best mix of program elements to achieve desired long-term
conditions.
Under this alternative, all lands under the management and
direction of the refuge will be protected, maintained, and enhanced to
best achieve national, ecosystem, and refuge-specific goals and
objectives within anticipated funding and staffing levels. In addition,
the action positively addresses significant issues and concerns
expressed by the public.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Dare and
Hyde Counties, North Carolina, about 3.5 hours east of Raleigh and 1.5
hours south of the Virginia line. The refuge covers a total of 153,017
acres within the 239,800-acre acquisition boundary and occupies the
eastern-most portion of the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula in eastern
North Carolina. The refuge is the lead refuge in the North Carolina
Coastal Plain Refuge Complex and consists of a variety of habitats,
including forested wetlands, shrub wetlands, agricultural lands, moist-
soil areas, open waters, dirt/gravel access roads and trails, and
recently reforested areas. Annually, more than 35,000 people visit the
refuge.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bonnie Strawser, Wildlife Interpretive
Specialist, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge; telephone: 252-
473-1131; fax: 252-473-1668; e-mail: bonnie_strawser@fws.gov; or by
writing to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge at the address
in the ADDRESSES section.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: March 30, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the
Federal Register on September 5, 2008.
[FR Doc. E8-20974 Filed 9-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P