[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 134 (Friday, July 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39978-39979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15762]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0180; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Delta and Breton National Wildlife Refuges, Louisiana

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Draft 
Comprehensive

[[Page 39979]]

Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Delta 
National Wildlife Refuge in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, and Breton 
National Wildlife Refuge in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, 
Louisiana, is available for distribution. This document was prepared 
pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 
1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Draft CCP/
EA describes the Service's proposal for management of the refuge for 15 
years.

DATES: Written comments must be received at the postal address listed 
below no later than August 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: To provide written comments or to obtain a copy of the Draft 
CCP/EA, please write to: Mr. Jack Bohannan, 61389 Highway 434, Lacombe, 
LA 70445. A copy of the Draft CCP/EA is available on both compact 
diskette and hard copy. You may also access and download a copy of the 
Draft CCP/EA at the Service's Internet Site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jack Bohannan; Telephone: 985/882-
2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    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.

Background:

    Significant issues addressed in the Draft CCP/EA include managing 
threatened and endangered species, species of concern, and other 
species of federal responsibility; conserving habitats and restoring 
wetland habitats specific to the riverine and marine environments; 
providing and improving refuge visitor programs; increasing public 
outreach; and providing environmental education programs.
    Three management alternatives were considered for Delta Refuge. 
Alternative A would continue current management with no new actions to 
improve or enhance existing programs. Alternative B would focus on 
expanding public use activities to the fullest extent possible, 
including duplicating programs and opportunities offered at the 
adjacent wildlife management area. Alternative C, the proposed 
alternative, would emphasize managing natural resources based on 
maintaining and improving wetland habitats with improved restoration 
techniques; providing quality public use programs and wildlife-
dependent recreational activities; and expanding the outreach program.
    Three management alternatives were also considered for Breton 
Refuge. Alternative A would continue the present management practices 
with no changes or improvements. Alternative B would focus on leaving 
the islands to the natural processes and weather events with no active 
management actions. Alternative C, the proposed alternative, would 
emphasize working with partners to restore island habitat with large-
scale projects, if considered feasible; improving outreach; and 
providing environmental education relating to the barrier islands to 
local schools.
    Delta Refuge, consisting of 48,799 acres of wetlands at the mouth 
of the Mississippi River, was established on November 19, 1935, by 
Executive Order 7229.
    Breton Refuge, the second oldest national wildlife refuge in the 
United States, is a barrier island chain in Breton and Chandeleur 
Sounds in the Gulf of Mexico. It was established on October 4, 1903, by 
Executive Order 7938, signed by President Theodore Roosevelt.

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

    Dates: August 16, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on July 7, 2008.
 [FR Doc. E8-15762 Filed 7-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P