"National Wildlife Refuges are places where the needs of wildlife come first, but the system welcomes almost 35 million visitors each year," said Acting Service Director John Rogers.
As required by the 1997 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, the revised draft policy outlines a standard process to review the impacts of proposed and existing public use and to make a compatibility determination.
"Compatibility determinations are the tool refuge managers use to ensure that recreation, educational activities, and other public uses of refuges will not interfere with or detract from the wildlife conservation mission of the Service or of the National Wildlife Refuge System," said Alaska Regional Director Dave Allen.
Under the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act, a determination of compatibility with refuge purposes is the most basic legal requirement common to uses of National Wildlife Refuges.
"During these reviews, refuge managers will take steps to notify and involve the public, such as posting notices at the refuge visitor centers and in local newspapers," Rogers said. "Using a more coordinated approach with our neighbors and partners will strengthen our ability to conserve wildlife on a broader scale."
The 1997 law also established "priority public uses"--hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation--that are especially welcome on refuges and receive preference over other uses. Under the revised policy, refuge managers would be encouraged to seek resources to offer these activities if they were determined to be otherwise compatible.
In addition to recreation, the policy would also apply to activities such as cooperative farming of grain crops that provide feed for migrating birds. It would not allow consideration of alternative habitat replacement, enhancement, or restoration for an activity that would otherwise be incompatible on refuges.
As before, the compatibility policy does not apply to private property within refuge boundaries, and does not affect the terms of conservation easements and other agreements between the Service and private landowners.
In Alaska, however, the compatibility policy does apply to the village lands within National Wildlife Refuges withdrawn under section 22(g) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. These lands were deeded to Alaska Native Village Corporations with specific restrictions, called covenants, on their sale and use. They were withdrawn from 7 of the 16 Alaska refuges under ANCSA. About 5 percent of the total 23 million acres of land owned by Native Village Corporations is located within refuge boundaries.
The full text of the proposed compatibility policy and regulations can be found in the September 9, Federal Register, on the Internet at www.refuges.fws.gov">, 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, through
November 8, to the Chief, Division of Refuges, at the same address, via fax on 703-358-2248, or via the Internet at Compatibility_Policy_Comments@fws.gov"> or Compatibility_Regulations_Comments@fws.gov">.
The only collection of federal lands devoted specifically to wildlife conservation, the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of diverse and strategically located habitats. More than 500 national wildlife refuges and thousands of waterfowl production areas across the United States and U.S. territories teem with millions of migratory birds, serve as havens for endangered species, support premier fisheries, and host a tremendous array of other plants and animals. The Refuge
System also comprises more than 20 million acres of Wilderness Areas. Nearly 35 million people visit Refuge System sites each year to enjoy hundreds of recreational and educational programs. Alaskas 16 refuges comprise 85 percent of the total acreage of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management assistance offices 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 hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies.
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