I. Introduction.
A. Wilderness establishment, including contents of pertinent laws, date(s) of establishment, boundary or other legal changes, pertinent committee report discussion, and special provisions.
B. Goals and objectives for the wilderness area wilderness area
Wilderness areas are places untamed by humans. The Wilderness Act of 1964 allows Congress to designate wilderness areas for protection to ensure that America's pristine wild lands will not disappear. Wilderness areas can be part of national wildlife refuges, national parks, national forests or public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
Learn more about wilderness area and its relationship to the refuge's purposes and Refuge System mission and goals, including protection of the air-quality-related values of Class I wilderness areas.
II. Description of the Wilderness Area.
A. Legal and narrative description of the area.
B. Map displaying Service refuge boundary; wilderness area boundary; and other relevant legal, administrative, and natural boundaries.
C. A description of the baseline wilderness resource conditions existing at the time of designation as well as current wilderness resource conditions, including a description of the wilderness area, natural conditions, cultural resources and values, stewardship activities, existing facilities, and public use levels and activities.
III. Interagency and Tribal Coordination and Public Involvement. Description of coordination with States, other Federal agencies, and tribes. Description of public involvement activities and a summary and analysis of comments received and how the plan responds to them.
IV. Stewardship.
A. Description of stewardship strategies (administrative, natural and cultural resources, public recreation, interpretation and education, and commercial services) required to adequately administer the area.
B. Minimum requirement analyses (MRAs) and documentation of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance for all refuge management activities and commercial services necessary to administer the area.
C. Descriptions of how we will manage existing private rights, existing rights-of-way, activities associated with valid mineral rights, and congressionally authorized uses to protect wilderness values.
D. An explanation of how we will coordinate with adjoining wilderness units so that the wilderness character and natural and cultural resources and values are managed in a complementary manner that minimizes the impediments to visitors traveling from one wilderness area to another.
V. Research. Description of any past and current research and identification of research needs. Include necessary appropriateness and compatibility determinations, MRAs, and relevant partnership, funding, and staffing requirements.
VI. Funds and Personnel. A discussion of staff and funds needed to administer the wilderness.
VII. Monitoring. To determine if we are meeting our wilderness stewardship objectives and other refuge management objectives in wilderness, identify: monitoring requirements; associated protocols; partnership, funding, and staffing needs; indicators of change in resource conditions; standards for measuring that change; and desired conditions or thresholds that will trigger management actions to reduce or prevent impacts on the wilderness.
VIII. Implementation Schedule. A schedule of implementation, prioritization of action items, staff assignments, and funding requirements to adequately administer the area.
IX. Appropriateness and Compatibility Determinations.
X. Review and Approval.
XI. Appendix.
A. A copy of the legislation establishing, modifying the boundary of, or making other changes to the wilderness.
B. Wilderness study report for the wilderness.
C. NEPA documentation.
D. Public hearing record from the wilderness study and record of review of comments received from States, other Federal agencies, tribes, and the public.
E. Congressional hearing record.
F. Congressional committee report accompanying the authorizing legislation.