I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 952
To clarify the mission, purposes, and authorized uses of the National Wildlife
Refuge System, and to establish requirements for administration and
conservation planning for that system.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 5, 1997
Mr. MILLER of California (for himself, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. MARKEY, Mr.
HINCHEY, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. FARR of Cali-
fornia, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. VENTO, Mrs. MINK of
Hawaii, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, and Mr. SHAYS) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources
A BILL
To clarify the mission, purposes, and authorized uses of
the National Wildlife Refuge System, and to establish
requirements for administration and conservation plan-
ning for that system.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Theodore Roosevelt
Wildlife Legacy Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. MISSION AND PURPOSES OF THE SYSTEM.
(a) MISSION.—The overall mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System (in this Act referred to as the
‘‘System’’) is to preserve a network of lands and waters
for the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and
plants of the United States for the benefit of present and
future generations.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the System are—
(1) to conserve, manage, and where appro-
priate, restore fish and wildlife habitats so as to pro-
vide, in perpetuity, for the diversity of fish, wildlife,
and plants and the ecological processes that sustain
them;
(2) to provide a diverse national network of
lands and waters designed to conserve and manage,
in perpetuity, fish, wildlife, and plants of the United
States, and their habitats;
(3) to conserve and manage migratory birds,
endangered species, anadromous or interjurisdic-
tional fish species, marine mammals, and other fish,
wildlife, and plants; and
(4) to fulfill international treaty obligations of
the United States with respect to fish, wildlife, and
plants, and their habitats.
SEC. 3. PRIORITY USES.
The priority public uses of the System are wildlife
observation and photography, hunting, fishing, and envi-
ronmental education and interpretation.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SYSTEM.
In administering the System, the Secretary of the In-
terior shall—
(1) ensure that the mission and purposes of the
System described in section 2 and the purposes of
each refuge are carried out, except that if a conflict
exists between the primary purpose of a National
Wildlife Refuge and any purpose of the System, the
conflict shall be resolved in a manner that first ful-
fills the primary purpose of the refuge, and, to the
extent practicable, also achieves the purposes of the
System;
(2) ensure that opportunities for the uses de-
scribed in section 3 receive priority attention in
planning and management within the System, con-
sistent with the mission and purposes of the System
described in sections 2(a) and (b);
(3) plan, propose, and direct expansion of the
System—
(A) to accomplish the mission and pur-
poses of the System and the purposes of each
National Wildlife Refuge; and
(B) to contribute to the conservation of the
ecosystems of the United States; and
(4) inventory and monitor the status and trends
of fish, wildlife, and plants in each National Wildlife
Refuge.
SEC. 5. COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) GENERAL RULE.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), effective beginning on the date that is 3 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
not initiate or permit a new use of a National Wildlife
Refuge or expand, renew, or extend an existing allowed
use unless the Secretary determines that the use is com-
patible with the primary purposes of the refuge and the
mission and purposes of the System specified in section
2 of this Act. Such determinations shall—
(1) be made in writing, be based on the best
available scientific information, and represent the
best professional judgment of the refuge officer in-
volved;
(2) be made after an opportunity has been pro-
vided for the public to review and comment on the
evaluations;
(3) where appropriate, be made concurrently
with the development of a conservation plan for the
refuge under section 6; and
(4) be reevaluated when conditions under which
the use is permitted change significantly or when
there is significant new information regarding the
effects of the use, but not less frequently than every
10 years.
(b) PRIOR IDENTIFICATION
FOR NEW ACQUISI-
TIONS.—On lands added to the System after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall identify, prior
to acquisition, existing compatible priority public uses (as
described in section 3) that shall be permitted to continue
on an interim basis pending completion of comprehensive
planning.
SEC. 6. REFUGE CONSERVATION PLANNING PROGRAM.
(a) GENERAL RULE.—Except with respect to Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge lands in Alaska (which shall be gov-
erned by the refuge planning provision of the Alaska Na-
tional Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101
et seq.)), the Secretary shall—
(1) propose a comprehensive conservation plan
for each refuge or ecologically related complex of ref-
uges consistent with section 2 of this Act within 15
years after the date of enactment of this Act and re-
vise such plans not less frequently than every 15
years thereafter;
(2) develop and implement a process to ensure
an opportunity for active public involvement in the
preparation and revision of conservation plans; and
(3) manage each refuge in a manner consistent
with the conservation plan for the refuge.
(b) NEW REFUGES.—With respect to any refuge es-
tablished after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall prepare a conservation plan for the refuge not
later than 2 years after the Secretary has determined that
sufficient land has been acquired to warrant comprehen-
sive planning.
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