[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 1, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23562]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 242

[4310-55]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 100


Bristol Bay Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council 
Meeting; Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA; Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the Regional Council meeting 
identified above. The public is invited to attend and observe meeting 
proceedings. In addition, the public invited to provide oral testimony 
before the Bristol Bay Advisory Council on a Special Action request to 
change Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska 
for the 1998-1999 regulatory year as set forth in a final rule on June 
29, 1998 (63 FR 35332-35381). The Regional Council will receive 
testimony and consider six requests from local villages asking that 
federal public lands in Unit 9(E) be closed to taking of caribou by 
non-qualified subsistence users. Three requests from local villages 
additionally ask that federal lands be closed to the taking of moose by 
non-qualified subsistence users. The requests cite recent information 
on the continuing decline in population of the North Alaska Peninsula 
caribou herd. In addition, the severe reduction in the commercial 
fishery incomes this year is said to result in higher reliance on 
subsistence food resources.

DATES: The Federal Subsistence Board announces the forthcoming public 
meeting for the Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council. The 
Bristol Bay Regional Council will meet in Naknek, AK on September 2, 
1998 at 10:30 A.M. in the Bristol Bay Borough Assembly Chambers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chair, Federal Subsistence Board, c/o 
Thomas H. Boyd, Office of Subsistence Management, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, (907) 786-3888. For questions related to subsistence 
management issues on National Forest Service lands, inquiries may also 
be directed to Ken Thompson, Regional Subsistence Program Manager, 
USDA, Forest Service, Alaska Region, (907) 271-2540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regional Councils have been established 
in accordance with Section 805 of the Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act, Pub. L. 96-487, and Subsistence Management 
Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 
100, subparts A, B, and C (57 FR 22940-22964). The Regional Councils 
advise the Federal Government on all matters related to the subsistence 
taking of fish and wildlife on public lands in Alaska and operate in 
accordance with provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
    The Bristol Bay Regional Council meeting will be open to the 
public. The public is invited to attend this meeting, observe the 
proceedings, and provide comments to the Regional Council.
    This document provides less than the required 15 days notice. 
However, these requests were just received, and the Federal closure is 
requested to coincide with a comparable closure by the Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game which takes effect on September 10, 1998. 
Thus, in order to provide the Regional Council and the public an 
opportunity to comment on this proposal before Board action and for the 
board to act in a timely manner on this proposal, the Board finds good 
cause under 41 CFR 101-6.1015(b)(2) to conduct the meeting with less 
than 15 days notice. Additional notice of the meeting will be placed in 
local papers and broadcast on local radio and television stations.

    Dated: August 25, 1998.
Thomas H. Boyd,
Acting Chair, Federal Subsistence Board.

    Dated: August 25, 1998.
Ken Thompson,
Acting Regional Forester, USDA-Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 98-23562 Filed 8-28-98; 10:19 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P