Trump’s Department of Interior Axing 7,500 Regs to Give Americans Access
to Federal Land, by Penny Starr, 6/17/19 Breitbart. Trump’s Cabinet is putting his America First policies into
place, including at the Department of Interior, where Secretary David Bernhardt
announced a plan to open up more than 1.4 million acres of federal land through
the elimination of some 7,500 regulations.
The land,
under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, includes 74
national wildlife refuges and 15 national fish hatcheries.
Bernhardt said: President Trump is committed to expanding public access on
public lands, and this proposal is executing on that directive by opening and
increasing more access to hunting and fishing by the Fish and Wildlife Service
at more stations and across more acres than ever before. Hunting and fishing
are more than just traditional pastimes as they are also vital to the
conservation of our lands and waters, our outdoor recreation economy, and our American
way of life.
“These
refuges and hatcheries provide incredible opportunities for sportsmen and women
and their families across the country to pass on a fishing and hunting heritage
to future generations and connect with wildlife,” Bernhardt said.
The press
release on the announcement said: The proposal would
increase the number of units in the Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System
where the public may hunt from 377 to 382, and the number where fishing would
be permitted would be increased from 312 to 316. The proposal would also
formally open lands on 15 hatcheries of the National Fish Hatchery
System to
hunting or sport fishing for the first time.
The
proposal also outlines a comprehensive revision and simplification of all
refuge-specific hunting and fishing regulations in all 50 states to more
closely match state regulations while continuing to ensure safe and compatible
opportunities. The Service worked closely with the states in preparing the
proposed rule.
Margaret
Everson, service principal deputy director, said
Well managed hunting and fishing are the backbone of
conservation in this country, but inconsistent or overly complex regulations
can act as a disincentive. By aligning our refuge regulations with our state
partners, we are reducing confusion and the regulatory burden on the American
public, helping ensure the tradition and benefits of hunting and fishing can
continue.
For the first time, hunters and fishers will have access to the
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin and will have open access to
the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming for deer and elk hunting for
the first time on federal land open for other hunting.
Other proposed expansions include opening new acres of St. Marks
National Wildlife Refuge in Florida “to existing upland and big game hunting.”
And expansion of season dates, times, and methods for existing
deer, turkey, and other upland game hunting to align with state seasons at
Great River National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois and Missouri is in the plan.
The DOI press release said: Proposed changes at hatcheries
include the formal opening of lands on Leadville National Fish Hatchery in
Colorado to migratory game bird, upland game and big game hunting, and the
formal opening of lands on Iron River National Fish Hatchery in Wisconsin to
migratory game bird, upland game and big game hunting. Inks Dam National Fish
Hatchery in Texas and Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery in Washington
are proposing to formally open their lands to sport fishing.
Ed Carter, president of the Association and Executive Director
of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources, praised the development:
The
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is delighted by this announcement of
a continuing commitment by the Department of the Interior to expanded access
for regulated hunting and angling, on National Wildlife Refuges, in partnership
with state fish and wildlife agencies. We need to get people outside to enjoy
the lands and waters, and fish and wildlife resources, of our great nation.
This is an important step in that direction.
John
Devney, senior vice president at Delta Waterfowl, said Interior is building on
the progress the Trump administration has made on including access to federal
refuge lands since the president came into office.
“Duck
hunters have been leaders in investing in the refuge system and this action
will provide them with new access and opportunities,” Devney said. “We are
sincerely grateful to Secretary Bernhardt and the Fish and Wildlife Service
staff who have worked hard to create these new opportunities for hunters.”
“The
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds Secretary Bernhardt for his
efforts to expand hunting and fishing opportunities within the National
Wildlife Refuge System,” Jeff Crane, president of the foundation said.
Bernhardt spoke to the Paul Bedard
at the Washington
Examiner,
explaining what the president told him.
“He’s
basically said, ‘Git-R-Done,’” Bernhardt said of the plan to eliminate 7,500
regulations to open up access to 1.4 million acres of federal land.
“The
president fundamentally gets that hunters and anglers are the true
conservationists in our society,” Bernhardt said. “He understands that history
and that we need to act in efforts to expand hunting and fishing while at the
same time being respectful of private land rights, respectful of state law.”
The
announcement included some statistics about hunting, fishing, and other outdoor
recreation activities in the United States: Hunting, fishing and other outdoor
activities contributed more than $156 billion in economic activity in
communities across the United States in 2016, according to the Service’s National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, published every five
years.
More than 101 million Americans
40 percent of the U.S. population age 16 and older pursue wildlife-related
recreation, including hunting and fishing. The Refuge System is an unparalleled
network of 567 national wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts. A
national wildlife refuge is within an hour’s drive of most major metropolitan
areas. More than 55 million Americans visit refuges every year. There are 70
national fish hatcheries visited by more than two million people each year.
“For more
than 145 years, the National Fish Hatchery System has worked collaboratively
with tribes, states, landowners, partners, and stakeholders to promote and
maintain healthy, self-sustaining populations of fish and other aquatic
species,” the press release said.
Comments
This may be irrelevant
to the 60% of Americans who don’t visit federal lands, but this is a good move.
It will increase “ridership” and boost fee revenue to improve maintenance.
I think federal lands
should be given back to the States and the forests should be privatized to end
our annual forest fire festivals.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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