Rule2024-07265
National Wildlife Refuge System Planning Policies (602 FW 1-4) for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 18, 2024
Effective
April 1, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the updated planning policies, 602 FW 1-4, for the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System). The purpose of the policy revisions is to update the Refuge System's refuge management by incorporating landscape conservation plans and consideration of climate change and other anthropogenic forces in refuge management.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 76 (Thursday, April 18, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 76 (Thursday, April 18, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27689-27690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07265]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Chapter I
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2023-0024; FXRS12610900000-245-FF09R25000]
National Wildlife Refuge System Planning Policies (602 FW 1-4)
for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notification of final policies.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
updated planning policies, 602 FW 1-4, for the National Wildlife Refuge
System (Refuge System). The purpose of the policy revisions is to
update the Refuge System's refuge management by incorporating landscape
conservation plans and consideration of climate change and other
anthropogenic forces in refuge management.
DATES: The policies were effective April 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The revised planning policies are available at <a href="https://www.fws.gov/policy-library/manuals/land-use-and-management-series/refuge-management/refuge-planning">https://www.fws.gov/policy-library/manuals/land-use-and-management-series/refuge-management/refuge-planning</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Henning, Chief, Branch of
Conservation Planning and Policy, National Wildlife Refuge System, via
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#48223d24212d17202d262621262f082e3f3b662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6309160f0a063c0b060d0d0a0d04230514104d040c15">[email protected]</span></a>, by telephone at (703) 358-1945, or by
mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, c/o Julie Henning, 5275
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. Individuals in the United
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make international calls to the point of contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
We are announcing the availability of four updated National
Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) planning policies. The purpose
of the policy revisions is to update the Refuge System's refuge
management by incorporating landscape conservation planning and design
and consideration of climate change and other anthropogenic forces in
refuge management. The Refuge System's authority for these policies
comes from the Refuge System Administration Act
[[Page 27690]]
of 1966, as amended by the Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
(Administration Act; 16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee). These final policies are
incorporated in part 602 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) Manual, and replace the outdated policies at 602 FW 1, 3, and
4, published in 2000. Service Manual chapter 602 FW 2 replaces 341 FW 1
and 2, both published in 1996.
Contents of Final Policies
Refuge planning sets the broad vision for refuge management and
determines goals, objectives, strategies, and actions to ensure refuges
are managed consistently with a refuge's purposes; the Refuge System's
mission and goals; the Administration Act, as amended; the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation Act (for Alaska refuges); and all
other applicable laws and regulations. The four planning policies the
Service updated are: Refuge Planning Overview (602 FW 1), Land
Protection Planning (602 FW 2), Comprehensive Conservation Planning
(602 FW 3), and Step-down Planning (602 FW 4).
<bullet> 602 FW 1, Refuge Planning Overview, describes the
Service's overall policy and goals for refuge planning and how the
Refuge System incorporates climate adaptation and resiliency into
refuge planning. The policy also describes how the Refuge System
coordinates with Federal, State, and local agencies; Tribes; Alaska
Native Corporations (ANCs); Alaska Native Organizations (ANOs); the
Native Hawaiian Community; territories; and other partners and
stakeholders in refuge planning.
<bullet> 602 FW 2, Land Protection Planning, describes the
Service's overall policy and goals for land protection planning and
establishes who is responsible for different steps of the process. The
policy provides an overview of the Service's land protection planning
process, including coordination with partners, land acquisition, and
minor and major refuge boundary modifications.
<bullet> 602 FW 3, Comprehensive Conservation Planning, describes
the Service's overall policy and goals for comprehensive conservation
planning, and establishes who is responsible for different steps of the
process. The policy provides an overview of the requirements for
developing comprehensive conservation plans (CCP), including CCPs for
new refuges; CCP scope and content; and coordination with partners.
Finally, it provides guidance for reviewing and updating CCPs.
<bullet> 602 FW 4, Step-down Planning, describes the Service's
overall policy and goals for step-down planning, and establishes who is
responsible for different steps of the process. The policy provides an
overview of the requirements for developing step-down plans, including
how they are integrated with CCPs; consideration of the National
Environmental Policy Act; and coordination with partners. Finally, it
provides guidance for reviewing and updating step-down plans.
Background and Development of Policies
Many of the planning and natural resource regulations and policies
guiding the Refuge System were developed following passage of the
Improvement Act more than 20 years ago. Much has changed since then,
and there is a need to consider climate change and other anthropogenic
forces more explicitly and effectively in Refuge System management. The
Service must also incorporate landscape planning and design into its
planning policies. These are just a few of the drivers that led to
convening five chartered national Service teams to update existing or
develop new natural resource regulations, policies, and handbooks for
the Refuge System. The Service's Conservation Planning team is
comprised of Service planning subject matter experts from across the
agency's Regions.
Public Engagement
At draft stage, these policy updates were distributed for internal
Service review throughout all Regions and programs in August 2022. We
provided an opportunity for State engagement through the Association of
Fish and Wildlife Agencies in February 2023. Additionally, we hosted
national webinars and provided opportunity for engagement by Tribal
leaders, ANCs, ANOs, and the Native Hawaiian Community in February
2023. In September 2023, we made the draft policies available for
public comment for 30 days via a Federal Register notification
(September 15, 2023; 88 FR 63547). We incorporated feedback received
from these partners, stakeholders, and the public.
Authority
The authority for this action is the National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee).
Martha Williams,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-07265 Filed 4-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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