[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1868-1872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00425]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
36 CFR Part 242
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 100
[Docket No. FWS-R7-SM-2014-0062; FXFR13350700640-156-FF07J00000;
FBMS#4500074738]
RIN 1018-BA39
Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska--
2016-17 and 2017-18 Subsistence Taking of Wildlife Regulations
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture; Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would establish regulations for hunting and
trapping seasons, harvest limits, and methods and means related to
taking of wildlife for subsistence uses during the 2016-17 and 2017-18
regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board is on a schedule of
completing the process of revising subsistence taking of wildlife
regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence taking of fish and
shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years; public proposal and review
processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also
addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the
applicable cycle. When final, the resulting rulemaking will replace the
existing subsistence wildlife taking regulations. This rule would also
amend the general regulations on subsistence taking of fish and
wildlife.
DATES: Public meetings: The Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory
Councils will hold public meetings to receive comments and make
proposals to change this proposed rule on several dates between
February 10 and March 19, 2015, and then hold another round of public
meetings to discuss and receive comments on the proposals, and make
recommendations on the proposals to the Federal Subsistence Board, on
several dates between August 17 and November 4, 2015. The Board will
discuss and evaluate proposed regulatory changes during a public
meeting in Anchorage, AK, in April 2016. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
for specific information on dates and locations of the public meetings.
Public comments: Comments and proposals to change this proposed
rule must be received or postmarked by March 25, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Public meetings: The Federal Subsistence Board and the
Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils' public meetings will be
held at various locations in Alaska. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
specific information on dates and locations of the public meetings.
Public comments: You may submit comments by one of the following
methods:
Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
http://www.regulations.gov and search for FWS-R7-SM-2014-0062, which is
the docket number for this rulemaking.
By hard copy: U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: USFWS, Office
of Subsistence Management, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 121, Attn: Theo
Matuskowitz, Anchorage, AK 99503-6199, or hand delivery to the
Designated
[[Page 1869]]
Federal Official attending any of the Federal Subsistence Regional
Advisory Council public meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
additional information on locations of the public meetings.
We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally
means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see
the Public Review Process section below for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chair, Federal Subsistence Board, c/o
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: Eugene R. Peltola, Jr.,
Office of Subsistence Management; (907) 786-3888 or
subsistence@fws.gov. For questions specific to National Forest System
lands, contact Thomas Whitford, Regional Subsistence Program Leader,
USDA, Forest Service, Alaska Region; (907) 743-9461 or
twhitford@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation
Act (ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 3111-3126), the Secretary of the Interior and
the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretaries) jointly implement the
Federal Subsistence Management Program. This program provides a rural
preference for take of fish and wildlife resources for subsistence uses
on Federal public lands and waters in Alaska. The Secretaries published
temporary regulations to carry out this program in the Federal Register
on June 29, 1990 (55 FR 27114), and final regulations were published in
the Federal Register on May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22940). The Program has
subsequently amended these regulations a number of times. Because this
program is a joint effort between Interior and Agriculture, these
regulations are located in two titles of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR): Title 36, ``Parks, Forests, and Public Property,''
and Title 50, ``Wildlife and Fisheries,'' at 36 CFR 242.1-28 and 50 CFR
100.1-28, respectively. The regulations contain subparts as follows:
Subpart A, General Provisions; Subpart B, Program Structure; Subpart C,
Board Determinations; and Subpart D, Subsistence Taking of Fish and
Wildlife.
Consistent with subpart B of these regulations, the Secretaries
established a Federal Subsistence Board to administer the Federal
Subsistence Management Program. The Board comprises:
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. National Park Service;
The Alaska State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management;
The Alaska Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Indian
Affairs;
The Alaska Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service; and
Two public members appointed by the Secretary of the
Interior with concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture.
Through the Board, these agencies and public members participate in
the development of regulations for subparts C and D, which, among other
things, set forth program eligibility and specific harvest seasons and
limits.
In administering the program, the Secretaries divided Alaska into
10 subsistence resource regions, each of which is represented by a
Regional Advisory Council. The Regional Advisory Councils provide a
forum for rural residents with personal knowledge of local conditions
and resource requirements to have a meaningful role in the subsistence
management of fish and wildlife on Federal public lands in Alaska. The
Regional Advisory Council members represent varied geographical,
cultural, and user interests within each region.
