Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 185 / Friday, September 22, 2000 / Notices 57363

Department of the Interior in the

performance of discretionary functions

of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands

Act, as amended, including all aspects

of leasing, exploration, development,

and protection of the resources of the

OCS. It also allows the Board to advise

the Department on discretionary

functions under the Federal Oil and Gas

Royalty Management Act of 1982, the

Federal Oil and Gas Royalty

Simplification and Fairness Act, the

Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, and the

mineral leasing laws for coal and other

solid mineral leases.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Further information regarding the Board

may be obtained from the Office of

Policy and Management Improvement,

Department of the Interior, Minerals

Management Service, 1849 C Street,

NW., MS 4230, Washington, DC 20240–

0001.

Certification

I hereby certify that the renewal of the

Minerals Management Advisory Board

Charter is in the public interest in

connection with the performance of

duties imposed on the Department of

the Interior by 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., 30

U.S.C. 1701 et seq., and 30 U.S.C. 1001

et seq.

Dated: September 15, 2000.

Bruce Babbitt,

Secretary of the Interior.

[FR Doc. 00–24348 Filed 9–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Expansion of Chickasaw and Lower

Hatchie National Wildlife Refuges

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: We are expanding the

acquisition boundary of the Chickasaw

and Lower Hatchie National Wildlife

Refuges by approximately 43,532 acres,

primarily located in Lauderdale and

Tipton Counties, Tennessee.

DATES: This would be effective on

September 15, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Charles R. Danner with the Fish and

Wildlife Service in Atlanta, 1–800–419–

9582.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fish

and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C.

742a–754j–2) allows the Secretary of

Interior to acquire refuge lands for all

wildlife. The Migratory Bird

Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715d)

established authority to acquire

migratory bird habitat. National Wildlife

Refuge System Administration Act of

1966 (16 U.S.C. 668 dd–ee) consolidated

all of the different refuge areas into a

single refuge ‘‘System’’ with all units of

the System now administered by the

Fish and Wildlife Service and

restrictions placed on the transfer,

exchange or other disposal of lands

within the System.

We are expanding the Chickasaw and

Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge

acquisition boundaries by 43,532 acres

(17,616.85 ha). This area is located in

western Tennessee and is comprised

primarily of bottomland hardwoods.

These refuges lie within 10 miles (16

km) of each other in Lauderdale and

Tipton Counties, Tennessee. The

acquisition boundaries of both refuges

contain approximately 223 private

landowners. The tracts within this

expanded boundary range from less

than one acre (.4047 ha) to

approximately 6,000 acres (2,428.12 ha).

The lands within the expanded

boundary will be acquired from willing

sellers and may include full fee or less

than fee title. Less than fee title can

include easements, leases, and

cooperative agreements that maintain

some ownership rights with a private

landowner. The lands consist of forested

wetlands interspersed with agricultural

lands and open water. These lands are

home to many species of fish and

wildlife, including migratory birds and

waterfowl.

We notified the public of the

proposed refuge expansion and the

availability of the Draft Environmental

Assessment and Land Protection Plan

for public review through a mass

mailing, to approximately 200 affected

landowners, on or about November 15,

1999. Copies of the document were

provided to representatives of Federal,

State and county governments, other

Federal and State agencies, interested

groups, affected landowners, and the

general public. Written comments were

accepted through December 15, 1999.

Only four written comments on the

proposal were received. Comments

supporting the project were received

from the State of Tennessee’s Wildlife

Resource Agency and two individuals.

Only one written comment expressed

opposition to the project. Several

landowners expressed their concerns by

telephone and were generally

supportive of the project, but had some

questions and concerns regarding the

land acquisition process. These

concerns were answered either by

telephone or in written responses

explaining our acquisition program.

Concerns were expressed by

constituents of Tennessee

Representative Ed Bryant and Missouri

Representative Jo Ann Emerson relating

to funding of the project and our land

acquisition program. Written responses

addressing these concerns were made to

the respective congressional

delegations, explaining the sources of

funding and our land acquisition

program. The State of Tennessee

concurs with the proposal.

In compliance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, we

prepared an environmental assessment

that evaluates two alternatives and their

potential impacts on the project areas.

Based on the documentation contained

in the environmental assessment, we

signed a Finding of No Significant

Impact on July 6, 2000, for the

expansion of Chickasaw and Lower

Hatchie National Wildlife Refuges. We

have completed an interim

compatibility determination, and a

conceptual management plan.

Comprehensive planning is on the eve

of completion to satisfy the

requirements under the National

Wildlife Refuge System Improvement

Act of 1997.

Chickasaw and Lower Hatchie

National Wildlife Refuges are

administered as part of a much larger

refuge complex with the main office

located in Dyersburg, Tennessee. There

is adequate funding to allow for

administration of the expansion areas.

Primary Author

Leslie Marler, Management Analyst,

Branch of Planning and Policy, Division

of Refuges, National Wildlife Refuge

System.

Dated: September 15, 2000.

Jamie Rappaport Clark,

Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 00–24365 Filed 9–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

and Plants; 5-Year Review of Foreign

Listed Psittacine Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of review.

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Service), announce a

review of all endangered and threatened

foreign species in the Order

Psittaciformes (parrots, parakeets,

macaws, cockatoos, etc.; also known as