{"abstract":"We propose to establish, in policy, a procedure for determining when uses other than the six priority wildlife-dependent recreational uses are appropriate or not appropriate on a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System (System). The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (NWRSIA-1997), that amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (NWRSAA-1966), defines and establishes that wildlife-dependent recreational uses (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation) are the priority general public uses of the System and, if found compatible, will receive enhanced and priority consideration in refuge planning and management over other general public uses. This draft policy describes how we will provide priority to these uses, and establishes a process for deciding when it is appropriate to allow other, non-priority uses to occur on national wildlife refuges. We propose to incorporate this policy as Part 603 Chapter 1 of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.","action":"Notice.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR","name":"Interior Department","id":253,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/interior-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/253","parent_id":null,"slug":"interior-department"},{"raw_name":"Fish and Wildlife Service","name":"Fish and Wildlife Service","id":197,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/fish-and-wildlife-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/197","parent_id":253,"slug":"fish-and-wildlife-service"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2001/01/16/01-19.html","cfr_references":[],"citation":"66 FR 3673","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2001-03-19","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Comments must be received by March 19, 2001.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["1018-AG18"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"01-19","effective_on":null,"end_page":3681,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2001/01/16/01-19.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/01/16/01-19/draft-appropriate-refuge-uses-policy-pursuant-to-the-national-wildlife-refuge-system-improvement-act","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/01-19?publication_date=2001-01-16","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2001-01-16/01-19/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":9,"page_views":{"count":83,"last_updated":"2026-04-04 18:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2001-01-16/pdf/01-19.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2001-01-16","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2001/01/16/01-19.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":3673,"subtype":null,"title":"Draft Appropriate Refuge Uses Policy Pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997","toc_doc":"Appropriate refuge uses policy","toc_subject":"National Wildlife Refuge System:","topics":[],"type":"Notice","volume":66}