National Wildlife Refuge System

This section of law consolidates the authorities relating to the various categories of areas administered by the Secretary of the Interior for the conservation of fish and wildlife by designating all such areas part of the National Wildlife Refuge System (the System). The law prohibits knowingly disturbing, injuring, cutting, burning, removing, destroying, or possessing any real or personal property of the U.S., including natural growth, in any area of the system, or taking or possessing any fish, bird, mammal, or other wild animals within any such area without a permit. The Secretary may permit areas within the System to be used for hunting, fishing, and public recreation when the Secretary determines such uses are compatible with the major purposes for which such areas were established. Another section of law, 16 U.S.C. ? 460k, recognizes the mounting public demands for recreational opportunities on areas administered by the Secretary of the Interior for fish and wildlife purposes, including areas within the System. This section provides that the Secretary may administer such areas as public recreation areas when the Secretary determines that public recreation is an appropriate incidental or secondary use. Such public recreation may be permitted only to the extent that it is not inconsistent with the primary objectives for which the particular area was established (Source: Year of the Ocean Discussion Papers 1998).