Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Refuge Recreation Act

This Act, Refuge Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4) -- Public Law 87-714, approved September 28, 1962, (76 Stat. 653) as amended by Public Law 89-669, approved October 14, 1966, (80 Stat. 930) and Public Law 92-534, approved October 23, 1972, (86 Stat. 1063) authorized the Secretary of the Interior to administer refuges, hatcheries and other conservation areas for recreational use, when such uses do not interfere with the area's primary purposes.

The Act provided for public use fees and permits, and penalties for violation of regulations. It also authorized the acceptance of donations of funds and real and personal property to assist in carrying out its purposes.

Public Law 93-205, approved December 28, 1973 (87 Stat. 902), authorized acquisition of lands and interests suitable for: 1) fish and wildlife-oriented recreation, 2) protection of natural resources, 3) conservation of endangered or threatened species, or 4) carrying out two or more of the above. Such lands were required to be adjacent to or within an existing conservation area. Acquisition was not permitted with "duck stamp" receipts for these purposes.

Enforcement provisions were amended by Public Law 95-616, approved November 8, 1978 (92 Stat. 3110), and were further revised by Public Law 98-473, approved October 12, 1984 (98 Stat. 2028, 2031), which made violations misdemeanors in accordance with the uniform sentencing provisions of that law (18 U.S.C. 3551-3586).

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