[Federal Register: January 16, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 10)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3673-3681]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ja01-117]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[1018-AG18]

 
Draft Appropriate Refuge Uses Policy Pursuant to the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to establish, in policy, a procedure for 
determining when uses other than the six priority wildlife-dependent 
recreational uses are appropriate or not appropriate on a unit 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, and establishes a process for deciding 
when it is appropriate to allow other, non-priority uses to occur on 
national wildlife refuges. We propose to incorporate this policy as 
Part 603 Chapter 1 of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.

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

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this draft appropriate refuge 
uses policy by mail, fax or e:mail: by mail to J. Kenneth Edwards, 
Refuge Program Specialist, 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 
Appropriate_Uses _Policy_ Comments@fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Kenneth Edwards, Refuge Program 
Specialist, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Telephone (703) 358-1744.