[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 75 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20884-20887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7854]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 242

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 100

[FWS-R7-SM-2008-0020; 70101-1261-0000L6]
RIN 1018-AV69


Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska--
2008-09 and 2009-10 Subsistence Taking of Wildlife Regulations

AGENCIES: Forest Service, Agriculture; Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would establish regulations for hunting and 
trapping seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking 
of wildlife for subsistence uses during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 
regulatory years. These regulations have been subject to an annual 
public review cycle, but starting in 2008 the Federal Subsistence 
Management Program will provide a public review process for subsistence 
hunting and trapping regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence 
fishing and shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years. The Program 
will also address customary and traditional use determinations during 
the applicable biennial cycle. This cycle adjustment does not affect 
the public's ability to submit special action requests or requests for 
reconsideration, as outlined in the regulations. When final, the 
resulting rulemaking will replace the subsistence wildlife taking 
regulations, which expire on June 30, 2008. This rule would also amend 
the customary and traditional use determinations of the Federal 
Subsistence Board and the general regulations on taking of wildlife.

DATES: Public meetings: The Board will discuss and evaluate the 
proposed regulatory changes during a public meeting scheduled to be 
held in Anchorage, AK, beginning on April 29, 2008. In addition, the 
Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils held public meetings to 
receive proposals to change this proposed rule on several dates from 
August 28, 2007, through October 30, 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for additional information on the public meetings.
    Public comments: We will accept comments received or postmarked by 
April 22, 2008. In addition, the Federal Subsistence Board accepted 
written public comments and proposals to change this proposed rule 
until January 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Public meetings: The Federal Subsistence Board will meet at 
the Coast International Inn at 3450 Aviation Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 
99517.
    Public comments: You may submit comments by one of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: RIN 1018-AV69; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, 
VA 22203.
    We will not accept e-mail or faxes. We will post all comments on 
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see the Public Review Process 
section below for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chair, Federal Subsistence Board, c/o 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: Peter J. Probasco, Office of 
Subsistence Management; (907) 786-3888. For questions specific to 
National Forest System lands, contact Steve Kessler, Regional 
Subsistence Program Leader, USDA, Forest Service, Alaska Region; (907) 
786-3592.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation 
Act (ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 3111-3126), the Secretary of the Interior and 
the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretaries) jointly implement the 
Federal Subsistence Management Program. This program grants a 
preference for subsistence uses of fish and wildlife resources on 
Federal public lands and waters in Alaska. The Secretaries first 
published regulations to carry out this program in the Federal Register 
on May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22940). The Program has subsequently amended 
these regulations several times. Because this program is a joint effort 
between Interior and Agriculture, these regulations are located in two 
titles of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR): Title 36, ``Parks, 
Forests, and Public Property,'' and title 50, ``Wildlife and 
Fisheries,'' at 36 CFR 242.1-28 and 50 CFR 100.1-28, respectively. The 
regulations contain subparts as follows: Subpart A, General Provisions; 
Subpart B, Program

[[Page 20885]]

Structure; Subpart C, Board Determinations; and Subpart D, Subsistence 
Taking of Fish and Wildlife.

Federal Subsistence Board

    Consistent with subparts A, B, and C of these regulations, the 
Departments established a Federal Subsistence Board to administer the 
Federal Subsistence Management Program. The Board's composition 
includes
     A Chair appointed by the Secretary of the Interior with 
concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture;
     the Alaska Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service;
     the Alaska Regional Director, U.S. National Park Service;
     the Alaska State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management;
     the Alaska Regional Director, U.S. Bureau of Indian 
Affairs; and
     the Alaska Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service.
    Through the Board, these agencies participated in the development 
of regulations for subparts A, B, and C, which set forth the basic 
program, and they continue to work together on regularly revising the 
subpart D regulations, which, among other things, set forth specific 
harvest seasons and limits.

Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils

    In administering the program, the Secretaries divide Alaska into 10 
subsistence resource regions, each of which is represented by a 
Regional Council. The Regional Councils provide a forum for rural 
residents with personal knowledge of local conditions and resource 
requirements to have a meaningful role in the subsistence management of 
fish and wildlife on Alaska public lands. The Regional Council members 
represent varied geographical, cultural, and user diversity within each 
region.

Public Review Process--Comments, Proposals, and Public Meetings

    The Regional Councils had a substantial role in reviewing this 
proposed rule and making recommendations for the final rule. The 
Federal Subsistence Board (Board), through the Regional Councils, held 
meetings on this proposed rule at the following Alaska locations, on 
the following dates:

