United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Washington, D.C. 20240

Subject: Delegation of Authority - Sikes Act

Sec. 1 What is the purpose of this Order? This Order authorizes Regional Directors to sign Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMP) concerning conservation, protection, and management of fish and wildlife resources on military installations. You may not redelegate this authority.

Sec. 2 To whom does this Order apply? This Order applies to Regional Directors and other Service employees who prepare and review INRMP's.

Sec. 3 What is the Service's authority to carry out this Order? 16 U.S.C. 670a-670o, Sikes Act Improvement Amendments of 1997.

Sec. 4 What are the implementation guidelines?

     a. The Service and appropriate State fish and wildlife agencies must cooperatively prepare INRMP's and the plans must reflect mutual agreement concerning conservation, protection, and management of fish and wildlife resources.

     b. Assistant Regional Directors for Fisheries, in consultation with other Assistant Regional Directors and the Regional Chiefs, National Wildlife Refuge System, are responsible for coordinating, reviewing, preparing, and commenting on INRMP's in a timely manner. Regional Director's, or their Acting, are the only officials that may sign INRMP's.

Sec. 5 Are there any reporting requirements? The Sikes Act Improvement Amendments of 1997 require that we, in cooperation with heads of State fish and wildlife agencies, submit a financial report to Congress annually by March 1 (Reports Control No. R507-1). This report will depict amounts that the Service and the affected State agencies expended during the preceding fiscal year on conservation activities in support of developing and implementing INRMP's. Regional Directors will provide this information to the Assistant Director - Fisheries and Habitat Conservation by December 31 of each year.

Sec. 6 What is the effective date of this Order? This order is effective immediately. We will incorporate its contents into Parts 033 and 507 of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.

Sec. 7 When does this Order expire? This Order will expire on June 30, 2002, unless it is amended, superseded, or revoked. 
 

Date: June 19, 2001