A Compatibility Determination for commercial filming on Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is available for a 14-day public review beginning July 20th, 2010. Comments must be received in the refuge offices by close of business August 2nd, 2010.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is in the process of adding commercial filming as a recreational activity at Crab Orchard NWR. 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 and Visitor Center at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. Written comments, requests for the document, or questions can be directed to Crab Orchard NWR, Attention: Kimberly King-Wrenn, 8588 Route 148, Marion IL 62959. Email comments can be provided to the following address: Kimberly_King-Wrenn@fws.gov
The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge consists of 44,000 acres and is located in Williamson, Jackson and Union counties of Illinois. Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge was established on August 5, 1947, by Public Law 80-361. This Act of Congress transferred certain federal lands acquired in connection with the Crab Orchard Creek project and the Illinois Ordnance Plant to the Secretary of the Interior. This legislation mandated these lands be administered by the Secretary through the Fish and Wildlife Service “for the conservation of wildlife, and for the development of the agricultural, recreational, industrial, and related purposes specified in this Act.”
