[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34713-34714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16380]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Environmental Assessment for Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge, 
Marion, MT

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 34714]]

SUMMARY: This notice advises that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
intends to gather information necessary to prepare a Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan and associated environmental documents for Lost Trail 
National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Montana. Lost Trail National 
Wildlife Refuge manages the McGregor Meadows Wetland Protection Area in 
northwestern Montana. However, a CCP for this protected area will not 
be prepared concurrent with the CCP for Lost Trail MWR. The Service is 
furnishing this Notice in compliance with Service CCP policy to advise 
other agencies and the public of its intentions and to obtain 
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be considered in 
the planning process.

DATES: Written comments should be received by July 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments and request for more information regarding Lost 
Trail MWR should be sent to Bernardo Garza. Planning Team Leader, 
Division of Planning, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader, 
Division of Planning, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225 or Michael 
Spratt, Chief, Division of Planning, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 
80225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service has initiated Comprehensive 
Conservation Planning for the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge near 
Marion, Montana.
    Each National Wildlife Refuge has specific purposes for which it 
was established and for which legislation was enacted. Those purposes 
are used to develop and prioritize management goals and objectives 
within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission and to guide which 
public uses will occur on the Refuge. The planning process is a way for 
the Service and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives 
for the best possible conservation efforts of this important wildlife 
habitat, while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation 
opportunities that are compatible with each National Wildlife Refuge's 
establishing purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System.
    Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge (approximately 9,300 acres) was 
established in August, 1999. This Refuge is located west-southwest of 
Kalispell and northwest of the town of Marion, Montana, in a long 
valley with Pleasant Valley Creek flowing south out of the south. The 
Refuge also encompass the 160-acre Dahl Lake, a partially drained 
shallow lacustrine system maintained by several watersheds.
    The Service will conduct a comprehensive planning process that will 
provide opportunity for Tribal, State, and local governments, agencies, 
organizations, and the public to participate in issue scoping and 
public comment. The Service is requesting input for issues, concerns, 
ideas, and suggestions for the future management of Lost Trail National 
Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Montana. Anyone interested in providing 
input is invited to respond to the following three questions.
    (1) What makes Lost Trail NWR special or unique for you?
    (2) What problems or issues do you want to see addressed in the 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan?
    (3) What improvements would you recommend for Lost Trail NWR?
    The Service has provided the above questions for your optional use; 
you are not required to provide information to the Service. The 
Planning Team developed these questions to facilitate finding out more 
information about individuals issues and ideas concerning this Refuge. 
Comments received by the Planning Team will be used as part of the 
planning process; individual comments will not be referenced in our 
reports or directly responded to.
    Opportunities will be given to the public to provide input at open 
houses and other public meetings to scope issues and concerns 
(schedules can be obtained from the Planning Team Leaders at the above 
addresses). Comments may also be submitted anytime during the planning 
process by writing to the above addresses. All information provided 
voluntarily by mail, phone, or at public meeting becomes part of the 
official public record (i.e., names, addresses, letters of comment, 
input recorded during meetings). If requested under the Freedom of 
Information Act by a private citizen or organization, the Service may 
provide information copies.
    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. 4321 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 
CFR 1500-1508), and other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, and 
Service policies and procedures for compliance with those regulations. 
All comments received from individuals on Service Environmental 
Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements become part of the 
official public record. Requests for such comments will be handled in 
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA (40 CFR 
1506.6(f))), and other Departmental and Service policy and procedures. 
When requested, the Service generally will provide comment letters with 
the names and addresses of the individuals who wrote the comments. 
However, the telephone number of the commenting individual will not be 
provided in response to such requests to the extend permissible by law. 
Additionally, public comment letters are not required to contain the 
commentator's name, address, or any other identifying information. Such 
comments may be submitted anonymously to the Service.

    Dated: June 15, 2001.
John A. Blankenship,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 01-16380 Filed 6-28-01; 8:45 am]
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