[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54816-54817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21631]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
for Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, located in Brevard and 
Volusia Counties, FL.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the pubic that the Fish and Wildlife 
Service intends to gather information necessary to prepare a 
comprehensive conservation plan and associated environmental documents 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and implementing 
regulations to: (1) Advise other agencies and the public of our 
intentions; and (2) obtain suggestions and information on the

[[Page 54817]]

scope of issues to include in the environmental documents.

DATES: An open house to begin the public scoping process is scheduled 
for Saturday, September 21, 2002, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the 
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. The Visitor 
Center is located 5 miles east of Titusville, Florida, on State Route 
402. Special mailings, newspaper articles, and announcements will 
inform the public of times and locations of additional meetings to seek 
public input. The Service intends to hold at least three meetings 
during October and November 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comment, requests for additional information, and/or 
requests to be placed on the mailing list should be sent to: Natural 
Resource Planner, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, P.O. 
Box 6504, Titusville, Florida 32782-6504; telephone 321/861-2368; fax 
321/861-1276. Information concerning this refuge and a mailing list 
request form may be found at the following Web site: http://merrittisland.fws.gov.
    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of 
several methods. You may mail comments to the above address. You may 
also comment via the Internet at the above website. Please submit 
Internet comments as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form of encryption. Please also include your name 
and return address in your Internet message. If you do not receive a 
confirmation from the system that we have received your Internet 
message, contact the refuge directly at the above phone number or 
address. Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to the refuge's Visitor 
Center at the above address. Our practice is to make comments, 
including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public 
review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may 
request that we withhold their home address from the record, which we 
will honor to the extent allowable by law.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is the policy of the Fish and Wildlife 
Service to have all lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System 
managed in accordance with an approved comprehensive conservation plan. 
The plan guides management decisions and identifies the goals, 
objectives, and strategies for achieving refuge purposes. Public input 
into this planning process is encouraged. The plan will provide other 
agencies and the public with a clear understanding of the management 
strategies to be implemented.
    The Service has initiated the planning process for Merritt Island 
National Wildlife Refuge for the conservation and enhancement of its 
natural resources. Covering approximately 140,000 acres and including 
designations such as Essential Fish Habitat, Outstanding Florida 
Waters, Great Florida birding Trail Eastern Gateway, Candidate Marine 
Protected Area, and Brevard County Historic Landmark, the refuge spans 
Brevard and Volusia Counties and is generally located between the 
Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, near the city of 
Titusville, Florida.
    The Service is especially interested in receiving public input 
during this planning process. What do you value most about the refuge? 
What problems or issues do you see affecting management or public use 
of the refuge? What improvements do you recommend for the refuge? What 
changes, if any, would you like to see in the management of the refuge? 
The Service has provided these questions for optional use and has no 
requirement that information be provided.
    The Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency 
responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, 
and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the 
American people.

    Dated: July 29, 2002.
Sam D. Hamilton,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 02-21631 Filed 8-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M