[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 56 (Thursday, March 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15957-15958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06144]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2021-0030; FF09M22000-212-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-BF07
Migratory Bird Hunting; Service Regulations Committee and Flyway
Council Meetings
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice; announcement of meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) Migratory
Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) will conduct an open meeting on April
6, 2021, to identify and discuss preliminary issues concerning the
2022-2023 migratory bird hunting regulations. We will conduct a second
SRC meeting
[[Page 15958]]
in September/October 2021 to review information on the status of
migratory game birds and develop 2022-2023 migratory game bird
regulation recommendations for these species. In accordance with
departmental policy, these meetings are open to public observation.
DATES: SRC meeting: The Service Regulations Committee meeting will be
held April 6, 2021. The meeting will commence at approximately 12:00
p.m. (Eastern Time) and is open for public observation. The Department
of the Interior will post the September/October SRC meeting on the
Service's Migratory Bird Program website as a method to notify the
public of these meetings in the future (https://www.fws.gov/birds/).
This posting will occur at least 2 weeks before the meeting or as soon
as practicable after the Service can schedule.
Accommodation requests: Please submit all requests for meeting
accommodations at least 7 days prior to the meeting date. See Meeting
Accommodations, below, for more information.
ADDRESSES: The SRC meeting will be conducted by video and
telephonically with or without the aid of video technology. Meeting
details with web links and telephone numbers will be posted at https://www.fws.gov/birds/ when they become available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Richkus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Department of the Interior, MS: MB, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls
Church, VA 22041-3803; (703) 358-1780.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712), the Service regulates the hunting of
migratory game birds. We update the migratory game bird hunting
regulations, located in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations in
part 20 (50 CFR part 20), annually. Through these regulations, we
establish the frameworks, or outside limits, for season lengths, bag
limits, and areas for migratory game bird hunting. Acknowledging
regional differences in hunting conditions, the Service has
administratively divided the Nation into four Flyways for the primary
purpose of managing migratory game birds. Each Flyway (Atlantic,
Mississippi, Central, and Pacific) has a Flyway Council, a formal
organization generally composed of one member from each State and
Province in that Flyway. The Flyway Councils, established through the
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, assist in researching and
providing migratory game bird management information for Federal,
State, and Provincial governments, as well as private conservation
entities and the public.
The process for adopting the migratory game bird hunting
regulations in 50 CFR part 20 is constrained by three primary factors.
Legal and administrative considerations dictate how long the rulemaking
process will last. Most importantly, however, the biological cycle of
migratory game birds controls the timing of data-gathering activities
and thus the dates on which these results are available for
consideration and deliberation.
For the regulatory cycle, Service biologists gather, analyze, and
interpret biological survey data and provide this information to all
those involved in the process through a series of published status
reports and presentations to Flyway Councils and other interested
parties. Because the Service is required to take abundance of migratory
game birds and other factors into consideration, the Service undertakes
a number of surveys throughout the year in conjunction with Service
Regional Offices, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and State and
Provincial wildlife-management agencies. To determine the appropriate
frameworks for each species, we consider factors such as population
size and trend, geographical distribution, annual breeding effort,
condition of breeding and wintering habitat, number of hunters, and
anticipated harvest. After frameworks are established for season
lengths, bag limits, and areas for migratory game bird hunting, States
may select season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for
the hunting seasons. States may always be more conservative in their
selections than the Federal frameworks, but never more liberal.
Upcoming Meetings
The SRC will conduct an open meeting on April 6, 2021, to identify
and discuss preliminary issues concerning the 2022-2023 migratory bird
hunting regulations. We will conduct a second SRC meeting in September/
October 2021 to review information on the status of migratory game
birds and develop 2022-2023 migratory game bird regulation
recommendations for these species. In accordance with departmental
policy, these meetings are open to public observation. In addition,
Service representatives will be present at the individual meetings of
the four Flyway Councils in February-March and again in August-October.
We will provide the meeting dates, commencement times, and locations
for the second SRC and Flyway Council meetings on our website at
https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/flyways.php as this information
becomes available.
Meeting Accommodations
The Service is committed to providing access to the April 6, 2021,
SRC meeting for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign
language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other
accommodation needs to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT with your request by close of business on March 29, 2021. If
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
Martha Williams,
Principal Deputy Director, Exercising the Delegated Authority of the
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-06144 Filed 3-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P