Service Seeks Comments on Refuge Planning Policy

Service Seeks Comments on Refuge Planning Policy Moving to increase community involvement in long range planning for units of the 93 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened a 60 day comment period on its Comprehensive Conservation Planning Policy today. The draft policy directs all refuges to seek public input as they prepare plans that will guide decisions on all aspects of refuge operations over 15 year cycles. The Service will accept written comments through October 11. "Managing a National Wildlife Refuge is a big challenge involving wildlife conservation, compatible uses, maintaining facilities and equipment, and coordination with neighbors," said Acting Director John Rogers. "By preparing Comprehensive Conservation Plans, managers can inform the public about the full scope of management activities at the refuge and get their input at the same time."

As stipulated by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the draft Comprehensive Conservation Planning Policy requires every refuge or refuge complex to complete a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) by 2012, and revise each plan every 15 years thereafter or sooner as necessary. Each CCP will guide management decisions, outline how the refuge will achieve both unit and system wildlife conservation goals, and comply with other requirements such as those for occupational health and safety and access for Americans with disabilities. The policy does not provide step-by-step directions on how to prepare a CCP, but rather establishes the requirements and standards that CCPs will be held to.

Each refuge will provide an opportunity for active public involvement during the preparation and revision of CCPs, including coordination with other Federal agencies, state fish and wildlife and other state agencies, Tribal and local governments, adjacent landowners, and interested members of the public. In anticipation of the policy, many refuges have already begun holding "open house" meetings to discuss refuge operations with the public. Sixty-two CCPs, representing 121 stations, are underway, with 27 plans scheduled for completion this fiscal year.

"This is an important step towards implementation of our long term agenda for the refuge system, called Fulfilling the Promise, which calls for the refuge system to foster broader public participation in natural resource stewardship," Rogers said.

The full text of the proposed Comprehensive Conservation Planning Policy can be found in the August 13, 1999 Federal Register, on the Internet at http://refuges.fws.gov"> (select link to "Library," then link to Service Manual/Policy-Draft Chapters"), or is available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Refuges, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 22203; telephone 703-358-1744. Written comments can be provided to the Chief, Division of Refuges, at the same address, via fax on 703-358-2248, or via the Internet to Planning_Policy_Comments@fws.gov">

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. In addition to managing the refuge system, it operates 66 national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes over 500 million dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies annually.

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