[Federal Register: November 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 215)]
[Notices]
[Page 65871-65872]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05no08-77]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2008-N0211; 20131-1265-2CCP S3]
Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado and
Austin Counties, TX
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental
assessment (EA) for Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge,
located in Colorado and Austin Counties, Texas. We provide this notice
in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State
agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the
planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by January 5, 2009. We will hold public meetings to begin the CCP
planning process. We will announce opportunities for public input in
the local news media throughout the CCP planning process. Open house
meetings will be scheduled and held throughout the scoping phase of the
CCP development process.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments, questions, and requests for more
information by any of the following methods.
E-mail: Chris_Perez@fws.gov. Include ``Attwater Prairie Chicken
CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
[[Page 65872]]
Fax: Attn: Chris Perez, CCP Planner, 956-782-0641.
U.S. Mail: Rt 2, Box 202A, Alamo, TX 78516.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off your comments during regular
business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Rossignol, Refuge Manager;
Telephone: 979-234-3021; Fax: 979-234-3278. Chris Perez, CCP Planner;
Telephone: 956-784-7553; Fax: 956-782-0641.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), located in
Colorado and Austin Counties, TX. This notice complies with our CCP
policy to (1) other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public
of our intention to conduct detailed planning on this Refuge, and (2)
obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider
in the environmental document and during development of the CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to
develop a CCP for each National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose for
developing a CCP is to provide Refuge Managers with a 15-year plan for
achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of
fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our
policies. In addition to outlining the broad management direction on
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Improvement Act.
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System was established
for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for
developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to
determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a
way for us and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives
for the best possible conservation approach to this important wildlife
habitat, while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's establishing
purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
At this time, we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns,
ideas, and suggestions for the future management of Attwater Prairie
Chicken National Wildlife Refuge.
We will conduct the EA in accordance with the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.); NEPA regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other
appropriate Federal laws and regulations; and our policies and
procedures for compliance with those laws and regulations.
The purposes of Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge
are to preserve and restore coastal prairie habitat for the endangered
Attwater's prairie chicken, and for the development, advancement,
management, conservation, and protection of other fish and wildlife
resources.
Public Availability of Comments
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.
Dated: September 12, 2008.
Brian Millsap,
Acting, Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque,
New Mexico.
[FR Doc. E8-26367 Filed 11-4-08; 8:45 am]
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