[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 34957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9448]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Laramie Plains National Wildlife Refuges, Laramie, WY

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan 
and environmental assessment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) intends to gather information necessary to prepare a 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and associated environmental 
documents for the Laramie Plains National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in 
southeast Wyoming, which include Bamforth NWR, Hutton Lake NWR, and 
Mortenson Lake NWR.
    The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with Service 
CCP policy to advise other agencies and the public of its intentions, 
and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be 
considered in the planning process.

DATES: Written comments must be received by July 17, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for more information regarding the 
Laramie Plains NWRs should be sent to Toni Griffin, Planning Team 
Leader, Division of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal 
Center, Denver, Colorado 80225.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, 303-236-4378, or Linda 
Kelly, Chief, Branch of Comprehensive Conservation Planning, at 303-
236-8132.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service has initiated the CCP for the 
Laramie Plains NWRs with headquarters in Walden, Colorado.
    Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, including these 
NWRs, has specific purposes for which it was established. Those 
purposes are used to develop and prioritize management goals and 
objectives within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to 
guide which public uses will occur on these Refuges. The planning 
process is a way for the Service and the public to evaluate management 
goals and objectives for the best possible conservation efforts of this 
important wildlife habitat, while providing for wildlife-dependent 
recreation opportunities that are compatible with the Refuges' 
establishing purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System.
    The Service will conduct a comprehensive conservation planning 
process that will provide opportunity for Tribal, State, and local 
governments; agencies; organizations; and the public to participate in 
issue scoping and public comment. The Service is requesting input for 
issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the future management of 
the Laramie Plains NWRs in southeast Wyoming. Anyone interested in 
providing input is invited to respond to the following two questions.
    (1) What problems or issues do you want to see addressed in the 
CCP?
    (2) What improvements would you recommend for the Laramie Plains 
NWRs?
    The Service has provided the above questions for your optional use; 
you are not required to provide information to the Service. The 
Planning Team developed these questions to facilitate finding out more 
information about individual issues and ideas concerning these Refuges. 
Comments received by the Planning Team will be used as part of the 
planning process; individual comments will not be referenced in our 
reports or directly responded to.
    An opportunity will be given to the public to provide input at an 
open house to scope issues and concerns (schedule can be obtained from 
the Planning Team Leaders at the above addresses). Comments may also be 
submitted anytime during the planning process by writing to the above 
addresses. All information provided voluntarily by mail, phone, or at 
public meetings becomes part of the official public record (i.e., 
names, addresses, letters of comment, input recorded during meetings). 
If requested under the Freedom of Information Act by a private citizen 
or organization, the Service may provide informational copies.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 
CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws and regulations; 
and Service policies and procedures for compliance with those 
regulations. All comments received from individuals on Service 
Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements become 
part of the official public record. Requests for such comments will be 
handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA (40 CFR 
1506.6(f)), and other Departmental and Service policies and procedures. 
When requested, the Service generally will provide comment letters with 
the names and addresses of the individuals who wrote the comments. 
However, the telephone number of the commenting individual will not be 
provided in response to such requests to the extent permissible by law.

    Dated: May 23, 2006.
James J. Slack,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, CO.
[FR Doc. E6-9448 Filed 6-15-06; 8:45 am]
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