The draft plans outline management goals, objectives and strategies for Howland Island, Baker Island and Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuges, all located in the central Pacific near the equator.

"These three remote refuges include nearly 100,000 acres of submerged lands, including some of the most pristine and spectacular coral reefs found in the Pacific, and almost 2,000 acres of terrestrial habitats that support an amazing assemblage of nesting seabirds," said Don Palawski, the refuges' manager. "When these conservation plans are completed, we will have a 'roadmap' to lead us toward improved management of the natural and cultural resources of these refuges."

Because the refuges are very similar in nature, most of the goals, objectives, and management activities within the three plans are nearly identical. The most notable exception is at Baker Island, where environmental contaminants still need to be quantified and remediated. The plans and environmental assessments identify and evaluate four alternatives for managing the refuges for the next 15 years.

The comprehensive conservation plans/environmental assessments are available at www.fws.gov/pacific/planning or by requesting a compact disk or hard copy from the Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex at 808-792-9550.