02-531. Migratory Bird Permits; Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Double-Crested Cormorant Management

AGENCY:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of meetings.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) announces the rescheduling of two of the public meetings associated with the comment period for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on double-crested cormorant management. The DEIS has been prepared under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and analyzes the potential environmental impacts of several management alternatives to address conflicts associated with double-crested cormorants. This notice identifies the locations, dates, and times of public meetings and identifies the Service official to whom comments may be directed.

DATES:

Written comments regarding the DEIS should be submitted by February 28, 2002, to the address below. Dates and times for ten public meetings are listed in the table under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES:

Requests for copies of the DEIS should be mailed to Chief, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Room 634, Arlington, VA 22203. Written comments on the DEIS can be sent by the following two methods:

(1) By mail to the above address; or

(2) by email to: [e-mail].

Please include your name and mailing address in all comments submitted; anonymous comments will not be considered. The public meetings will be held at the locations listed in the table under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jon Andrew, Division of Migratory Bird Management, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On December 19, 2001, we published a notice of meetings in the Federal Register announcing ten public meetings associated with the comment period for a DEIS on double-crested cormorant management. Because of a conflict with the previously-scheduled meeting dates and the World Aquaculture Association annual meeting, we are rescheduling the Little Rock, Arkansas, and Jackson, Mississippi, meetings. These are listed in the table below.

Date	City	Location	Time
January 7, 2002	Green Bay, Wisconsin	Ramada Plaza Hotel 2750 Ramada Way	7:00 PM
January 8, 2002	Mackinaw City, Michigan	Hamilton Inn Select 701 S. Huron Avenue	7:00 PM
January 16, 2002	Washington, DC	Main Interior Building Auditorium 1849 C Street, NW	10:00 AM
February 4, 2001	Athens, Texas	Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center 5550 Flat Creek Road (Farm Road 2495)	7:00 PM
February 5, 2002	Jackson, Mississippi	Clarion Hotel and Convention Center 400 Greymont Avenue	6:00 PM
February 6, 2002	Little Rock, Arkansas	University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service 2301 S. University Avenue	6:00 PM
February 11, 2002	South Burlington, Vermont	Clarion Hotel 1117 Williston Road	7:00 PM
February 12, 2002	Watertown, New York	Dulles State Office Building 317 Washington Street	7:00 PM
February 13, 2002	Syracuse, New York	Sheraton University Hotel 801 University Avenue	7:00 PM
February 19, 2002	Portland, Oregon	Doubletree Hotel—Lloyd Center 1000 NE Multnomah	7:00 PM

Dated: December 26, 2001.

Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,

Acting Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.