Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 47 / Monday, March 12, 2007 / Notices 11047 

National Wildlife Refuges. We furnish 

this notice in compliance with our 

comprehensive conservation planning 

policy to advise other agencies and the 

public of our intentions, and to obtain 

suggestions and information on the 

scope of issues to be considered in the 

planning process. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, we 

must receive your written comments by 

April 11, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or 

requests for more information to Ms. 

Susan Silander, Refuge Manager, 

Caribbean Islands National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex, P.O. Box 510, 

Boquero ́n, PR 00622; Telephone: 787/ 

851–7258; or electronically to: 

susan_silander@fws.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this 

notice, we initiate the process for 

developing a comprehensive 

conservation plan for Buck Island, 

Green Cay, and Sandy Point National 

Wildlife Refuges with headquarters in 

Boquero ́n, Puerto Rico. 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee), requires the Service to 

develop a comprehensive conservation 

plan for each national wildlife refuge. 

The purpose in developing a 

comprehensive conservation plan is to 

provide refuge managers with a 15-year 

strategy for achieving refuge purposes 

and contributing toward the mission of 

the National Wildlife Refuge System, 

consistent with sound principles of fish 

and wildlife management, conservation, 

legal mandates, and Service policies. In 

addition to outlining broad management 

direction on conserving wildlife and 

their habitats, plans identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities 

available to the public, including 

opportunities for hunting, fishing, 

wildlife observation, wildlife 

photography, and environmental 

education and interpretation. 

We establish each unit of the National 

Wildlife Refuge System with specific 

purposes. We use these purposes to 

develop and prioritize management 

goals and objectives within the National 

Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to 

guide which public uses will occur on 

these refuges. The planning process is a 

way for us and the public to evaluate 

management goals and objectives for the 

best possible conservation efforts of 

these important wildlife habitats, while 

providing for wildlife-dependent 

recreation opportunities that are 

compatible with each refuge’s 

establishing purposes and the mission 

of the National Wildlife Refuge System. 

We will conduct a comprehensive 

conservation planning process that will 

provide opportunity for Tribal, State, 

and local governments; agencies; 

organizations; and the public to 

participate in issue scoping and public 

comment. We request input for issues, 

concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the 

management of the Buck Island, Green 

Cay, and Sandy Point National Wildlife 

Refuges, with headquarters in Boquero ́n, 

Puerto Rico. We invite anyone 

interested to respond to the following 

two questions: 

1. What problems or issues do you 

want to see addressed in the 

comprehensive conservation plan? 

2. What improvements would you 

recommend for the Buck Island, Green 

Cay, and Sandy Point National Wildlife 

Refuges? 

We have provided the above 

questions for your optional use; you are 

not required to provide information to 

us. Our Planning Team developed these 

questions to gather information about 

individual issues and ideas concerning 

these refuges. Our Planning Team will 

use comments it receives as part of the 

planning process; however, we will not 

reference individual comments in our 

reports or directly respond to them. 

We will also give the public an 

opportunity to provide input at an open 

house and public scoping meetings 

during 2007, to identity issues to be 

addressed in the plan. These events will 

be advertised through local media 

outlets. You may also submit comments 

anytime during the planning process by 

writing to the address in the ADDRESSES

section. All information provided 

voluntarily by mail, phone, or at public 

meetings becomes part of our official 

record (i.e., names, addresses, letters of 

comment, input recorded during 

meeting). 

We will conduct the environmental 

review of this project in accordance 

with the requirements of the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA 

Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); 

other appropriate Federal laws and 

regulations; and our policies and 

procedures for compliance with those 

regulations. All comments we receive 

on our environmental assessment 

become part of the official public 

record. We will handle requests for such 

comments in accordance with the 

Freedom of Information Act, NEPA [40 

CFR 1506.6(f)], and other Departmental 

and Service policies and procedures. 

When we receive a request, we generally 

will provide comment letters with the 

names and addresses of the individuals 

who wrote the comments. 

Buck Island Refuge was established in 

1969, and consists of 45 acres. It is an 

unstaffed refuge administered as part of 

the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex. The island was 

transferred to the Fish and Wildlife 

Service due to its ‘‘value for migratory 

birds.’’ However, little nesting occurs 

due to the presence of introduced rates. 

Visitors to the refuge may see red-billed 

tropic birds, frigate birds, terns, 

laughing gulls, and other species in the 

vicinity of the island. 

Green Cay Refuge was established in 

1977, and consists of 14 acres. It is an 

unstaffed refuge administered as part of 

the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex. The island provides 

critical habitat for one of only two 

remaining natural populations of the 

endangered St. Croix ground lizard. Its 

extirpation from the mainland of St. 

Croix is generally attributed to the 

introduction of the small Indian 

mongoose. Outcrops of lava, tuffs, and 

breccias are prominent geological 

features. The island is closed to the 

public due to fragile habitat and easily 

disturbed wildlife, such as the St. Croix 

ground lizard. 

Sandy Point Refuge was established 

in 1984, and consists of 360 acres. It is 

a staffed refuge administered as part of 

the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex. The island hosts the 

largest nesting population of 

endangered leatherback sea turtles 

under United States jurisdiction. 

Approximately 11,000 people visit the 

refuge annually. 

Authority: This notice is published under 

the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System Improvement Act of 1997, Public 

Law 105–57. 

Dated: February 8, 2007. 

Cynthia K. Dohner, 

Acting Regional Director. 

