[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30688-30689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4907]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Delta and Breton National Wildlife Refuges
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Environmental Assessment for Delta National Wildlife Refuge in
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, and Breton National Wildlife Refuge in
St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana.
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SUMMARY: 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
[[Page 30689]]
of 1969 and its implementing regulations.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997,
requires the Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a
comprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge managers with a
15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward
the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with
sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal
mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad
management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, plans
identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the
public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and
interpretation.
The purpose of this notice is to achieve the following:
(1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and
(2) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to
include in the environmental document.
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received no
later than June 29, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for more information
regarding the planning process for Delta and Breton National Wildlife
Refuges should be sent to: Refuge Manager, Delta and Breton National
Wildlife Refuges, Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex,
61389 Highway 434, Lacombe, Louisiana 70445. Comments may also be
submitted electronically to: [email protected]; or by
telephone: 985/882-2000.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORAMTION: The comprehensive conservation planning
process will consider many elements, including wildlife and habitat
management, habitat protection and acquisition, wilderness
preservation, public recreational activities, industrial use, and
cultural resource preservation. Public input into this planning process
is essential. Open house style meetings and focus group meetings will
be held throughout the scoping phase of the planning process for each
refuge. The Service will conduct a cultural resources overview study in
support of the comprehensive conservation plan. The professional study
will identify known sites on the refuge.
Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media announcements
will inform people of opportunities for written input throughout the
planning process. Information on this process will be posted on the
Internet at http://southeastlouisiana.fws.gov. All comments received
from individuals become part of the official public record. Requests
for such comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act and the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA
regulations [40 CFR 1506.6(f)].
Delta National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935. Its 49,000
acres were formed by the deposition of sediment carried by the
Mississippi River. The primary purpose of the refuge is to provide
sanctuary and habitat for wintering waterfowl.
Breton National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1904 through
executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt. It's the second-oldest
refuge among the National Wildlife Refuge System. Its objectives are to
provide sanctuary for nesting and wintering seabirds, to protect and
conserve the wilderness character of the islands, and to provide sandy
beach habitat for a variety of wildlife species.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: April 13, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 06-4907 Filed 5-26-06; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M