Ill STAT. 1256 PUBLIC LAW 105-57—OCT. 9, 1997 "(N) monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each refuge.", (b) POWERS.— Section 4(b) (16 U.S.C. 668dd(b)) is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking "authorized—" and inserting "authorized to take the following actions:"; (2) in paragraph (1) by striking "to enter" and inserting "Enter"; (3) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking "to accept" and inserting "Accept"; and (B) by striking ", and" and inserting a period; (4) in paragraph (3) by striking "to acquire" and inserting " Acquire"; and (5) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: "(4) Subject to standards established by and the overall management oversight of the Director, and consistent with standards established by this Act, to enter into cooperative agreements with State fish and wildlife agencies for the management of programs on a refuge. Regulations. "(5) Issue regulations to carry out this Act.". SEC. 6. COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES. Section 4(d) (16 U.S.C. 668dd(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: "(3)(A)(i) Except as provided in clause (iv), the Secretary shall not initiate or permit a new use of a refuge or expand, renew, or extend an existing use of a refuge, unless the Secretary has determined that the use is a compatible use and that the use is not inconsistent with public safety. The Secretary may make the determinations referred to in this paragraph for a refuge concurrently with development of a conservation plan under subsection (e). "(ii) On lands added to the System after March 25, 1996, the Secretary shall identify, prior to acquisition, withdrawal, transfer, reclassification, or donation of any such lands, existing compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses that the Secretary determines shall be permitted to continue on an interim basis pending completion of the comprehensive conservation plan for the refuge. "(iii) Wildlife-dependent recreational uses may be authorized on a refuge when they are compatible and not inconsistent with public safety. Except for consideration of consistency with State laws and regulations as provided for in subsection (m), no other determinations or findings are required to be made by the refuge official under this Act or the Refuge Recreation Act for wildlifedependent recreation to occur. "(iv) Compatibility determinations in existence on the date of enactment of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 shall remain in effect until and unless modified. Regulations. "(B) Not later than 24 months sifter the date of the enactment of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the Secretary shall issue final regulations establishing the process for determining under subparagraph (A) whether a use of a refuge is a compatible use. These regulations shall— "(i) designate the refuge official responsible for making initial compatibility determinations; "(ii) require an estimate of the timeframe, location, manner, and purpose of each use;
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