Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of an Environmental Assessment for the Draft Cooperative Farming Compatibility Determination at Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuges and a draft Compatibility Determination for Cooperative Farming Compatibility Determination at Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuges. The Service is seeking comments on the benefits and impacts on the continuation of cooperative farming as a means to meet wildlife management objectives on both refuges. 

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions prior to making decisions. These actions include decisions on permit applications, adopting federal land management actions, and constructing highways and other publicly-owned facilities. Using the NEPA process, the Service can evaluate the environmental and related social and economic effects of these proposed actions. 

National Wildlife Refuges are required by law to determine the compatibility of any proposed or existing use with the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the purpose for which a particular refuge was established. Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuges were administratively established to protect and conserve migratory birds and other wildlife resources through the protection of wetlands. The public review period gives the Service the opportunity to inform the community about a proposed use and provide the community an opportunity to weigh in on the pros and cons of that use. 

If you wish to review the Environmental Assessment and draft Compatibility Determination, copies are available here at the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges website. 

Written comments may be sent to Project Leader, Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuges Complex, P.O. Box 1969, Manteo, NC 27954 or emailed to alligatorriver@fws.gov.

All comments must be submitted no later than close of business, 4:00 p.m., on July 1, 2021. If you need additional information or to request documents in alternative formats, please contact Wildlife Refuge Specialists Kelley Van Druten at 252-475-0172, kelley_vandruten@fws.gov or Sarah Toner at 252-256-0316, sarah_toner@fws.gov.