VOL. 17 ISSUE NO. 12   |   MARCH 23 – 29, 2011

MARCH 25, 2011

Comment period is extended to May 11 regarding Arizona sport fish stocking environmental assessment


PHOENIX – The comment period on a draft environmental assessment of Arizona’s sport-fish stocking program has been extended for 30 days to May 11.

On March 10, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Arizona Game and Fish Department made available for review a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on FWS’s proposal to continue providing Sport Fish Restoration funds to continue the state’s long-standing stocking fish program and for hatchery operations and maintenance.

The public is encouraged to review and comment on the draft EA, as it has ramifications for the future of both sport-fish angling and native fish conservation in Arizona.  The deadline to submit comments is now May 11, 2011.

The draft EA is available online at www.azgfd.gov/fishea or at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/federal_assistance/. Hard copies of the draft EA may be viewed at the AGFD Phoenix Headquarters or regional field offices across the state. For a list of addresses, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

Comments or requests for copies of the draft EA on CD may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected] or to: Ms. Brie Darr, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, 500 Gold Ave. SW, Ste 9019, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Telephone: (505) 248-7457, Fax: (505) 248-7471; or Mr. Dave Weedman, Habitat Branch, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Telephone: 623-236-7607, Fax 623-236-7366.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal agencies are required to analyze potential environmental effects of any action they propose to implement, approve, or fund. Because AGFD receives federal funds used to support its stocking program (along with state funds from the sale of licenses and trout stamps), the agency is required to complete an environmental assessment process to allow it to continue receiving those federal funds.

This draft EA is a part of the federally required NEPA compliance.

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