[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 98 (Monday, May 22, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27119-27120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12413]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the
Establishment of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
Within the Four-State Connecticut River Watershed of New England
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has prepared, for
public review and comment, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) on establishing the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife
Refuge (refuge) in the Connecticut River watershed of Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. The DEIS describes a No
Action alternative, the Service's Proposed Action, and three other
alternatives for establishing the refuge and the environmental
consequences of implementing each alternative. This notice is being
furnished pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
regulations (40 CFR 1503.1) to invite comment on the DEIS from other
federal and state agencies and the public.
PUBLIC MEETINGS AND HEARINGS: During the public review period, a series
of afternoon walk-in informational sessions and evening public meetings
and hearings will be held in 16 different locations throughout the
four-state Connecticut River watershed. Meetings will be held in four
locations in Massachusetts the week of June 6, 1995; in four locations
in Connecticut the week of June 12, 1995; in four locations in southern
Vermont and New Hampshire the week of June 19, 1995; and in four
locations in northern Vermont and New Hampshire the week of June 26,
1995. The dates, times and locations of these meetings will be
announced in local and regional newspapers, through public service
announcements in other media, and through direct mailings. Written and
oral comments will be accepted at all walk-in informational sessions
and public meetings, or hearings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Larry Bandolin, Project Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 38
Avenue A, Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376. Telephone (413) 863-0209
or Fax (413) 863-3070.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: In order to be considered in the preparation of
the Final EIS, all comments should be received no later than July 31,
1995.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS was prepared to fulfill the
requirements of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
Act of 1991 (Act), Section 105. The Act's long-term purposes for
establishing a new refuge in the Connecticut River watershed are to:
(1) conserve, protect, and enhance the Connecticut River watershed
populations of Atlantic salmon, American shad, river herring, shortnose
sturgeon, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, osprey, black ducks, and
other native species of plants, fish, and wildlife; (2) conserve,
protect, and enhance the natural diversity and abundance of plant,
fish, and wildlife species and the ecosystems upon which these species
depend within the refuge; (3) protect species listed as endangered or
threatened, or identified as candidates for listing, pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended; (4) restore and maintain
the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of wetlands and other
waters within the refuge; (5) fulfill the international treaty
obligations of the United States relating to fish and wildlife and
wetlands, and (6) provide opportunities for scientific research,
environmental education, and fish and wildlife-oriented recreation and
access to the extent compatible with the other purposes stated in this
section. The DEIS describes five alternative ways to help fulfill these
purposes. It also discusses the process used to develop them and the
environmental consequences of implementing each one. The first
alternative (No Action) would involve no new conservation efforts in
the watershed on the part of the Service. A second alternative (Private
Lands Work and Education) relies on the voluntary restoration and
enhancement of private lands through the Service's Partners for
Wildlife Program. A third alternative (Private Lands Work, Education
and Partnerships) relies on the voluntary restoration and enhancement
of private lands, developing partnerships, providing technical
assistance and establishing a cost-sharing grants program--through the
Service's Challenge Cost Share Program--to help other conservation
interests carry out their land protection programs. A fourth
alternative (Private Lands Work, Education, Partnerships and Land
Protection--The Service's Proposed Action) is similar to the third
[[Page 27120]] alternative, except that the Service would also acquire
lands to protect threatened or endangered, rare and uncommon species
and communities. Under the fifth alternative (Private Lands Work,
Education and Land Protection) the Service would establish a more
traditional national fish and wildlife refuge. All issues and concerns
identified by the public during scoping were considered and the most
significant analyzed in detail. The potential effects of each
alternative on agriculture and forestry, biological resources, local
economies, environmental education, public use and access, and water
use and quality are also described. Copies of the DEIS have been sent
to all federal and state agencies, organizations and individuals who
requested copies, as well as all libraries within the watershed. A
summary of the DEIS has been sent to all other organizations and
individuals on the project mailing list. A limited number of copies of
both documents are available upon request from the project office in
Turners Falls, Massachusetts. No final decision will be made until such
time as the public has had the opportunity to review and comment on the
DEIS. It is estimated that a Final Environmental Impact Statement will
be available by September, 1995.
Cathy Short,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-12413 Filed 5-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
