3/6/2007

Contacts

Clayton Ferrell, (731) 642-2091
Tom MacKenzie, (404) 679-7291

Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge Draft Migratory Bird Hunt Plan and Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Review and Comment

Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comment on our draft Migratory Bird Hunting Plan (Resident Canada Goose Hunt) and Environmental Assessment on the refuge. The plans will be available for public comment for a period of 30 days beginning March 5, 2007.

The plan describes six alternatives for hunting on the refuge: (1) the no action alternative would continue the hunting program that is currently in place, i.e. no resident Canada goose hunting, (2) the proposed action would open a maximum of 40% of the refuge to the hunting of resident Canada geese during the September goose season for the West Tennessee Zone. The portions of Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge open to hunting will be non-quota. (3) capture and euthanasia during molt alternative would round up resident Canada geese during the summer molt to be euthanized, (4) shooting for limited control alternative would involve the use of refuge staff to selectively target geese in problem areas, (5) disruption of nests alternative would involve the use of refuge staff to oil eggs or otherwise reduce reproduction, (6) scare strategies and harassment alternative would involve the use of refuge staff using pyrotechnics and other scare devices to scare resident geese out of problem areas.

A copy of the draft Hunt Plan and Environmental Assessment is available at the Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge headquarters in Dover, TN and on our web site at www.fws.gov/crosscreeks.

Our address is:

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Cross Creeks NWR
643 Wildlife Road
Dover, TN, 37058

Our business hours are 7:00 to 3:30 Monday through Friday. Also a copy can be requested by calling 931-232-7477.

Copies of the plans can also be found at the following library:

Stewart County Public Library
102 Natcor Drive
Dover, TN 37058
931-232-3127

Written comments will be accepted until April 5, 2007. We will address all comments concerning the draft Hunt Plan and Environmental Assessment on Cross Creeks NWR in the final Hunt Plan and Environmental Assessment. Comments may be emailed to clayton_ferrell@fws.gov. Please call us at 931-535-2465 if you would like a copy of the draft Hunt Plan and Environmental Assessment or if you have any questions.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.