§ 302. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
430 words·~2 min read·
/usc/title-16/section-302A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Findings .— Congress finds that— President Theodore Roosevelt began the National Wildlife Refuge System by establishing the first refuge at Pelican Island, Florida, on March 14, 1903 ; the National Wildlife Refuge System is comprised of more than 93,000,000 acres of Federal land managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in more than 532 individual refuges and thousands of waterfowl production areas located in all 50 States and the territories of the United States; the System is the only network of Federal land dedicated singularly to wildlife conservation and where wildlife-dependent recreation and environmental education are priority public uses; the System serves a vital role in the conservation of millions of migratory birds, dozens of endangered species and threatened species, some of the premier fisheries of the United States, marine mammals, and the habitats on which such species of fish and wildlife depend; each year the System provides millions of Americans with opportunities to participate in wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation; public visitation to national wildlife refuges is growing, with more than 35,000,000 visitors annually; and it is essential that visitor centers and public use facilities be properly constructed, operated, and maintained; the National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 ( 16 U.S.C. 742f note;
Public Law 105–242 ) [see Short Title of 1998 Amendments note under section 742a of this title ], and the amendments made by that Act, significantly enhance the ability of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to incorporate volunteers and partnerships in refuge management; as of the date of the enactment of this Act [ Nov. 1, 2000 ], the System has an unacceptable backlog of critical operation and maintenance needs; and the occasion of the centennial of the System, in 2003, presents a historic opportunity to enhance natural resource stewardship and expand public enjoyment of the national wildlife refuges of the United States.
Purposes .— The purposes of this title are— to establish a commission to promote awareness by the public of the National Wildlife Refuge System as the System celebrates its centennial in 2003; to develop a long-term plan to meet the priority operation, maintenance, and construction needs of the System; to require an annual report on the needs of the System prepared in the context of— the budget submission of the Department of the Interior to the President; and the President’s budget request to Congress; and to improve public use programs and facilities of the System to meet the increasing needs of the public for wildlife-dependent recreation in the 21st century.
Connections1 cite this · traces to 1
Cited by 1 section
Traces to 1 document
1 reference not yet in our index
- Pub. L. 105-242
Citation graph
cites case law
Cites 2Cited by 1 across 1 source