AGENDA

Monday, December 4, 2023
9:00 AM EST – 4:00 PM EST

Meeting location:
Meeting venue: Department of the Interior Stewart Udall Building, North Penthouse, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240; and virtually via Microsoft Teams

Please refer to the Federal Register Notice for more meeting details.

Meeting Materials 

Meeting Minutes

December 4, 2022 

9:00am 

Convene
Welcome and Council member introductions

Meeting overview:
    - Collin O’Mara and John Devney, HWCC Chair & Vice Chair
    - Approval of September 12, 2023 meeting minutes

9:15am (TENTATIVE) Comments of Martha Williams, Director – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
     - John Devney, HWCC Co-Chair 
9:45am Public comment session
10:15am

Council Subcommittee report-outs 

  • Wildlife Health: Land Tawney, Chair  
    - Discussion of Subcommittee work regarding possible best practices for considering the future use of lead-based ammunition on lands of the National Wildlife Refuge System
     
  • Public Lands: Joel Webster, Chair
     
  • Hunting & Recreational Shooting: Jeff Crane, Chair 
    - Discussion of Subcommittee issues including the National Wildlife Refuge System Strategic Growth Plan and a conservation funding issue related to firearms manufacturing.
     
  • Conservation Funding: Joel Pedersen, Chair 
     
  • Private Lands: Michael Crowder, Chair 
    ~ Discussion of Subcommittee issues related to USDA wetlands conservation programs and an issue related to net-gain of wetlands habitat.
  • Public Engagement/R3: Keith Tidball, Chair
11:00amBriefing on 2023 National Survey of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
    -  Jerry Leonard, Economist – Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service  Presentation
11:30pm

Briefing on Dingell Act section 4103 open/closure protocols (45 minutes)
    -  Kevin Oliver, Chief – Division for Recreation and Visitor Services, Bureau of Land  Presentation

Management  or Cory Roegner, Bureau of Land Management
    -  Scott Haas, Program Manager - National Dispersed Recreation, U.S. Forest Service Presentation

12:00pmLUNCH  (Logistics TBD)
1:15pm Federal agency briefings (approximate times)
     -  TBD, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1:45pmBriefing on land appraisal process for LWCF & easement acquisitions (45 minutes)
    - Brian Bloodsworth, Director - Great American Outdoors Act Great American Outdoors Act
This landmark conservation law, enacted in 2020, authorizes the use of up to $1.9 billion a year in energy development revenues for five years for needed maintenance to facilities and infrastructure in our wildlife refuges, national parks, forests, recreation areas and American Indian schools.

Learn more about Great American Outdoors Act Program Management Office, U.S. Department of the Interior
    - Scott Haas, Program Manager - National Dispersed Recreation, U.S. Forest Service
    - Jody Holzworth, Acting Director - Lands, Minerals & Geology, U.S. Forest Service
2:15pmBREAK
2::30pm 

Bureau of Land Management updates

Status of BLM Aquatic Restoration Categorical Exclusion to expedite riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian and wetland habitat restoration activities on BLM public lands (20 minutes)
      - Melissa Dickard, BLM HQ Senior Riparian Specialist, Bureau of Land Management Presentation

Update on the BLM proposal to modernize and streamline how the agency notifies the public of temporary closure and restriction orders
      - Kevin Oliver, Chief – Division for Recreation and Visitor Services, Bureau of Land Management Presentation

3:15pmOpen discussion
4:15pmADJOURN

**NOTE: Meeting minutes will be available no later than 90 days after the meeting date.

Two hunters in dirt camouflage bunker with shot guns raised to the sky.
"The Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council's purpose is to provide recommendations to the Federal Government, through the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, that (a) benefit wildlife resources; (b) encourage partnership among the public; sporting conservation...
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