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On Wednesday, July 24, 2013, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 638 – “ The National Wildlife Refuge Review Act of 2013” — which would remove the Department of the Interior’s authority to establish new national wildlife refuges, instead requiring an act of Congress. Representative John Fleming (R-LA), the bill’s sponsor, expressed concern regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s capacity to manage existing refuges. Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR), opposed the bill, arguing that Congress already has the power to reverse wildlife refuge designations. HR 638 IH 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 638 To amend the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to require that any new national wildlife refuge may not be established except as expressly authorized by statute. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 13, 2013 Mr. FLEMING (for himself, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. JONES, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. POSEY, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. AMODEI, Mrs. BLACKBURN, and Mr. SOUTHERLAND) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to require that any new national wildlife refuge may not be established except as expressly authorized by statute. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `National Wildlife Refuge Review Act of 2013'. SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES. (a) In General- Section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: `(6) The Secretary may not establish any national wildlife refuge except as expressly authorized by a law enacted after January 3, 2013.'. ( Existing Refuges Not Affected- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to any national wildlife refuge established on or before January 3, 2013.

http://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5/NWRS/North_Zone/Great_Swamp_Complex/Shawangunk_Grasslands/DeerHunting2013.pdf http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/NewYork.html The vast majority of NY’s 700,000 resident and non-resident hunters are unaware or uninterested in the national wildlife refuge system. In NY there are 10 refuges, two of which are open to hunting and one of which is pending public comment for a special archery deer season, see below. The national wildlife refuge system is extensive and a large portion of it has been purchased with duck stamp funds, official known as migratory bird hunting and conservation stamps. As hunters’ numbers exhibit a long term decline, the number of non-shooting public engaged in conservation is growing. State natural resource agencies, such as the DEC and the US Fish and Wildlife Service; have embarked in formal long term programs to expand the engagement of the non-shooting public in conservation. Although hunters have led conservation efforts since the 1930’s, due to the sheer number of non-shooters, that 75 year head start will be overtaken in much less years. The sporting community is largely unaware of this and will be surprised to learn the amount of money and volunteer hours logged by the non-shooting public. Entrance fees to a single national wildlife refuge often exceed one million dollars in the summer months alone. Below is the Entrance Fees to one of refuges: An entrance fee is required of all visitors to the Refuge unless they posess an annual pass ($12), a Duck Stamp ($15), or a lifetime passport. Fees are waived for Environmental Education activities. Please contact the Refuge Headquarters for a waiver form. Private vehicle - $4.00 Pedestrian - $2.00 Bicyclist - $2.00 Commercial van or bus up to 20 passengers - $15.00 21 or more passengers - $25.00 NY alone has nine refuges, seven of which are open to the public. Two of these nine refuges are open to hunting and trapping and one is pending an archery deer season, see below. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Deer Hunting on the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge July 16, 2013 Attention Hunters Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge intends to open to deer hunting (archery only) in Fall 2013, per New York State Hunting Regulations. The opening of new refuge lands to hunting must be completed through an approved Opening Package (submitted in Spring 2013). The opening of all new nation-wide lands to hunting is collectively announced in a Final Rule (50 CFR Part 32, 2013–2014 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations; Final Rule). We anticipate that the Final Rule for 2013-2014 may be issued sometime in September 2013; however, until this rule is issued, the refuge remains closed to hunting. We are dedicated to hunting the refuge in 2013 and are working to issue permits at the earliest possible time. Hunters wishing to participate in the 2013 hunt should contact the refuge as soon as possible; 9 permits will be issued on a first-come first-served basis. In order to be considered for the 2013 hunt, please contact refuge staff directly at 973-702-7266 (extension 10). Staff will walk hunters through the application process, which includes a $20 permit application fee (charged only if a permit is issued). Permits will be issued as soon as the above-mentioned rule is published. Refuge-specific regulations and maps will accompany the refuge hunting permit. We are hopeful that hunting at Shawangunk Grasslands NWR will be approved in time for the October 1, 2013 archery opener. However, we have no control over the timing of the rule’s publication. Hunters should not expect any guarantees as to the timing in which permits can be issued. We thank you for your understanding and your cooperation in this matter. _____________________________ Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1999, is located in the Hudson Valley of New York. Public hunting is permitted on more than 4,291,000 acres in New York during specific times of the year. The hunting program is administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in cooperation with NY’s Department of Environmental Conservation. Sources: http://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5/NWRS/North_Zone/Great_Swamp_Complex/Shawangunk_Grasslands/DeerHunting2013.pdf http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/NewYork.html Key words: Federal funds, conservation fund, CFAB, DEC, FWS, Migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp, duck stamp, National Wildlife Refuge System, access, geographic equity, conservation, wildlife management, hunting, trapping, Ducks Unlimited, NY Dove Hunting, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, public hunting areas, Pittman-Robertson Act, Dingle Johnson Act, Federal Aide in Fish Restoration Act, Sport Fish Restoration, Federal Aide in Wildlife Restoration Act, Wildlife restoration, PR funds, DJ funds, Wallop-Breaux, Wetland Loan Act