3.1.4.1 WILDERNESS

The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 established Federally owned and managed areas for: (1) the protection and conservation of fish and wildlife which are threatened with extinction, (2) wildlife ranges, (3) game ranges, (4) wildlife management areas, and (5) waterfowl production areas. This wildlife sanctuary system was intended to work in harmony with numerous related ecological and recreational purposes such as the fruition of migratory birds, marine mammals, endangered and threatened species, bird watching, etc.

Proposed Rural Development actions in or near National Wildlife Refuges merit special evaluation because of the types of resources they contain which are covered by other Federal environmental legislation and executive orders such as: (1) the Endangered Species Act, (2) the Bald and Golden Eagles Protection Act, (3) the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, (4) Executive Order 11990, “Protection of Wetlands”, etc.

The Wilderness Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System composed of federally owned areas designated by Congress. The National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, or the Bureau of Land Management may manage wilderness areas.

The act was ratified to protect particularly environmentally pristine areas of the United States under Federal ownership and management practices. Wilderness areas are generally larger than 5000 acres and have retained their primeval character.

Rural Development policy is not to approve or fund any proposals that, as a result of identifiable impacts, direct or indirect, would lead to or accommodate either the conversion of these land uses or encroachment upon them.

 Implementation

It is the responsibility of the preparer to be familiar with the location of other state, local and federally administered lands and facilities. It is imperative that the preparer consults with the appropriate governing body regarding the potential impact of an action that is located in or near one of these areas.

• The web sites for Wilderness Areas:

http://wilderness.nps.gov/ and http://www.wilderness.net/ Clickable maps of the U.S. and each state; states with wilderness areas have narratives of each area.

For wilderness land administered by The Bureau of Land Management:  http://www.blm.gov

For information on wildlife refuges:  http://www.fws.gov/refuges/

In addition, you may refer to applicable city or county comprehensive plans for wilderness locations.

There are no Nationally designated wilderness areas in Delaware or Maryland.

Full text of National Wilderness Act of 1964:  http://www.wilderness.net/nwps/legis/nwps_act.cfm

Other reference:  L. L. Bean, “Outdoors Online”; contains information on any wildlife area in the United States.  http://www.llbean.com/parksearch/parks/html

NATIONAL WILDLIFE AND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AREAS

Governing Federal Regulations.

(a) National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966.

(b) Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956.

(c) Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929.

(d) Federal Policy and Management Act of 1976.

(e) Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

(f) Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1979.

(g) Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended.

(h) Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972.

(i) Refuge Recreation Act of 1962.

(j) Wilderness Act of 1964.

(k) Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965.

(l) Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands.

(m) U.S. Executive Order 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality.

(n) National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321.

(o) Title 7, Part 1b and 1c, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Environmental Policy Act.