[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 6993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2379]



  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 9, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 6993]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Migratory Bird Permits; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for Falconry and Raptor Propagation Activities

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we or us) will pepare an 
updated draft environmental assessment of the activities of falconry 
and raptor propagation in the United States. We seek suggestions for 
issues and alternatives to consider when doing so.

DATES: Send suggestions on topics for the environmental assessment by 
March 11, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Agency Web Site: http://migratorybirds.fws.gov. Follow the 
links to submit a comment.
     E-mail address for comments: Falconry and Propagation 
[email protected].
     Fax: 703-358-2217.
     Mail: Chief, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop MBSP-
4107, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1610.
     Hand Delivery: Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 4501 North Fairfax Drive, Room 4091, 
Arlington, Virginia 22203-1610.
    Instructions: All submissions received must note that they are for 
consideration in development of the environmental assessment on 
falconry and raptor propagation activities. All comments received, 
including any personal information provided, will be available for 
public inspection at the address given above for hand delivery of 
comments. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and 
additional information on the process, see the ``Public Participation'' 
heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Millsap, Chief, Division of 
Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 703-358-
1714, or Dr. George T. Allen, Wildlife Biologist, 703-358-1825.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fish and Wildlife Service is the Federal 
agency with the primary responsibility for managing migratory birds. 
Our authority is based on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) (16 
U.S.C. 703 et seq.), which implements conventions with Great Britain 
(for Canada), Mexico, Japan, and the Soviet Union (Russia). Raptors 
(birds of prey) are afforded Federal protection by the 1972 amendment 
to the Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds and Game 
Animals, February 7, 1936, United States--Mexico, as amended; the 
Convention between the United States and Japan for the Protection of 
Migratory Birds in Danger of Extinction and Their Environment, 
September 19, 1974; and the Convention Between the United States of 
America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Russia) Concerning 
the Conservation of Migratory Birds and Their Environment, November 26, 
1976.
    The taking and possession of raptors are strictly prohibited except 
as permitted under regulations implementing the MBTA. Activities with 
migratory birds are prohibited unless specifically authorized by 
regulation. Regulations governing the issuance of permits for migratory 
birds are authorized by the MBTA and subsequent regulations. They are 
in title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, parts 10, 13, 21, and 22. 
Raptors also may be protected by State and tribal regulations.
    We plan to prepare an updated environmental assessment (EA) of the 
activities of falconry (covered in 50 CFR 21.28 and 21.29) and raptor 
propagation (50 CFR 21.30). We seek suggestions for issues and 
alternatives to be considered in the EA.

Public Participation

    You may submit written comments on topics to be considered to the 
location identified in the ADDRESSES section, or you may submit 
electronic comments to the internet address or the e-mail address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section. We must receive your comments before 
the date listed in the DATES section. Following review and 
consideration of comments, we will prepare a draft environmental 
assessment.
    When submitting electronic comments, please include your name and 
return address in your message, identify it as comments on the falconry 
and raptor propagation EA, and submit your comments as an ASCII file. 
Do not use special characters or any encryption.
    When submitting written comments, please include your name and 
return address in your letter and identify it as comments on the 
falconry and raptor propagation EA. To facilitate compiling the 
administrative record for this action, you must submit written comments 
on 8\1/2\ inch by 11 inch paper.
    All comments will be available for public inspection during normal 
business hours at Room 4091 at the Fish and Wildlife Service, Division 
of Migratory Bird Management, 4501 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, 
Virginia. The complete administrative record for this EA is available, 
by appointment, during normal business hours at the same address. You 
may call 703-358-1825 to make an appointment to view the record.
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. An individual respondent may request that we withhold 
his or her home address from the record, which we will honor to the 
extent allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which we 
would withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by 
law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must 
state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make 
all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. We 
will not consider anonymous comments.

    Dated: February 2, 2005.
Matt Hogan,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 05-2379 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P