2.1  What is the purpose of this chapter?  This chapter prescribes basic policy, criteria, and procedures for naming and renaming units and unit sites operated by the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service/we).

 

2.2  To whom does this chapter apply?  This chapter applies to all units that are under control of the Service.

 

2.3  What is the Service policy on naming?  We will assign an official name to each unit and unit site that we operate to provide distinctive recognition from other holdings, both administratively and among the general public.

 

2.4  What terms do I need to know? For purposes of this chapter:

 

A.  Unit means any proposed or existing research area, administrative site, and all components of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Fish Hatchery System.

 

B.  Site means any sub‑unit, geographic feature, or improvement within a unit.   

 

2.5  Who approves new names or name changes?   Unless Congress or the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission mandated the name, the Director will approve new names or name changes for research areas, administrative sites, all units of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Fish Hatchery System, and specific sites within units.

 

2.6 Who is responsible for implementing the provisions of this chapter?

 

A.  Regional Directors will ensure that all proposals or recommendations for naming and renaming units and unit sites comply with this chapter.

 

B. Project leaders will provide the appropriate documentation required for new names or name changes and will comply with the criteria and procedures in this chapter.

 

C.  The Chief, Division of Realty, Headquarters, is responsible for managing the official unit names of research areas, administrative sites, and all units of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Fish Hatchery System.

 

2.7  What criteria are used for proposing names?   If neither an act of Congress nor an approval of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission established the unit name, the following criteria apply to naming or renaming a unit.  These same criteria apply to naming or renaming specific sites within a unit.

 

A.  You must give first preference to a geographic or geologic feature identifiable with the unit's location, if the feature significantly affects the use or the natural resources of the area.  The name of the feature must not be so commonly used that its quality of distinctiveness has been lost.

 

B.  If there is not a significant geographic or geological feature you can identify, you may name a unit or unit site for any wildlife, fish, or plant species.

 

C.  Do not name or rename a unit after any individual, unless it is a waterfowl production area (see paragraph H(1) below).  You may name buildings, trails and other facilities within a unit after an individual who played a significant role in the establishment or operation of the unit.

 

D.  Avoid a name that causes confusion with an existing unit's name (for example, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge).

 

E.  Avoid using a name already in use on other Federal or State units in the same State.

 

F.  Do not use a name that may be disrespectful to any cultural or ethnic group.

 

G.  Keep the name brief, distinctive, descriptive, and acceptable to local interests wherever possible.

 

H.  To provide consistency throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System, all new refuge units, except waterfowl production areas and conservation areas, must have "National Wildlife Refuge" as the last part of the unit name. 

 

(1)  A waterfowl production area that is commonly referred to by using the previous owner's name may be named after the individual.  All waterfowl production areas will have "Waterfowl Production Area" as the last part of the unit name.

 

(2)  When the Service has no fee title ownership rights, such as for projects consisting entirely of easements, use “Conservation Area” as the last part of the unit name.

 

2.8  What are the procedures for naming a new unit?

 

A.  Follow criteria in paragraph 2.7 when proposing a name for a new unit.

 

B.  The Director must approve the name for any new unit.

 

C.  You may select a tentative name to serve as a temporary means of in‑house identification until the name is approved.