[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77782-77783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9871]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation
Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Grand Cote National
Wildlife Refuge in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
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 Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge 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
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and describes how the refuge will be
managed for the next 15 years. The compatibility determinations for
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, environmental
education and interpretation, all-terrain vehicle use, cooperative
farming, and resource research studies, are also available within the
plan.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan may be obtained by writing to the Grand
Cote National Wildlife Refuge, 401 Island Road, Marksville, Louisiana
71351. The plan may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service's
Website http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Grande Cote National Wildlife Refuge is
located about 5 miles west of the city of Marksville, Louisiana
(population 6,087), and 20 miles southeast of Alexandria, Louisiana
(population 46,000), south of Highway 1, west of Highway 115, and north
and east of Highway 114. The refuge is part of the central Louisiana
National wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes Grand Cote, Lake
Ophelia, and Cat Island National Wildlife Refuges and several fee and
easement Farm Service Agency sites. The refuge covers 6,075 acres but
could reach 13,000 acres if all land within the approved acquisition
boundary is purchases. The refuge was established in 1989 to provide
wintering habitat for mallards, pintails, blue-winged teal, and wood
ducks, as well as production habitat for wood ducks to meet the goals
of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The refuge consists of
a complex of bottomland hardwood forests, agricultural lands, moist-
soil areas, and direct access roads and trails. annually, more than
2,000 visitors participate in refuge activities.
The availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment for a 45-day public review and comment period
was announced in the Federal Register on June 16, 2006 (71 FR 34955).
The draft plan and environmental assessment identified and evaluated
three alternatives for managing the refuge over the next 15 years.
alternative 1 represents o change from current management of the
refuge. Under this alternative, 6,075 acres of refuge lands would
continue to be protected, maintained, restored, and enhanced for
resident wildlife, waterfowl, and threatened and endangered species.
Under Alternative 2, the ``preferred alternative,'' more staff,
equipment, and facilities would be added in order to maximize
management and restoration of the refuge's wetland and moist-soil
habitats and hydrology in support of migratory and resident waterfowl
and other wildlife, especially white-tailed deer and woodcock.
Alternative 3 would add more staff, equipment, and facilities in order
to maximize bottomland hardwood forest restoration in support of
migratory birds and other wildlife.
[[Page 77783]]
Based on the environmental assessment and the comments received,
the Servcie adopted Alternative 2 as its preferred alternative. This
alternative was considered to be the most effective for meeting the
purposes of the refuge by conserving, restoring, and managing the
refuge's wetlands and moist-soil habitats and hydrology. Alternative 2
best achieves national, ecosystem, and refuge-specific goals and
objectives and positively addresses significant issues and concerns
expressed by the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTAT: Tina Chouinard, Natural Resource
Planner, Central Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, telephone:
318/253-4238; fax: 318/253-7139; e-mail: [email protected]; or by
writing to the Natural Resource Planner at the address in the
ADDRESSESsection.
AUTHORITY: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: September 12, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the
Federal Register on December 21, 2006.
[FR Doc. 06-9871 Filed 12-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M