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Region 1--Southeast Regional Council.....  Haines......................  September 24, 2007.
Region 2--Southcentral Regional Council..  Anchorage...................  October 16, 2007.
Region 3--Kodiak/Aleutians Regional        Kodiak......................  September 20, 2007.
 Council.
Region 4--Bristol Bay Regional Council...  Naknek......................  October 1, 2007.
Region 5--Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional   Marshall....................  September 5, 2007.
 Council.
Region 6--Western Interior Regional        Galena......................  October 30, 2007.
 Council.
Region 7--Seward Peninsula Regional        Nome........................  October 10, 2007.
 Council.
Region 8--Northwest Arctic Regional        Kotzebue....................  September 4, 2007.
 Council.
Region 9--Eastern Interior Regional        Fairbanks...................  October 16, 2007.
 Council.
Region 10--North Slope Regional Council..  Barrow......................  August 28, 2007.
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    We published notice of specific dates, times, and meeting locations 
in local and Statewide newspapers prior to the meetings. The amount of 
work on each Regional Council's agenda determined the length of each 
Regional Council meeting.
    The Board made the written proposals to change the subpart D 
hunting and trapping regulations and subpart C customary and 
traditional use determinations available for comment last summer via 
the Federal Subsistence Management Program's Web site: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/index.cfm. During November 2007, the Board compiled 
the written proposals and distributed them for an additional public 
review in a 30-day public comment period. During the public comment 
period for submitted proposals, which ended on January 4, 2008, the 
Board accepted written public comments on distributed proposals. The 
proposals may be viewed at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/law.cfm?wp=1.
    The Regional Councils held a second series of meetings in February 
and March 2008, to assist the Councils in developing recommendations on 
proposals to the Board. The Regional Councils accepted comments on the 
published proposals to change hunting and trapping and customary and 
traditional use determination regulations at those winter meetings.
    The Board will discuss and evaluate the proposed changes to the 
subsistence management regulations during a public meeting scheduled to 
be held in Anchorage, AK, beginning on April 29, 2008. The Council 
Chairs, or their designated representatives, will present their 
Council's recommendations at the Board meeting. You may provide 
additional oral testimony on specific proposals before the Board at 
that time. At that public meeting, the Board will then deliberate and 
take final action on proposals received that request changes to this 
proposed rule.
    Proposals to the Board to modify wildlife harvest regulations and 
customary and traditional use determinations must include the following 
information:
    (a) Name, address, and telephone number;
    (b) The section and/or paragraph of this proposed rule for which 
you are suggesting changes;
    (c) A statement explaining why the change is necessary;
    (d) The proposed wording change; and
    (e) Any additional information that you believe will help the Board 
in evaluating your proposal. The Board rejects proposals that fail to 
include the above information, or proposals that are beyond the scope 
of authorities in Sec. --.24, subpart C (the regulations governing 
customary and traditional use determinations), and Sec. Sec. --.25, and 
--.26, subpart D (the general and specific regulations governing the 
subsistence take of wildlife). During the April 29, 2008 meeting, the 
Board may defer review and action on some proposals to allow time for 
local cooperative planning efforts, or to acquire additional needed 
information, or if workload exceeds work capacity of staff, Regional 
Councils, or the Board. These deferrals will be based on 
recommendations of the affected Regional Council, staff members, and on 
the basis of least harm to the subsistence user and the resource 
involved. The Board may consider and act on alternatives that address 
the intent of a proposal while differing in approach.

Proposed Changes From the 2007-08 Wildlife Seasons and Harvest Limit 
Regulations

    Subpart D regulations are subject to periodic review and revision. 
Through 2007, the public review process was annual. Starting in 2008, 
the Federal Subsistence Management Program will address subsistence 
hunting and trapping regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence 
fishing and

[[Page 20886]]

shellfishing regulations in odd-numbered years. The Board will also 
address customary and traditional use determinations during each 
applicable biennial cycle. This change in schedule is necessary due to 
Federal budget priorities.
    The text of the 2007-08 subparts C and D final rule published 
December 27, 2007 (72 FR 73426), serves as the foundation for this 
2008-10 subparts C and D proposed rule. The regulations relating to 
wildlife contained in this proposed rule will take effect on July 1, 
2008, unless elements are changed by subsequent Board action following 
the public review process outlined above in this document.

Conformance With Statutory and Regulatory Authorities

    National Environmental Policy Act--A Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) that described four alternatives for developing a 
Federal Subsistence Management Program was distributed for public 
comment on October 7, 1991. The Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) published on February 28, 1992. The Record of Decision (ROD) on 
Subsistence Management for Federal Public Lands in Alaska was signed 
April 6, 1992. The selected alternative in the FEIS (Alternative IV) 
defined the administrative framework of an annual regulatory cycle for 
subsistence regulations.
    An environmental assessment prepared in 1997 dealt with the 
expansion of Federal jurisdiction over fisheries and is available at 
the office listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. The Secretary 
of the Interior, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Agriculture, 
determined that the expansion of Federal jurisdiction does not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the human 
environment and, therefore, signed a Finding of No Significant Impact.
    Compliance with section 810 of ANILCA--We completed a section 810 
analysis under ANILCA as part of the FEIS process on the Federal 
Subsistence Management Program. The intent of all Federal subsistence 
regulations is to accord subsistence uses of fish and wildlife on 
public lands a priority over the taking of fish and wildlife on such 
lands for other purposes, unless restriction is necessary to conserve 
healthy fish and wildlife populations. The final section 810 analysis 
determination appeared in the April 6, 1992, ROD and concluded that the 
Federal Subsistence Management Program, under Alternative IV with an 
annual process for setting subsistence regulations, may have some local 
impacts on subsistence uses, but will not likely restrict subsistence 
uses significantly.
    During the environmental assessment process for extending fisheries 
jurisdiction, an evaluation of the effects of this rule was also 
conducted in accordance with section 810. This evaluation supports the 
Secretaries' determination that the rule will not reach the ``may 
significantly restrict'' threshold for notice and hearings under ANILCA 
section 810(a) for any subsistence resources or uses.
    Paperwork Reduction Act--The information collection requirements 
contained in this rule have been approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.) and assigned OMB control number 1018-0075, which expires 
October 31, 2009. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a current valid OMB control number.

