According to Regional Director Sam Marler, the DEIS evaluates a proposal to establish the New Madrid National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) in New Madrid County near the city of New Madrid, Missouri. The proposed Refuge area includes what is locally known as the St. Johns Bayou Basin and the Eagles Nest Basin. Included in the DEIS are assessments of the environmental and socioeconomic impacts that might be caused by establishment of the Refuge.
The primary purposes for establishing the Refuge are to protect, restore, and manage wetlands and bottomland forest habitats in support of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan; protect endangered and threatened species and their habitat; and to increase public opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education.
The impacts of six alternatives, one "no action" and five "action," were examined and evaluated. The five "action" alternatives for the Service range from acquiring only agreements for wildlife habitat development on 4,620 acres on private lands to acquiring fee title on up to 16,600 acres from willing sellers. The Services preferred alternative proposes acquisition of 16,600 acres in fee title from willing sellers over a 20 to 50 year period. It includes a commitment to limit reduction of cropland acres to a specified level for 25 years to soften any impacts on the local agricultural economy. This alternative also accommodates long-standing plans under consideration by local sponsors for enhancing the existing drainage and flood control system.
The Service has scheduled open house sessions and a public meeting for March 31 and April 1, 1993, at the New Madrid Community Building, 1200 Mill Street, New Madrid, Missouri. The open house sessions will be March 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and April 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
These informal sessions are for those people who want to visit with Service representatives on a one-to-one basis about the DEIS or the Refuge proposal.
The public meeting will be April 1 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and its purpose will be to receive statements and comments pertaining to the proposed Refuge and DEIS. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement will be allotted 2-3 minutes. Written comments will also be accepted during the meeting or anytime during the comment period.
All written comments not presented at the public meeting should be sent to Mr. Jim Salyer, New Madrid Project Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 436, Mountain Grove, Missouri 65711.
Copies of the DEIS are being mailed to all affected landowners, the involved Congressional offices, state and Federal offices, local sports groups, local industries, special interest groups, area news media offices, and others who have previously indicated they would like to receive a copy. Copies of the DEIS on the proposed New Madrid National Wildlife Refuge may also be obtained, free of charge, from the Southern Missouri Ascertainment Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rt. 1, Box 108A, Puxico, Missouri 63960; telephone 314/222-6001: fax 314/222-6150.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