Public Review Process--Comments, Proposals, and Public Meetings
The Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils have a
substantial role in reviewing this proposed rule and making
recommendations for the final rule. The Federal Subsistence Board,
through the Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils, will hold
public meetings on this proposed rule at the following locations in
Alaska, on the following dates:
Region 1--Southeast Regional Council, Yakutat, March 17, 2015
Region 2--Southcentral Regional Council, Anchorage, February 18, 2015
Region 3--Kodiak/Aleutians Regional Council, Kodiak, February 10, 2015
Region 4--Bristol Bay Regional Council, Naknek, February 24, 2015
Region 5--Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Council, Bethel, February 25,
2015
Region 6--Western Interior Regional Council, Fairbanks, March 3, 2015
Region 7--Seward Peninsula Regional Council, Nome, February 18, 2015
Region 8--Northwest Arctic Regional Council, Kotzebue, March 9, 2015
Region 9--Eastern Interior Regional Council, Fairbanks, March 4, 2015
Region 10--North Slope Regional Council, Barrow, March 17, 2015
During April 2015, the written proposals to change the subpart D,
take of wildlife regulations, and subpart C, customary and traditional
use determinations, will be compiled and distributed for public review.
During the 45-day public comment period, which is presently scheduled
to end on May 15, 2015, written public comments will be accepted on the
distributed proposals.
The Board, through the Regional Advisory Councils, will hold a
second series of public meetings in August through October 2015, to
receive comments on specific proposals and to develop recommendations
to the Board at the following locations in Alaska, on the following
dates:
Region 1--Southeast Regional Council, Petersburg, October 13, 2015
Region 2--Southcentral Regional Council, Seldovia, October 20, 2015
Region 3--Kodiak/Aleutians Regional Council, Adak, September 25, 2015
Region 4--Bristol Bay Regional Council, Dillingham, October 27, 2015
Region 5--Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Council, TBD, October 7, 2015
Region 6--Western Interior Regional Council, Kaltag, November 3, 2015
Region 7--Seward Peninsula Regional Council, Nome, October 14, 2015
Region 8--Northwest Arctic Regional Council, Buckland, October 6, 2015
Region 9--Eastern Interior Regional Council, Fairbanks, October 29,
2015
Region 10--North Slope Regional Council, Kaktovik, November 3, 2015
A notice will be published of specific dates, times, and meeting
locations in local and statewide newspapers prior to both series of
meetings. Locations and dates may change based on weather or local
circumstances. The amount of work on each Regional Advisory Council's
agenda determines the length of each Regional Advisory Council meeting.
The Board will discuss and evaluate proposed changes to the
subsistence management regulations during a public meeting scheduled to
be held in Anchorage, Alaska, in April 2016. The Federal Subsistence
Regional Advisory Council Chairs, or their designated representatives,
will present their respective Councils' recommendations at the Board
meeting. Additional oral testimony may be provided on specific
proposals before the Board at that time. At that public meeting, the
Board will deliberate and take final action on proposals received that
request changes to this proposed rule.
Proposals to the Board to modify the general fish and wildlife
regulations, wildlife harvest regulations, and
[[Page 1870]]
customary and traditional use determinations must include the following
information:
a. Name, address, and telephone number of the requestor;
b. Each section and/or paragraph designation in this proposed rule
for which changes are suggested, if applicable;
c. A description of the regulatory change(s) desired;
d. A statement explaining why each change is necessary;
e. Proposed wording changes; and
f. Any additional information that you believe will help the Board
in evaluating the proposed change.
The Board immediately rejects proposals that fail to include the
above information, or proposals that are beyond the scope of
authorities in Sec. __.24, subpart C (the regulations governing
customary and traditional use determinations), and Sec. Sec. __.25 and
__0;.26, subpart D (the general and specific regulations governing the
subsistence take of wildlife). If a proposal needs clarification, prior
to being distributed for public review, the proponent may be contacted,
and the proposal could be revised based on their input. Once
distributed for public review, no additional changes may be made as
part of the original submission. During the April 2016 meeting, the
Board may defer review and action on some proposals to allow time for
cooperative planning efforts, or to acquire additional needed
information. The Board may elect to defer taking action on any given
proposal if the workload of staff, Regional Advisory Councils, or the
Board becomes excessive. These deferrals may be based on
recommendations by the affected Regional Advisory Council(s) or staff
members, or on the basis of the Board's intention to do least harm to
the subsistence user and the resource involved. A proponent of a
proposal may withdraw the proposal provided it has not been considered,
and a recommendation has not been made, by a Regional Advisory Council.
The Board may consider and act on alternatives that address the intent
of a proposal while differing in approach.
You may submit written comments and materials concerning this
proposed rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. If you submit
a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire comment,
including any personal identifying information, will be posted on the
Web site. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal
identifying information, you may request at the top of your document
that we withhold this information from public review. However, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all
hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov.
