[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 141 (Thursday, July 23, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 39553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19625]



[[Page 39553]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 21

RIN 1018-AE46


Migratory Bird Special Canada Goose Permit

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the re-
opening of the comment period for the Service's proposed rule on the 
establishment of a Canada goose damage management program. The program 
is designed to provide a biologically sound and more cost-effective and 
efficient method for the control of locally-breeding (resident) Canada 
geese that pose a threat to health and human safety and are responsible 
for damage to personal and public property.

DATES: The original comment period for the proposed rule closed June 1, 
1998. The re-opened comment period will end on September 21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments on the 
proposal 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. The public may inspect comments 
during normal business hours in room 634, ARLSQ Building, 4401 N. 
Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 31, 1998, the Service published in 
the Federal Register (63 FR 15698) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 21. 
The proposal dealt with the establishment of a Canada goose damage 
management program. This program is designed to provide a biologically 
sound and more cost-effective and efficient method for the control of 
locally-breeding (resident) Canada geese that pose a threat to health 
and human safety and are responsible for damage to personal and public 
property. More specifically, the Service proposed to add a new permit 
option available to State conservation agencies specifically for 
resident Canada goose control and damage management. The special permit 
would only be available to a State conservation or wildlife management 
agency responsible for migratory bird management. Under this permit, 
States and their designated agents could initiate resident goose damage 
management and control injury problems within the conditions/
restrictions of the program. Those States not wishing to obtain this 
new permit would continue to operate under the current permitting 
process.
    The comment period is being re-opened to incorporate views from all 
parties that have expressed an interest in reviewing the proposed rule 
and environmental assessment. All previously submitted comments 
received after the original June 1, 1998, closing date will be 
considered.
    In addition, the Service notifies the public of an administrative 
error associated with this proposal. In compliance with the 
requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(C)), and the Council on Environmental 
Quality's regulation for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), the 
Service prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the proposed 
establishment of the program and options considered in the 
``Environmental Assessment: Permits for the Control and Management of 
Injurious Resident Canada Geese.'' In conjunction with that EA, the 
Service had prepared a draft finding that the new permit option would 
not be a major Federal action that would significantly affect the 
quality of the human environment as an administrative convenience. In 
error, the draft finding was included in the materials accompanying the 
final EA and was mistakenly finalized. The Service is now rescinding 
that inadvertent finding and will be considering the NEPA requirements 
if and when it makes a final decision on the proposed action. The EA is 
available to the public at the location indicated under the ADDRESSES 
caption.

Paperwork Reduction Act and Information Collection

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507(d)), the Service submitted the necessary paperwork to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval to collect the information 
required by the applicant and permittee. Under the Act, information 
collections must be approved by OMB. After review, the information 
collection requirements of the Special Canada Goose Permit were 
approved by OMB and assigned clearance number 1018-0099. The 
information collection requirement will be used to administer this 
program and, particularly in the issuance and monitoring of these 
special Canada goose permits. The information requested will be 
required to obtain a special Canada goose permit, and to determine if 
the applicant meets all the permit issuance criteria, and to protect 
migratory birds.

    Authority: Pub. L. 95-616, 92 Stat. 3112 (16 U.S.C. 712(2)).

    Dated: July 17, 1998.
Stephen C. Saunders,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 98-19625 Filed 7-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P