[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15757-15758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2985]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan 
and Environmental Assessment for Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge in 
Horry, Georgetown, and Marion Counties, South Carolina.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that 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 National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as 
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, 
requires the Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for 
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a 
comprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge managers with a 
15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward 
the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with 
sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal 
mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad 
management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitat, plans 
identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the 
public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife 
observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and 
interpretation.
    The purpose of this notice is 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.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received no 
later than April 28, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for more information 
regarding the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge planning process should 
be sent to: M. Craig Sasser, Refuge Manager, 1601 North Fraser Street, 
Georgetown, South Carolina 29440; Telephone: 843/527-8069 or 843-509-
1514; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service has initiated comprehensive 
conservation planning for Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge for the 
management of its natural resources. This planning will result in the 
development of goals, objectives, and strategies to carry out the 
refuge's purposes and to comply with laws and policies governing 
management and public use of refuges. Opportunities will be provided 
for public input at open houses to be held in both Georgetown and 
Conway, South Carolina. All comments received from individuals become 
part of the official public record. Requests for such comments will be 
handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and the 
Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations [40 CFR 1505.6(f)].
    The refuge has an acquisition boundary that spans more than 55,000 
acres and includes large sections of the Waccamaw and Great Pee Dee 
rivers and a small section of the Little Pee Dee River. The wetland 
diversity of this refuge is what sets it apart from most other found 
along the east coast. Wetland habitats range from historic, broken and 
actively managed tidal rice fields, to black water and alluvial flood 
plain forested wetlands. These tidal freshwater wetlands are some of 
the most diverse freshwater wetland system found in North America and 
they offer many important habitats for migratory birds, fish, and 
resident wildlife.

    Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the 
National Wildlife Refuge

[[Page 15758]]

System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105-57.

    Dated: March 8, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 06-2985 Filed 3-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M