Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for Proposed Protection of Additional Habitat for the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in Saginaw County, Michigan

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This Notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to prepare an EA for a proposal to protect additional habitat for 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. The EA will evaluate four preliminary alternatives on the basis of their biological and socioeconomic impacts. Preparation of the EA is in response to issues presented at meetings with officials of the townships of Bridgeport, James, Saginaw, Spaulding, and Thomas, with officials of the City of Saginaw and Saginaw County, and with individual landowners in the area surrounding the existing Refuge. This Notice is being furnished as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) to obtain further suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EA. Comments and participation in this scoping process are welcomed.