[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17992-17993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6797]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0016; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, Ashley, Bradley, and Union 
Counties, AR; Overflow National Wildlife Refuge, Ashley County, AR

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: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to 
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and associated National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for Felsenthal and Overflow 
National Wildlife Refuges. We provide this notice in compliance with 
our CCP policy to advise other agencies, Tribes, and the public of our 
intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of 
issues to consider in the planning process.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by May 19, 2008. We will announce opportunities for public input in 
local news media throughout the CCP planning process.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information to: Mike 
Dawson, Refuge Planner, Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View 
Parkway, Suite B, Jackson, Mississippi 39213; Fax: 601/965-4010; 
Electronic mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Dawson; Telephone: 601/965-4903, 
extension 20.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for 
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in Ashley, Bradley, and Union 
Counties, AR, and Overflow National Wildlife Refuge in Ashley County, 
AR. We provide this notice in compliance with our planning policy to 
(1) advise other Federal and State agencies and the public of our 
intention to conduct detailed planning on the refuge, and (2) obtain 
suggestions and information on the scope of topics to consider in the 
environmental document and during development of the CCP.

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 
U.S.C.

[[Page 17993]]

668dd-668ee), which amended the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966, requires us to develop a CCP for each 
national wildlife refuge. The purpose for developing a CCP is to 
provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan 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 our policies. In addition 
to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and 
their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational 
opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for 
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and 
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update 
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Improvement Act 
and NEPA.
    We establish each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System for 
specific purposes. We use these purposes as the bases to develop and 
prioritize management goals and objectives for the refuge within the 
National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to determine how the 
public can use the refuge. The planning process is a way for us and the 
public to evaluate management goals and objectives for the best 
possible conservation approach to this important wildlife habitat, 
while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that 
are compatible with the refuge's establishing purposes and the mission 
of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
    Our CCP process provides opportunities for Tribal, State, and local 
governments; agencies; organizations; and the public to participate. At 
this time we encourage the public to provide input in the form of 
issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the future management of 
Felsenthal and Overflow National Wildlife Refuges.
    We will conduct the environmental review of this project in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws 
and regulations; and our policies and procedures for compliance with 
those laws and regulations.
    Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1975, as a 
result of the Corps of Engineers' Ouachita and Black Rivers Navigation 
Project. Geographically, the 65,000-acre refuge is located in what is 
known as the Felsenthal Basin, an extensive natural depression that is 
laced with a vast complex of sloughs, bayous, and lakes. The region's 
two major rivers, the Saline and Ouachita, flow through the refuge. 
Historically, periodic flooding of the ``bottoms'' during winter and 
spring provided excellent wintering waterfowl habitat. These wetland 
areas in combination with the refuge's diverse forest ecosystem of 
bottomland hardwoods, pine forests, and uplands support a wide variety 
of wildlife and provide excellent opportunities for fishing, hunting, 
boating, wildlife observation, and environmental education.
    Overflow National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1980, to 
protect one of the remaining bottomland hardwood forests considered 
vital for maintaining mallard, wood duck, and other waterfowl 
populations in the Mississippi Flyway. This 13,000-acre plus refuge is 
a wetland complex within the watershed of Overflow Creek, which flows 
southerly along the length of the refuge. The majority of the refuge is 
bottomland hardwood forests, consisting primarily of willow and overcup 
oaks. Willow oaks, found here in abundance, produce small acorns that 
are an excellent source of food for the mallards and wood ducks that 
make the refuge their winter home.

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

    Dated: December 31, 2007.
Jon Andrew,
Acting Regional Director.
 [FR Doc. E8-6797 Filed 4-1-08; 8:45 am]
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