[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16819-16820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8553]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Reduction of the Mid-Continent Lesser Snow Goose Population

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 
(hereinafter Service) intent to review aspects of the migratory bird 
regulations pertaining to the mid-continent lesser snow goose (MCLSG) 
population. The Service intends for this review to lead to proposed 
changes in the migratory bird regulations that would result in reducing 
the MCLSG population from over 3 million birds to a more sustainable 
population of approximately 1.5 million birds over the next few years. 
The reduction appears necessary to reverse the damage by these geese on 
the Arctic ecosystem which also provides important nesting habitat for 
many other species of migratory birds, some of which are species of 
management concern. Population reduction will also decrease the 
likelihood of avian disease outbreaks, such as avian cholera, that 
sometimes are associated with extremely high concentrations of 
waterfowl. The Service has attempted to curb the population growth of 
MCLSG through habitat management, expansion and liberalization of 
existing seasons, and increases in bag and possession limits. However, 
the population continues to grow and the geese continue to rapidly 
degrade their breeding habitats. Proposed regulatory measures, along 
with possible changes in the Service's habitat management strategies 
for MCLSG, may be the first of several phases needed to reduce the 
MCLSG population. Any subsequent proposals will be noticed in the 
Federal Register and will be subject to compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act, as appropriate. As part of the first phase, 
the Service will prepare an Environmental Assessment for public review 
to evaluate migratory bird regulatory alternatives for reducing the 
MCLSG population. The Service invites public comment and suggestions on 
possible options.

DATES: Written comments are requested by June 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The public may submit written comments to the Chief, Office 
of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Department of the Interior, ms 634__ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul R. Schmidt, Chief, Office of 
Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department 
of the Interior, (703) 358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ``Migratory Birds'' are defined in 50 CFR 
10.12 as meaning any bird, irrespective of its origin in the wild or in 
captivity, which belongs to the species listed in 10.13, for the 
purposes of protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (Act) (16 
U.S.C. 703-712). Snow geese (Anser caerulescens) are among the species 
listed.
    Mid-continent lesser snow geese (MCLSG) breed in the arctic and 
subarctic regions of Canada, specifically along the west coast of 
Hudson and James Bays and the southern portions of Baffin and South 
Hampton Islands. Beginning in late August, they migrate southward over 
the Canadian boreal forests and along the Central and western 
Mississippi flyways to their wintering grounds spanning across Texas, 
Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and New Mexico and into the 
northern States of Mexico. During migration, these geese stage at sites 
along the Central and Mississippi flyways such as the Rainwater Basin 
Wetland Management District in Nebraska and De Soto National Wildlife 
Refuge on the Iowa-Nebraska border.
    The MCLSG population has increased in the last 30 years from an 
estimated 900,000 birds in 1969 to over 3 million birds in 1996 and the 
population continues to grow at an annual rate of 5 percent (Abraham et 
al. 1996). Due to this high growth rate, virtually unlimited food 
resources in the lower 48 United States and prairie Canada, and a 
decline in overall mortality in the last 30 years, the MCLSG population 
has become a threat to itself and to other migratory bird species. 
MCLSG are destroying arctic and subarctic breeding

[[Page 16820]]

habitats used by many other species to the point of desertification, 
soil salinization, and depletion of vegetative communities (Abraham and 
Jefferies 1997). The Service believes that the MCLSG population exceeds 
sustainable levels for their arctic and subarctic breeding habitats, 
and the population must be reduced to approximately 1.5 million birds 
to bring the population to within long-term management objective levels 
(Central/Mississippi Flyway Councils 1982). The Service is also 
concerned that avian cholera, a highly contagious and deadly disease, 
could be transmitted to other migratory birds that stage with large 
concentrations of MCLSG during spring and fall migration.
    The Service has attempted to curb the population growth of MCLSG 
through habitat management, expansion and liberalization of existing 
seasons, and increases in bag and possession limits, however, the 
population continues to grow and the geese continue to rapidly degrade 
their breeding habitats. Over the last year, the Service has consulted 
with various scientific and conservation organizations in the United 
States and Canada and has worked in coordination with the Canadian 
Wildlife Service to bring all available scientific information 
regarding MCLSG to decision makers.
    Under the Act, the Secretary of the Interior has the responsibility 
for setting appropriate regulations for the take of migratory birds, 
with due regard for maintaining such populations in a healthy state and 
at satisfactory levels. As a first step in determining whether and how 
to reduce the MCLSG population to healthy and sustainable levels, the 
Service will examine various migratory bird regulatory alternatives and 
their impacts in an Environmental Assessment, a draft of which will be 
made available for public review.
    Along with the Service's review of regulatory alternatives, the 
Service will develop habitat management strategies to contribute to a 
reduction in the MCLSG population. When developed, any proposals will 
be subject to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, as 
appropriate.

Literature Cited

    Abraham, K.F., and R.L. Jefferies. 1997. High goose populations: 
causes, impacts, and implications. Pages 7-72 in B.D.J. Batt (editor). 
Arctic Ecosystems in Peril: Report of the Arctic Goose Habitat Working 
Group. Arctic Goose Joint Venture Special Publication. U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. and Canadian Wildlife Service, 
Ottawa, Ontario.
    Abraham, K.F., R.L. Jefferies, R.F. Rockwell, and C.D. MacInnes. 
1996. Why are there so many white geese in North America? Pages 79-92 
in J. Ratti (editor). Proceedings of the 7th International Waterfowl 
Symposium. Ducks Unlimited, Memphis, Tennessee.
    Central and Mississippi Flyway Councils. 1982. Management 
guidelines for mid-continent snow geese in Wildfowl Management 
Guidelines. 22 pages.

    Dated: March 26, 1998.
Donald J. Barry,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 98-8553 Filed 4-3-98; 8:45 am]
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