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that this 
rule is not significant and has not reviewed this rule under Executive 
Order 12866. OMB bases its determination upon the following four 
criteria:
    (a) Whether the rule will have an annual effect of $100 million or 
more on the economy or adversely affect an economic sector, 
productivity, jobs, the environment, or other units of the government.
    (b) Whether the rule will create inconsistencies with other 
agencies' actions.
    (c) Whether the rule will materially affect entitlements, grants, 
user fees, loan programs, or the rights and obligations of their 
recipients.
    (d) Whether the rule raises novel legal or policy issues.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
requires preparation of flexibility analyses for rules that will have a 
significant effect on a substantial number of small entities, which 
include small businesses, organizations, or governmental jurisdictions. 
This rule does not restrict any existing sport or commercial use of 
wildlife on public lands, and wildlife uses will continue at 
essentially the same levels as they currently occur. In general, the 
resources to be harvested under this rule are already being harvested 
and consumed by the local harvester and do not result in an additional 
dollar benefit to the economy. However, we estimate that 2 million 
pounds of meat are harvested by subsistence users annually and, if 
given an estimated dollar value of $3.00 per pound, would equate to 
about $6 million in food value Statewide. The Departments certify based 
on the above figures that this rulemaking will not have a significant 
economic effect on a substantial number of small entities within the 
meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    Under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (5 
U.S.C. 801 et seq.), this rule is not a major rule. It does not have an 
effect on the economy of $100 million or more, will not cause a major 
increase in costs or prices for consumers, and does not have 
significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, 
productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to 
compete with foreign-based enterprises.

Executive Order 12630

    Title VIII of ANILCA requires the Secretaries to administer a 
subsistence priority on public lands. The scope of this program is 
limited by definition to certain public lands. Likewise, these 
regulations have no potential takings of private property implications 
as defined by Executive Order 12630.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Secretaries have determined and certify pursuant to the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this 
rulemaking will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any given 
year on local or State governments or private entities. The 
implementation of this rule is by Federal agencies and there is no cost 
imposed on any State or local entities or tribal governments.

Executive Order 12988

    The Secretaries have determined that these regulations meet the 
applicable standards provided in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive 
Order 12988, regarding civil justice reform.

Executive Order 13132

    In accordance with Executive Order 13132, the rule does not have 
sufficient Federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
Federalism Assessment. Title VIII of ANILCA precludes the State from 
exercising subsistence management authority over fish and

[[Page 20887]]

wildlife resources on Federal lands unless it meets certain 
requirements.

Executive Order 13175

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments'' (59 FR 22951), Executive Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, we 
have evaluated possible effects on Federally recognized Indian tribes 
and have determined that there are no substantial direct effects. The 
Bureau of Indian Affairs is a participating agency in this rulemaking.

Executive Order 13211

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued Executive Order 13211 on 
regulations that significantly affect energy supply, distribution, or 
use. This Executive Order requires agencies to prepare Statements of 
Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. This rule is not a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 13211, affecting 
energy supply, distribution, or use, and no Statement of Energy Effects 
is required.
    Drafting Information--Theo Matuskowitz drafted these regulations 
under the guidance of Peter J. Probasco of the Office of Subsistence 
Management, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Anchorage, Alaska. Additional assistance was provided by:
     Charles Ardizzone, Alaska State Office, Bureau of Land 
Management;
     Sandy Rabinowitch and Nancy Swanton, Alaska Regional 
Office, National Park Service;
     Drs. Warren Eastland and Glenn Chen, Alaska Regional 
Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs;
     Jerry Berg and Carl Jack, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service; and
     Steve Kessler, Alaska Regional Office, U.S. Forest 
Service.

List of Subjects

36 CFR Part 242

    Administrative practice and procedure, Alaska, Fish, National 
forests, Public lands, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Wildlife.

50 CFR Part 100

    Administrative practice and procedure, Alaska, Fish, National 
forests, Public lands, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Wildlife.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Federal Subsistence 
Board proposes to amend 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100 for the 
2008-10 regulatory years.

    Dated: February 22, 2008.
Peter J. Probasco,
Acting Chair, Federal Subsistence Board, Assistant Regional Director, 
Office of Subsistence Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

    Dated: February 22, 2008.
Steve Kessler,
Subsistence Program Leader, USDA--Forest Service.
[FR Doc. E8-7854 Filed 4-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P, 4310-55-P