A Compatibility Determination for Hunting on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is in the process of amending the hunt program at Bond Swamp Refuge. Federal law requires that the Service first determine that these uses are compatible with Refuge purposes. A compatible use is any use of a National Wildlife Refuge that, based on sound professional judgment, will not materially interfere with or detract from the fulfillment of the National Wildlife Refuge System mission or the purposes for establishing the Refuge. The Service develops a compatibility determination to facilitate evaluation of proposed refuge uses, including anticipated impacts and stipulations necessary to ensure compatibility. A draft compatibility determination has been crafted for the proposed uses and is currently available for public review.
Copies of the Compatibility Determination can be requested from the Headquarters office at Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. Written comments, requests for the document, or questions can be directed to Carolyn Johnson, Assistant Refuge Manager, at 718 Juliette Road, Round Oak, GA 31038; (478) 986-5441. Email comments can be provided to the following address: Carolyn_Johnson@fws.gov.
The Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is currently 7,600 acres and is located in Bibb and Twiggs counties of Georgia. The refuge lies on both sides of the Ocmulgee River six miles south of the City of Macon. Hunting opportunities are available, along with fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education.
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 94 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 542 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource 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 fish and wildlife agencies.
