[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2561-2562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-378]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Supplement to the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper Mississippi River National 
Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin; 
Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Supplement to the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
(CCP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was released to the 
public on December 5, 2005, (70 FR 72462, December 5, 2005) for a 60-
day review and comment period ending February 3, 2006. Due to public 
and elected official requests, the comment period for the Supplement is 
being extended 30 days.

DATES: Comments on the Supplement to the Draft CCP/EIS received by 
March 6, 2006, will be considered in the preparation of the Final CCP/
EIS.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to Upper Mississippi 
National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Attention: CCP Supplement Comment, 
51 East 4th Street, Room 101, Winona, Minnesota 55987, or direct e-mail 
to [email protected]. Comments may also be submitted through the 
Service's regional Web site at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Hultman, at (507) 452-4232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Upper Mississippi River National 
Wildlife and Fish Refuge encompasses 240,000 acres along 261 miles of 
Mississippi River floodplain in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and 
Illinois. The Refuge was established by Congress in 1924 to provide a 
refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds, fish, other wildlife, 
and plants.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the Supplement to the 
Draft CCP/EIS for the refuge on December 5,

[[Page 2562]]

2005, for a 60-day comment period. The Supplement to the Draft CCP/EIS 
was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Improvement Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969. Goals and objectives in the CCP describe how the agency 
intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years.
    Upon release of the Supplement, citizen groups and elected 
officials requested an extension of the comment period. They cited the 
importance of the plan to the citizens affected, the commitments of the 
holidays, and the need for the public to be able to incorporate in 
their comments what they hear and learn at nine public meetings 
scheduled for January 2006. Given the above, an extension of 30 days 
will help ensure full public review and comment.

    Dated: January 4, 2006.
Charles M. Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. E6-378 Filed 1-13-06; 8:45 am]
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