[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 97 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28838-28840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11110]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0084; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Savannah Coastal Refuges' Complex

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 the Savannah Coastal 
Refuges' Complex. The Complex consists of the following refuges: 
Pinckney Island; Savannah; Tybee; Wassaw; Harris Neck; Blackbeard 
Island; and Wolf Island. A separate CCP is being prepared for the Wolf 
Island National Wildlife Refuge. 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 July 3, 2008. An open house meeting will be held during the scoping 
phase of the Draft CCP development process. The date, time, and place 
for the meeting will be announced in the local media.

ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for information should be 
sent to: Jane Griess, Project Leader, Savannah Coastal Refuges' 
Complex, 1000 Business Center Drive, Suite 10, Savannah, GA 31405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Griess; Telephone: 912/652-4415; 
Fax: 912/652-4385; E-mail: [email protected]. You may find 
additional information concerning these refuges at the following 
Internet site: http://www.fws.gov/savannah.

[[Page 28839]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we initiate the process for developing a CCP for 
the Savannah Coastal Refuges' Complex, including the following: 
Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge in Beaufort County, South 
Carolina; Savannah National Wildlife Refuge in Chatham and Effingham 
Counties, Georgia and Jasper County, South Carolina; Tybee National 
Wildlife Refuge in Jasper County, South Carolina; Wassaw National 
Wildlife Refuge in Chatham County, Georgia; Harris Neck National 
Wildlife Refuge in McIntosh County, Georgia; and Blackbeard Island 
National Wildlife Refuge off the coast of McIntosh County, Georgia.
    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 this refuge; 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 in 
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy 
for achieving refuge purposes and contributing to 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.
    Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established for 
specific purposes. We use these purposes as a 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 established 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 the Savannah Coastal 
Refuges' Complex. Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media 
outlets will be used to announce opportunities for input throughout the 
planning process.
    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.
    The Complex is comprised of a chain of national wildlife refuges 
extending from Pinckney Island Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South 
Carolina, to Wolf Island Refuge near Darien, Georgia. Between these lie 
Savannah, Wassaw, Tybee, Harris Neck, and Blackbeard Island Refuges. 
Together they span a 100-mile coastline and total more than 56,000 
acres. The refuges are administered from headquarters in Savannah, 
Georgia.
    Pinckney Island Refuge includes the following islands: Pinckney; 
Corn; Big Harry; Little Harry; and Buzzard, as well as numerous small 
hammocks. Pinckney Island Refuge was established in 1975 and is 
comprised of 4,053 acres of salt marsh, tidal creeks, grassland, fallow 
fields, and freshwater ponds. The refuge provides habitat and 
protection for migratory and wading birds, raptors, alligators, and 
fish. Federally listed threatened and endangered species found on the 
refuge include American alligators, flatwoods salamanders, and wood 
storks. The refuge offers 14 miles of trails for wildlife-dependent 
public use opportunities and environmental education.
    Savannah Refuge, near Savannah, Georgia, was established in 1927 
and is comprised of 29,175 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers 
and creeks, and bottomland hardwoods. The refuge contains 3,000 acres 
of freshwater impoundments built during the 1700s for rice production 
and now used to manage for migratory waterfowl. Many of the dikes are 
used for foot travel and provide opportunities for wildlife 
observation. Savannah Refuge also administers fall and winter hunts for 
deer, feral hog, squirrel, and turkey. Fishing is permitted in 
freshwater pools for much of the year. Several federally listed 
threatened and endangered species are found on the refuge, including 
American alligators, flatwoods salamanders, shortnose sturgeon, West 
Indian manatees, and wood storks.
    Tybee Refuge, along the north side of the Savannah River in South 
Carolina, was established in 1938 as a breeding area for migratory 
birds. The majority of the 100-acre refuge is covered by sand deposits 
from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' harbor maintenance dredging 
activities. Federally listed threatened and endangered species found on 
the refuge include American alligators and wood storks. Due to 
difficult access, the sensitive nature of the site, and occasional 
dredging activities, the refuge is closed to the public.
    Wassaw Refuge, off the Georgia coast, is comprised of 10,053 acres 
of marsh, uplands, mudflats, and tidal creeks, including approximately 
seven miles of undeveloped beaches. The refuge, established in 1969, 
has kept its primitive character. Wassaw Refuge is accessible only by 
boat, and provides habitat and protection for migratory shore and 
wading birds, reptiles, raptors, and fish. Several federally listed 
threatened and endangered species are found on the refuge, including 
American alligators, West Indian manatees, piping plovers, wood storks, 
and leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles. Refuge management 
activities focus on habitat monitoring and protection. Opportunities 
for wildlife-dependent public use include 20 miles of dirt roads used 
for hiking, wildlife observation, and environmental education. Wassaw 
Refuge provides some opportunity for deer hunting, during the fall and 
winter months, and fishing.
    Harris Neck Refuge, five miles north of Eulonia, Georgia, is 
comprised of 2,824 acres of saltwater marsh, grassland, mixed deciduous 
woods, moist-soil impoundments, and cropland. The refuge was 
established in 1962 by transfer of Federal lands formerly managed by 
the Federal Aviation Administration as a WWII Army airfield. Portions 
of the paved airfield are used as a wildlife drive, while other parts 
are used as walking trails. Federally listed threatened and

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endangered species found on the refuge include wood storks, flatwoods 
salamanders, and American alligators. Refuge management activities 
primarily focus on habitat management for marsh and wading birds, 
endangered wood storks, waterfowl, and resident wildlife, along with 
wildlife-dependent public recreation. Fishing is allowed in the tidal 
creek and piers have been constructed for public use. Deer hunting is 
allowed during fall and winter.
    Blackbeard Island Refuge was acquired in 1800 by the Navy 
Department and was established as a national wildlife refuge in 1940. 
Situated off the Georgia coast and accessible by boat only, Blackbeard 
Island Refuge is comprised of 5,618 acres of maritime forest, salt 
marsh, freshwater marsh, and beach habitat, with 3,000 acres designated 
as Wilderness. These areas provide nesting and feeding areas for 
threatened loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles and American 
alligators; endangered piping plovers and wood storks; and species such 
as shorebirds, gulls, and terns. Refuge management activities focus on 
habitat monitoring and protection, along with wildlife-dependent public 
use opportunities and environmental education. Saltwater fishing is 
allowed. Two archery hunts for deer are scheduled during fall and 
winter.

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 may 
ask us in your comments 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: April 17, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-11110 Filed 5-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P