[Federal Register: June 28, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 125)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 39815-39817] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr28jn00-18] [[Page 39815]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service 36 CFR Part 242 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 100 RIN 1018-AD68 Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, Subparts A, B, C, and D, Redefinition To Include Waters Subject to Subsistence Priority; Correcting Amendment AGENCIES: Forest Service, USDA; Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Correcting amendment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This correction amends the Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, published in the Federal Register on January 8, 1999, (64 FR 1276) redefining the area subject to the subsistence priority for rural residents of Alaska under Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. The January 8, 1999, final rule also established regulations for seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means relating to the taking of fish and shellfish for subsistence uses during the 2000 regulatory year. DATES: The correcting amendment to Sec. __.26 is effective June 28, 2000 through February 28, 2001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas H. Boyd, Office of Subsistence Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, telephone (907) 786-3888. for questions specific to National Forest System Lands, contact Ken Thompson, Regional Subsistence Program Manager, USDA-Forest Service, Alaska Region, telephone (907) 786-3592. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 3111-3126) requires that the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretaries) implement a joint program to grant a preference for subsistence uses of fish and wildlife resources on public lands, unless the State of Alaska enacts and implements laws of general applicability that are consistent with ANILCA and that provide for the subsistence definition, preference, and participation specified in Sections 803, 804, and 805 of ANILCA. The State implemented a program that the Department of the Interior previously found to be consistent with ANILCA. However, in December 1989, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in McDowell v. State of Alaska that the rural preference in the State subsistence statute violated the Alaska Constitution. The Court's ruling in McDowell required the State to delete the rural preference from the subsistence statute and, therefore, negated State compliance with ANILCA. The Court stayed the effect of the decision until July 1, 1990. As a result of the McDowell decision, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (Departments) assumed, on July 1, 1990, responsibility for implementation of Title VIII of ANILCA on public lands. On June 29, 1990, the Temporary Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska were published in the Federal Register (55 FR 27114-27170). Consistent with Subparts A, B, and C of these regulations, as revised January 8, 1999, (64 FR 1276), the Departments established a Federal Subsistence Board to administer the Federal Subsistence Management Program. The Board's composition includes a Chair appointed by the Secretary of the Interior with concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Alaska Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Alaska Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Alaska Regional Director, U.S. National Park Service; the Alaska State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management; the Alaska Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs; and the Alaska Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service. Through the Board, these agencies participated in the development of regulations for Subparts A, B, and C, and the annual Subpart D regulations. Because this rule relates to public lands managed by an agency or agencies in both the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, identical text would be incorporated into 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100. Proposed Subpart D regulations for the 2000 seasons and bag limits, and methods and means were published on December 17, 1998, in the Federal Register (62 FR 66216). A comment period providing for public review of the proposed rule was advertised by mail, radio, and newspaper. Following that comment period the Proposed Rule was modified to respond to comments and to make it coincide with State regulations wherever possible. Also, we removed regulations that were unnecessary because there were no areas of Federal jurisdiction present. The final regulations, published on January 8, 1999, (64 FR 1276) reflect the joint efforts of the Federal agencies to simplify, clarify, and remove any extraneous provisions. This correcting amendment is necessary because, in the effort to remove unnecessary provisions, one regulation protecting fish populations in the Cook Inlet Fishery Management Area was inadvertently and incorrectly omitted. Subpart D Both State subsistence regulations, as well as previous Federal subsistence regulations and the Proposed Rule, contained a prohibition on the use of gillnets in freshwater in the Cook Inlet Fishery Management Area. This prohibition, in place in Federal regulations since 1990, was necessary to protect freshwater species susceptible to serious overharvest with the use of gillnets. Without such a prohibition, populations of rainbow trout, steelhead, or other freshwater species could quickly be decimated in certain areas. Reexamination of the comments that were received on the Proposed Rule and the preliminary drafts of the Final Rule revealed no specific intent to remvoe this gillnet prohibition. In our efforts to remove unnecessary regulations, we inadvertently removed the regulation prohibiting the use of gillnets in fresh water. This correcting amendment would reinsert that gillnet prohibition into 50 CFR 100.26(i)(10) and 36 CFR 242.26(i)(10). The Board finds that additional public notice and comment requirements under the Administration Procedures Act (APA) for this correcting amendment are impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest. Lack of appropriate conservation measures could seriously affect the continued viability of fish populations, adversely impact future subsistence opportunities for rural Alaskans, and would generally fail to serve the overall public interest. Therefore, the Board finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive additional public notice and comment procedures prior to publication of this rule. The Board finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this rule effective upon publication. Conformance With Statutory and Regulatory Authorities National Environmental Policy Act Compliance A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that described four alternatives for developing a Federal [[Page 39816]] Subsistence Management Program was distributed for public comment on October 7, 