Economic Uses of the National Wildlife Refuge System Unlikely To Increase Significantly
RCED-84-108
Published: Jun 15, 1984. Publicly Released: Jun 15, 1984.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of the Interior's plans to expand the economic and public uses of lands included in the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), focusing on: (1) how expansion decisions were reached and whether data provided by individual refuges were considered in Interior's plans; (2) plans to increase oil and gas development on NWRS lands; and (3) policies of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for granting access to and use of public lands.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should resolve the conflicting goals of: (1) promoting the multiple use of refuge lands; and (2) resolving resource problems on refuges. Any expansion of existing uses should be weighed carefully against any uncorrected existing problems and an individual refuge's capability to manage new or expanded uses. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should issue regulations concerning the conduct of oil and gas operations, especially seismic surveys, on NWRS lands. |
Closed – Implemented
FWS drafted a chapter to its Refuge Manual in response to this recommendation, but it decided against finalizing the chapter at this time. Interior's solicitor concluded that further litigation may be necessary to clarify legal issues raised by the litigation. In the interim, FWS plans to issue guidance on the conduct of oil and gas operations on NWRS lands on a case-by-case basis.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should verify the nature and extent of oil and gas exploration and production activities in NWRS and evaluate their impacts on refuge lands. |
Closed – Implemented
FWS completed a survey of NWRS showing the nature and extent of mineral activities for calendar years 1984 and 1985, and intends to update the survey for calendar year 1986. The survey results have been incorporated into a computerized database that has been used to provide information on NWRS oil and gas operations to Congress, environmental groups, the oil industry, and others.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require the Director, FWS, to issue a chapter of the Refuge Manual concerning oversight of oil and gas operations to provide guidance for refuge managers. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Director, FWS, was unable to develop the chapter due to legal issues of rights of surface versus subsurface. It will probably require a settlement in court before the chapter can be written.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should revise FWS regulations on refuge access to specify under what circumstances access will be granted to oil and gas lessees and other economic users, requiring FWS to specify access provisions in either the lease, permit, or agreement for economic use of a refuge. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Interior believes that its present regulations give the refuge manager the authority and mechanism to adequately control user access on a case-by-case basis and is preferable to a standardized approach.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require FWS to develop a fee system to recover, where practical, the administrative costs associated with processing permits for refuge access and use. |
Closed – Implemented
FWS issued a chapter to its Refuge Manual dealing with the administration of specialized uses on national wildlife refuges. This chapter includes guidance on cost recovery, establishment of fees, documentation of specialized uses, and collection and deposit of fees. This guidance was dated August 18, 1986, and essentially served to standardize cost recovery procedures.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require FWS to improve its collection and tracking system for receipts which the refuges or regions collect. Such a system should include written guidance on where receipts should be deposited, a central coding procedure, and verification of these codes at the Denver Service Center. |
Closed – Implemented
Interior believes it has accomplished all three points through its instruction to the refuges.
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