[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67626-67627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9344]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of the Final Comprehensive Plan and
Finding of No Significant Impact for D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge
in Union and Ouachita Parishes, LA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact
for D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge in Union and Ouachita Parishes
are available for distribution. The plan was prepared pursuant to the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in
accordance with the National
[[Page 67627]]
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and describes how the refuge will be
managed for the next 15 years. The compatibility determinations for big
game hunting, small game hunting, migratory bird hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and
interpretation, trapping of selected furbearers, and horseback riding
are also available within the plan.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan may be obtained by writing to the
D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge, 11372 Highway 143, Farmerville,
Louisiana 71241. The plan may also be accessed and downloaded from the
Service's Web site http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge,
established in 1975, is located within the Lower Mississippi River
floodplain in north Louisiana, approximately six miles of West Monroe,
Louisiana. The refuge's 17,421 acres include deep overflow swamp,
bottomland hardwood forest, and upland mixed-pine/hardwoods. D'Arbonne
Refuge provides habitat for thousands of wintering waterfowl, wading
and waterbirds, and year-round habitat for nesting wood ducks,
squirrels, deer, river otters, and raccoons. Hunting and fishing
opportunities are permitted on most areas of the refuge, which is open
year-round for wildlife observation and wildlife photography.
The availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment for a 30-day public review and comment period
was announced in the Federal Register on April 11, 2006 (71 FR 18348).
The plan and environmental assessment identified and evaluated three
alternatives for managing the refuge over the next 15 years.
Alternative A, the proposed alternative, emphasized natural ecological
processes, enhancement of the biological program, restoration of
biological integrity with management for endangered species, and more
use of adaptive management primarily to benefit migratory birds and
forests. Alternative B would focus resources toward obtaining
biological information while providing an artificial habitat for the
endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. There would be a reduction in
visitor services. Alternative C, the ``status quo'' alternative, would
continue management and public use.
Based on the environmental assessment and the comments received,
the Service adopted Alternative A as its preferred alternative. This
alternative was considered to be the most effective for meeting the
purposes of the refuge--that of conserving bottomland hardwood forest
for migratory birds and for providing wildlife-dependent public use.
Alternative A best achieves national, ecosystem, and refuge-specific
goals and objectives and positively addresses significant issues and
concerns expressed by the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelby Ouchley, Refuge Manager,
D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge, telephone: 318/726-4222; fax: 318/
726-4667; e-mail: [email protected]; or by writing to the Refuge
Manager at the addresses in the addresses section.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: June 29, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 06-9344 Filed 11-21-06; 8:45 am]
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