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by
appointment, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays, at: USFWS, Office of Subsistence Management, 1011
East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503.
Reasonable Accommodations
The Federal Subsistence Board is committed to providing access to
these meetings for all participants. Please direct all requests for
sign language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other
accommodation needs to Deborah Coble, 907-786-3880,
subsistence@fws.gov, or 800-877-8339 (TTY), seven business days prior
to the meeting you would like to attend.
Tribal Consultation and Comment
As expressed in Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,'' the Federal officials
that have been delegated authority by the Secretaries are committed to
honoring the unique government-to-government political relationship
that exists between the Federal Government and Federally Recognized
Indian Tribes (Tribes) as listed in 79 FR 4748 (January 29, 2014).
Consultation with Alaska Native corporations is based on Public Law
108-199, div. H, Sec. 161, Jan. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 452, as amended by
Public Law 108-447, div. H, title V, Sec. 518, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat.
3267, which provides that: ``The Director of the Office of Management
and Budget and all Federal agencies shall hereafter consult with Alaska
Native corporations on the same basis as Indian tribes under Executive
Order No. 13175.''
ANILCA does not provide specific rights to Tribes for the
subsistence taking of wildlife, fish, and shellfish. However, because
tribal members are affected by subsistence fishing, hunting, and
trapping regulations, the Secretaries, through the Board, will provide
Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native corporations an
opportunity to consult on this rule.
The Board will engage in outreach efforts for this rule, including
a notification letter, to ensure that Tribes and Alaska Native
corporations are advised of the mechanisms by which they can
participate. The Board provides a variety of opportunities for
consultation: proposing changes to the existing rule; commenting on
proposed changes to the existing rule; engaging in dialogue at the
Regional Council meetings; engaging in dialogue at the Board's
meetings; and providing input in person, by mail, email, or phone at
any time during the rulemaking process. The Board commits to
efficiently and adequately providing an opportunity to Tribes and
Alaska Native corporations for consultation in regard to subsistence
rulemaking.
The Board will consider Tribes' and Alaska Native corporations'
information, input, and recommendations, and address their concerns as
much as practicable.
Developing the 2016-17 and 2017-18 Wildlife Seasons and Harvest Limit
Regulations
Subpart C and D regulations are subject to periodic review and
revision. The Federal Subsistence Board currently completes the process
of revising subsistence take of wildlife regulations in even-numbered
years and fish and shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years; public
proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The
Board also addresses customary and traditional use determinations
during the applicable cycle.
Applicable portions of the regulations in the final rules that
published June 13, 2012 (77 FR 35482), and June 19, 2014 (79 FR 35232),
for the 2012-2014 and 2014-16 subparts C and D regulations constitute
the text of the regulations in this proposed rule. The June 2012 rule
sets forth the proposed text for Sec. __.25, and the June 2014 rule
sets for the proposed text for Sec. Sec. __.24 and __.26. These
regulations will remain in effect until subsequent Board action changes
elements as a result of the public review process outlined above in
this document.
Compliance With Statutory and Regulatory Authorities
National Environmental Policy Act
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement that described four
alternatives for developing a Federal Subsistence Management Program
was distributed for public comment on October 7, 1991. The Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was published on February 28,
1992. The Record of Decision (ROD) on Subsistence Management for
Federal Public Lands in Alaska was signed April 6, 1992. The selected
alternative in the FEIS (Alternative IV) defined the administrative
framework of an annual
[[Page 1871]]
regulatory cycle for subsistence regulations.
A 1997 environmental assessment dealt with the expansion of Federal
jurisdiction over fisheries and is available at the office listed under
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The Secretary of the Interior, with
concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture, determined that expansion
of Federal jurisdiction does not constitute a major Federal action
significantly affecting the human environment and, therefore, signed a
Finding of No Significant Impact.
Section 810 of ANILCA
An ANILCA Sec. 810 analysis was completed as part of the FEIS
process on the Federal Subsistence Management Program. 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. The final
Sec. 810 analysis determination appeared in the April 6, 1992, ROD and
concluded that the Federal Subsistence Management Program, under
Alternative IV with an annual process for setting subsistence
regulations, may have some local impacts on subsistence uses, but will
not likely restrict subsistence uses significantly.
During the subsequent environmental assessment process for
extending fisheries jurisdiction, an evaluation of the effects of this
rule was conducted in accordance with Sec. 810. That evaluation also
supported the Secretaries' determination that the rule will not reach
the ``may significantly restrict'' threshold that would require notice
and hearings under ANILCA Sec. 810(a).
