Notice of Availability of Final 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

Résumé

This notice advises the public that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on establishing the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (refuge) in the Connecticut River watershed of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire is available. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to work with private landowners, state or local agencies and private organizations through the existing Partners for Wildlife and Challenge Cost Share Programs. The Service's major thrust through the year 2010 would focus on the use of voluntary efforts, developing partnerships, providing technical assistance, and administering a cost-sharing grants program to help other conservation interests carry out their land protection programs. The Service would also initiate its own land protection program--using a combination of easements, cooperative management agreement and fee title acquisition--with emphasis on endangered, threatened, rare and uncommon species and communities. Educational efforts would be carried out in cooperation with the watershed's many environmental education providers. This proposal would result in the establishment of a special watershed-wide co