article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Theodore Roosevelt Wildlife Legacy Act of 1997''. SEC. 2. MISSION AND PURPOSES OF THE SYSTEM. (a) Mission.--The overall mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System (in this Act referred to as the ``System'') is to preserve a network of lands and waters for the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States for the benefit of present and future generations. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the System are-- (1) to conserve, manage, and where appropriate, restore fish and wildlife habitats so as to provide, in perpetuity, for the diversity of fish, wildlife, and plants and the ecological processes that sustain them; (2) to provide a diverse national network of lands and waters designed to conserve and manage, in perpetuity, fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and their habitats; (3) to conserve and manage migratory birds, endangered species, anadromous or interjurisdictional fish species, marine mammals, and other fish, wildlife, and plants; and (4) to fulfill international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish, wildlife, and plants, and their habitats. SEC. 3. PRIORITY USES. The priority public uses of the System are wildlife observation and photography, hunting, fishing, and environmental education and interpretation. SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SYSTEM. In administering the System, the Secretary of the Interior shall-- (1) ensure that the mission and purposes of the System described in section 2 and the purposes of each refuge are carried out, except that if a conflict exists between the primary purpose of a National Wildlife Refuge and any purpose of the System, the conflict shall be resolved in a manner that first fulfills the primary purpose of the refuge, and, to the extent practicable, also achieves the purposes of the System; (2) ensure that opportunities for the uses described in section 3 receive priority attention in planning and management within the System, consistent with the mission and purposes of the System described in sections 2(a) and (b); (3) plan, propose, and direct expansion of the System-- (A) to accomplish the mission and purposes of the System and the purposes of each National Wildlife Refuge; and (B) to contribute to the conservation of the ecosystems of the United States; and (4) inventory and monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each National Wildlife Refuge. SEC. 5. COMPATIBILITY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES. (a) General Rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), effective beginning on the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall not initiate or permit a new use of a National Wildlife Refuge or expand, renew, or extend an existing allowed use unless the Secretary determines that the use is compatible with the primary purposes of the refuge and the mission and purposes of the System specified in section 2 of this Act. Such determinations shall-- (1) be made in writing, be based on the best available scientific information, and represent the best professional judgment of the refuge officer involved; (2) be made after an opportunity has been provided for the public to review and comment on the evaluations; (3) where appropriate, be made concurrently with the development of a conservation plan for the refuge under section 6; and (4) be reevaluated when conditions under which the use is permitted change significantly or when there is significant new information regarding the effects of the use, but not less frequently than every 10 years. (b) Prior Identification for New Acquisitions.--On lands added to the System after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall identify, prior to acquisition, existing compatible priority public uses (as described in section 3) that shall be permitted to continue on an interim basis pending completion of comprehensive planning. SEC. 6. REFUGE CONSERVATION PLANNING PROGRAM. (a) General Rule.--Except with respect to National Wildlife Refuge lands in Alaska (which shall be governed by the refuge planning provision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)), the Secretary shall-- (1) propose a comprehensive conservation plan for each refuge or ecologically related complex of refuges consistent with section 2 of this Act within 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act and revise such plans not less frequently than every 15 years thereafter; (2) develop and implement a process to ensure an opportunity for active public involvement in the preparation and revision of conservation plans; and (3) manage each refuge in a manner consistent with the conservation plan for the refuge. (b) New Refuges.--With respect to any refuge established after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a conservation plan for the refuge not later than 2 years after the Secretary has determined that sufficient land has been acquired to warrant comprehensive planning.
summary: Theodore Roosevelt Wildlife Legacy Act of 1997 - Declares the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System to be to preserve a network of lands and waters for the conservation and management of U.S. fish, wildlife, and plants for present and future generations. Establishes as the System's priority public uses: (1) wildlife observation and photography; (2) hunting; (3) fishing; and (4) environmental education and interpretation. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in administering the System, to: (1) resolve any conflict between the primary purpose of a National Wildlife Refuge and any purpose of the System in a manner that first fulfills the primary purpose of the refuge; (2) plan, propose, and direct System expansion to accomplish the mission and purposes of the System and of each refuge and to contribute to the conservation of U.S. ecosystems; and (3) inventory and monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each refuge. Prohibits the Secretary, effective three years after enactment of this Act, from initiating or permitting a new use of a refuge or an expansion of an existing allowed use unless such use is compatible with the primary purposes of the refuge and the mission and purposes of the System. Directs the Secretary to: (1) propose within 15 years and revise every 15 years comprehensive conservation plans for each refuge in the System, except refuges in Alaska; (2) develop and implement a process to ensure an opportunity for active public involvement in the preparation and revision of such plans; (3) manage each refuge in a manner consistent with its conservation plan; and (4) prepare a conservation plan for a refuge established after enactment of this Act not later than two years after the Secretary determines that sufficient land has been acquired to warrant comprehensive planning.