Date	Event
Era:	"Approaching our Centennial"
1992	The Department of the Interior and the Fish and Wildlife Service are sued by the National Audubon Society, Wilderness Society, Defenders of Wildlife and several Audubon chapters for authorizing or allowing activities on national wildlife refuges that harm fish, wildlife and habitat. The law suit is settled shortly thereafter through a settlement that commits the Department and Service to resolve or terminate specific refuge problems that are not compatible with refuge purposes.
1993	The Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in West Virginia is designated as the 500th National Wildlife Refuge of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
1997	With passage of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, Congress explicitly states that the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is wildlife conservation, identifies a number of wildlife-dependent recreational uses that will be given priority consideration, mandates a long-term refuge planning process, and clarifies the process for determining the compatibility of refuge uses.
1998	The National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer and Community Partnerships Act is enacted authorizing partnerships with organizations to promote the understanding and conservation of fish, wildlife, plants and cultural resources on refuges and directing the Service to develop educational programs.

---