[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54667-54668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21505]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement for the Rocky Flats National Wildlife
Refuge, Golden, CO
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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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 Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) and its implementing regulations.
A CCP will be prepared for the future Rocky Flats National Wildlife
Refuge (NWR) located in Jefferson County, Colorado. The purpose of the
CCP is to describe the future conditions of the Rocky Flats NWR and
provide long-term guidance and management direction to achieve the
refuge's purpose and restore its ecological integrity.
In the EIS, the Service will describe and evaluate a range of
reasonable alternatives and the anticipated impacts of each. This
information will be used in the draft CCP for the Rocky Flats NWR. 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: Public scoping meetings will be held in surrounding communities
in September 2002. Written scoping comments must be received by October
31, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Comments and inquiries should be directed to Rocky Flats NWR
Comprehensive Conservation Plan, Attn: Laurie Shannon, Planning Team
Leader, Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Building 111, Commerce City,
Colorado 80022. Comments also may be mailed electronically to
[email protected]. The Draft and Final CCP, Draft and Final EIS,
Record of Decision, and final rule will be available for viewing and
downloading at http://rockyflats.fws.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie Shannon, Planning Team Leader
(see address above) at (303) 289-0980, or Fax (303) 289-0579.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service has initiated Comprehensive
Conservation Planning for the future Rocky Flats NWR in Jefferson
County, Colorado. Each national wildlife refuge
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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 those public uses proposed for the
Refuge. The planning process is a way for the Service and the public to
evaluate management goals and objectives for the best possible
conservation of this important wildlife habitat, while providing for
wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are compatible with
each Refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System. The Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of
2001 mandates that the refuge will be managed for the purposes of: (1)
Restoring and preserving native ecosystems; (2) providing habitat for,
and population management of, native plants and migratory and resident
wildlife; (3) conserving threatened and endangered and candidate
species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; and 4) providing
opportunities for compatible scientific research.
The Federal Government acquired 2,519 acres of the 6,300-acre Rocky
Flats site in 1951 for use as a nuclear weapons production facility.
The remaining acreage was acquired in 1974-1976. In 1992, the mission
of the Rocky Flats site changed to site cleanup and closure in a manner
that is safe, environmentally and socially responsible, physically
secure, and cost-effective. The majority of the site has generally
remained undisturbed since its acquisition, and provides habitat for
many wildlife species, including a resident, federal-listed threatened
species. Within the site is a rare xeric tallgrass prairie plant
community. Establishing the site as a unit of the National Wildlife
Refuge System will promote the preservation and enhancement of its
natural resources for present and future generations.
By Federal law, all lands within the National Wildlife Refuge
System are to be managed in accordance with an approved CCP. A CCP
describes the desired future conditions of the refuge and provides
long-range guidance and management direction to accomplish the purposes
of the refuge, contribute to the mission of the National Wildlife
Refuge System, and meet other relevant mandates. The planning process
will consider many elements including habitat and wildlife management,
wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities, environmental education,
and other wildlife-dependent uses. Public input into this process is
essential. The Service is requesting input for issues, concerns, ideas,
and suggestions for the future management of Rocky Flats NWR. Anyone
interested in providing input is invited to respond to the following
three questions:
(1) What makes the Rocky Flats NWR special or unique to you?
(2) What problems or issues do you want to see addressed in the
CCP?
(3) What are your recommendations for future management of Rocky
Flats NWR?
The above questions were designed to stimulate thinking about Rocky
Flats and its future management. The Service invites any relevant
comments or ideas and does not require that participants provide any
specific information. Comments received by the planning team will be
used as part of the planning process.
An opportunity will be given to the public to provide input at
public meeting to scope issues and concerns. These public scoping
meetings will be held in nearby communities in September 2002. The
meetings will take place in facilities meeting accessibility
requirements outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Citizens
with disabilities that may require accommodation to participate in or
to understand the meeting, should contact Laurie Shannon, Refuge
Planner, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at (303) 289-0980 at least one
week in advance so arrangements for accommodations can be made.
Comments also may be submitted anytime during the planning process by
writing to the above addresses.
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), and other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, and
Service policies and procedures for compliance with those regulations.
All comments received from individuals on Service EISs 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 policy 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 comment letters are not required to contain the
commenter's name, address, or any other identifying information.
Dated: July 31, 2002.
John A. Blankenship,
Acting Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 02-21505 Filed 8-22-02; 8:45 am]
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