The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge in is accepting public comments on its management plans for the next 15 years. Per the FFA, several of the alternatives include opening the refuge lands to waterfowl hunting.

National and state based animal rights extremist groups are organizing to demand that hunting not be allowed on this refuge. It is important that you make your voice heard and let them know that hunting should be included as an accepted recreational opportunity at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.



http://nisqually.fws.gov/noframes.ccp_update.html

Public Review and Comment Period

A Notice of Availability of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register in December 2002. This notice initiates a comment period that closes on February 21, 2003. The public is encouraged to review and provide comments on the Draft CCP/EIS.

The Draft document is available for review at the Refuge Office and Visitor Center, and at the following librairies: Olympia Timberland Library, Tacoma Public Library, University of Washington-Suzallo Library, William G. Reed Library in Shelton, and The Evergreen State College Library. The document can be read online (see link above) or download from http://pacific.fws.gov/planning. Copies of the Draft CCP/EIS (~400 pages) or Summary (~25 pages) have been sent to our mailing list respondents who requested them. Copies can also be obtained by contacting Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge 360-753-9467 or Pacific Northwest Planning Team 503-590-6596. The Draft CCP/EIS and Summary will also be available for review at two public meetings in January (see below).

Written comments can be submitted via e-mail (please type "Nisqually NWR" in the subject line), in person at the public meetings, or by mail to:


Refuge Manager
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
100 Brown Farm Road
Olympia, WA 98516


Open House Public Meetings
Two public meetings are scheduled to provide information and take comments on the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge Draft CCP/EIS. The public meeting format will be informal with staff available to answer questions and take comments. No formal presentations will be made by the public or by Refuge staff so participants can come at anytime during the hours indicated. The meetings are scheduled for:

January 15, 2003, 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Nisqually NWR, 100 Brown Farm Road, Olympia, WA
January 16, 2003, 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA

The Next Steps
All comments obtained during the comment period will be reviewed and considered in the development of the final plan.

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http://nisqually.fws.gov/noframes.update.html

Trails Open Seasonally
Although most of the Refuge's 7 miles of trails are open year around, there are some seasonal trail closures. Each year a three mile long portion of the Brown Farm Dike Trail is closed during hunting season (October-January). Although Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is not open to hunting, waterfowl hunting does occur on Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife land immediately adjacent to the trail. The trail closure allows birds to be able to fly into the Refuge without being inadvertently chased back out into the hunting zone by people walking on the trail. The closure also helps to ensure visitor safety. For information on this year's trail closure, please see the 2002 trail closure map.

Comprehensive Conservation Planning
The Refuge's Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement has been released for public review. The Draft document is available for review at the Refuge Office and Visitor Center, at several public libraries, and online. Two public meetings are scheduled for January 2003. For additional information, please visit our CCP webpage.