[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 29127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14574]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Establishment of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge in 
Georgetown, Horry, and Marion Counties, SC, and Notice of Meetings To 
Seek Public Comments

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and meetings.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Southeast Region, has made available for public review a draft 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed establishment of 
a national wildlife refuge in Georgetown, Horry, and Marion Counties, 
South Carolina, and plans to hold two public meetings in the vicinity 
of the proposed refuge to solicit public comments on the draft EIS.

DATES: The Service will hold two public meetings as follows: (1) At 
7:00 p.m. on June 18, 1996, at the Georgetown High School Auditorium, 
Georgetown, South Carolina; and (2) at 7:00 p.m. on June 19, 1996, at 
the Burroughs School, Government Annex, McCown Auditorium, Conway, 
South Carolina. In addition, written comments on the draft EIS should 
be sent no later than July 31, 1996, to the address given below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles R. Danner, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Southeast Regional Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, 
Atlanta, GA 30345 (Telephone: 1-800-419-9582).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The study area for the proposed refuge 
covers approximately 49,800 acres of wetlands and upland forests 
between the Intracoastal Waterway and U.S. Highway 701 north of Winyah 
Bay in coastal South Carolina. The draft EIS presents five alternatives 
for the protection and management of the study area, including one ``no 
action'' alternative. The other four alternatives are for the 
establishment of a refuge involving different boundary sizes and 
locations.
    The proposed refuge would (1) Protect and manage diverse habitat 
components of an important coastal river ecosytem for the benefit of 
endangered and threatened species, migratory birds, anadromous fish, 
and forest wildlife, including a wide array of plants and animals 
associated with bottomland hardwood habitats; and (2) provide 
compatible widlife-dependent recreational activities involving hunting, 
fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education 
and interpretation for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
    The study area for the proposed refuge contains extensive 
freshwater tidal wetlands; large contiguous blocks of bottomland 
hardwood forests; and upland forests communities consisting of longleaf 
and loblolly pine and mixed hardwoods such as turkey, water, and laurel 
oak. The area provides valuable production habitat for wood ducks and 
wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl, and is recognized as a key 
emphasis area in North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The area's 
wetland and upland forests also provide habitat for the red-cockaded 
woodpecker, bald eagle, and wood stork, all federally-listed threatened 
and endangered species. Another endangered species, the shortnose 
sturgeon, inhabits the area's rivers and waterways.

    Dated: May 23, 1996.
Garland D. Pardue,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 96-14574 Filed 6-6-96; 8:45 am]
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