[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 [www.gpo.gov]
[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 https://www.fws.gov/policy-library/manuals/land-use-and-management-series/refuge-management/refuge-planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Henning, Chief, Branch of 
Conservation Planning and Policy, National Wildlife Refuge System, via 
email at [email protected], 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).
     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.
     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.
     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.
     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