[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20827-20828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10217]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Crab Orchard National Wildlife 
Refuge in Williamson, Jackson, and Union Counties, Illinois

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
and Environmental Impact Statement for the Crab Orchard National 
Wildlife Refuge.

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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 Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and its implementing regulations, for the Crab Orchard National 
Wildlife Refuge located in Williamson, Jackson, and Union Counties, 
Illinois.
    The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), to achieve the following:
    (1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and

[[Page 20828]]

    (2) Obtain additional suggestions and information on the scope of 
alternative and impacts to be considered.
    The Service solicited written comments and held three public open 
house scoping meetings and three focus group meetings during the 
scoping phase of the CCP development process. Comments received October 
2000 to the present from this previous phase will be incorporated into 
the scoping for the EIS. The Service is inviting additional written 
comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to be considered. In 
addition, the Service is inviting comments on archeological, historic, 
and traditional cultural sites in support of the National Historic 
Preservation Act.

DATES:
    Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media announcements 
will inform people of the opportunities for written input. The public 
scoring process will continue until May 29, 2001. Written comments 
submitted by mail or email should be postmarked by that date to ensure 
consideration. Comments mailed after that date will be considered to 
the extent practical.

ADDRESSES: Address comments to: Refuge Manager, Crab Orchard National 
Wildlife Refuge, 8588 Route 148, Marion, IL 62959; or E-mail: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Palmer, Planning 
Coordinator, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 8588 Route 148, Marion, IL 62959-9970, telephone 618-
997-3344, extension 319, or Mr. John Schomaker, Refuge Planning 
Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, RO/AP, BHW Federal 
Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111, telephone 612-713-
5476; or E-mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By Federal law, all lands within the 
National Wildlife Refuge System are to be 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 CCP planning process will consider many elements, including 
wildlife and habitat management, habitat protection and acquisition, 
wilderness preservation, public recreational activities, industrial 
use, and cultural resource preservation. 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 
Refuge and how the Service will implement management strategies.
    The Service solicited written comments and held three public open 
house scoping meetings and three focus group meetings during the 
scoping phase of the CCP development process. The Service previously 
notified the public (Federal Register/Vol. 65, No. 194/October 5, 2000) 
that following public scoping of issues, we would determine whether to 
prepare an EIS or an environmental assessment (EA). The Service has 
decided to prepare an EIS in accordance with procedures for 
implementing NEPA found in the Departmental manual 516 DM 6, Appendix 
1.
    The Service contracted for a cultural resources overview study in 
support of the comprehensive conservation plan. The professional study 
has identified known sites on the refuge. We are also asking the public 
to identify any cultural sites that are important to them.
    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. 4321 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, and Service 
policies and procedures for compliance with those regulations.
    We estimate that the draft environmental documents will be 
available in summer 2002.

    Dated: April 11, 2001.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 01-10217 Filed 4-24-01; 8:45 am]
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