[FR Doc. E7–4369 Filed 3–9–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, 

Boquero ́n, PR 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a 

comprehensive conservation plan and 

environmental assessment; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife 

Service, intend to gather information 

necessary to prepare a comprehensive 

conservation plan and associated 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
11048 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 47 / Monday, March 12, 2007 / Notices 

environmental documents for the Cabo 

Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. We 

furnish this notice in compliance with 

our comprehensive conservation 

planning policy to advise other agencies 

and the public of our intentions, and to 

obtain suggestions and information on 

the scope of issues to be considered in 

the planning process. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, we 

must receive your written comments by 

April 11, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or 

requests for more information to Ms. 

Susan Silander, Refuge Manager, 

Caribbean Islands National Wildlife 

Refuge Complex, P.O. Box 510, 

Boquero ́n, PR 00622; Telephone: 787/ 

851–7258; or electronically to: 

susan_silander@fws.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With this 

notice, we initiate the comprehensive 

conservation plan for Cabo Rojo 

National Wildlife Refuge with 

headquarters in Boquero ́n, Puerto Rico. 

The National Wildlife Refuge System 

Administration Act of 1966, as amended 

by the National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee), requires the Service to 

develop a comprehensive conservation 

plan for each national wildlife refuge. 

The purpose in developing a 

comprehensive conservation plan is to 

provide refuge managers with a 15-year 

strategy for achieving refuge purposes 

and contributing toward the mission of 

the National Wildlife Refuge System, 

consistent with sound principles of fish 

and wildlife management, conservation, 

legal mandates, and Service policies. In 

addition to outlining broad management 

direction on conserving wildlife and 

their habitats, plans identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities 

available to the public, including 

opportunities for hunting, fishing, 

wildlife observation, wildlife 

photography, and environmental 

education and interpretation. 

We establish each unit of the National 

Wildlife Refuge System with specific 

purposes. We use these purposes to 

develop and prioritize management 

goals and objectives within the National 

Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to 

guide which public uses will occur on 

this refuge. The planning process is a 

way for us and the public to evaluate 

management goals and objectives for the 

best possible conservation efforts of this 

important wildlife habitat, while 

providing for wildlife-dependent 

recreation opportunities that are 

compatible with the refuge’s 

establishing purposes and the mission 

of the National Wildlife Refuge System. 

We will conduct a comprehensive 

conservation planning process that will 

provide opportunity for tribal, State, 

and local governments; agencies; 

organizations; and the public to 

participate in issue scoping and public 

comment. We request input for issues, 

concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the 

management of the Cabo Rojo National 

Wildlife Refuge in Boquero ́n, Puerto 

Rico. We invite anyone interested to 

respond to the following two questions: 

1. What problems or issues do you 

want to see addressed in the 

comprehensive conservation plan? 

2. What improvements would you 

recommend for the Cabo Rojo National 

Wildlife Refuge? 

We have provided the above 

questions for your optional use; you are 

not required to provide information to 

us. Our Planning Team developed these 

questions to gather information about 

individual issues and ideas concerning 

this refuge. Our Planning Team will use 

comments it receives as part of the 

planning process; however, we will not 

reference individual comments in our 

reports or directly respond to them. 

We will also give the public an 

opportunity to provide input at an open 

house and public scoping meetings 

during 2007, to identity issues to be 

addressed in the plan. These events will 

be advertised through local media 

outlets. You may also submit comments 

anytime during the planning process by 

writing to the address in the ADDRESSES

section. All information provided 

voluntarily by mail, phone, or at the 

public meeting becomes part of our 

official record (i.e., names, addresses, 

letters of comment, input recorded 

during meeting). 

We will conduct the environmental 

review of this project in accordance 

with the requirements of the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA 

Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); 

other appropriate Federal laws and 

regulations; and our policies and 

procedures for compliance with those 

regulations. All comments we receive 

on our environmental assessment 

become part of the official public 

record. We will handle requests for such 

comments in accordance with the 

Freedom of Information Act, NEPA [40 

CFR 1506.6(f)], and other Departmental 

and Service policies and procedures. 

When we receive a request, we generally 

will provide comment letters with the 

names and addresses of the individuals 

who wrote the comments. 

The Cabo Rojo National Wildlife 

Refuge was established in 1974 when 

587 acres of land were transferred from 

the Foreign Broadcast Information 

Service of the Central Intelligence 

Agency to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service. The 1,249-acre Cabo Rojo Salt 

Flats, previously under private 

ownership, were purchased and added 

to the refuge in 1999 for a total of 1,836 

acres. 

The refuge land was used for cattle 

ranching, agriculture, and salt 

production for almost two centuries 

prior to Service ownership. During that 

time, much of the native vegetation was 

replaced by exotic and invasive plants 

from other regions. 

Management of the refuge focuses on 

restoring native forest vegetation, 

managing hydrologic conditions in the 

salt flats, controlling exotic and invasive 

species, and providing suitable habitat 

for neotropical migratory birds and 

native species, such as the endangered 

yellow-shouldered blackbird. 

Authority: This notice is published under 

the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge 

System Improvement Act of 1997, Public 

Law 105–57. 

Dated: February 8, 2007. 

Cynthia K. Dohner, 

Acting Regional Director. 

[FR Doc. E7–4371 Filed 3–9–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Watercress Darter National Wildlife 

Refuge 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a 

comprehensive conservation plan and 

environmental assessment for 

Watercress Darter National Wildlife 

Refuge in Jefferson County, Alabama. 

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service 

intends to gather information necessary 

to prepare a comprehensive 

conservation plan and environmental 

assessment for Watercress Darter 

National Wildlife Refuge. This notice is 

furnished in compliance with the 

Service’s comprehensive conservation 

planning policy to advise other agencies 

and the public of our intentions, and to 

obtain suggestions and information on 

the scope of issues to be considered in 

the planning process. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, 

comments must be received by April 26, 

2007. 

ADDRESSES: Address comments, 

questions, and requests for more 

information to Mountain Longleaf 

National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES