[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 117 (Monday, June 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35283-35284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9338]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation 
Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Long Island National Wildlife 
Refuge Complex

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex 
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental 
Assessment (EA). It describes how we intend to manage the Long Island 
NWR Complex during the next 15 years. We prepared this Draft CCP/EA in 
conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 19, 2006 to the Northeast 
Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). Dates for the public meetings are:
    Monday, June 26, 2006, at Dowling College (Brookhaven Campus--Room

[[Page 35284]]

A209), 1300 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, New York.
    Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at Doubleday Babcock Senior Center, 45 E. 
Main Street, Oyster Bay, New York.
    Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at Morton NWR, 784 Noyak Road, Sag 
Harbor, New York.
    All meetings will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Open House 
sessions from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. We will accept oral and written comments 
at these meetings.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments or request copies of this Draft CCP/EA by 
mail to Thomas Bonetti, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast 
Regional Office, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, Massachusetts 
01035-9589, or by electronic mail to [email protected]. You may 
also download the document at http://library.fws.gov/ccps.htm, or 
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/longislandrefuges/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Bonetti, 413-253-8307.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Long Island NWR Complex includes 
Amagansett, Conscience Point, Elizabeth A. Morton, Oyster Bay, Seatuck, 
Target Rock, and Wertheim NWRs, along with the Lido Beach Wildlife 
Management Area and the Sayville Unit. The Long Island NWR Complex 
spans over 6,200 acres in Suffolk and Nassau Counties of New York 
State. Management focuses on migratory birds, threatened and endangered 
species, and their habitats.
    This Draft CCP/EA describes the desired future conditions for the 
refuges, and identifies goals, long-range objectives, and strategies 
for achieving the purposes for which these refuges were established. 
The document poses three management alternatives:
    Alternative A is our ``No Action'' alternative required by NEPA.
    Alternative B, the ``Proposed Action'' alternative, will increase 
the protection and management of migratory wildlife, endangered and 
threatened species, and other species of concern. This alternative will 
also increase the number and quality of wildlife-dependent recreational 
opportunities, and allow us to utilize the Long Island NWR Complex's 
proximity to New York City and urban communities to better promote 
National Wildlife Refuge System principles and improve public support 
for national wildlife refuges.
    Alternative C proposes less emphasis on public use to further 
protect threatened and endangered species, control invasive species, 
and enforce regulations. This alternative will focus on maintaining 
public use infrastructure such as nature trails and information kiosks, 
while de-emphasizing interactive programs.
    With the publication of this notice, the public is encouraged to 
send written comments regarding this Draft CCP/EA. The public will also 
have opportunities to provide comments at public meetings or open house 
meetings. Places, dates and times of the meetings will also be 
advertised locally and at our Web site, http://www.fws.gov/northeast/longislandrefuges/. After the 30-day review and comment period ends on 
July 19, 2006, we will analyze, address, and consider all comments in 
revised planning documents.
    All comments, including names and addresses, become part of the 
official public record. Requests for the public record of this plan 
will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the 
Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations, and other Service 
and Departmental policies and procedures.

    Dated: June 8, 2006.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, MA 01035-
9589.
 [FR Doc. E6-9338 Filed 6-16-06; 8:45 am]
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