[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 153 (Thursday, August 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 39012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16966]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2019-0067; FF09R50000-18X-FVRS8451900000]


National Wildlife Refuge System; Loess Bluffs National Wildlife 
Refuge; Possible Name Change

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), are 
considering renaming the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge. We 
invite the public to comment on the question of whether or not to 
rename this refuge.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments that are 
postmarked on or before August 23, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by one of the following 
methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for FWS-HQ-NWRS-2019-0067, which is the 
docket number for this rulemaking. Please ensure you have found the 
correct docket before submitting your comments.
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2019-0067, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, MS: JAO/1N, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3803.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Fowler, NWRS Division of Realty, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: 3N038D, Falls 
Church, VA 22041-3803; (703) 358-1713.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting comments on the question 
of whether or not to rename the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, 
located in Holt County, Missouri. You may submit your comments and 
materials concerning this issue by one of the methods listed in 
ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the methods 
described in ADDRESSES.

Background

    On January 10, 2017, the Service Director approved a request from 
the Service Regional Director, Midwest Region, to rename the Squaw 
Creek National Wildlife Refuge, located in Holt County, Missouri, to 
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge. This decision followed a meeting 
that was held at the refuge on December 19, 2016, with certain 
interested parties to discuss suitable alternatives for the name 
change. The majority of the group of stakeholders and Tribal and 
community leaders present at the meeting concurred that recognizing the 
loess hills geologic formation would be the best alternative.
    Now, in response to congressional direction in House Report 115-
765, which accompanied the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. 
L. 116-6), enacted February 15, 2019, the Service is opening a public 
process on the question of whether or not to rename the Loess Bluffs 
National Wildlife Refuge. Accordingly, through this Federal Register 
notice, we are inviting the public to comment, for a period of 15 days, 
on the question of whether or not to rename the Loess Bluffs National 
Wildlife Refuge.

Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments we receive will become part of the public record 
associated with this action. 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 may request in your comment that we withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their 
entirety.

Next Steps

    After review of any comments received, we will determine whether 
there is public interest in renaming the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife 
Refuge. If there is significant public interest in renaming the refuge, 
we will consult local stakeholders about a new name via another open 
process.

Authority

    We provide this notice in accordance with the Congressional 
direction in House Report 115-765, which accompanied the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. 116-6).

    Dated: July 15, 2019.
Margaret E. Everson,
Principal Deputy Director, Exercising the Authority of the Director for 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-16966 Filed 8-7-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P