[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24873-24874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11471]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Establishment of a National Wildlife Refuge in Georgetown,
Horry, and Marion Counties, South Carolina, and Notice of Meetings to
Seek Public Participation
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent and meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Southeast Region, intends to prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the proposed establishment of a national wildlife
refuge in Georgetown, Horry, and Marion Counties, South Carolina, and
plans to hold two scoping meetings in the vicinity of the proposed
refuge to involve the public in the preparation of the EIS.
DATES: The Service will hold two scoping meetings as follows: (1) At
7:00 p.m. on June 20, 1995, at the Georgetown High School Auditorium,
Georgetown, South Carolina; and (2) at [[Page 24874]] 7:00 p.m. on June
21, 1995, at the Horry County Council Chambers, Conway, South Carolina.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Charles R. Danner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century
Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The study area for the proposed refuge
includes approximately 42,000 acres of wetlands and upland forests
between the Intracoastal Waterway and U.S. Highway 701 north of Winyah
Bay in Coastal South Carolina. The boundaries of the proposed refuge
have not been determined. The specific location will be based on
availability of land, ecosystem needs, and public comments on the
suitability of the proposal.
The purpose of the proposed refuge is to protect an important
component of the Winyah Bay ecosystem for the benefit of endangered and
threatened species, migratory birds, anadromous fish, and forest
wildlife. The study area contains extensive freshwater tidal wetlands;
large contiguous blocks of bottom land hardwood forests; and upland
plant communities consisting of longleaf and loblolly pine and mixed
hardwoods such as turkey, water,and laurel oak. It provides some of the
most valuable production and wintering habitat for wood ducks in the
state and is recognized as a key emphasis area in the North American
Waterfowl Management Plan. The associated upland forests provide
habitat for the red-cocked woodpecker, bald eagle, and wood stork, all
federally listed endangered species. Another endangered species, the
shortnose sturgeon, inhabits the area's rivers and waterways.
Dated: May 1, 1995.
Noreen K. Clough,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-11471 Filed 5-9-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
