[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63343-63344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8954]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation 
Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Pelican Island National 
Wildlife Refuge in Indian River County, Florida.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact 
for Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge are available for 
distribution. The plan was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 and in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It describes how the refuge 
will be managed for the next 15 years. The compatibility determinations 
for fishing, environmental education and interpretation, wildlife 
observation, wildlife photography, research, mosquito control, interim 
citrus grove management, and commercial ecotour operations are also 
available within the plan.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan may be obtained by writing to the Pelican 
Island National Wildlife Refuge, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 
32960. The

[[Page 63344]]

plan may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service's Web site 
http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in 
Indian River County, Florida, is adjacent to the city of Sebastian and 
along the east coast of Florida. The refuge is over 5,400 acres in size 
within an acquisition boundary of about 6,184 acres. Primarily 
comprised of lagoonal waters, the refuge includes aquatic, 
transitional, and upland habitats supporting a diversity of species, 
including 14 federally listed species. This complex ecological system 
also supports hundreds of species of birds, fish, plants, and mammals, 
as well as important bird rookeries, key fish spawning and settlement 
sites, and a globally important juvenile sea turtle nursery.
    The availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Environmental Assessment for a 60-day public review and comment period 
was announced in the Federal Register on July 27, 2005 (70 FR 43446). 
The plan and environmental assessment identified and evaluated three 
alternatives for managing the refuge over the next 15 years. 
Alternative A, the No Action Alternative, would have continued current 
management of the refuge. Alternative B would have minimally expanded 
certain refuge management programs. Alternative C, the Proposed 
Alternative, would have moderately expanded refuge management 
activities to a level more in keeping with the resources protected in 
the developed and developing landscapes that surround the refuge.
    Based on the environmental assessment and the comments received, 
the Service adopted Alternative C as its Preferred Alternative. This 
alternative was considered to be the most effective for meeting the 
purposes of the refuge and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System. Further, Alternative C best pursues national, ecosystem, and 
refuge-specific goals.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri Ehrhardt, Natural Resource 
Planner, telephone: 321/861-2368; fax: 321/861-1276; e-mail: 
[email protected]; or address: Pelican Island NWR CCP, P.O. Box 
6504, Titusville, Florida 32782-6504.

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

    Dated: April 10, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.

    Editorial note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register October 25, 2006.

[FR Doc. 06-8954 Filed 10-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M