96-14574. Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Establishment of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge in Georgetown, Horry, and Marion Counties, SC, and Notice of Meetings To Seek Public Comments  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 29127]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-14574]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
    
    Fish and Wildlife Service
    
    
    Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
    for the Proposed Establishment of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge in 
    Georgetown, Horry, and Marion Counties, SC, and Notice of Meetings To 
    Seek Public Comments
    
    AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
    
    ACTION: Notice of availability and meetings.
    
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    SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
    Service, Southeast Region, has made available for public review a draft 
    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 public meetings in the vicinity 
    of the proposed refuge to solicit public comments on the draft EIS.
    
    DATES: The Service will hold two public meetings as follows: (1) At 
    7:00 p.m. on June 18, 1996, at the Georgetown High School Auditorium, 
    Georgetown, South Carolina; and (2) at 7:00 p.m. on June 19, 1996, at 
    the Burroughs School, Government Annex, McCown Auditorium, Conway, 
    South Carolina. In addition, written comments on the draft EIS should 
    be sent no later than July 31, 1996, to the address given below.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles R. Danner, U.S. Fish and 
    Wildlife Service, Southeast Regional Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, 
    Atlanta, GA 30345 (Telephone: 1-800-419-9582).
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The study area for the proposed refuge 
    covers approximately 49,800 acres of wetlands and upland forests 
    between the Intracoastal Waterway and U.S. Highway 701 north of Winyah 
    Bay in coastal South Carolina. The draft EIS presents five alternatives 
    for the protection and management of the study area, including one ``no 
    action'' alternative. The other four alternatives are for the 
    establishment of a refuge involving different boundary sizes and 
    locations.
        The proposed refuge would (1) Protect and manage diverse habitat 
    components of an important coastal river ecosytem for the benefit of 
    endangered and threatened species, migratory birds, anadromous fish, 
    and forest wildlife, including a wide array of plants and animals 
    associated with bottomland hardwood habitats; and (2) provide 
    compatible widlife-dependent recreational activities involving hunting, 
    fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education 
    and interpretation for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
        The study area for the proposed refuge contains extensive 
    freshwater tidal wetlands; large contiguous blocks of bottomland 
    hardwood forests; and upland forests communities consisting of longleaf 
    and loblolly pine and mixed hardwoods such as turkey, water, and laurel 
    oak. The area provides valuable production habitat for wood ducks and 
    wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl, and is recognized as a key 
    emphasis area in North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The area's 
    wetland and upland forests also provide habitat for the red-cockaded 
    woodpecker, bald eagle, and wood stork, all federally-listed threatened 
    and endangered species. Another endangered species, the shortnose 
    sturgeon, inhabits the area's rivers and waterways.
    
        Dated: May 23, 1996.
    Garland D. Pardue,
    Acting Regional Director.
    [FR Doc. 96-14574 Filed 6-6-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/07/1996
Department:
Fish and Wildlife Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of availability and meetings.
Document Number:
96-14574
Dates:
The Service will hold two public meetings as follows: (1) At 7:00 p.m. on June 18, 1996, at the Georgetown High School Auditorium, Georgetown, South Carolina; and (2) at 7:00 p.m. on June 19, 1996, at the Burroughs School, Government Annex, McCown Auditorium, Conway, South Carolina. In addition, written comments on the draft EIS should
Pages:
29127-29127 (1 pages)
PDF File:
96-14574.pdf