[Federal Register: April 17, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 75)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20884-20887]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17ap08-24]
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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
[FWS-R7-SM-2008-0020; 70101-1261-0000L6]
RIN 1018-AV69
Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska--
2008-09 and 2009-10 Subsistence Taking of Wildlife Regulations
AGENCIES: 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, methods, and means related to taking
of wildlife for subsistence uses during the 2008-09 and 2009-10
regulatory years. These regulations have been subject to an annual
public review cycle, but starting in 2008 the Federal Subsistence
Management Program will provide a public review process for subsistence
hunting and trapping regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence
fishing and shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years. The Program
will also address customary and traditional use determinations during
the applicable biennial cycle. This cycle adjustment does not affect
the public's ability to submit special action requests or requests for
reconsideration, as outlined in the regulations. When final, the
resulting rulemaking will replace the subsistence wildlife taking
regulations, which expire on June 30, 2008. This rule would also amend
the customary and traditional use determinations of the Federal
Subsistence Board and the general regulations on taking of wildlife.
DATES: Public meetings: The Board will discuss and evaluate the
proposed regulatory changes during a public meeting scheduled to be
held in Anchorage, AK, beginning on April 29, 2008. In addition, the
Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils held public meetings to
receive proposals to change this proposed rule on several dates from
August 28, 2007, through October 30, 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for additional information on the public meetings.
Public comments: We will accept comments received or postmarked by
April 22, 2008. In addition, the Federal Subsistence Board accepted
written public comments and proposals to change this proposed rule
until January 4, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Public meetings: The Federal Subsistence Board will meet at
the Coast International Inn at 3450 Aviation Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska
99517.
Public comments: You may submit comments by one of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: RIN 1018-AV69; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington,
VA 22203.
We will not accept e-mail or faxes. 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: Peter J. Probasco, Office of
Subsistence Management; (907) 786-3888. For questions specific to
National Forest System lands, contact Steve Kessler, Regional
Subsistence Program Leader, USDA, Forest Service, Alaska Region; (907)
786-3592.
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 grants a
preference for subsistence uses of fish and wildlife resources on
Federal public lands and waters in Alaska. The Secretaries first
published regulations to carry out this program in the Federal Register
on May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22940). The Program has subsequently amended
these regulations several 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
[[Page 20885]]
Structure; Subpart C, Board Determinations; and Subpart D, Subsistence
Taking of Fish and Wildlife.
Federal Subsistence Board
Consistent with subparts A, B, and C of these regulations, 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. 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, U.S. Forest Service.
Through the Board, these agencies participated in the development
of regulations for subparts A, B, and C, which set forth the basic
program, and they continue to work together on regularly revising the
subpart D regulations, which, among other things, set forth specific
harvest seasons and limits.
Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils
In administering the program, the Secretaries divide Alaska into 10
subsistence resource regions, each of which is represented by a
Regional Council. The Regional 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 Alaska public lands. The Regional Council members
represent varied geographical, cultural, and user diversity within each
region.
Public Review Process--Comments, Proposals, and Public Meetings
The Regional Councils had a substantial role in reviewing this
proposed rule and making recommendations for the final rule. The
Federal Subsistence Board (Board), through the Regional Councils, held
meetings on this proposed rule at the following Alaska locations, on
the following dates:
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Region 1--Southeast Regional Council..... Haines...................... September 24, 2007.
Region 2--Southcentral Regional Council.. Anchorage................... October 16, 2007.
Region 3--Kodiak/Aleutians Regional Kodiak...................... September 20, 2007.
Council.
Region 4--Bristol Bay Regional Council... Naknek...................... October 1, 2007.
Region 5--Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Marshall.................... September 5, 2007.
Council.
Region 6--Western Interior Regional Galena...................... October 30, 2007.
Council.
Region 7--Seward Peninsula Regional Nome........................ October 10, 2007.
Council.
Region 8--Northwest Arctic Regional Kotzebue.................... September 4, 2007.
Council.
Region 9--Eastern Interior Regional Fairbanks................... October 16, 2007.
Council.
Region 10--North Slope Regional Council.. Barrow...................... August 28, 2007.
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We published notice of specific dates, times, and meeting locations
in local and Statewide newspapers prior to the meetings. The amount of
work on each Regional Council's agenda determined the length of each
Regional Council meeting.
The Board made the written proposals to change the subpart D
hunting and trapping regulations and subpart C customary and
traditional use determinations available for comment last summer via
the Federal Subsistence Management Program's Web site: http://
alaska.fws.gov/asm/index.cfm. During November 2007, the Board compiled
the written proposals and distributed them for an additional public
review in a 30-day public comment period. During the public comment
period for submitted proposals, which ended on January 4, 2008, the
Board accepted written public comments on distributed proposals. The
proposals may be viewed at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/law.cfm?wp=1.
The Regional Councils held a second series of meetings in February
and March 2008, to assist the Councils in developing recommendations on
proposals to the Board. The Regional Councils accepted comments on the
published proposals to change hunting and trapping and customary and
traditional use determination regulations at those winter meetings.
