[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3024-3025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00652]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2012-N296; FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000]
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, MS; Intent To
Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare
a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and associated National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Winston
Counties, Mississippi. We provide this notice in compliance with our
CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Native-American
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 February 14, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, questions, and requests for
information to: Mr. Steve Reagan, Project Leader, Sam D. Hamilton
Noxubee NWR, 2970 Bluff Lake Road, Brooksville, MS 39739; or steve_reagan@fws.gov (email).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Paduani, Natural Resource
Planner, at 662-323-5548 (telephone); or michelle_paduani@fws.gov
(email); or Mr. Steve Reagan at 662-323-5548 (telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR in Mississippi. This notice complies with
our CCP policy to: (1) Advise other Federal and State agencies, Native-
American 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 Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National
Wildlife
[[Page 3025]]
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, 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 (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 Administration Act.
Each unit of the 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 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
the refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of the Refuge
System.
Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
We encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and
suggestions for the future management of Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR.
We will conduct the environmental review of this project 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.
The Noxubee NWR was established on June 14, 1940, by Executive
Order 8444, under the authority of 16 U.S.C. 715 (Migratory Bird
Conservation Act). It was renamed the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National
Wildlife Refuge on June 22, 2012. The refuge's stated purpose is ``for
use as a Refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other
wildlife.'' In conjunction with the primary establishing purposes, the
refuge provides an area for the ``conservation, management, and
restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their
habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of
Americans'' 16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)(2) (National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997), as well as ``for the development,
advancement, management, conservation, and protection of fish and
wildlife resources'' 16 U.S.C. 742(a)(4) (Fish and Wildlife Act of
1956). Subsequently, a small amount of land was purchased with
Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp monies ``for use as an inviolate
sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds''
16 U.S.C. 715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act).
Public Availability and Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email 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 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et
seq.).
Dated: December 20, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-00652 Filed 1-14-13; 8:45 am]
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