[Federal Register: January 16, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 10)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3681-3707]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ja01-118]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service 1018-AG20

[1018-AG20]

 
Draft Wildlife-Dependent Recreational Uses Policy Pursuant to the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a policy that will explain how we will 
provide

[[Page 3682]]

visitors with high quality hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation 
opportunities on units of the National Wildlife Refuge System (System). 
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (NWRSIA-
1997), that amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration 
Act of 1966 (NWRSAA-1966), defines and establishes that wildlife-
dependent recreational uses (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation) are the 
priority general public uses of the System and, if found compatible, 
will receive enhanced and priority consideration in refuge planning and 
management over other general public uses. This draft policy describes 
how we will provide priority to these uses. We propose to incorporate 
this policy as Part 605 Chapters 1-7 of the Fish and Wildlife Service 
Manual.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 19, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this draft wildlife-dependent 
recreational uses policy by mail, fax or e:mail: by mail to Douglas 
Staller, Acting Chief, Division of Visitor Services and Communications, 
National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 
North Fairfax Drive, Room 670, Arlington, Virginia 22203; by fax to 
(703) 358-2248; or by e:mail to Wildlife__Dependent__ 
Recreational__Uses__ Policy__Comments@fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Staller, Acting Chief, 
Division of Visitor Services and Communications, National Wildlife 
Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Telephone (703) 358-
1744.