[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 180 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49707-49708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24922]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Intent To Establish Management Bodies for the
Development, Implementation, and Management of a Migratory Bird
Subsistence Program in Alaska
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to
establish management bodies for the development, implementation, and
management of a migratory bird subsistence program in Alaska. This
action is the result of the 1997 amendments to the migratory bird
treaties with Canada and Mexico approved by the U.S. Senate on October
23, 1997. The amendment to the treaty with Canada requires that
indigenous inhabitants of the State of Alaska will have a meaningful
role in migratory bird conservation by participating on relevant
management bodies. In partnership with the Alaska Department of Fish
and Game and the Native Migratory Bird Working Group, the Service will
prepare an options document for public review and comment leading to
the establishment of the management bodies.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments regarding the preparation of the options
document, to Mimi Hogan, Migratory Bird Subsistence Coordinator, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; fax
907/786-3641.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mimi Hogan at 907/786-3673.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1916 the U.S. Senate ratified the
Convention Between the United States and Great Britain (on behalf of
Canada) For the Protection Of Migratory Birds. A similar treaty was
ratified with Mexico in 1936. The treaties specified a close season on
the taking of migratory game birds between March 10 and September 1 of
each year. The treaties did not take into account traditional harvests
of migratory birds by northern indigenous people during the spring and
summer months. This harvest, which had occurred for centuries, was a
necessary part of the subsistence lifestyle of the northern people, and
continued after the ratification of the treaties. After many years of
attempts to change the treaties, amendments to both treaties were
approved in 1997, allowing certain
[[Page 49708]]
exceptions for the subsistence harvest of migratory birds by indigenous
inhabitants of identified subsistence zones in Alaska.
The intent of the amendments is to enable effective actions to be
taken to improve migratory bird conservation, and to cause no
significant increases in the take of species of migratory birds
relative to their continental population sizes. Paragraph 4(b)(ii) of
Article II states:
Indigenous inhabitants of the State of Alaska shall be afforded
an effective and meaningful role in the conservation of migratory
birds including the development and implementation of regulations
affecting the non-wasteful taking of migratory birds and the
collection of their eggs, by participating on relevant management
bodies.
This notice initiates action to establish management bodies
required by the treaty amendments. The options document being prepared
will identify, among other things, the number of management bodies
needed for effective and efficient management, how the management
bodies will be organized, and their roles and responsibilities. The
options document will be prepared for review and public comment by the
Native Migratory Bird Working Group, the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Availability of a draft
document for review and a list of public meetings to gather public
comment will be announced in the Federal Register.
Meetings
In order to receive from the subsistence users ideas regarding the
preparation of the decision document, public forums will be conducted
in the following Alaska locations during 1998:
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Date City Location Time
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Sept 22............................. Nome................... Nome Mimi Convention Center 7:00 p.m.
Sept 23............................. Kotzebue............... Alaska Technical Center, 7:00 p.m.
Room 170.
Sept 29............................. Fort Yukon............. Native Village Building.... 7:00 p.m.
Oct 5............................... Allakaket.............. Allakaket Community Hall... 7:00 p.m.
Oct 21.............................. Naknek................. Bristol Bay Borough 7:00 p.m.
Assembly Chambers.
Nov 4............................... Dillingham............. City Council Chambers...... 7:00 p.m.
Nov 18.............................. Barrow................. North Slope Borough 7:00 p.m.
Assembly Room.
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A forum will also be scheduled for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta area.
Date, time, and location will be announced in the local media when the
schedule is final.
Dated: September 10, 1998.
Robyn Thorson,
Deputy Regional Director, Anchorage, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 98-24922 Filed 9-16-98; 8:45 am]
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