Rescission of Regulations Regarding Public Access, Use, and Recreation for Four National Wildlife Refuges

What it does

This direct final rule removes certain regulations related to enforcement of various activities on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, and Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Specifically, the rescinded regulations relate to activities such as use of fireworks, damaging vegetation, dogs that disturb wildlife or habitat, use of firearms and other weapons, littering, alcohol use, and boat speed. These regulations are redundant and therefore can be rescinded without adverse impact.

The Fish and Wildlife Service's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What changed in the regulation

1 part of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

50 CFR 26

Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).

Compared with

The Fish and Wildlife Service has published 29 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 13 in all of 2025.

Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.

Before this

No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 1018-BI79 since Jan. 1, 2025.

What happens next and when

This final rule is effective on March 16, 2026, without further action, unless significant adverse comments are received by February 17, 2026. If significant adverse comments are received, we will publish a notification in the Federal Register before the effective date either withdrawing the rule or issuing a new final rule that responds to any significant adverse comments.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket FWS-HQ-NWRS-2025-0083 on Regulations.gov
• Title 50 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register