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National Wildlife Refuges, North Dakota

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 [Federal Register: February 28, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 39)]
[Notices]
[Page 9019-9020]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28fe07-78]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

National Wildlife Refuges, North Dakota

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we) intend to
gather information necessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation
plan (CCP) and associated environmental documents for twelve (12)
National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) located in the State of North Dakota.
The twelve (12) NWRs are Stump Lake, Lake Alice, Kellys Slough,
Audubon, Chase Lake, Lake Nettie, McLean, Lake Zahl, Shell Lake, White
Lake, Lake Ilo, and Stewart Lake. We furnish this notice in compliance
with our CCP policy to advise other agencies and the public of our
intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of
issues to be considered in the planning process.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by March 30, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information to John
Esperance, Planning Team Leader, Division of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box
25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Esperance, 303-236-4369, or
Michael Spratt, 303-236-4366.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this notice, the Service initiates a
CCP for twelve (12) NWRs in various locations throughout the State of
North Dakota.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
(16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), requires the Service to develop a CCP for each
NWR. The purpose in developing a CCP is to

[[Page 9020]]

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 habitats, 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 Service established each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge
System, including these twelve (12) NWRs, with specific purposes. We
use these purposes to develop and prioritize management goals and
objectives within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to
guide which public uses will occur on these NWRs. The planning process
is a way for the Service and the public to evaluate management goals
and objectives for the best possible conservation efforts of this
important wildlife habitat, while providing for wildlife-dependent
recreation opportunities that are compatible with each NWR and the
mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
    The Service will conduct a comprehensive conservation planning
process that will provide opportunity for Tribal, State, and local
governments; agencies; organizations; and the public to participate in
issue scoping and public comment. We request input for issues,
concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the future management of these
NWRs in North Dakota. We invite anyone interested to respond to the
following two questions.
    (1) What problems or issues do you want to see addressed in the CCP?
    (2) What improvements would you recommend for these twelve (12) NWRs?
    We have provided the above questions for your optional use; you are
not required to provide information to us. The planning team developed
these questions to gather information about individual issues and ideas
concerning these NWRs. Our planning team will use the comments it
receives as part of the planning process; however, we will not
reference individual comments in our reports or directly respond to them.
    We will also give the public an opportunity to provide input at an
open house to scope issues and concerns. You can obtain the schedule
from the Planning Team Leaders (see ADDRESSES). You may also submit
comments anytime during the planning process by writing to the above
addresses. All information provided voluntarily by mail, phone, or at
public meetings becomes part of our official public record (i.e.,
names, addresses, letters of comment, input recorded during meetings).
If a private citizen or organization requests this information under
the Freedom of Information Act, we may provide informational copies.
    The Service will conduct the environmental review of this project
in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (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 regulations. All comments we receive from individuals on our
environmental assessments and environmental impact statements become
part of the official public record. We will handle requests for such
comments in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA (40
CFR 1506.6(f)), and other Departmental and Service policies and
procedures. When we receive a request, we generally will provide
comment letters with the names and addresses of the individuals who
wrote the comments. However, to the extent permissible by law, we will
not provide the telephone number of the commenting individual in
response to such requests.

North Dakota NWRs

    These twelve (12) NWRs were established for the protection of
critical migratory waterfowl habitat within the State of North Dakota.
Through these NWRs, the Service manages a complex of wetlands in 34
counties within North Dakota. The wetlands range from seasonal shallow
basins to deeper, more permanent ponds that provide resting and feeding
areas for millions of birds during Spring and Fall migration.

    Dated: January 30, 2007.
James J. Slack,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. E7-3463 Filed 2-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

 
 

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