Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: March 29, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 60)]
[Notices]
[Page 15757-15758]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29mr06-108]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Environmental Assessment for Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge in
Horry, Georgetown, and Marion Counties, South Carolina.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Fish and Wildlife
Service, Southeast Region, intends to gather information necessary to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing
regulations.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997,
requires the Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a
comprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge managers with a
15-year strategy 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 Service policies. In addition to outlining broad
management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitat, plans
identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the
public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and
interpretation.
The purpose of this notice is to achieve the following:
(1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and
(2) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to
include in the environmental document.
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received no
later than April 28, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for more information
regarding the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge planning process should
be sent to: M. Craig Sasser, Refuge Manager, 1601 North Fraser Street,
Georgetown, South Carolina 29440; Telephone: 843/527-8069 or 843-509-
1514; E-mail: marshall_sasser@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service has initiated comprehensive
conservation planning for Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge for the
management of its natural resources. This planning will result in the
development of goals, objectives, and strategies to carry out the
refuge's purposes and to comply with laws and policies governing
management and public use of refuges. Opportunities will be provided
for public input at open houses to be held in both Georgetown and
Conway, South Carolina. All comments received from individuals become
part of the official public record. Requests for such comments will be
handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and the
Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations [40 CFR 1505.6(f)].
The refuge has an acquisition boundary that spans more than 55,000
acres and includes large sections of the Waccamaw and Great Pee Dee
rivers and a small section of the Little Pee Dee River. The wetland
diversity of this refuge is what sets it apart from most other found
along the east coast. Wetland habitats range from historic, broken and
actively managed tidal rice fields, to black water and alluvial flood
plain forested wetlands. These tidal freshwater wetlands are some of
the most diverse freshwater wetland system found in North America and
they offer many important habitats for migratory birds, fish, and
resident wildlife.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge
[[Page 15758]]
System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105-57.
Dated: March 8, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 06-2985 Filed 3-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif)