U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service to Host Two Additional Public Meetings for the Land Protection Plan for Niobrara Confluence and Ponca Bluffs

In response to requests for increased public participation regarding the proposed Niobrara Confluence and Ponca Bluffs Conservation Areas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Park Service (NPS) have scheduled two additional scoping meetings to gather public input. The two lunch-time meetings will be held Wednesday, February 22 in Wagner, South Dakota and Thursday, February 23 in Yankton, South Dakota. Both meetings start at noon, beginning with a brief presentation followed by questions and answers. Comments may be submitted through March 16, 2012, for consideration by the NPS and FWS during development of the Land Protection Plan. There will be another opportunity to comment on the draft Land Protection Plan in the fall of 2012. For more information or to submit comments, visit the project website (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/niob-ponca). The other previously scheduled public meetings regarding the proposal will begin with an open house as follows: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. The Outdoor Campus 4500 S. Oxbow Ave. Sioux Falls, South Dakota Wednesday, February 22, 2012 Noon to 1:00 p.m. City Council Room 60 South Main Ave. Wagner, South Dakota Thursday, February 23, 2012 Noon to 1:00 p.m. Yankton County Government Center 321 West 3rd Street Yankton, South Dakota Thursday, February 23, 2012 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. W.H. Over Museum 1110 Ratingen Street Vermillion, South Dakota Friday, February 24, 2012 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. WFLA Hall Spruce and Park Avenues Niobrara, Nebraska Information will broadcast via local radio stations in the event of a cancellation or postponement. To receive additional information or to ask questions, contact: Nick Kaczor, Planning Team Leader Division of Refuge Planning U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service P.O. Box 25486, DFC Denver, Colorado 80225 303- 236-4387 Steve Mietz, Superintendent National Park Service Missouri National Recreational River 508 East 2nd Street Yankton, South Dakota 57078 605-665-0209