The Board will discuss and evaluate the proposed changes to the
subsistence management regulations during a public meeting scheduled to
be held in Anchorage, AK, beginning on April 29, 2008. The Council
Chairs, or their designated representatives, will present their
Council's recommendations at the Board meeting. You may provide
additional oral testimony on specific proposals before the Board at
that time. At that public meeting, the Board will then deliberate and
take final action on proposals received that request changes to this
proposed rule.
Proposals to the Board to modify wildlife harvest regulations and
customary and traditional use determinations must include the following
information:
(a) Name, address, and telephone number;
(b) The section and/or paragraph of this proposed rule for which
you are suggesting changes;
(c) A statement explaining why the change is necessary;
(d) The proposed wording change; and
(e) Any additional information that you believe will help the Board
in evaluating your proposal. The Board 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
--.26, subpart D (the general and specific regulations governing the
subsistence take of wildlife). During the April 29, 2008 meeting, the
Board may defer review and action on some proposals to allow time for
local cooperative planning efforts, or to acquire additional needed
information, or if workload exceeds work capacity of staff, Regional
Councils, or the Board. These deferrals will be based on
recommendations of the affected Regional Council, staff members, and on
the basis of least harm to the subsistence user and the resource
involved. The Board may consider and act on alternatives that address
the intent of a proposal while differing in approach.
Proposed Changes From the 2007-08 Wildlife Seasons and Harvest Limit
Regulations
Subpart D regulations are subject to periodic review and revision.
Through 2007, the public review process was annual. Starting in 2008,
the Federal Subsistence Management Program will address subsistence
hunting and trapping regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence
fishing and
[[Page 20886]]
shellfishing regulations in odd-numbered years. The Board will also
address customary and traditional use determinations during each
applicable biennial cycle. This change in schedule is necessary due to
Federal budget priorities.
The text of the 2007-08 subparts C and D final rule published
December 27, 2007 (72 FR 73426), serves as the foundation for this
2008-10 subparts C and D proposed rule. The regulations relating to
wildlife contained in this proposed rule will take effect on July 1,
2008, unless elements are changed by subsequent Board action following
the public review process outlined above in this document.
Conformance With Statutory and Regulatory Authorities
National Environmental Policy Act--A Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) 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) 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 regulatory cycle for
subsistence regulations.
An environmental assessment prepared in 1997 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 the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture,
determined that the 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.
Compliance with section 810 of ANILCA--We completed a section 810
analysis under ANILCA 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 section 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 environmental assessment process for extending fisheries
jurisdiction, an evaluation of the effects of this rule was also
conducted in accordance with section 810. This evaluation supports the
Secretaries' determination that the rule will not reach the ``may
significantly restrict'' threshold for notice and hearings under ANILCA
section 810(a) for any subsistence resources or uses.
Paperwork Reduction Act--The information collection requirements
contained in this rule have been approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.) and assigned OMB control number 1018-0075, which expires
October 31, 2009. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays
a current valid OMB control number.
Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this
rule is not significant and has not reviewed this rule under Executive
Order 12866. OMB bases its determination upon the following four
criteria:
(a) Whether the rule will have an annual effect of $100 million or
more on the economy or adversely affect an economic sector,
productivity, jobs, the environment, or other units of the government.
(b) Whether the rule will create inconsistencies with other
agencies' actions.
(c) Whether the rule will materially affect entitlements, grants,
user fees, loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their
recipients.
(d) Whether the rule raises novel legal or policy issues.
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.
This rule does not restrict any existing sport or commercial use of
wildlife on public lands, and wildlife uses will continue at
essentially the same levels as they currently occur. 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 2 million
pounds of meat are harvested by subsistence users annually and, if
given an estimated dollar value of $3.00 per pound, would equate to
about $6 million in food value Statewide. The Departments certify based
on the above figures 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 there is no cost
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 sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive
Order 12988, regarding civil justice reform.
Executive Order 13132
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 subsistence management authority over fish and
[[Page 20887]]
wildlife resources on Federal lands unless it meets certain
requirements.
Executive Order 13175
In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994,
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal
Governments'' (59 FR 22951), Executive Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, we
have evaluated possible effects on Federally recognized Indian tribes
and have determined that there are no substantial direct effects. The
Bureau of Indian Affairs is a participating agency in this rulemaking.
Executive Order 13211
On May 18, 2001, the President issued Executive Order 13211 on
regulations that significantly affect energy supply, distribution, or
use. This Executive Order requires agencies to prepare Statements of
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. This rule is not a
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 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 Peter J. Probasco of the Office of Subsistence
Management, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Anchorage, Alaska. Additional assistance was provided by:
Charles Ardizzone, Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land
Management;
Sandy Rabinowitch and Nancy Swanton, Alaska Regional
Office, National Park Service;
Drs. Warren Eastland and Glenn Chen, Alaska Regional
Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs;
Jerry Berg and Carl Jack, Alaska Regional Office, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service; and
Steve Kessler, 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.
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
2008-10 regulatory years.
Dated: February 22, 2008.
Peter J. Probasco,
Acting Chair, Federal Subsistence Board, Assistant Regional Director,
Office of Subsistence Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Dated: February 22, 2008.
Steve Kessler,
Subsistence Program Leader, USDA--Forest Service.
[FR Doc. E8-7854 Filed 4-16-08; 8:45 am]
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