
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 21, 1993                   TAG: 9310210194
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

U.S. TO HALT GRAZING AT WILDLIFE REFUGES

The Interior Department settled a lawsuit with environmentalists Wednesday by agreeing to halt livestock grazing or other activities at wildlife refuges that harm wild animals.

Three environmental groups had sued the government a year ago, alleging that the Fish and Wildlife Service was permitting livestock grazing, motor boating and other activities detrimental to wildlife protection at nine refuges.

In settling the suit, the service said it would halt those activities at eight refuges unless it can demonstrate after an evaluation that they are compatible with the wildlife purposes.

The refuges with recreational uses in question are: Crystal River in Florida, McNary in Washington, Great Meadows in Massachusetts, Havasu along the Colorado River in Arizona, and Umatilla along the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington state.

Those that permitted livestock grazing are: Camas in Idaho, Monte Vista in Colorado and Turnbull in Washington.

At the ninth refuge, Cabeza Prieta, in Arizona, the Interior Department agreed to evaluate its legal options for halting Marine Corps training flights over the refuge.

- Associated Press

by CNB