[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68892-68893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23643]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment for Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge in
Lanier County, Georgia.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service intends to gather information
necessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment for Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This
notice is furnished in compliance with the Service's comprehensive
conservation planning policy to advise other agencies and the public of
our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope
of issues to be considered in the planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments must be received by January 7,
2008.
ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for more information
regarding Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge should be sent to: Ms.
Laura Housh, Regional Planner, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge,
Route 2, Box 3330, Folkston, Georgia 31537; Phone: 912/496-7366, Ext.
244; Fax: 912/496-3332; E-mail: [email protected]. You may find
additional information concerning the refuge at the refuge's Internet
site: http://www.fws.gov/southeast/BanksLake.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Constantino, Refuge
Manager, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge; Telephone: 912/496-7366.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), 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. Public
input in this planning process is essential.
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established
with specific purposes. These purposes are used to develop and
prioritize management goals and objectives with the National Wildlife
Refuge System mission, and to guide which public uses will occur on the
refuge. The planning process is a means for the Service and the public
to evaluate management goals and objectives for the best possible
conservation efforts of this important wildlife habitat, while
providing for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that are
compatible with the refuge's establishing purposes and the mission of
the National Wildlife Refuge System.
A comprehensive conservation planning process will be conducted
that will provide opportunities for Tribal, State, Federal, and local
governments; non-governmental organizations; and the public to
participate in issue scoping and comment. The Service invites anyone
interested to respond to the following questions:
1. What problems or issues do you want to see addressed in the
comprehensive conservation plan?
2. What improvements would you recommend for Banks Lake National
Wildlife Refuge?
The above questions have been provided for your optional use. You
are not required to provide any information. The Planning Team
developed these questions to gather information about individual issues
and ideas concerning the refuge. The Planning Team will use comments it
receives as part of the planning process; however, it will not
reference individual comments or directly respond to them.
Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media outlets will
be used to announce opportunities for input throughout the planning
process. An open house style meeting will be held to solicit comments
during the scoping phase of the planning process.
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); NEPA regulations (40
CFR parts 1500-1508); and other appropriate Federal laws and
regulations. All comments received become part of the official public
record. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Congress established Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge in 1985,
for the protection and conservation of its unique environment, as well
as for migratory and resident wildlife. The refuge comprises 3,559
acres of open water, marsh, hardwood swamp, and uplands. The refuge
coordinates with
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State, Federal, and local agencies; The Nature Conservancy; Moody Air
Force Base; and adjacent landowners to fulfill the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System and promote sound ecological landscape
management. Public use opportunities on the refuge include fishing,
boating (e.g., small engine, canoe, and kayak), wildlife observation
and photography, and hiking.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: October 31, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E7-23643 Filed 12-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P