Availability of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Valentine, NE

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and

Environmental Assessment for Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and

Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Valentine, NE

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reopening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997, the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service has published the Fort Niobrara Wildlife Refuge

Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment and

the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation

Plan and Environmental Assessment. These Plans describes how the FWS

intends to manage both the Fort Niobrara and Valentine NWRs for the

next 10-15 years.

ADDRESSES: A copy of either of the Plans may be obtained by writing to

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Niobrara/Valentine NWR Complex, HC

14, Box 67, Valentine, NE 69201.

The Plans can also be obtained electronically through the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service Region 6 Land Acquisition and Refuge Planning

HomePage. The Internet address to access the Plans is as follows:

http://www.r6.fws.gov/larp. Follow the link to ``CCP Status in Region

6,'' click on Nebraska on the Region 6 map, and look under the

``Refuge'' column for links to both the Fort Niobrara and Valentine

Draft CCPs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernardo Garza, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, P.O. Box 25486 DFG, Denver, CO 80225, 303/236-8145 extension

672; fax 303/236-4792.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For Niobrara and Valentine NWRs are located

in north central Nebraska. These Plans and their supporting documents

outline a vision for the management of each of these Refuges and

specify how one of the largest contiguous blocks of federally owned

Nebraska Sandhills grass-stabilized regions can be managed to conserve

indigenous wildlife and provide enjoyment to people. Opportunities for

compatible wildlife-dependent recreation will continue to be provided.

The comment period for these documents will be reopened until

August 19, 1999. All comments need to be addressed to: Bernardo Garza,

Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Land Acquisition and Refuge Planning, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486 DFC, Denver, Colorado 80225.

Dated: July 9, 1999.

Terry T. Terrell,

Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 99-18020 Filed 7-14-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M