[Federal Register: January 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 1)]
[Notices]
[Page 203-204]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ja08-67]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment for Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
in Citrus County, Florida.
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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 Crystal River 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 March 3,
2008. A public scoping meeting will be held on February 6, 2008, from
6-10 p.m. The location of the meeting will be announced in the local
media.
ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for information should be
sent to: Joyce Kleen, Wildlife Biologist, Crystal River National
Wildlife Refuge, 1502 SE Kings Bay Drive, Crystal River, Florida 34429;
Telephone: 352/563-2088, Ext. 211; or electronic mail:
joyce_kleen@fws.gov. You may find additional information concerning the
refuge at the refuge's Internet site: http: //http://www.fws.gov/crystalriver.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Joyce Kleen at the address in the
ADDRESSES section.
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 to 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 Crystal River 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. A public scoping meeting will be held in Crystal River,
Florida, early in February 2008.
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.
The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is in the town of
Crystal River, Citrus County, Florida. This 80-acre refuge is comprised
of several islands and springs surrounded by the spring-fed waters of
Kings Bay at the headwaters of the Crystal River. Refuge management
activities focus on conserving and protecting the West Indian manatee
and its habitat. The refuge's warm water springs and nearby submerged
vegetation provide essential winter habitat for about 20 percent of
Florida's manatee population. The refuge also provides habitat and
protection for other wildlife species, including wading birds, raptors,
alligators, and fish. It provides wildlife-dependent recreation and
environmental education for the public.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
[[Page 204]]
Dated: November 14, 2007.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E7-25541 Filed 12-31-07; 8:45 am]
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