[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7790-7791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3491]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
and Environmental Assessment for Grand

[[Page 7791]]

Cote National Wildlife Refuge located in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, intends to 
gather information necessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation 
plan and environmental assessment pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations. 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
    (2) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to 
include in the environmental document.
    Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media announcements 
will be used to inform the public and state and local government 
agencies of the opportunities for input throughout the planning 
process. Open house style meetings will be held throughout the scoping 
phase of the comprehensive conservation plan development process.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive written comments on or 
before April 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Address comments, questions, and requests for more 
information to Tina Chouinard, Natural Resource Planner, Central 
Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 401 Island Road, 
Marksville, Louisiana 71351.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By Federal law, all lands within the 
National Wildlife Refuge System are to be managed in accordance with an 
approved comprehensive conservation plan. This plan guides management 
decisions and identifies the goals, long-range objectives, and 
strategies for achieving refuge purposes. The planning process will 
consider many elements, including wildlife and habitat management, 
public recreational activities, and cultural resource protection. 
Public input into this planning process is essential.
    Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1989 to 
provide wintering habitat for mallards, pintails, blue-winged teal, and 
wood ducks, as well as production habitat for wood ducks to meet the 
goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Additional 
objectives of the refuge include providing habitat for threatened and 
endangered species, providing habitat for a natural diversity of plant 
and wildlife species, and providing opportunities for wildlife-oriented 
recreation and environmental education when compatible with other 
refuge objectives.
    Grand Cote Refuge, consisting of 6,075 acres, is a component of the 
Central Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes Lake 
Ophelia and Cat Island Refuges, three fee title Farmers Home 
Administration tracts, and thirteen conservation easements located in 
four central Louisiana Parishes.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natural Resource Planner, Central 
Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, telephone: 318/253-4238; 
fax: 318/253-7139; e-mail: [email protected]; or mail (write to 
the Natural Resource Planner at address in ADDRESSES section).

    Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 
105-57.

    Dated: January 29, 2004.
J. Mitch King,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 04-3491 Filed 2-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M