1991. That document described the major issues associated with Federal subsistence management as identified through public meetings, written comments, and staff analysis and examined the environmental consequences of the four alternatives. Proposed regulations (Subparts A, B, and C) that would implement the preferred alternative were included in the DEIS as an appendix. The DEIS and the proposed administrative regulations presented a framework for an annual regulatory cycle regarding subsistence hunting and fishing regulations (Subpart D). The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was published on February 28, 1992. Based on the public comment received, the analysis contained in the FEIS, and the recommendations of the Federal Subsistence Board and the Department of the Interior's Subsistence Policy Group, the Secretary of the Interior, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service, decided to implement Alternative IV as identified in the DEIS and FEIS (Record of Decision on Subsistence Management for Federal Public Lands in Alaska (ROD), signed April 6, 1992). The DEIS and the selected alternative in the FEIS defined the administrative framework of an annual regulatory cycle for subsistence hunting and fishing regulations. The final rule for Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, Subparts A, B, and C (57 FR 22940-22964, published May 29, 1992) implemented the Federal Subsistence Management Program and included a framework for an annual cycle for subsistence hunting and fishing regulations. Compliance With Section 810 of ANILCA The intent of all Federal subsistence regulations is to accord subsistence uses of fish and wildlife on public lands a priority over the taking of fish and wildlife on such lands for other purposes, unless restriction is necessary to conserve healthy fish and wildlife populations. A Section 810 analysis was completed as part of the FEIS process. The final Section 810 analysis determination appeared in the April 6, 1992, ROD which concluded that the Federal Subsistence Management Program, under Alternative IV with an annual process for setting hunting and fishing regulations, may have some local impacts on subsistence uses, but the program is not likely to significantly restrict subsistence uses. Paperwork Reduction Act This amendment does not contain information collection requirements subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Other Requirements This rule was not subject to OMB review under Executive Order 12866. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires preparation of flexibility analyses for rules that will have a signfiicant effect on a substantial number of small entities, which include small businesses, organizations, or governmental jurisdictions. The Departments determined that this rulemaking will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The rulemaking will impose no signficant costs on small entities; the exact number of businesses and the amount of trade that will result from this Federal land-related activity is unknown. The aggregate effect is an insignificant positive economic effect on a number of small entities, such as ammunition, snowmachine, and gasoline dealers. The number of small entities affected is unknown; but, the fact that the positive effects will be seasonal in nature and will, in most cases, merely continue preexisting uses of public lands indicates that they will not be significant. In general, the resources harvested under this rule will be consumed by the local harvester and do not result in a dollar benefit to the economy. However, we estimate that 2 million pounds of meat are harvested by the local subsistence users annually and, if given a dollar value of $3.00 per pound, would equate to $6 million Statewide. Title VIII of ANILCA requires the Secretaries to administer a subsistence preference on public lands. The scope of this program is limited by definition to certain public lands. Likewise, these regulations have no potential takings of private property implications as defined by Executive Order 12630. The Service has determined and certifies pursuant to the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this rulemaking will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any given year on local or State governments or private entities. The implementation of this rule is by Federal agencies, and no cost is involved to any State or local entities or Tribal governments. The Service has determined that this amendment meets the applicable standards provided in Section 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988. In accordance with Executive Order 13132, the rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. title VIII of ANILCA precludes the State from exercising management authority over wildlife resources on Federal lands. In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, ``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments'' (59 FR 22951) and 512 DM 2, we have evaluated possible effects on Federally recognized Indian tribes and have determined that there are no effects. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is a participating agency in this rulemaking. Drafting Information: William Knauer drafted this amendment under the guidance of Thomas H. Boyd, of the Office of Subsistence Management, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska. Curt Wilson, Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land Management; Greg Bos, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Sandy Rabinowitch Alaska Regional Office, National Park Service; Ida Hildebrand, Alaska Regional Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs; and Ken Thompson, USDA-Forest Service, provided additional guidance. List of Subjects 36 CFR Part 242 Administrative practice and procedure, Alaska, Fish, National forests, Public lands, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wildlife. 50 CFR Part 100 Administrative practice and procedure, Alaska, Fish, National forests, Public lands, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wildlife. For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Federal Subsistence Board amends Title 36, part 242, and Title 50, part 100, of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below. PART____ SUBSISTENCE MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC LANDS IN ALASKA 1. The authority citation for both 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100 continues to read as follows: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3, 472, 551, 668dd, 3101-3126; 18 U.S.C. 3551-3586; 43 U.S.C. 1733. [[Page 39817]] 2. Section ____.26 is amended by adding paragraph (i) (10) (v) to read as follows: Sec. ____.26 Subsistence taking of fish. * * * * * (i) * * * (10) * * * (v) You may not use gillnets in freshwater. * * * * * Dated: June 19, 2000. Kenneth E. Thompson, Acting Regional Forester, USDA--Forest Service. Thomas H. Boyd, Acting Chair, Federal Subsistence Board. [FR Doc. 00-16037 Filed 6-27-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M; 4310-55-M