[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 115 (Friday, June 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33847-33848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13314]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0150; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Sabine 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 Sabine National Wildlife 
Refuge in Cameron Parish, LA.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FONSI) for Sabine National Wildlife Refuge and the East Cove 
Unit of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is available for 
distribution. This CCP was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and describes how the refuge 
and the East Cove Unit of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge will 
be managed for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the CCP/FONSI may be obtained by writing to: Mr. 
Donald J. Voros, Project Leader, Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife 
Refuge Complex, 1428 Highway 27, Bell City, Louisiana 70630. You may 
also access and download a copy of the CCP/FONSI from the Service's Web 
site address: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald J. Voros; Telephone: 337/
598-2216.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sabine National Wildlife Refuge is one of 
four refuges that comprise the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife 
Refuge Complex. It is located 8 miles south of Hackberry on State 
Highway 27 in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Sabine National Wildlife 
Refuge was established by Executive Order 7764, dated December 6, 1937, 
as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife 
and by the Migratory Bird Conservation Act as a sanctuary for migratory 
birds. The refuge occupies the marshes between Calcasieu and Sabine 
Lakes and consists of 125,790 acres of open water and marsh grassland. 
It is

[[Page 33848]]

managed to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds and 
to conserve and enhance coastal marshes for wildlife and fish.
    Compatibility determinations for recreational freshwater 
sportfishing; recreational sportfishing tournaments; recreational 
hunting; environmental education and interpretation; wildlife 
observation and photography; research and monitoring; commercial 
alligator harvest; commercial video and photography; commercially 
guided wildlife viewing, photography, environmental education, and 
interpretation; beneficial use of dredge material; and commercially 
guided fishing on the East Cove Unit only are also included in the CCP.
    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Sabine National 
Wildlife Refuge begun as announced in the Federal Register on January 
17, 2003 (68 FR 2566). We released the Draft CCP/EA to the public, 
announcing and requesting comments for 30 days in a notice of 
availability in the Federal Register on June 29, 2007 (72 FR 35717).
    The Draft CCP/EA evaluated three alternatives for managing Sabine 
National Wildlife Refuge over the next 15 years. The Service chose 
Alterative B, which will keep the refuge operational with minimal 
public use programs functional but at a reduced cost in the short term; 
the refuge was severely damaged by Hurricane Rita in September 2005, 
and is currently closed to most activities other than essential 
operations, hurricane clean-up and restoration activities, and very 
limited public use activities. After hurricane damages are repaired, 
management will increase marsh restoration, enhance fish and wildlife 
management, and expand public use in the long-term. For the East Cove 
Unit of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, water control 
structures will be operated to restore preferred vegetated plant 
communities associated with intermediate or slightly brackish 
environments. The CCP discusses opportunities to improve vegetation in 
open-water areas by constructing terraces, assessing the need for 
waterfowl sanctuary, monitoring and controlling invasive plant species, 
and improving public fishing access. Commercially guided fishing will 
be permitted in this unit under special use permit only. The 
alternative will be the most effective one to contribute to the purpose 
for which the refuge was established and to the mission of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System. Implementation of the goals, objectives, and 
strategies within the CCP will allow the Service to manage the refuge 
to maintain and perpetuate Gulf Coast wetlands for migratory wintering 
waterfowl, provide for endangered plants and animals, allow appropriate 
and compatible wildlife-dependent recreation, and promote research on 
marsh and aquatic wildlife.

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

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on June 10, 2008.

    Dated: October 30, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-13314 Filed 6-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P