Federal Subsistence Board to Consider Customary and Traditional Use Determinations on the Kenai Peninsula

The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) will consider customary and traditional use determinations for federal public lands on the Kenai Peninsula during a public meeting on April 13, 1995, at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage. The Boards review focuses on customary and traditional uses of large manuals, including moose, caribou, sheep, goat, black bear and brown bear, in Units 7 and 15. Under Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, rural residents have a priority to harvest those fish and wildlife species for which there is a recognized customary and traditional use for subsistence on federal public lands.

The Board will take into account recommendations of the Southcentral Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council and Federal Subsistence Management Program staff and public comment as it makes an initial decision on customary and traditional use eligibility and federal subsistence seasons on the Kenai Peninsula. The Boards decision, called a "proposed rule," will be distributed for a public review and written comment period of at least sixty days. Board staff will also hold public meetings in Kenai Peninsula communities to hear additional public comment and address local concerns and questions. The Board plans to have final determinations in place by August 1995.

In late February, the Southcentral Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council (Regional Council) made a recommendation on customary and traditional use determinations for the Kenai Peninsula. The Regional Council advocates that residents of the communities of Hope, Cooper Landing, Ninilchik, Seldovia, Nanwalek, Whittier, and Port Graham are eligible to take certain wildlife species on federal public lands.

The Regional Council also proposes a federal registration bulls-only moose hunt from August 10 to September 20 on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Unit 15. Under this proposal, residents of Hope, Cooper Landing, Ninilchik and Seldovia would be eligible to harvest moose during this open season on refuge lands in Unit 15(A); residents of Hope, Cooper Landing, Ninilchik, Seldovia, Nanwalek and Port Graham on refuge lands in Unit 15(B); and, residents of Ninilchik, Nanwalek, Port Graham and Seldovia on refuge lands in Unit 15(C).

Under current federal regulations, no customary and traditional use determinations for subsistence use of moose, caribou, sheep or brown bear are recognized in either Unit 7 or 15, and, therefore, there are no existing subsistence seasons for these species on federal public lands. There is an existing open season for black bear on federal public lands in both units. While current federal regulations include positive customary and traditional use determinations for goat in Units 7 and 15 for residents of specific communities, the Regional Council has recommended several changes in these determinations.

During its April 13 meeting, the Board will also consider a statewide process to review customary and traditional use determinations, as well as the status of a review in the Upper Tanana region. The Boards consideration of customary and traditional use determinations is part of its annual meeting, which is scheduled from April 10 to 14. If you would like additional information, please call the Office of Subsistence Management, weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., toll-free at (800)478-1456 or, in Anchorage at (907)786-3888. You may also contact the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge office in Soldotna at (907)262-7021. Hearing impaired callers may call (907)786-3487 (Anchorage), or (907)260-2803 (Soldotna) during the same hours.

FSB