[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 53773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27398]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 32

RIN 1018-AE18


1997-98 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule adds additional national wildlife refuges 
to the list of areas open for hunting and/or sport fishing, along with 
pertinent refuge-specific regulations for such activities; and amends 
certain regulations on other refuges that pertain to migratory game 
bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting and sport fishing. 
The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice of reopening of 
the comment period for only the specific proposal to hunt bison on the 
National Elk Refuge in Wyoming.

DATES: The public comment period closes November 17, 1997 to ensure 
consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal 
should be sent directly to Assistant Director, Refuges and Wildlife, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street, NW, MS 670 ARLSQ, 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen R. Vehrs, at the above address; Telephone (703) 358-2397.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service had received a second request 
from the Fund for Animals to extend the comment period on the proposal 
to permit bison hunting on the National Elk Refuge. The original 
comment period was open for 30 days and then extended to September 19, 
1997 (62 FR 38959 published July 21, 1997 and 62 FR 47372, Sept. 9, 
1997) to accommodate a public review of a pending interagency bison 
herd management plan. Due to the need by the Service for additional 
time to complete their portion of the herd management plan and review 
information and comments from interested parties on this proposed 
action, the comment period is reopened for an additional 30 days. The 
herd management plan was signed on September 30, 1997. In addition to 
this reopening of comments, several other documents, such as a 
compatibility determination and a National Elk Refuge Hunt Plan 
Amendment needed to be finalized before a bison hunt would take place. 
Both documents were signed on October 1, 1997. All parties are invited 
to submit comments on the proposed bison hunt. Copies of the Hunt Plan 
Amendment and the compatibility determination are available from the 
Refuge Manager, National Elk Refuge, Box C, Jackson, Wyoming 83001.
    Refuge hunting programs are reviewed annually to determine whether 
additional refuges should be added or whether individual refuge 
regulations governing existing programs should be modified, deleted or 
have additions made to them. Changing environmental conditions, State 
and Federal regulations, and other factors affecting wildlife 
populations and habitat may warrant modifications ensuring continued 
compatibility of hunting with the purposes for which individual 
refuges, and the National Wildlife Refuge System (System) were 
established.

Statutory Authority

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (NWRSAA) of 
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 668dd), and the Refuge Recreation Act of 
1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k) govern the administration and public use of 
national wildlife refuges. Specifically, section 4(d)(1)(A) of the 
NWRSAA authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to permit 
the use of any area within the System for any purpose, including but 
not limited to, hunting, fishing and public recreation, accommodations 
and access, when he determines that uses are compatible with the major 
purpose(s) for which the area was established.
    The Refuge Recreation Act (RRA) authorizes the Secretary to 
administer areas within the System for public recreation as an 
appropriate incidental or secondary use only to the extent that it is 
practicable and not inconsistent with the primary purpose(s) for which 
the areas were established. The NWRSAA and the RRA also authorize the 
Secretary to issue regulations to carry out the purposes of the Acts 
and regulate uses.

Primary Author

    Stephen R. Vehrs, Division of Refuges, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Washington, DC 20240, is the primary author of this rulemaking 
document.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 32

    Fishing, Hunting, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Wildlife, Wildlife refuges.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Service amends Title 
50, Chapter I, subchapter C of the Code of Federal Regulations as 
follows:

PART 32--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 32 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k, 664, 668dd, and 715i.

    2. Amend Sec. 32.70 Wyoming by revising paragraph C. of National 
Elk Refuge to read as follows:


Sec. 32.70  Wyoming.

* * * * *
    National Elk Refuge
* * * * *
    C. Big Game Hunting. Hunters may hunt elk and bison on 
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
* * * * *
    Dated: October 3, 1997.
Ralph O. Morgenweck,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-27398 Filed 10-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M