[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 232 (Friday, December 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 70276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26660]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Egmont Key, Pinellas, and Passage Key National Wildlife Refuges
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Environmental Assessment for Egmont Key, Pinellas, and Passage Key
National Wildlife Refuges located in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and
Manatee Counties, Florida, respectively. These three refuges, known as
the Tampa Bay Refuges, are managed as part of the Chassahowitzka
National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Fish and Wildlife
Service, Southeast Region, intends to gather information necessary to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing
regulations. The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with
the National Wildlife Refute System Administration Act of 1966, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), to achieve the following:
(1) To advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and
(2) To obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to
include in the environmental documents.
The Service will solicit information from the public via open
houses, meetings, and written comments. Special mailings, newspaper
articles, and announcements will inform people in the general area near
each refuge of the time and place of such opportunities for public
input to the planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments must be received within 30
days of the date of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Address comments, questions, and requests for more
information to the following: Mary Morris, Natural Resource Planner,
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 68, St. Marks, Florida
32355; Telephone 850/925-6121; e-mail [email protected]. Additional
information concerning these refuges may be found at the Service's
Internet site http://www.fws.gov/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By Federal law, all lands within the
National Wildlife Refuge System are to be managed in accordance with an
approved comprehensive conservation plan. This plan guides management
decisions and identifies the 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 use, and cultural resources.
Public input to this planning process is essential.
Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1974 and
consists of 350 acres. The refuge, accessible only by boat, provides
nesting, feeding, and resting habitat for brown pelicans, terns, and
other colonial nesting water birds.
Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1951 and
consists of 403 acres. The refuge, accessible only by boat, was
established as a breeding ground for colonial bird species. It is
comprised of several islands, including Indian, Tarpon, Mule, and
Jackass Keys.
Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1905 and
consists of 30 acres. The refuge, accessible only by boat, provides
nesting, feeding, and resting habitat for colonial water birds,
including laughing gulls, royal terns, black skimmers, sandwich terns,
brown pelicans, and oyster catchers.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: October 14, 2004.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 04-26660 Filed 12-2-04; 8:45 am]
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