Amended Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Protect Seabird Nesting Islands on Maine's Coast To Further Include a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge

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This NOI is an amendment to the previous notice published on 10/4/ 95. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announces its intention to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to section 102 (2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508). As originally announced, this EIS will continue to evaluate the FWS proposal to protect seabird nesting islands on Maine's coast, while also analyzing the development of a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). We determined the need to amend the 1995 NOI once we braodened the scope of our analysis to incorporate a CCP for Petit Manan NWR. CCPs are required for all National Wildlife Refuges under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. The CCP will not only evaluate protection of coastal islands, but will also evaluate alternatives to managing wildlife and habitat, public use, and protection of cultural resources on all lands within the Refuge. A Wilderness Review of Petit Manan NWR will also be completed concurrently in acco