[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52516-52517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25255]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Environmental Assessment for Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife
Refuge in Collier County, FL, and Notice of Meeting To Seek Public
Participation
SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Southeast Region, has made available for public review a Draft
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Ten
Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Collier County, Florida,
and plans to hold a public meeting in the vicinity of the refuge to
solicit public comments on the draft plan. The Service is furnishing
this notice in compliance with Service comprehensive conservation
planning policy, the National Environmental Act Policy, and
implementing regulations to achieve the following:
(1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and
(2) Obtain comments on the proposed plan and the other alternatives
considered in the planning process.
[[Page 52517]]
DATES: The Service will hold the public meeting on Saturday, October
23, 1999, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fish and Wildlife Service office
located in the Comfort Inn, 3860 Tollgate Boulevard, Naples, Florida
34114. In addition, written comments on the draft plan should be sent
no later than November 8, 1999, to the address given below.
ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for copies of the draft plan should be
addressed to Mr. Ed Loth, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast
Regional Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia 30345, or by
calling 404/679-7155.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife
Refuge consists of approximately 35,000 acres located approximately 20
miles southeast of Naples, Florida, and South of U.S. Highway 41. The
refuge was established under the authority of the Florida/Arizona Land
Exchange Act in order to develop, advance, manage, conserve and protest
its unique estuarine ecosystem and fish and wildlife resources. The
refuge represents a variety of coastal habitats including mangrove
forests, freshwater marsh systems, interspersed freshwater ponds, and
small islands or hammocks of upland habitat.
It is the desire of the Fish and Wildlife Service that Ten Thousand
Islands National Wildlife Refuge become ``a model for natural systems
management, featuring unique coastal marshes, islands, and subtropical
estuarine mangrove ecosystems. The refuge will provide essential
habitat for threatened and endangered species and be an area noted for
its cultural resources.
Through effective management and partnering, the refuge will
provide outstanding recreational opportunities for present and future
generations.'' To accomplish this vision, the refuge seeks to achieve
the following six goals: (1) Wildlife and Habitat Conservation--
conserve, enhance, and protect fish and wildlife resources and other
natural values supported within the refuge portion of this unique south
Florida coastal ecosystem; (2) Public Use--Provide visitors with
quality recreational opportunities, guided by the refuge's vision and
mission, and compatible with its purpose; (3) Commercial Use--co-manage
sustained-yield commercial harvesting, guiding, and other enterprises
that are compatible with the purpose of the refuge; (3) Environmental
Education--promote the interpretation, education, and appreciation of
coastal natural resources for the Ten Thousand Islands area, and the
importance of conserving them; (5) Cooperative Management--promote
cooperation among agencies, private landowners, organizations, and
other stakeholders in the management of natural and cultural resources
within the Big Cypress Watershed; and (6) Archaeological Resources--
protect refuge cultural resources, encourage archaeological
investigations, and promote interpretation and appreciation of the
area's history.
The draft plan evaluates three alternatives for managing the refuge
over the next 15 years: Alternative A (no action) advocates that the
refuge be managed with minimal monitoring and management direction;
Alternative B (ecosystem approach) would allow recreational and
commercial activities to continue coupled with extensive monitoring
programs to assess the quality of the environment; and Alternative C
(maximum public use) emphasizes fishing as well as many other
recreational pursuits for the refuge. The Service believes that
Alternative B (ecosystem approach) is the best alternative to guide the
refuge's future direction. In essence, this alternative will:
Best meet the primary purposes for which the refuge was
established--protecting and enhancing the refuge's unique estuarine
ecosystem;
Recognize the importance of the refuge within the Big
Cypress Watershed and define refuge actions to protect and enhance the
natural features of this ecosystem;
Continue to provide the public access to the refuge;
visitation would be monitored for its impacts on flora and fauna; and
Ensure that environmental education and partnership
efforts increase.
Dated: September 14, 1999.
Sam D. Hamilton,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 99-25255 Filed 9-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
