[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33693-33694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16326]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare Comprehensive Conservation Plans for 
8 National Wildlife Refuges in the Southwest Region

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) intends to gather information necessary to prepare a 
comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and other environmental documents 
for certain National Wildlife Refuges listed in the Supplemental 
Information section pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
and its implementing regulations.

DATES: The Service will be open to written comments through October 30, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for more information to: Mr. 
Lou Bridges, Project Coordinator, Research Management Consultants, 
Inc., 1746 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 21, Suite 300, Golden, CO 80401

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is Service policy to have all lands 
within the National Wildlife Refuge System managed in accordance with 
an approved CCP. The CCP guides management decisions and identifies 
refuge goals, long-range objectives, and strategies for achieving 
refuge purposes. The planning process will consider many elements, 
including habitat and wildlife management, habitat protection and 
acquisition, public and recreational uses, and cultural resources. 
Public input into this planning process is essential. The CCP will 
provide other agencies and the public with a clear understanding of the 
desired conditions for the Refuges and how the Service will implement 
management strategies.
    The Service intends to gather information necessary to prepare a 
CCP and other environmental documents for Las Vegas National Wildlife 
Refuge, Las Vegas, New Mexico; Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge, 
Maxwell, New Mexico; Muleshoe and Grulla National Wildlife Refuges, 
Muleshoe, Texas; Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Umbarger, 
Texas; Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Jet, Oklahoma; and 
Sequoyah and Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuges, Vian, Oklahoma. 
The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with Service CCP 
policy: (1) to advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, 
and (2) to obtain suggestions

[[Page 33694]]

and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental 
documents.
    Additional opportunities for written comments will be provided 
during the draft review process. If necessary, the Service will solicit 
information from the public via open houses, meetings, and workshops. 
Special mailings, newspaper articles, and announcements will inform 
people in the general area near each refuge of the current status of 
the project as well as the time and place of any meetings to be 
conducted.
    Review of these projects will be conducted 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, including the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Executive 
Order 12996, and Service policies and procedures for compliance with 
those regulations.
    The Service anticipates that draft CCP documents and any associated 
NEPA documents will be available by June, 1999.

    Dated: June 12, 1998.
Geoffrey L. Haskett,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 98-16326 Filed 6-18-98; 8:45 am]
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