[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 47588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22711]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment
(Draft EA) for Additions to Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in
Saginaw County, Michigan
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This Notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) has made available for public comment a Draft EA to
protect additional habitat on the existing 9,042-acre Shiawassee
National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The Refuge is located at the
confluence of the Shiawassee, Cass and Tittabawassee Rivers, adjacent
to the Saginaw metropolitan area in Saginaw County, in Michigan's Lower
Peninsula.
DATES: Written comments should be received by October 23, 1995. Public
Open Houses are scheduled in the Saginaw metropolitan area from
September 20-23, 1995. The exact dates, times and locations are listed
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: Regional Director,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building,
1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056; Attention:
Stanley Jackowicz, RE-AP. Copies of the Draft EA are available during
normal business hours at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
headquarters, 6975 Mower Road, Saginaw, Michigan 48601.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Doug Spencer, Refuge Manager at (517) 777-5930.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service proposes to protect
approximately 7,500 acres of additional habitat in association with the
existing Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) located along the
Saginaw River in the east-central portion of Michigan's Lower
Peninsula. This additional protection is proposed to restore, protect
and manage bottomland and upland habitat that would support the
existing Refuge and Tributary watersheds of the Saginaw River.
Historically the area was predominantly lowland hardwood forest, upland
forest, emergent marsh, and scattered areas of lakeplain prairie. The
proposal is also meant to provide areas of lakeplain prairie and
emergent marshes that are either lacking or under-represented on the
existing Refuge. This would help to restore the habitat and wildlife
diversity the area once supported. The proposal is also meant to
protect the lower reaches of the Cass, Tittabawassee and Shiawassee
River watersheds that feed and support the existing refuge and Saginaw
Bay of Lake Huron.
The purposes of the addition to the Shiawassee National Wildlife
Refuge are:
1. Provide wildlife corridors by protecting, restoring, and
managing wetlands and bottomland forest and upland habitats along the
rivers for the many values associated with these plant communities.
2. Protect, restore and maintain the biological diversity of the
area by preserving the native habitats and associated fish, migratory
and resident wildlife.
3. Facilitate with other agencies, groups and private landowners
the conservation of resources in the watersheds that support the
refuge.
4. Provide for increased recreation, environmental education, and
interpretative opportunities to the general public. Acquire, manage,
and operate Green Point Environmental Learning Center in the City of
Saginaw.
5. Work cooperatively with local communities on the establishment
of a visitors center located near a major thoroughfare to promote eco-
tourism in the metropolitan area.
The alternatives considered in the Draft EA are:
1. No Action--Rely on existing Federal, State, and local government
laws, regulations, and ordinances to protect resources.
2. Private Lands Agreements--Rely on a program of technical
outreach sponsored by the Service and Michigan Department of Natural
Resources to assist landowners in the restoration and enhancement of
wildlife and fish habitats in the area. The area would encompass 7,500
acres along the Cass, Shiawassee and Tittabawassee Rivers.
3. Acquisition of 7,500 acres by Service as an Addition to the
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge--Under this alternative, the
Service would use acquisition of fee title, easements, and leases from
willing sellers, subject to appropriated funds to add to the existing
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.
4. Acquisition of 5,688 acres by Service as an Addition to the
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge--Under this alternative, the
Service would use acquisition of fee title, easements, and leases from
willing sellers along the lower reaches of the Cass, Shiawassee, and
Tittbawassee Rivers, subject to appropriated funds to add to the
existing Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.
The Service's preferred alternative is #3--Acquisition of 7,500
acres as an addition to the Shiawassee NWR. The major issues discussed
in the Draft EA include Service acquisition policy, effects on the tax
base, loss of cropland, maintenance of existing ditches and dikes,
mosquito control, effects on adjacent cropland, loss of residential
development, fire protection responsibilities, and maintenance of
township roads.
The environmental review of this project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40
CFR 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal regulations, and Service
procedures for compliance with those regulations.
The Service has scheduled six public open houses in the Saginaw
area, the times and locations are as follows: Thomas Township Hall (249
N. Miller Road, Thomas Township) on Sept. 20, 1995, from 3:00 p.m. to
5:30 p.m.; James Township Hall (6060 Swan Creek Road, James Township)
on Sept. 20, 1995, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saginaw Township Hall
(4980 Shattuck Road, Saginaw Township) on Sept. 21, 1995, from 3:00
p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Bridgeport Township Hall (6206 Dixie Highway,
Bridgeport) on Sept. 21, 1995, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Spaulding
Township Hall (5025 E. Road (M-13), Spaulding Township) on Sept. 22,
1995, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and in the City of Saginaw at the
Green Point Nature Center (3010 Maple Street, Saginaw) on Sept. 23,
1995, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Draft EA will be available to the public on September 5, 1995.
The deadline for public comments on the Draft EA is October 23, 1995.
Dated: September 5, 1995.
Marvin E. Moriarty,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-22711 Filed 9-12-95; 8:45 am]
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