NRA, Sportsmen’s Coalition Victorious in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

Fairfax, VA-Late yesterday, an Arizona federal district court ruled in favor of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge whose actions to restore two artifical water developments, placed inside the Refuge's designated wilderness area, were met with a lawsuit. The Refuge restored the water developments in order to provide water for drought-stricken wildlife, especially bighorn sheep whose future survival in the region is dependent upon man-made water sources.

The National Rifle Association, the Safari Club International, and a coalition of national and local sportsmen’s organizations (Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, FNAWS, Arizona Deer Association, Arizona Antelope Association, Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club, and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation) filed as a defendant-intervenor group in support of the US Fish and Wildlife Service which manages Kofa.

Wilderness and environmental groups that opposed the permanent water sources brought suit against the federal wildlife management agency claiming that it violated the Wilderness Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when it allowed work to be conducted on the water developments in a wilderness area. They attempted to persuade the court to order the removal of the water projects, in spite of the importance of these water sources to the survival of bighorn sheep that call the Kofa refuge home.

“The court’s decision to recognize that the restrictions of the Wilderness Act do not override the conservation mandates of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act is a great victory for refuge wildlife,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “It is important that rogue environmental groups are not allowed to hijack the intent of the Wilderness Act and use it to bully conservation projects like the artificial water developments in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.”

In his ruling, the judge deferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s expertise in managing and conserving refuge wildlife. Furthermore, the court ruled that the US Fish and Wildlife Service did not violate its NEPA responsibilities by exempting work on the water developments from NEPA review. The court agreed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that restoration of water development was an activity categorically exempt from NEPA requirements.

“We are very happy with this decision by the court, and the ability for Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to move forward in its efforts to improve water sources for the wilderness area’s sheep population,” concluded Cox.

-nra-

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.