Paperwork Reduction Act
An agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to
respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This
proposed rule does not contain any new collections of information that
require OMB approval. OMB has reviewed and approved the collections of
information associated with the subsistence regulations at 36 CFR 242
and 50 CFR 100, and assigned OMB Control Number 1018-0075, which
expires February 29, 2016.
Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)
Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget will
review all significant rules. OIRA has reviewed this rule and has
determined that this rule is not significant.
Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of E.O. 12866 while
calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system to promote
predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, most
innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory ends.
The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory approaches
that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for
the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible, and
consistent with regulatory objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes further
that regulations must be based on the best available science and that
the rulemaking process must allow for public participation and an open
exchange of ideas. We have developed this rule in a manner consistent
with these requirements.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
requires preparation of flexibility analyses for rules that will have a
significant effect on a substantial number of small entities, which
include small businesses, organizations, or governmental jurisdictions.
In general, the resources to be harvested under this rule are already
being harvested and consumed by the local harvester and do not result
in an additional dollar benefit to the economy. However, we estimate
that two million pounds of meat are harvested by subsistence users
annually and, if given an estimated dollar value of $3.00 per pound,
this amount would equate to about $6 million in food value statewide.
Based upon the amounts and values cited above, the Departments certify
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.
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
Under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (5
U.S.C. 801 et seq.), this rule is not a major rule. It does not have an
effect on the economy of $100 million or more, will not cause a major
increase in costs or prices for consumers, and does not have
significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment,
productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to
compete with foreign-based enterprises.
Executive Order 12630
Title VIII of ANILCA requires the Secretaries to administer a
subsistence priority 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.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
The Secretaries have determined and certify 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 will be
imposed on any State or local entities or tribal governments.
Executive Order 12988
The Secretaries have determined that these regulations meet the
applicable standards provided in Sec. Sec. 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of
Executive Order 12988, regarding civil justice reform.
Executive Order 13132
In accordance with Executive Order 13132, the proposed rule does
not have sufficient Federalism implications to warrant the preparation
of a Federalism Assessment. Title VIII of ANILCA precludes the State
from exercising subsistence management authority over fish and wildlife
resources on Federal lands unless it meets certain requirements.
Executive Order 13175
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Title VIII,
does not provide specific rights to tribes for the subsistence taking
of wildlife, fish, and shellfish. However, the Board will provide
Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native corporations an
opportunity to consult on this rule. Consultation with Alaska Native
corporations are based on Public Law 108-199, div. H, Sec. 161, Jan.
23, 2004, 118 Stat. 452, as amended by Public Law 108-447, div. H,
title V, Sec. 518, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3267, which provides that:
``The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and all Federal
agencies shall hereafter consult with Alaska Native corporations on the
same basis as Indian tribes under Executive Order No. 13175.''
The Secretaries, through the Board, will provide a variety of
opportunities for consultation: commenting on proposed changes to the
existing rule; engaging in dialogue at the Regional Council meetings;
engaging in dialogue
[[Page 1872]]
at the Board's meetings; and providing input in person, by mail, email,
or phone at any time during the rulemaking process.
Executive Order 13211
This Executive Order requires agencies to prepare Statements of
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. However, this proposed
rule is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 13211, affecting
energy supply, distribution, or use, and no Statement of Energy Effects
is required.
Drafting Information
Theo Matuskowitz drafted these regulations under the guidance of
Eugene R. Peltola, Jr. of the Office of Subsistence Management, Alaska
Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
Additional assistance was provided by:
Daniel Sharp, Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land
Management;
Mary McBurney, Alaska Regional Office, National Park
Service;
Dr. Glenn Chen, Alaska Regional Office, Bureau of Indian
Affairs;
Trevor T. Fox, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service; and
Steve Kessler and Thomas Whitford, Alaska Regional Office,
U.S. Forest Service.
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.
Proposed Regulation Promulgation
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Federal Subsistence
Board proposes to amend 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100 for the
2016-17 and 2017-18 regulatory years. The text of the proposed
amendments to 36 CFR 242.24 and 242.26 and 50 CFR 100.24 and 100.26 is
the final rule for the 2014-16 regulatory period (79 FR 35232; June 19,
2014). The text of the proposed amendments to 36 CFR 242.25 and 50 CFR
100.25 is the final rule for the 2012-2014 regulatory period (77 FR
35482; June 13, 2012).
Dated: December 12, 2014.
Eugene R. Peltola, Jr.,
Assistant Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Acting
Chair, Federal Subsistence Board.
Dated: December. 15, 2014.
Steve Kessler,
Subsistence Program Leader, USDA-Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-00425 Filed 1-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P; 4310-55-P