[Ray]

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) passed a declaration of emergency on March 4 to amend the notice of intent, modifying a proposed rule regarding visitor access to Elmer?s Island Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson Parish.
The change to the proposed rules waives the requirement for a Wild Louisiana Stamp on Elmer?s Island. This change will supersede the declaration of emergency enacted on Nov. 20, 2009.
Effective immediately, the following regulations will be enforced by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries? Enforcement Division at Elmer?s Island:
1. Use of the refuge will be permitted from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset. This includes any land access routes to the refuge. No person or vehicle shall remain on the Elmer?s Island Wildlife Refuge or any land access routes during the period from 30 minutes after official sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
2. No person shall possess any glass bottles, glass drink containers or other glass products on Elmer?s Island Wildlife Refuge.
3. The Secretary of the Department may restrict access to the refuge whenever circumstances exist such that restrictions are necessary to protect the public from harm. No person shall enter onto or be on the grounds of Elmer?s Island Wildlife Refuge during a restricted access period; or alternatively shall do so only in accordance with restrictions set forth by the Secretary.
4. No person shall discharge or fire any firearms including muzzleloaders, or bows and arrows or crossbows on Elmer?s Island.
5. No person shall commercially fish, conduct any guiding service, hunt, pursue, kill, molest or intentionally disturb any type of wildlife on the refuge, except for the legal recreational harvest of living aquatic resources.
6. No person shall be in areas marked as restricted by signs posted by the department.
7. No person shall operate any vehicles in a restricted area. No person shall operate a vehicle in an unsafe or careless manner as to endanger life or property or at any speed in excess of five miles per hour.
8. The requirement of a Wild Louisiana Stamp on Elmer?s Island Wildlife Refuge is herby waived.