[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3024-3025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00652]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-R-2012-N296; FXRS12650400000S3-123-FF04R02000]


Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, MS; Intent To 
Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare 
a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and associated National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee 
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Winston 
Counties, Mississippi. We provide this notice in compliance with our 
CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Native-American 
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 February 14, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, questions, and requests for 
information to: Mr. Steve Reagan, Project Leader, Sam D. Hamilton 
Noxubee NWR, 2970 Bluff Lake Road, Brooksville, MS 39739; or [email protected] (email).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Michelle Paduani, Natural Resource 
Planner, at 662-323-5548 (telephone); or [email protected] 
(email); or Mr. Steve Reagan at 662-323-5548 (telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for 
Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR in Mississippi. This notice complies with 
our CCP policy to: (1) Advise other Federal and State agencies, Native-
American 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 Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National 
Wildlife

[[Page 3025]]

Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to develop a CCP for 
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for developing a CCP is to 
provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving refuge 
purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife 
Refuge System (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 Administration Act.
    Each unit of the Refuge System was 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 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 Refuge 
System.
    Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal, 
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public. 
We encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and 
suggestions for the future management of Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR.
    We will conduct the environmental review of this project 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 Noxubee NWR was established on June 14, 1940, by Executive 
Order 8444, under the authority of 16 U.S.C. 715 (Migratory Bird 
Conservation Act). It was renamed the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National 
Wildlife Refuge on June 22, 2012. The refuge's stated purpose is ``for 
use as a Refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other 
wildlife.'' In conjunction with the primary establishing purposes, the 
refuge provides an area for the ``conservation, management, and 
restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their 
habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of 
Americans'' 16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)(2) (National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Improvement Act of 1997), as well as ``for the development, 
advancement, management, conservation, and protection of fish and 
wildlife resources'' 16 U.S.C. 742(a)(4) (Fish and Wildlife Act of 
1956). Subsequently, a small amount of land was purchased with 
Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp monies ``for use as an inviolate 
sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds'' 
16 U.S.C. 715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act).

Public Availability and Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email 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 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et 
seq.).

    Dated: December 20, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-00652 Filed 1-14-13; 8:45 am]
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