[Federal Register: January 16, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 10)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3809-3823]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ja01-120]                         


[[Page 3809]]

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

Part VII





Department of the Interior





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



Fish and Wildlife Service



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



Policy on Maintaining the Biological Integrity, Diversity, and 
Environmental Health of the National Wildlife Refuge System; Notice


[[Page 3810]]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

RIN 1018-AG47

 
Policy on Maintaining the Biological Integrity, Diversity, and 
Environmental Health of the National Wildlife Refuge System

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) issue a final policy to 
guide personnel of the National Wildlife Refuge System (System) in 
implementing the clause of the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge Improvement Act) directing Secretary of 
the Interior to ensure that the ``biological integrity, diversity, and 
environmental health'' of the System is maintained. This policy applies 
to all units of the System. The policy is an additional directive for 
refuge managers to follow while achieving refuge purpose(s) and System 
mission. It provides for the consideration and protection of the broad 
spectrum of fish, wildlife, and habitat resources found on refuges and 
associated ecosystems. Further, it provides refuge managers with an 
evaluation process to analyze their refuge and recommend the best 
management direction to prevent additional degradation of environmental 
conditions and, where appropriate in achieving refuge purpose(s) and 
System mission, restore lost or severely degraded components. Lastly, 
it provides guidelines for refuge managers to follow in dealing with 
external threats to biological integrity, diversity, and environmental 
health.

DATES: This notice is effective February 15, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Souheaver, Acting Chief, 
Division Natural Resources, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 670, Arlington, 
Virginia 22203; telephone (703) 358-1744. Please note that the full 
text of the policy appears at the end of this notice. In addition, the 
chapter will be available on the System web site Http://
refuges.fws.gov, select link to ``Administration: Federal Register 
Notices'' * * * then click on ``2001 Notices'' to find ``Biological 
Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health.''