Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 2.djvu/172

 Ill STAT. 1252 PUBLIC LAW 105-57—OCT. 9, 1997 Public Law 105-57 105th Congress An Act Ort Q 1QQ7 '^*' amend the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to •' improve the management of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other [H.R. 1420] purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of National Wildlife the United States of America in Congress assembled, Refuge System Improvement Act SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES. l6 USC 668dd (^) SHORT TITLE.— This Act may be cited as the "National note. Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997". (b) REFERENCES.— Whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or provision of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.). 16 USC 668dd SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) The National Wildlife Refuge System is comprised of over 92,000,000 acres of Federal lands that have been incorporated within 509 individual units located in all 50 States and the territories of the United States. (2) The System was created to conserve fish, wildlife, and Elants and their habitats and this conservation mission has een facilitated by providing Americans opportunities to participate in compatible wildlife-dependent recreation, including fishing and hunting, on System lands and to better appreciate the vgQue of and need for fish and wildlife conservation. (3) The System serves a pivotal role in the conservation of migratory birds, anadromous and interjurisdictional fish, marine mammals, endangered and threatened species, and the habitats on which these species depend. (4) The System Eissists in the fulfillment of important international treaty obligations of the United States with regard to fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats. (5) The System includes Iands purchased not only through the use of tax dollars but also through the proceeds from sales of Duck Stamps and national wildlife refuge entrance fees. It is a System that is financially supported by those benefiting from and utilizing it. (6) When managed in accordance with principles of sound fish and wildlife management and administration, fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, and environmental education in national wildlife refuges have been and are expected to continue to be generally compatible uses.

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