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Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall, McCracken, and Graves Counties, KY 

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[Federal Register: August 29, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 169)]
[Notices]
[Page 50981-50982]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29au08-95]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0152; 40136-1265-0000-S3]

Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall, McCracken, and
Graves Counties, KY

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), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and associated National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for Clarks River National
Wildlife Refuge. We provide this notice in compliance with our CCP
policy to advise other agencies, Tribes, and the public of our
intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of
issues to consider in the planning process.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by October 14, 2008. An open house meeting will be held during the
scoping phase of the CCP development process. The date, time, and place
for the meeting will be announced in the local media.

ADDRESSES: Address comments, questions, and requests for more
information to: Tina Chouinard, Natural Resource Planner, Fish and
Wildlife Service, 6772 Hwy 76 South, Stanton, TN 38069.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Chouinard; Telephone: 731/780-
8208; Fax: 731/772-7839; E-mail: tina_chouinard@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge in Marshall, McCracken, and
Graves Counties, Kentucky.
    This notice complies with our CCP policy to (1) advise other
Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intention to
conduct detailed planning on this refuge; and (2) obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of issues to consider in the environmental
document and during development of the CCP.

[[Page 50982]]

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy
for achieving refuge purposes and contributing to the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of
fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Improvement Act.
    Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established for
specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for
developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to
determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a
way for us and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives
for the best possible conservation approach to this important wildlife
habitat, while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities that are compatible with the refuge's establishing
purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
    Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
At this time we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas,
and suggestions for the future management of Clarks River National
Wildlife Refuge. Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media
outlets will be used to announce opportunities for input throughout the
planning process.
    We will conduct the environmental assessment in accordance with the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA) (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 laws and regulations.
    On June 19, 1997, the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge was
established under the ``Emergency Wetland Resources Act of 1986 (100
Stat. 3582-91.)'' The purposes are ``* * * the conservation of the
wetlands of the Nation in order to maintain the public benefits they
provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in
various migratory bird treaties and conventions * * *'' 16 U.S.C.
3901(b), 100 Stat. 3583.
    The refuge was first identified as a high priority site for
protection in 1978 by the Service's bottomland hardwood conservation
program. In 1991, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife
Resources asked the Service to consider the site for protection as a
unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The refuge currently
consists of approximately 8,500 acres, with an approved acquisition
boundary of approximately 18,000 acres that extends along the East Fork
of the Clarks River from just south of Benton, Kentucky, northwest to
within five miles of the city of Paducah, Kentucky. The office/visitor
center and maintenance facilities are located on the refuge in Benton,
Kentucky. The most common public use activities on the refuge consist
of hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and
hiking. Environmental education is also a significant use on the refuge.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.

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

    Dated: July 1, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-20086 Filed 8-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

 
 

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