[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 47588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22711]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment 
(Draft EA) for Additions to Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in 
Saginaw County, Michigan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) has made available for public comment a Draft EA to 
protect additional habitat on the existing 9,042-acre Shiawassee 
National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The Refuge is located at the 
confluence of the Shiawassee, Cass and Tittabawassee Rivers, adjacent 
to the Saginaw metropolitan area in Saginaw County, in Michigan's Lower 
Peninsula.

DATES: Written comments should be received by October 23, 1995. Public 
Open Houses are scheduled in the Saginaw metropolitan area from 
September 20-23, 1995. The exact dates, times and locations are listed 
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: Regional Director, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 
1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056; Attention: 
Stanley Jackowicz, RE-AP. Copies of the Draft EA are available during 
normal business hours at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge 
headquarters, 6975 Mower Road, Saginaw, Michigan 48601.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Doug Spencer, Refuge Manager at (517) 777-5930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service proposes to protect 
approximately 7,500 acres of additional habitat in association with the 
existing Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) located along the 
Saginaw River in the east-central portion of Michigan's Lower 
Peninsula. This additional protection is proposed to restore, protect 
and manage bottomland and upland habitat that would support the 
existing Refuge and Tributary watersheds of the Saginaw River. 
Historically the area was predominantly lowland hardwood forest, upland 
forest, emergent marsh, and scattered areas of lakeplain prairie. The 
proposal is also meant to provide areas of lakeplain prairie and 
emergent marshes that are either lacking or under-represented on the 
existing Refuge. This would help to restore the habitat and wildlife 
diversity the area once supported. The proposal is also meant to 
protect the lower reaches of the Cass, Tittabawassee and Shiawassee 
River watersheds that feed and support the existing refuge and Saginaw 
Bay of Lake Huron.
    The purposes of the addition to the Shiawassee National Wildlife 
Refuge are:
    1. Provide wildlife corridors by protecting, restoring, and 
managing wetlands and bottomland forest and upland habitats along the 
rivers for the many values associated with these plant communities.
    2. Protect, restore and maintain the biological diversity of the 
area by preserving the native habitats and associated fish, migratory 
and resident wildlife.
    3. Facilitate with other agencies, groups and private landowners 
the conservation of resources in the watersheds that support the 
refuge.
    4. Provide for increased recreation, environmental education, and 
interpretative opportunities to the general public. Acquire, manage, 
and operate Green Point Environmental Learning Center in the City of 
Saginaw.
    5. Work cooperatively with local communities on the establishment 
of a visitors center located near a major thoroughfare to promote eco-
tourism in the metropolitan area.
    The alternatives considered in the Draft EA are:
    1. No Action--Rely on existing Federal, State, and local government 
laws, regulations, and ordinances to protect resources.
    2. Private Lands Agreements--Rely on a program of technical 
outreach sponsored by the Service and Michigan Department of Natural 
Resources to assist landowners in the restoration and enhancement of 
wildlife and fish habitats in the area. The area would encompass 7,500 
acres along the Cass, Shiawassee and Tittabawassee Rivers.
    3. Acquisition of 7,500 acres by Service as an Addition to the 
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge--Under this alternative, the 
Service would use acquisition of fee title, easements, and leases from 
willing sellers, subject to appropriated funds to add to the existing 
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.
    4. Acquisition of 5,688 acres by Service as an Addition to the 
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge--Under this alternative, the 
Service would use acquisition of fee title, easements, and leases from 
willing sellers along the lower reaches of the Cass, Shiawassee, and 
Tittbawassee Rivers, subject to appropriated funds to add to the 
existing Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.
    The Service's preferred alternative is #3--Acquisition of 7,500 
acres as an addition to the Shiawassee NWR. The major issues discussed 
in the Draft EA include Service acquisition policy, effects on the tax 
base, loss of cropland, maintenance of existing ditches and dikes, 
mosquito control, effects on adjacent cropland, loss of residential 
development, fire protection responsibilities, and maintenance of 
township roads.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 
CFR 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal regulations, and Service 
procedures for compliance with those regulations.
    The Service has scheduled six public open houses in the Saginaw 
area, the times and locations are as follows: Thomas Township Hall (249 
N. Miller Road, Thomas Township) on Sept. 20, 1995, from 3:00 p.m. to 
5:30 p.m.; James Township Hall (6060 Swan Creek Road, James Township) 
on Sept. 20, 1995, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saginaw Township Hall 
(4980 Shattuck Road, Saginaw Township) on Sept. 21, 1995, from 3:00 
p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Bridgeport Township Hall (6206 Dixie Highway, 
Bridgeport) on Sept. 21, 1995, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Spaulding 
Township Hall (5025 E. Road (M-13), Spaulding Township) on Sept. 22, 
1995, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and in the City of Saginaw at the 
Green Point Nature Center (3010 Maple Street, Saginaw) on Sept. 23, 
1995, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    The Draft EA will be available to the public on September 5, 1995. 
The deadline for public comments on the Draft EA is October 23, 1995.

    Dated: September 5, 1995.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-22711 Filed 9-12-95; 8:45 am]
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