[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 72 (Friday, April 14, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19011-19012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9251]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

36 CFR Part 13

RIN 1024-AC25


Alaska; Trapping Regulations

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; re-opening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule is a clarification of the National Park 
Service (NPS) restriction on the use of firearms and other weapons by 
trappers. The rulemaking addresses only the clarification of the 
language regarding trapping and the use of firearms in the taking of 
wildlife under a trapping license. This proposed rule, the substance of 
which was printed as a proposed rule along with a proposed rule to 
prohibit same-day-airborne hunting in national park areas on November 
15, 1994 (59 FR 58804), extends the comment period for another 60-days 
to allow additional review and comment by interested groups and 
persons. The same-day-airborne hunting portion of the original proposed 
rule was published as a Final Rule on April 11, 1995 in a separate 
document.

DATES: Comments will be accepted until June 13, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Robert D. Barbee, Regional 
Director, National Park Service, 2525 Gambell Street, Anchorage, AK 
99503-2892 (Fax 907-257-2533).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Hunter, National Park Service, 
Alaska Regional Office, 2525 Gambell Street, Anchorage, AK 99503-2892 
(Telephone 907-257-2646; Fax 907-257-2410).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Extended Comment Period: Firearm Restriction for Trapping

    This document announces a 60-day re-opening of the comment period 
for the trapping clarification portion of the proposed rule published 
in the Federal Register on November 15, 1994 (59 FR 58804). The 
clarification portion, 36 CFR 13.21(d)(5), of the proposed rule, 
relates to existing regulations (36 CFR 13.1(u) and 36 CFR 1.4(a)) that 
generally prohibit the use of a firearm for trapping in NPS-managed 
areas in Alaska. The initial comment period expired on December 15, 
1994. Many comments received during this comment period, including 
comments from local advisory groups, governmental units and Alaska 
residents, requested additional time to review the proposed 
clarification and the existing regulation. Although this provision of 
the regulation has been in effect since 1981, there is apparent 
confusion regarding its intent and effect, as well as its relationship 
to existing hunting and trapping practices. The extended comment period 
will allow full examination of these issues. Accordingly, the comment 
period for the clarification portion of the proposed rule concerning 
the use of firearms and weapons to take wildlife under a trapping 
license is hereby extended for [[Page 19012]] an additional 60 days. 
The existing prohibition remains in effect and further rulemaking on 
this portion of the original proposed rule is held in abeyance until 
after review of the public comments.

    Dated: April 7, 1995.
George T. Frampton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 95-9251 Filed 4-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P