[Federal Register: May 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 97)]
[Notices]
[Page 28838-28840]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my08-84]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0084; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Savannah Coastal Refuges' Complex
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and associated National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for the Savannah Coastal
Refuges' Complex. The Complex consists of the following refuges:
Pinckney Island; Savannah; Tybee; Wassaw; Harris Neck; Blackbeard
Island; and Wolf Island. A separate CCP is being prepared for the Wolf
Island National Wildlife Refuge. We provide this notice in compliance
with our CCP policy to advise other agencies, Tribes, and the public of
our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope
of issues to consider in the planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by July 3, 2008. An open house meeting will be held during the scoping
phase of the Draft CCP development process. The date, time, and place
for the meeting will be announced in the local media.
ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for information should be
sent to: Jane Griess, Project Leader, Savannah Coastal Refuges'
Complex, 1000 Business Center Drive, Suite 10, Savannah, GA 31405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Griess; Telephone: 912/652-4415;
Fax: 912/652-4385; E-mail: savannahcoastalccp@fws.gov. You may find
additional information concerning these refuges at the following
Internet site: http://www.fws.gov/savannah.
[[Page 28839]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate the process for developing a CCP for
the Savannah Coastal Refuges' Complex, including the following:
Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge in Beaufort County, South
Carolina; Savannah National Wildlife Refuge in Chatham and Effingham
Counties, Georgia and Jasper County, South Carolina; Tybee National
Wildlife Refuge in Jasper County, South Carolina; Wassaw National
Wildlife Refuge in Chatham County, Georgia; Harris Neck National
Wildlife Refuge in McIntosh County, Georgia; and Blackbeard Island
National Wildlife Refuge off the coast of McIntosh County, Georgia.
This notice complies with our CCP policy to (1) advise other
Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intention to
conduct detailed planning on this refuge; and (2) obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of issues to consider in the environmental
document and during development of the CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires us to
develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in
developing a CCP 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 our
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Improvement Act.
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established for
specific purposes. We use these purposes as a foundation for developing
and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for each refuge
within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to determine
how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a way for
us and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives for the
best possible conservation approach to this important wildlife habitat,
while providing for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities that
are compatible with each refuge's established purposes and the mission
of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
At this time we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas,
and suggestions for the future management of the Savannah Coastal
Refuges' Complex. Special mailings, newspaper articles, and other media
outlets will be used to announce opportunities for input throughout the
planning process.
We will conduct the environmental assessment in accordance with the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA regulations (40 CFR parts
1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws and regulations; and our
policies and procedures for compliance with those laws and regulations.
The Complex is comprised of a chain of national wildlife refuges
extending from Pinckney Island Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South
Carolina, to Wolf Island Refuge near Darien, Georgia. Between these lie
Savannah, Wassaw, Tybee, Harris Neck, and Blackbeard Island Refuges.
Together they span a 100-mile coastline and total more than 56,000
acres. The refuges are administered from headquarters in Savannah,
Georgia.
Pinckney Island Refuge includes the following islands: Pinckney;
Corn; Big Harry; Little Harry; and Buzzard, as well as numerous small
hammocks. Pinckney Island Refuge was established in 1975 and is
comprised of 4,053 acres of salt marsh, tidal creeks, grassland, fallow
fields, and freshwater ponds. The refuge provides habitat and
protection for migratory and wading birds, raptors, alligators, and
fish. Federally listed threatened and endangered species found on the
refuge include American alligators, flatwoods salamanders, and wood
storks. The refuge offers 14 miles of trails for wildlife-dependent
public use opportunities and environmental education.
Savannah Refuge, near Savannah, Georgia, was established in 1927
and is comprised of 29,175 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers
and creeks, and bottomland hardwoods. The refuge contains 3,000 acres
of freshwater impoundments built during the 1700s for rice production
and now used to manage for migratory waterfowl. Many of the dikes are
used for foot travel and provide opportunities for wildlife
observation. Savannah Refuge also administers fall and winter hunts for
deer, feral hog, squirrel, and turkey. Fishing is permitted in
freshwater pools for much of the year. Several federally listed
threatened and endangered species are found on the refuge, including
American alligators, flatwoods salamanders, shortnose sturgeon, West
Indian manatees, and wood storks.
Tybee Refuge, along the north side of the Savannah River in South
Carolina, was established in 1938 as a breeding area for migratory
birds. The majority of the 100-acre refuge is covered by sand deposits
from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' harbor maintenance dredging
activities. Federally listed threatened and endangered species found on
the refuge include American alligators and wood storks. Due to
difficult access, the sensitive nature of the site, and occasional
dredging activities, the refuge is closed to the public.
Wassaw Refuge, off the Georgia coast, is comprised of 10,053 acres
of marsh, uplands, mudflats, and tidal creeks, including approximately
seven miles of undeveloped beaches. The refuge, established in 1969,
has kept its primitive character. Wassaw Refuge is accessible only by
boat, and provides habitat and protection for migratory shore and
wading birds, reptiles, raptors, and fish. Several federally listed
threatened and endangered species are found on the refuge, including
American alligators, West Indian manatees, piping plovers, wood storks,
and leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles. Refuge management
activities focus on habitat monitoring and protection. Opportunities
for wildlife-dependent public use include 20 miles of dirt roads used
for hiking, wildlife observation, and environmental education. Wassaw
Refuge provides some opportunity for deer hunting, during the fall and
winter months, and fishing.
Harris Neck Refuge, five miles north of Eulonia, Georgia, is
comprised of 2,824 acres of saltwater marsh, grassland, mixed deciduous
woods, moist-soil impoundments, and cropland. The refuge was
established in 1962 by transfer of Federal lands formerly managed by
the Federal Aviation Administration as a WWII Army airfield. Portions
of the paved airfield are used as a wildlife drive, while other parts
are used as walking trails. Federally listed threatened and
[[Page 28840]]
endangered species found on the refuge include wood storks, flatwoods
salamanders, and American alligators. Refuge management activities
primarily focus on habitat management for marsh and wading birds,
endangered wood storks, waterfowl, and resident wildlife, along with
wildlife-dependent public recreation. Fishing is allowed in the tidal
creek and piers have been constructed for public use. Deer hunting is
allowed during fall and winter.
Blackbeard Island Refuge was acquired in 1800 by the Navy
Department and was established as a national wildlife refuge in 1940.
Situated off the Georgia coast and accessible by boat only, Blackbeard
Island Refuge is comprised of 5,618 acres of maritime forest, salt
marsh, freshwater marsh, and beach habitat, with 3,000 acres designated
as Wilderness. These areas provide nesting and feeding areas for
threatened loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles and American
alligators; endangered piping plovers and wood storks; and species such
as shorebirds, gulls, and terns. Refuge management activities focus on
habitat monitoring and protection, along with wildlife-dependent public
use opportunities and environmental education. Saltwater fishing is
allowed. Two archery hunts for deer are scheduled during fall and
winter.
Public Availability of Comments
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 may
ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: April 17, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-11110 Filed 5-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P