Environmental statements; notice of intent: Southwest region; comprehensive conservation plans for eight National Wildlife Refuges,

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Federal Register: June 19, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 118)NoticesPage 33693-33694From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr19jn98-94

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Intent To Prepare Comprehensive Conservation Plans for 8 National Wildlife Refuges in the Southwest Region

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to gather information necessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and other environmental documents for certain National Wildlife Refuges listed in the Supplemental Information section pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations.

DATES: The Service will be open to written comments through October 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and requests for more information to: Mr. Lou Bridges, Project Coordinator, Research Management Consultants, Inc., 1746 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 21, Suite 300, Golden, CO 80401

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is Service policy to have all lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System managed in accordance with an approved CCP. The CCP guides management decisions and identifies refuge goals, long-range objectives, and strategies for achieving refuge purposes. The planning process will consider many elements, including habitat and wildlife management, habitat protection and acquisition, public and recreational uses, and cultural resources. Public input into this planning process is essential. The CCP will provide other agencies and the public with a clear understanding of the desired conditions for the Refuges and how the Service will implement management strategies.

The Service intends to gather information necessary to prepare a CCP and other environmental documents for Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, Las Vegas, New Mexico; Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge, Maxwell, New Mexico; Muleshoe and Grulla National Wildlife Refuges, Muleshoe, Texas; Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Umbarger, Texas; Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, Jet, Oklahoma; and Sequoyah and Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuges, Vian, Oklahoma. The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with Service CCP policy: (1) to advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and (2) to obtain suggestions

[Page 33694]and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental documents.

Additional opportunities for written comments will be provided during the draft review process. If necessary, the Service will solicit information from the public via open houses, meetings, and workshops. Special mailings, newspaper articles, and announcements will inform people in the general area near each refuge of the current status of the project as well as the time and place of any meetings to be conducted.

Review of these projects 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 parts 1500- 1508), other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, including the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Executive Order 12996, and Service policies and procedures for compliance with those regulations.

The Service anticipates that draft CCP documents and any associated NEPA documents will be available by June, 1999.

Dated: June 12, 1998. Geoffrey L. Haskett, Acting Regional Director.

FR Doc. 98-16326Filed6-18-98; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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