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[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 98 (Monday, May 22, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27119-27120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12413]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the 
Establishment of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge 
Within the Four-State Connecticut River Watershed of New England

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has prepared, for 
public review and comment, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) on establishing the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife 
Refuge (refuge) in the Connecticut River watershed of Connecticut, 
Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. The DEIS describes a No 
Action alternative, the Service's Proposed Action, and three other 
alternatives for establishing the refuge and the environmental 
consequences of implementing each alternative. This notice is being 
furnished pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
regulations (40 CFR 1503.1) to invite comment on the DEIS from other 
federal and state agencies and the public.

PUBLIC MEETINGS AND HEARINGS: During the public review period, a series 
of afternoon walk-in informational sessions and evening public meetings 
and hearings will be held in 16 different locations throughout the 
four-state Connecticut River watershed. Meetings will be held in four 
locations in Massachusetts the week of June 6, 1995; in four locations 
in Connecticut the week of June 12, 1995; in four locations in southern 
Vermont and New Hampshire the week of June 19, 1995; and in four 
locations in northern Vermont and New Hampshire the week of June 26, 
1995. The dates, times and locations of these meetings will be 
announced in local and regional newspapers, through public service 
announcements in other media, and through direct mailings. Written and 
oral comments will be accepted at all walk-in informational sessions 
and public meetings, or hearings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Larry Bandolin, Project Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 38 
Avenue A, Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376. Telephone (413) 863-0209 
or Fax (413) 863-3070.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: In order to be considered in the preparation of 
the Final EIS, all comments should be received no later than July 31, 
1995.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS was prepared to fulfill the 
requirements of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge 
Act of 1991 (Act), Section 105. The Act's long-term purposes for 
establishing a new refuge in the Connecticut River watershed are to: 
(1) conserve, protect, and enhance the Connecticut River watershed 
populations of Atlantic salmon, American shad, river herring, shortnose 
sturgeon, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, osprey, black ducks, and 
other native species of plants, fish, and wildlife; (2) conserve, 
protect, and enhance the natural diversity and abundance of plant, 
fish, and wildlife species and the ecosystems upon which these species 
depend within the refuge; (3) protect species listed as endangered or 
threatened, or identified as candidates for listing, pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended; (4) restore and maintain 
the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of wetlands and other 
waters within the refuge; (5) fulfill the international treaty 
obligations of the United States relating to fish and wildlife and 
wetlands, and (6) provide opportunities for scientific research, 
environmental education, and fish and wildlife-oriented recreation and 
access to the extent compatible with the other purposes stated in this 
section. The DEIS describes five alternative ways to help fulfill these 
purposes. It also discusses the process used to develop them and the 
environmental consequences of implementing each one. The first 
alternative (No Action) would involve no new conservation efforts in 
the watershed on the part of the Service. A second alternative (Private 
Lands Work and Education) relies on the voluntary restoration and 
enhancement of private lands through the Service's Partners for 
Wildlife Program. A third alternative (Private Lands Work, Education 
and Partnerships) relies on the voluntary restoration and enhancement 
of private lands, developing partnerships, providing technical 
assistance and establishing a cost-sharing grants program--through the 
Service's Challenge Cost Share Program--to help other conservation 
interests carry out their land protection programs. A fourth 
alternative (Private Lands Work, Education, Partnerships and Land 
Protection--The Service's Proposed Action) is similar to the third 
[[Page 27120]] alternative, except that the Service would also acquire 
lands to protect threatened or endangered, rare and uncommon species 
and communities. Under the fifth alternative (Private Lands Work, 
Education and Land Protection) the Service would establish a more 
traditional national fish and wildlife refuge. All issues and concerns 
identified by the public during scoping were considered and the most 
significant analyzed in detail. The potential effects of each 
alternative on agriculture and forestry, biological resources, local 
economies, environmental education, public use and access, and water 
use and quality are also described. Copies of the DEIS have been sent 
to all federal and state agencies, organizations and individuals who 
requested copies, as well as all libraries within the watershed. A 
summary of the DEIS has been sent to all other organizations and 
individuals on the project mailing list. A limited number of copies of 
both documents are available upon request from the project office in 
Turners Falls, Massachusetts. No final decision will be made until such 
time as the public has had the opportunity to review and comment on the 
DEIS. It is estimated that a Final Environmental Impact Statement will 
be available by September, 1995.
Cathy Short,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-12413 Filed 5-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
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