[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27586-27587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9404]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment for Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in
Bibb and Twiggs Counties, 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 Bond Swamp 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 July 16,
2007.
ADDRESSES: Address comments, questions, and requests for more
information to Carolyn Johnson, Deputy Project Leader, Piedmont
National Wildlife Refuge, 718 Juliette Road, Roundoak, Georgia 31038;
Telephone: 478/986-5441; or you may correspond with Ms. Johnson via the
Internet at [email protected].
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 into 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 within 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.
[[Page 27587]]
A comprehensive conservation planning process will be conducted
that will provide opportunities for Tribal, State, and local
governments; agencies; organizations; and the public to participate in
issue scoping and public 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 the Bond Swamp
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.
Open house style meeting(s) will be held throughout the scoping
phase of the comprehensive conservation plan development process.
Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media announcements
will be used to inform the public and state and local government
agencies of the opportunities for input throughout 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. Requests for such comments will be handled in accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act and Service and Departmental policies
and procedures.
Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1989 to
protect, maintain, and enhance the forested wetland ecosystem of the
Ocmulgee River floodplain. The refuge consists of 6,500 acres situated
along the fall line separating the Piedmont and Coastal Plains.
The refuge has a diversity of vegetation communities, including
mixed hardwood-pine, bottomland hardwoods, tupelo gum swamp forests,
creeks, tributaries, beaver swamps, and oxbow lakes. The refuge is rich
in wildlife diversity, including white-tailed deer, wood ducks, black
bears, alligators, wild turkey, a nesting pair of bald eagles, and
excellent wintering habitat for waterfowl. Extensive bottomland
hardwoods provide critical habitat for neotropical songbirds of
concern, such as Swainson's warbler, wood thrush, prothonotary warbler,
and yellow-billed cuckoo. The combination of warm weather and wet areas
at Bond Swamp Refuge provides ideal conditions for a variety of reptile
and amphibian species.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: February 8, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the
Federal Register on May 11, 2007.
[FR Doc. E7-9404 Filed 5-15-07; 8:45 am]
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