[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 69 (Thursday, April 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19952-19953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07504]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2020-0012; FF09M21200-201-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-BE34
Migratory Bird Hunting; Service Regulations Committee and Flyway
Council Meetings
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Announcement of meetings.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) Migratory
Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) will conduct an open meeting on April
28, 2020, to identify and discuss preliminary issues concerning the
2021-2022 migratory bird hunting regulations. We will conduct another
meeting in October 2020 to review information on the status of
migratory game birds and develop 2021-2022 migratory game bird
regulations 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 28, 2020. The meeting will commence at approximately 12:00
p.m. (Eastern) and is open to the public. The meeting will be conducted
telephonically with the aid of video technology. Details will be posted
at https://www.fws.gov/birds/ when they become available.
Accommodation requests: Please submit all requests for meeting
accommodations by the close of business on April 20, 2020. See Meeting
Accommodations, below, for more information.
ADDRESSES: 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,
[[Page 19953]]
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 migratory game bird hunting regulations,
located 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 28, 2020, to identify
and discuss preliminary issues concerning the 2021-2022 migratory bird
hunting regulations. We will conduct another meeting in October 2020 to
review information on the status of migratory game birds and develop
2021-2022 migratory game bird regulations recommendations for these
species. In accordance with Departmental policy, these meetings are
open to public observation. In addition, Service representatives
attended the individual meetings of the four Flyway Councils in March
and will reassess attending the August-October Flyway Council meetings.
We will provide the meeting dates, commencement times, and locations
for the SRC and Flyway Council meetings on our website at https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/flyways.php as this information becomes
available. If these meetings are not held in person, these meetings may
be conducted telephonically with or without the aid of video
technology.
Meeting Accommodations
The Service is committed to providing access to the April 28, 2020,
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 April 20, 2020. If
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
Aurelia Skipwith,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-07504 Filed 4-8-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P