[Federal Register: April 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 64)]
[Notices]
[Page 17991-17992]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ap08-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0004; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, FL
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments; re-opening of
comment period.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and associated National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for J.N. ``Ding'' Darling
National Wildlife Refuge. We provide this notice in compliance with our
CCP policy to advise other 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. We reopen the comment
period, which originally ended on August 13, 2007, as announced in the
Federal Register on June 27, 2007 (72 FR 35254). If you have already
submitted comments, you are not required to resubmit them.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by May 19, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for more information
regarding the J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Refuge planning
process should be sent to: Laura Housh, Regional Planner, Okefenokee
National Wildlife Refuge, Route 2, Box 3330, Folkston, GA 31537.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Housh; Telephone: 912/496-7366,
Extension 244; Fax: 912/496-3332.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we re-open the comment period and initiate our
process for developing a CCP for J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National
Wildlife Refuge in Lee County, FL. This notice complies with our CCP
policy to (1) advise 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.
[[Page 17992]]
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), 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 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.
Congress established each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge
System for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation
for developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for
the refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to
determine how the public can use the 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 J.N. ``Ding'' Darling
National Wildlife Refuge.
We will conduct the environmental assessment in accordance with the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA) (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.
Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media announcements
will be used to inform State and local government agencies and the
public of the opportunities for input throughout the planning process.
Open house meeting(s) will be scheduled and held throughout the scoping
phase of the comprehensive conservation planning process.
J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Refuge
J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Refuge was originally
established as the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge in 1945. The refuge
was originally established ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for
any other management purposes, for migratory birds, and suitable for
incidental fish and wildlife-oriented recreational development, the
protection of natural resources, and the conservation of threatened and
endangered species.'' In 1967, the refuge was renamed in honor of Jay
Norwood ``Ding'' Darling and now consists of 6,300 acres of mangrove
estuaries, freshwater spartina wetlands, and tropical hardwood
hammocks. In 1976, Public Law 94-557 approved 2,825 acres of the refuge
as a Wilderness Area.
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.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: February 8, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-6790 Filed 4-1-08; 8:45 am]
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