[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 173 (Monday, September 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47215-47216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23678]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Establishment of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat
Preservation Area in Western Minnesota and Northwestern Iowa
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has prepared a
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which is available for
public review. The DEIS evaluates the establishment of a Northern
Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area as a means of working with
individuals, groups, and governmental entities to permanently preserve
remnant tracts of northern tallgrass prairie. Three alternatives,
including a No Action alternative are being considered. The action
alternatives are aimed at permanently protecting and enhancing prairie
remnants.
The Service's preferred alternative (Alternative B) is to
permanently protect and enhance prairie remnants through partnerships,
incentives, education, and cooperative agreements. Any conservation
easements, or acquisition of full title would be done by the Service
and Service Partners. Service acquisition of easements and fee interest
in lands would be on a voluntary basis from willing sellers.
DATES: Public comment on the DEIS is solicited pursuant to National
Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1503.1). All agencies and
individuals are urged to provide comments and suggestions for improving
the DEIS. The formal comment period extends for a 60-day period from
the date of distribution of the DEIS. All comments received by November
6, 1997, will be considered in preparation of the Final EIS. Formal
comments will be received at any time during this 60-day period in
person, by mail, or at the open house (specific locations and times are
listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
WRITTEN COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO: Jane West, Project Manager,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, BHW Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive,
Fort Snelling, MN 551121-4056.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jane West at the address listed above or by telephone at 612/725-3306.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: America's native grasslands are a vanishing
ecosystem, and mounting evidence indicates that many species are
disappearing as fast as the prairie habitats on which they depend. Few
other ecosystem types have experienced as great a degree of loss and
alteration. In Minnesota and Iowa, the native northern tallgrass
prairie has declined to less than 1 percent of its original 25 million
acres (10.1 million hectares).
Through an integrated ecosystem approach, the Service, with its
partners, proposes to protect and restore fish and wildlife habitats
through holistic management strategies using a wide variety of tools,
and techniques. The Service proposes to participate in public and
private partnerships at many levels, complementing other prairie
projects such as those of the Iowa County Conservation Boards, Iowa and
Minnesota Departments of Natural Resources, the Nature Conservancy, and
others.
The Service will hold 10 open houses from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the
following locations and dates: (1) Nobles County
[[Page 47216]]
Courthouse, Worthington, MN (9/29/97), (2) Stub's Ranch Kitchen,
Spencer, IA (9/30/97), (3) Loess Ridge Nature Center, Sioux City, IA
(10/1/97), (4) Storey County Conservation Board--McFarland Park, Ames,
IA (10/2/97), (5) Lime Creek Nature Center, Mason City, IA (10/3/97),
(6) Northland Community & Technical College, Thief River Falls, MN (10/
6/97), (7) Barnesville High School, Barnesville, MN (10/7/97), (8)
Morris Wetland Management District, Morris, MN (10/8/97), (9) Lyon
County Courthouse, Marshall, MN (10/9/97), and (10) MN Department of
Natural Revenues, New Ulm, MN (10/10/97).
Dated: September 7, 1997.
John Christian,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 97-23678 Filed 9-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
