[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 209 (Monday, October 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 62322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21607]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation
Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Roanoke River National
Wildlife Refuge in Bertie County, NC
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that the Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for
Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge are available for distribution.
The plan and environmental impact statement were prepared pursuant to
the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and
describe how the refuge will be managed over the next 15 years. The
compatibility determinations for hunting, fishing, environmental
education and interpretation, trapping of selected furbearers for
management, forest management, and resource research studies are also
available within the plan.
DATES: A Record of Decision may be signed on or after November 30,
2005.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan and environmental impact statement is
available by writing to Harvey Hill, Refuge Manager, 114 West Water
Street, Windsor, North Carolina 27983; Telephone: 252/794-3808; Fax:
252/794-3780; or by e-mail at [email protected]. The plan and
environmental impact statement may also be accessed and downloaded from
the Service's Web site http://southeast.fws.gov/planning.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge, in
northeastern North Carolina, consists of 20,978 acres, of which 13,824
acres are bald cypress-water tupelo swamp and 7,154 acres are
bottomland hardwood forest. The refuge supports a variety of wildlife
species, including neotropical migratory songbirds, waterfowl, colonial
nesting birds, deer, turkeys, and squirrels.
The refuge hosts 20,000 visitors annually who participate in
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and
environmental education and interpretation.
Implementing the comprehensive conservation plan will enable the
refuge to fulfill its critical role in the conservation and management
of fish and wildlife resources in the Roanoke River Valley, and to
provide quality environmental education and wildlife-dependent
recreational opportunities for refuge visitors. The Service analyzed
three alternatives for managing the refuge and selected Alternative 3
to guide management direction over the next 15 years.
Alternative 3 advances the refuge program considerably and outlines
programs that will meet both the biological needs of refuge resources
and needs of the public. The refuge will develop a habitat management
plan and manage all habitats and selected easements large enough to
warrant consideration. The staff will survey all wildlife on the
refuge. The number of public use opportunities will increase. Pending
the availability of funds, a shop and equipment storage facility will
be constructed.
Two changes were made to the final plan. One change related to the
Service's role in addressing the managed-flow issue on the Roanoke
River. The river has managed flows from both flood control dams and
hydroelectric power generation. The Service has been involved in
negotiations regarding the re-licensing agreement between Dominion
Power Company and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Service
is involved in discussions to study the impacts of the flood control
projects under section 216 of the Flood Control Act. The Service's
Ecological Services Field Office in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the
lead office on the managed-flow issue. The South Atlantic Fisheries
Coordination Office also participates in the negotiations and studies.
The other change related to the waterfowl hunting season on the refuge.
The refuge will now end its waterfowl hunting season on the same date
the state waterfowl hunting season ends.
Public comments were requested, considered, and incorporated
throughout the planning process. Public outreach has included open
houses, public meetings, a biological review, planning update mailings,
and Federal Register notices. Five previous notices were published in
the Federal Register concerning the comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental impact statement (65 FR 66256, November 3, 2000; 66 FR
23042, May 7, 2001; 67 FR 13793, March 26, 2002; 70 FR 16299, March 30,
2005; 70 FR 32610, June 3, 2005). During the comment period on the
draft plan, the Service received fifteen public responses. All
substantive issues raised have been addressed either through changes
incorporated into the final plan or through the responses to the public
comments, which are included in Appendix XIII of the plan.
Dated: September 8, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 05-21607 Filed 10-28-05; 8:45 am]
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