70 FR 195 pgs. 59078-59079 - 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
Type: NOTICEVolume: 70Number: 195Pages: 59078 - 59079
FR document: [FR Doc. 05-20318 Filed 10-7-05; 8:45 am]
Agency: Interior Department
Sub Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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.
SUMMARY:
The Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, intends to gather informationnecessary to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment pursuantto the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and its implementing regulations.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the NationalWildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires the Service to develop acomprehensive conservation plan for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing acomprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy forachieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refugesystem, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legalmandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction onconserving wildlife and their habitats, plans identify wildlife-dependent recreationalopportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlifeobservation, 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 draftphase of the comprehensive conservation plan development process. Special mailings,newspaper articles, and other media announcements will be used to inform the public and stateand local government agencies of the dates and opportunities for input throughout the planningprocess. The planning process for the Louisiana Wetland Management District and Handy BrakeNational Wildlife Refuge will be conducted in conjunction with each other.
ADDRESSES:
Comments and requests for more information regarding the Louisiana WetlandManagement District planning process should be sent to Lindy Garner, Planning Biologist, NorthLouisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 11372 Highway 143, Farmerville, Louisiana71241; Telephone: (318) 726-4222 x5; Fax: (318) 726-4667; Electronic-mail: northlarefuges@fws.gov . To ensure consideration, written comments must be received no laterthan 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 requestthat we withhold their home addresses from the record, which we will honor to the extentallowable by law.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Louisiana Wetland Management District was established in September 1990 "* * * for conservation purposes * * *" 7 U.S.C. 2002 (ConsolidatedFarm and Rural Development Act). Most of the 37 Farm Service Agency easements, 10 fee titletracts, and 4 leases are concentrated in northeastern Louisiana. In 1988, the first fee title transferof a Farm Service Agency tract in the Southeast Region resulted in the establishment of HandyBrake National Wildlife Refuge. The wetland management district currently oversees Fish andWildlife 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 NorthLouisiana 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 reforestationof 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 ofwildlife. Bald eagles and peregrine falcons are known to occur on the district. Both are usuallyassociated with large waterfowl concentrations. Small concentrations(1,000) of waterfowl areseen on the easement tracts and on Handy Brake Refuge, depending upon the availability ofwater. Migratory songbirds also use several of the tracts and Handy Brake Refuge. Residentfurbearers include fox, gray squirrels, rabbits, deer, beaver, and raccoon.
There are limited wildlife observation opportunities at Handy Brake Refuge and other fee titletracts within the Louisiana Wetland Management District. The observation tower at HandyBrake Refuge hadapproximately 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 levelmanipulation, and spraying.
The Service will conduct a comprehensive conservation planning process that will provideopportunity for State and local governments, agencies, organizations, and the public to participatein issue scoping and public comment. Comments received by the planning team will be used aspart 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]
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