[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 160 (Monday, August 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48237-48238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19085]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-R-2008-N0113; 60138-1265-6CCP-S3]


Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex, MT

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: This notice advises that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) intends to gather information necessary to prepare a 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and associated environmental 
documents for the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex 
(Complex) in Montana, which includes the Benton Lake National Wildlife 
Refuge (NWR), Lost Trail NWR, Blackfoot Valley Wildlife Management 
Area, Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area, Benton Lake Wetland 
Management District (WMD), Swan River NWR, and the Northwest Montana 
Flathead County WMD.
    The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with Service 
CCP policy to advise other agencies and the public of its intentions, 
and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be 
considered in the planning process.

DATES: Written comments must be received by September 17, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for more information regarding the 
Benton Lake NWR Complex should be sent to Toni Griffin, Planning Team 
Leader, Division of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal 
Center, Denver, Colorado 80225.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Toni Griffin, 303-236-4378, or John 
Esperance, Chief, Branch of Comprehensive Conservation Planning at 303-
236-4369.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service has initiated the CCP for the 
Benton Lake NWR Complex with headquarters in Great Falls, Montana.
    Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System has specific 
purposes for which it was established and for which legislation was 
enacted. Those purposes are used to develop and prioritize management 
goals and objectives within the National Wildlife Refuge System 
mission, and to guide which public uses will occur on the Complex. The 
planning process is a way for the Service and the public to evaluate 
management goals and objectives for the best possible conservation 
efforts of this important wildlife habitat, while providing for 
wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible with 
the Complex's establishing purposes and the mission of the National 
Wildlife Refuge System.
    The Service will conduct a comprehensive conservation planning 
process that will provide opportunity for Federal, Tribal, State, and 
local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public to 
participate in issue scoping and public comment. The Service is 
requesting input for issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the 
future management of the Complex. Anyone interested in providing input 
is invited to respond to the following two questions.
    (1) What problems or issues do you want to see addressed in the 
CCP?
    (2) What improvements would you recommend for the Benton Lake NWR 
Complex?
    The Service has provided the above questions for your optional use; 
you are not required to provide information to the Service. The 
Planning Team developed these questions to facilitate finding out more 
information about individual issues and ideas concerning the Complex. 
Comments received by the Planning Team will be used as part of the 
planning process; individual comments will not be referenced in our 
reports or directly responded to.
    An opportunity will be given to the public to provide input at a 
public meeting to scope issues and concerns (schedule can be obtained 
from the Planning Team Leader at the above address). Comments may also 
be submitted anytime during the planning process by writing to the 
above address. All information provided voluntarily by mail, phone, or 
at public meetings becomes part of the official public record (i.e., 
names, addresses, letters of comment, input recorded during meetings). 
If requested under the Freedom of Information Act by a private citizen 
or organization, the Service may provide informational copies.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 
CFR 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws and regulations; and 
Service policies and procedures for compliance with those regulations. 
All comments received from individuals on Service Environmental 
Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements become part of the 
official public record. Requests for such comments will be handled in 
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA (40 CFR 
1506.6(f)), and other Departmental and Service policies and procedures. 
When requested, the Service generally will provide comment letters with 
the names and addresses of the individuals who wrote the comments. 
However, the telephone number of the commenting individual will not be 
provided in response to such requests to the extent permissible by law. 
Additionally, public

[[Page 48238]]

comment letters are not required to contain the commentator's name, 
address, or any other identifying information. Such comments may be 
submitted anonymously to the Service.

    Date: May 15, 2008.

Gary G. Mowad,
Acting Regional Director.

    Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the 
Federal Register on August 13, 2008.

[FR Doc. E8-19085 Filed 8-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P