[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 169 (Friday, August 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50981-50982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20086]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0152; 40136-1265-0000-S3]


Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall, McCracken, and 
Graves Counties, KY

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 Clarks River 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 October 14, 2008. An open house meeting will be held during the 
scoping phase of the CCP development process. The date, time, and place 
for the meeting will be announced in the local media.

ADDRESSES: Address comments, questions, and requests for more 
information to: Tina Chouinard, Natural Resource Planner, Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 6772 Hwy 76 South, Stanton, TN 38069.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Chouinard; Telephone: 731/780-
8208; Fax: 731/772-7839; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for 
Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge in Marshall, McCracken, and 
Graves Counties, Kentucky.
    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.

[[Page 50982]]

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 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 the 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 Clarks River National 
Wildlife Refuge. 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.
    On June 19, 1997, the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge was 
established under the ``Emergency Wetland Resources Act of 1986 (100 
Stat. 3582-91.)'' The purposes are ``* * * the conservation of the 
wetlands of the Nation in order to maintain the public benefits they 
provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in 
various migratory bird treaties and conventions * * *'' 16 U.S.C. 
3901(b), 100 Stat. 3583.
    The refuge was first identified as a high priority site for 
protection in 1978 by the Service's bottomland hardwood conservation 
program. In 1991, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife 
Resources asked the Service to consider the site for protection as a 
unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The refuge currently 
consists of approximately 8,500 acres, with an approved acquisition 
boundary of approximately 18,000 acres that extends along the East Fork 
of the Clarks River from just south of Benton, Kentucky, northwest to 
within five miles of the city of Paducah, Kentucky. The office/visitor 
center and maintenance facilities are located on the refuge in Benton, 
Kentucky. The most common public use activities on the refuge consist 
of hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and 
hiking. Environmental education is also a significant use on the 
refuge.

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: July 1, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-20086 Filed 8-28-08; 8:45 am]
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