Fish and Wildlife Service June 26, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice pertains to our final policy regarding the process we use to decide if a nonwildlife-dependent recreational use is an appropriate use of a refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act) amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Administration Act) and defines six refuge uses (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation) as wildlife-dependent recreational uses. The Improvement Act states that when compatible these uses are appropriate refuge uses and are the priority general public uses of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System). The Improvement Act directs us to give priority consideration to and facilitate these uses. To do this, we will provide compatible wildlife- dependent recreational uses enhanced and priority consideration over other general public uses in refuge planning and management. This final policy establishes a process for determining when we may further consider other general public uses on refuges. We are incorporating this policy as part 603, chapter 1, of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual (603 FW 1). This chapter (603 FW 1) will be available on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) Web site at https:// policy.fws.gov/ser600.html.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, or the Service) is issuing this policy to articulate the mission and goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) and their relationship to refuge purposes. This chapter is consistent with principles contained in the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act), including recognizing the priority for management activities and uses set forth in the Improvement Act (conserve fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats; facilitate compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses; and other uses). This policy describes the Refuge System mission, revises the Refuge System goals, and provides guidance for identifying or determining the purpose(s) of individual refuges within the Refuge System. This chapter also describes how the purpose(s) of a refuge addition relates to the original refuge purpose(s) and how wilderness designated under the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Wilderness Act) relates to a refuge's purpose(s). We are incorporating this policy as Part 601, Chapter 1, of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual (601 FW 1).