[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56198-56199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28597]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
on the Proposed Expansion of the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife 
Refuge in Missouri

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that a draft Environmental 
Impact Statement on the Proposed Expansion of the Big Muddy National 
Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Missouri will be available for public 
review on October 31, 1997. Comments and suggestions are requested.

DATES: Written comments are requested by January 7, 1998. Public ``open 
house'' meetings will be held on November 13, 14, 17, 18, and 19, 1997.

WRITTEN COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO: Ms. Judy McClendon, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 24385 State Highway 51, Puxico, Missouri 63960.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Judy McClendon at the address listed above or by telephone at 573/222-
6001

[[Page 56199]]

or Toll-free 800/686-8339. Individuals with speech or hearing 
impairments may call the Missouri Relay Services at 800/735-2966 (TTY). 
Fax: 573/222-6150. E-Mail: R[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public meetings will be held at the 
following locations from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Meetings are: 11/13/97--
Concordia Community Center, 802 Gordon Street, Concordia, Missouri; 11/
14/97--Holiday Inn Sports Complex, 4011 Blue Ridge Cut-off (Exit 9 off 
I-70), Kansas City, Missouri; 11/17/97--The Columns Banquet/Conference 
Center, 711 Fairlane (5th Street exit South off I-70), St. Charles, 
Missouri; 11/18/97--Holiday Inn Select (Executive Center), 2200 I-70 
Drive S.W. (Stadium Exit 124 off I-70), Columbia, Missouri; and 11/19/
97--Lewis and Clark Hotel, Upper Banquet Room, 6054 Highway 100, 
Washington, Missouri. During the public meetings, information may be 
obtained by calling 573-718-7304.
    Ms. Judy McClendon, Wildlife Biologist, is the primary author of 
this document. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Department 
of the Interior, has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on its proposal to expand the Big Muddy National Fish and 
Wildlife Refuge in Missouri from its currently authorized 16,628 acres 
to a total of 60,000 acres.
    The Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge expansion would be 
accomplished by acquiring from willing sellers an additional 43,372 
acres along the Missouri River floodplain from Kansas City, Missouri, 
to St. Louis, Missouri, and the lower 10 miles of major tributaries. 
Proposed additions could be located in any of the twenty counties that 
lie along this stretch of the Missouri River. Selection criteria based 
on values related to proposed management goals will be used to 
determine specific sites for acquisition. Management goals of the Big 
Muddy project are to restore acquired acreage to a natural floodplain 
condition, including bottomland forests, improve and restore wetland 
values, improve fishery and wildlife resources, and provide additional 
public use areas for fish and wildlife dependent recreation.
    This action is designed to preserve and restore natural river 
floodplain, allow for management of viable and diverse fish and 
wildlife habitats, and provide for compatible fish and wildlife 
dependent recreation.
    The major alternatives under consideration that were analyzed and 
evaluated during planning are: (A) No Action. The Refugee would not be 
expanded beyond the currently authorized 16,628 acres. This acreage 
figure amounts to 2.7 percent of the 800,000 acre floodplain in this 
reach of the Missouri River and is insufficient to protect the health 
of the Missouri River ecosystem; (B) Expand the Big Muddy National Fish 
and Wildlife Refuge to 60,000 acres by acquisition of 43,372 acres 
dispersed along the Missouri River corridor from its confluence with 
the Kansas River, near Kansas City, to its confluence with the 
Mississippi River, near St. Louis, Missouri. Expansion under 
Alternative B (Preferred) would allow approximately 8 percent of 
riverine habitat losses of the Missouri River and its floodplain from 
Kansas City to St. Louis, Missouri to be restored. Three other 
alternatives were considered but not analyzed. They include: (C) Seek 
permanent protection of fish, wildlife, and habitats through 
cooperative agreements with landowners and other agencies with no 
acquisition of lands; (D) encourage private land programs to preserve 
or restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats without further 
acquisition; and (E) acquire the entire Missouri River floodplain from 
Kansas City to St. Louis, Missouri, about 800,000 acres. Alternatives 
C, D, and E were rejected because they did not have the capacity to 
address the Service's mandated responsibilities, did not provide 
permanent resource protection and restoration opportunities, and/or 
failed to meet the purpose and need for which the Big Muddy Refuge was 
established.
    Other government agencies and members of the general public 
contributed to the planning and evaluation of the proposal and to the 
preparation of this EIS. The Notice of Intent to prepare this EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on November 28, 1995. Public scoping 
meetings were held in five locations in January 1996, with over 300 
comments received from interested parties. The Service gave 
presentations to county officials, conservation groups, and other 
interested parties as well as the media and informed the public through 
intermittent distribution of the Big Muddy Update. The Service's 
mailing list has over 1,000 names.
    All agencies and individuals are urged to provide comments and 
suggestions for improving this EIS by January 7, 1998. All comments 
received by the above date will be considered in preparation of the 
final EIS for this proposed action.

    Dated: October 23, 1997.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 97-28597 Filed 10-28-97; 8:45 am]
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