[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 171 (Friday, September 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 53328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22448]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment on Depredation 
Permits for the Control and Management of Gulls in the Great Lakes 
Region

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This Notice advises the public that a Draft Environmental 
Assessment on Depredation Permits for the Control and Management of 
Gulls in the Great Lakes Region is available for public review. 
Comments and suggestions are requested.

DATES: You must submit comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment 
by October 2, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft Environmental Assessment can be obtained 
by writing to Stephen Wilds, Chief, Division of Migratory Birds, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 
55111-4056. Written comments can be sent to the same address. All 
comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of 
the public record. You may inspect comments during normal business 
hours at the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen D. Wilds at: U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056, 
(612) 713-5432.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft Environmental Assessment includes 
a review the potential impacts of the issuance of permits which allow 
the destruction of ring-billed and herring gull nests and eggs and 
limited killing of adult and sub-adult gulls to protect property and 
for public health and safety reasons under the Migratory Bird Treaty 
Act. In recent years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in 
cooperation with USDA-Wildlife Services, has addressed gull problems 
through the issuance of depredation permits on a case-by-case basis. 
While this approach has provided some relief in some areas, the Service 
is concerned with the current gull population and the growing human 
conflict trends and the permit controlled management activities. The 
Assessment reviews gull population status and the trends in human 
conflicts with gulls and considers three alternative ways for 
permitting the control and management of depredating gulls.

William Hartwig,
Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-22448 Filed 8-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P