[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 39786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19122]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare Comprehensive Conservation Plans and 
Environmental Impact Assessments for Arrowwood National Wildlife 
Refuge, Pingree, ND and Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Columbia, 
SD

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to gather 
information necessary to prepare Comprehensive Conservation Plans and 
associated environmental documents for the Arrowwood and Sand Lake 
National Wildlife Refuges located on the James River in North and South 
Dakota, respectively. The Service is issuing this Notice in compliance 
with its policy to advise other organizations 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 October 1, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for more information should be sent 
to: Arrowwood NWR Planning Project, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
7745 11th Street SE., Pingree, ND 58476-8308; or to: Sand Lake NWR 
Planning Project, 39650 Sand Lake Drive, Columbia SD 57433.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Misztal, Refuge Planner, Division 
of Planning, PO Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225; (303) 236-8145, 
extension 607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The Service has initiated comprehensive 
conservation planning for the Arrowwood and Sand Lake National Wildlife 
Refuges for the conservation and development of their natural 
resources. These refuges are located on the James River in North and 
South Dakota, respectively. These Refuges are open to public use.
    Comprehensive planning will develop management goals, objectives, 
and strategies to carry out the purposes of the Refuge and comply with 
laws and policies governing refuge management and public use of 
refuges.
    The Service requests input as to what issues, affecting management 
or public use, should be addressed during the planning process. The 
Service is especially interested in receiving public input in the 
following areas:

--What makes these Refuges special for you?
--What problems or issues do you see affecting management or public use 
of these Refuges?
--What improvements do you recommend for these Refuges?
--What changes, if any, would you like to see in the management of 
these Refuges?

    The Service has provided the above questions for your optional use. 
The Service has no requirement that you must provide information. The 
Planning Team developed these questions to facilitate finding out more 
information about individual issues and ideas. 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 provided for public input at open houses to 
be held near Arrowwood Refuge. Four open houses will be held to scope 
issues and concerns:
    Tuesday, August 14, 2001; Jamestown Law Enforcement Center 205 6th 
Street SE., Jamestown ND, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Edmunds/Pingree Community 
Center, Highway 281 South, Pingree, ND, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
    Wednesday, August 15, 2001; Dakota Central Telecommunications 
Cooperative, 630 5th St. N, Carrington, ND, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Kensal 
Community Cafe, 424 Main Street, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
    Opportunities will be also provided for public input at open houses 
to be held near Sand Lake Refuge. Three open houses will be held to 
scope issues and concerns:
    Tuesday, September 11, 2001; Hecla Community Center, Hecla, SD, 7 
p.m. to 9 p.m.
    Wednesday, September 12, 2001; Columbia Legion Building, Columbia, 
SD, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    Thursday, September 12, 2001; Brown County annex basement 
(community room), Aberdeen, SD, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    All information provided voluntarily by mail, phone, or at public 
meetings 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 copies of such information.
    The environmental impact assessment 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), other appropriate Federal laws and 
regulations, Executive Order 12996, the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997, and Service policies and procedures for 
compliance with those regulations.

    Dated: July 20, 2001.
John A. Blankenship,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 01-19122 Filed 7-31-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M