[Federal Register: October 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 195)]
[Notices]
[Page 59078-59079]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11oc05-67]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Assessment for the Handy Brake National Wildlife Refuge
and the Louisiana Wetland Management District
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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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
[[Page 59079]]
the National Environmental Policy Act 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: An open house style meeting will be held during the scoping
phase and public draft 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 dates and opportunities for input
throughout the planning process. The planning process for the Louisiana
Wetland Management District and Handy Brake National Wildlife Refuge
will be conducted in conjunction with each other.
ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for more information regarding the
Louisiana Wetland Management District planning process should be sent
to Lindy Garner, Planning Biologist, North Louisiana National Wildlife
Refuge Complex, 11372 Highway 143, Farmerville, Louisiana 71241;
Telephone: (318) 726-4222 x5; Fax: (318) 726-4667; Electronic-mail:
northlarefuges@fws.gov. To ensure consideration, written comments must
be received no later than November 25, 2005.Our practice is to make
comments, including names and addresses of respondents, available for
public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may
request that we withhold their home addresses from the record, which we
will honor to the extent allowable by law.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Louisiana Wetland Management District
was established in September 1990 ``* * * for conservation purposes * *
*'' 7 U.S.C. 2002 (Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act). Most
of the 37 Farm Service Agency easements, 10 fee title tracts, and 4
leases are concentrated in northeastern Louisiana. In 1988, the first
fee title transfer of a Farm Service Agency tract in the Southeast
Region resulted in the establishment of Handy Brake National Wildlife
Refuge. The wetland management district currently oversees Fish and
Wildlife Service interests on about 10,000 acres. This refuge is
combined with D'Arbonne, Upper Ouachita, Black Bayou Lake, and Red
River National Wildlife Refuges to form the North Louisiana National
Wildlife Refuge Complex. The wetland management district encompasses
several parishes in the northern half of Louisiana: Natchitoches,
Grant, Richland, Morehouse, West Carroll, and East Carroll.
Habitat management within the wetland management district focuses
primarily on reforestation of marginal agricultural areas and
development and maintenance of moist-soil units. Mowing, discing,
burning, and/or spraying is periodically required to maintain early
successional stages.
The varied habitat on lands within the wetland management district
provide for a diverse array of wildlife. Bald eagles and peregrine
falcons are known to occur on the district. Both are usually associated
with large waterfowl concentrations. Small concentrations (< 1,000) of
waterfowl are seen on the easement tracts and on Handy Brake Refuge,
depending upon the availability of water. Migratory songbirds also use
several of the tracts and Handy Brake Refuge. Resident furbearers
include fox, gray squirrels, rabbits, deer, beaver, and raccoon.
There are limited wildlife observation opportunities at Handy Brake
Refuge and other fee title tracts within the Louisiana Wetland
Management District. The observation tower at Handy Brake Refuge had
approximately 3,200 visitors during 2002.
A few potential issues to be reviewed during the planning process
include water manipulation, beaver control throughout the district, and
control of undesirable plant species, such as willow, cocklebur, and
Sesbania. Control methods in the past included mechanical means, water
level manipulation, and spraying.
The Service will conduct a comprehensive conservation planning
process that will provide opportunity for State and local governments,
agencies, organizations, and the public to participate in issue scoping
and public comment. Comments received by the planning team will be used
as part of the planning process.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: September 7, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 05-20318 Filed 10-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M