4/10/2002

Unfortunately the issue isn't over yet. Even though the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's recently released Compatibility Determination(CD) found model airplane flying and associated events to be INCOMPATIBLE with the Refuge mission, the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and other model plane enthusiasts are now  pressuring the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Steven Williams, to reconsider the CD and open up the refuge to model airplane flying. Letters of support from those in agreement with the USFWS's finding for the Shawangunk Grasslands CD are still needed. Helpful information concerning Shawangunk Grasslands NWR may be found at the Audubon New York site http://ny.audubon.org/shawangunk.htm Comments asking Steven Williams to uphold the USFWS's Compatibility Determination should be sent directly to the Director of USFWS -- Steven A. Williams, Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Main Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Room 3012, Washington, District of Columbia 20240-0001.
(202) 208-4717

1/19/2002

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a draft Compatibility Determination (CD) which finds that model airplane use at the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge in Ulster County New York is not a compatible use. Comments in favor of this conclusion are urgently needed to ensure that the final CD will exclude model airplane use at the refuge.

The official comment period ended last week, however it has been extended to Feb 8 at the urging of the model airplane supporters. The Shawangunk Grasslands NWR is presently an unstaffed satellite of the Wallkill River NWR in New Jersey.

Unfortunately, all of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's web site and e-mail have been temporarily shut down due to a court order completely unrelated to the National Wildlife Refuge system. Comments on the draft CD may be faxed to the Refuge office at 973-702-7286, or mailed to Steve Kahl, Deputy Refuge Manager, Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, 1547 County Route 565, Sussex, NJ 07461. Alternatively, comments may be addressed to Steve Kahl, Deputy Refuge Manager and then emailed to peter.grannis@baesystems.com to be forwarded to the Refuge.

Permission to conduct recreational model airplane flying and model airplane competition events at the Refuge have been requested by representatives from the Eastern US Free Flight Conference and other model airplane organizations, such as the Academy of Model Aeronautics, as well as by Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY). Models would fly over Refuge grasslands that are being managed for breeding, migrating, and wintering grassland birds. The size of the refuge is such that model airplane use would impact the entire area of the refuge.

The National Audubon Society of New York State has identified this site as an "Important Bird Area", a designation given only to places that support a significant abundance and diversity of birds. The Refuge is one of only two sites in the Hudson Valley large enough to support the entire assemblage of grassland birds. Grassland birds nest, roost, and forage on the ground and are thus especially susceptible to human disturbance.

The draft CD concludes with the following statement: "Model airplane flying and competitions are not compatible uses and will not be allowed on the Refuge. Both have direct and indirect effects on the wildlife being managed at the Refuge and the visiting public seeking a wildlife-dependant experience. Sound professional judgment indicates that this use will materially interfere with and detract from the fulfillment of the National Wildlife Refuge System mission and the purposes of the Refuge. Several of the species using this Refuge are state-listed endangered, threatened, or special concern species. Some of these are also target species for population stability and enhancement under the Partners in Flight program. This Refuge is one of the largest and most produtive grasslands in the Northeast. The restoration and management of the site into a mosaic of grasslands to benefit a variety of grassland species and to facilitate wildlife observation, photography, interpretation and environmental education is the highest priority of the Refuge. The Refuge is too small to accommodate the requested activity, and Refuge staff and funding resources are insufficient to monitor and maintain the facility for anything other than low impact, wildlife-dependent public use."