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Notice of Intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge in Charleston County, SC

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: January 3, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 1)]
[Notices]
[Page 141]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ja07-63]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment for ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge in
Charleston County, SC

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: 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 of 1969 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 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 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: Please provide written comments on the scope of issues to
include in the environmental document by March 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for more information
regarding the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge planning process
should be sent to: Van Fischer, Natural Resource Planner, South
Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex, 5801 Highway 17 North, Awendaw,
South Carolina 29429; Telephone: 843/928-3264; Fax: 843/928-3803;
Electronic mail: van_fischer@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Special mailings, newspaper articles, and
other media announcements will be used to inform the public and state
and local government agencies of the opportunities for input throughout
the planning process. Open-house style public meetings will be held
during the scoping phase of the comprehensive conservation plan
development process. During this process, many elements will be
considered, including wildlife and habitat management, public use
opportunities, and cultural resource protection. Public input during
the planning process is essential. All comments received become part of
the official public record. Requests for such comments will be handled
in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and other Service and
Departmental policies and procedures.
    ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge was established on September 20,
1990, to help protect the largest undeveloped estuary along the
Atlantic Coast. It consists of rich bottomland hardwoods and freshwater
and saltwater marshes, offering food and cover to a variety of
wildlife. The refuge is part of an overall ACE Basin Project Habitat
Protection and Enhancement Plan implemented by a coalition consisting
of the Fish and Wildlife Service, South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, The Low Country
Open Land Trust, Westvaco, and private landowners of the ACE Basin.
    The name ACE Basin represents the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto
Rivers, which form the estuary and parts of the refuge boundary. The
entire basin encompasses more than 350,000 acres, of which the refuge
comprises just less than 12,000 acres. Additional information
concerning this refuge may be found at the Service's Internet site:
http://www.fws.gov/refuges.

    Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.

    Dated: December 1, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E6-22455 Filed 12-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

 
 

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