[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54817-54818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21604]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Associated NEPA Document for the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge 
and Notice of Public Open Houses

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
and Associated National Environmental Policy Act Document for the Stone 
Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Sacramento County, California and 
Notice of Public Open Houses.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is preparing a 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) document for Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (refuge). 
This notice advises the public that the Service intends to gather 
information necessary to prepare a CCP and environmental documents 
pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 
1966, as amended, and NEPA. The public is invited to participate in the 
planning process. The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance 
with the Service CCP policy to: advise other agencies and the public of 
our intentions; obtain suggestions and information on the scope of 
issues to include in the environmental documents; and announce a series 
of public scoping meetings to occur in September and October 2002. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting information.

DATES: To ensure that the Service has adequate time to evaluate and 
incorporate suggestions and other input into the planning process, 
comments should be received within 30 days from the date of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments or requests to be added to the mailing 
list to: Planning Team Leader--Stone Lakes NWR, California/Nevada 
Refuge Planning Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage 
Way, W-1916, Sacramento, California 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Address comments and requests for 
additional information to: Mr. Miki Fujitsubo, Planning Team Leader, 
(916) 414-6507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is 
in southern Sacramento County, California, adjacent to the community of 
Elk Grove. The refuge is situated within the Morrison Creek, Cosumnes 
River, and Mokelumne River watersheds, and the Sacramento-San Joaquin 
River Delta (Delta).
    The beginnings of the refuge started in the early 1970s with the 
recognition of the importance of the Stone Lakes Basin floodplain by 
the State of California and the County of Sacramento. There was strong 
support for a refuge because the unique lakes and waterways of the 
basin are entirely within the 100-year floodplain. The basin also 
occupies a strategic location for buffering urban encroachment into the 
Delta.
    The refuge boundary was established in 1992 and with its first land 
acquisition in 1994 was officially designated the 505th unit in the 
National Wildlife Refuge System. The approved refuge boundary is 18,000 
acres with the refuge currently owning or managing more than 4,000 
acres.
    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as 
amended, mandates that all lands within the National Wildlife Refuge

[[Page 54818]]

System are to be managed in accordance with an approved CCP. The CCP 
will guide management decisions and identify refuge goals, long-range 
objectives and management strategies for achieving refuge purposes. The 
planning process will consider many elements, including habitat and 
wildlife management, habitat protection, cultural resources, and 
environmental effects. Public input into this planning process is very 
important and encouraged. 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 is soliciting information from the public via written 
comments. The Service will send out special mailings, newspaper 
articles, and announcements to people who are interested in the refuge. 
These mailings will provide information on how to participate in public 
involvement for the CCP. Comments received will be used to develop 
goals, key issues, and habitat management strategies. Additional 
opportunities for public participation will occur throughout the 
process. Data collection has been initiated to create computerized 
mapping, including vegetation, topography, habitat types and existing 
land uses.
    Public open houses have been scheduled for the following dates and 
locations. All meeting times are from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    1. Monday, September 16, 2002, at the Elk Grove Community Services 
District Board Room, 8820 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95624.
    2. Thursday, September 26, 2002, at the Clunie Community Center 
(Auditorium)--McKinnley Park, 601 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95816.
    3. Wednesday, October 2, 2002, at the Jean Harvie Community Center, 
14273 River Road, Walnut Grove, CA 95690.
    4. Thursday, October 10, 2002, at the Veterans' Memorial Center--
(Club Room), 203 East 14th Street--(corner of 14th & B Street), Davis, 
CA 95616.
    The outcome of this planning process will be a CCP to guide the 
refuge management for the next 15 years. We have estimated that a draft 
CCP and NEPA document will be made available for public review in early 
2004.

    Dated: August 19, 2002.
Ken McDermond,
Acting California/Nevada Operations Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 02-21604 Filed 8-23-02; 8:45 am]
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