U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
A outline Sport Hunting Project and Environmental Assessment for Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is accessible for a 30-day public review beginning February 22, 2007. The review period will end March 23, 2007. A Compatibility Determination for Hunting is also accessible for a 21-day public review beginning February 22, 2007. That review period will end March 16, 2007.
The U.S.F.W.S. (Service) is in the process of proposing to expand hunting on Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) including the Round Pond and Pigmon Units in Saint Francis County. Prior to opening new hunts and new lands for hunting on the Refuge, Federal law requires that the Service 1st determine that these uses are compatible with Refuge purposes. A compatible use is any use of a National Wildlife Refuge that, based on sound professional judgment, will not materially interfere with or detract from the fulfillment of the National Wildlife Refuge System mission or the purposes for establishing the Refuge. The Service develops a compatibility determination to facilitate evaluation of suggested refuge uses, including anticipated impacts and stipulations necessary to ensure compatibility. A outline compatibility determination has been crafted for the suggested uses and is currently accessible for public review.
The Sport Hunting Project describes 3 alternatives for hunting on the refuge: (1) the no action alternative would continue the hunting plan that is currently in place (2) the suggested action would open additional land and hunting opportunities to include big game and waterfowl and (3) the maximum hunting alternative describes hunting of all species within the State of Arkansas regulations.
Copies of the Hunt Plan, Environmental Assessment, and Compatibility Determinations can be requested from the refuge and copies are accessible for review at the following libraries:
Woolfolk Library, 100 North Currie Street, Marion
West Memphis Public Library, Oliver at Avalon, West Memphis
Crawfordsville Public Library, 104 South Main, Crawfordsville
Written comments, requests for the document, or questions can be directed to Glen Miller, Wildlife Refuge Manager, at P.O. Box 279, Turrell, Arkansas 72384; (870) 343-2595. Email comments can be provided to the following address: glen_miller@fws.gov.
The Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge is currently 5,484 acres and is located in Crittenden County, Arkansas ΒΌ mile south of Turrell. The Round Pond (480 acres) and Pigmon (29.3 acres) Units are located in Saint Francis County. Hunting opportunities are available, along with fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education.
The U.S.F.W.S. 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 94 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses in excess of 542 National wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 Countrywide fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 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 governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid plan that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
