[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17993-17994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6834]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0005; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


 Pine Island, Caloosahatchee, and Matlacha Pass National Wildlife 
Refuges, Lee County, FL; Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Charlotte 
County, FL

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 environmental 
assessment (EA) for Pine Island, Caloosahatchee, Matlacha Pass, and 
Island Bay National Wildlife Refuges. These refuges are located within 
the J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex. We provide 
this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal 
and State 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 hold public meetings to begin the CCP planning 
process. We will announce opportunities for public input in the local 
news media throughout the CCP planning process. Open house meetings 
will be scheduled and held throughout the scoping phase of the 
comprehensive conservation plan development process.

ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for more information 
regarding the planning process should be sent to: Laura Housh, Regional 
Planner, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Route 2, Box 3330, 
Folkston, GA 31537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Housh; Telephone: 912/496-7366, 
Extension 244; Fax: 912/496-3332.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for 
Pine Island, Caloosahatchee, and Matlacha Pass National Wildlife 
Refuges, Lee County, FL; and Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 
Charlotte County, FL.
    This notice complies with our CCP policy to (1) advise other 
Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intention to 
conduct detailed planning on these refuges, and (2) obtain suggestions 
and information on the scope of issues to consider in the environmental 
document and during development of the CCP.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), 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 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 our 
policies. In addition to outlining broad management

[[Page 17994]]

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.
    Congress established each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation 
for developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for 
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to 
determine how the public can use each 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 each refuge's establishing 
purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
    Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal, 
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public. 
At this time we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, 
and suggestions for the future management of Pine Island, Island Bay, 
Caloosahatchee, and Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuges.
    We will conduct the environmental assessment 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.
    Each of the refuges is administered as part of the J.N. ``Ding'' 
Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The purposes of each refuge 
are to protect and provide suitable habitat for threatened and 
endangered species, and to provide habitat for a wide diversity of 
shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl, raptors, and neotropical migratory 
birds.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

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

    Dated: February 13, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
 [FR Doc. E8-6834 Filed 4-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P