[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 182 (Monday, September 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 57014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23689]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-NAL-2015-N174]; [FXGO1660091NALO156FF09D02000]


Native American Policy for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Draft policy for public notice and comment; reopening of 
comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reopening the 
comment period for the draft Native American Policy, which we announced 
for public comment in the Federal Register on August 2, 2015. The 
purpose of this Policy is to further the United States' trust 
responsibility to Indian tribes by establishing a framework on which to 
base our continued interactions with federally recognized tribes and 
Alaska Native Corporations. The Policy recognizes the sovereignty of 
federally recognized tribes; states that the Service will work on a 
government-to-government basis with tribal governments; and includes 
guidance on co-management, access to and use of cultural resources, 
capacity development, law enforcement, and education.

DATES: The Service will accept public comment through October 21, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The draft Native American Policy is available at 
www.fws.gov/policy/draft510fw1.pdf. The existing Policy is available in 
the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual at http://www.fws.gov/policy/native-american-policy.pdf. To submit comments, please mail or email 
them to Scott Aikin (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Aikin, Native American Programs 
Coordinator, by mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 911 NE 11th 
Avenue, Portland, OR 97232; or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are reopening the comment period for the 
draft Native American Policy, which we made available for public 
comment from August 2, 2015 (80 FR 46043), through September 2, 2015. 
The purpose of this Policy is to further the United States' trust 
responsibility to Indian tribes by establishing a framework on which to 
base our continued interactions with federally recognized tribes and 
Alaska Native Corporations. The Policy recognizes the sovereignty of 
federally recognized tribes; states that the Service will work on a 
government-to-government basis with tribal governments; and includes 
guidance on co-management, access to and use of cultural resources, 
capacity development, law enforcement, and education.
    The draft Native American Policy is available for review and 
comment at www.fws.gov/policy/draft510fw1.pdf. For the overview we 
provided in our August 2, 2015, Federal Register notice, see 80 FR 
46043.

Open Comment Period

    This publication opens a new 30-day comment period, during which we 
invite and encourage tribes and Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) to 
continue to review and submit comments. The Service's invitation to 
federally recognized tribal governments to consult on a government-to-
government basis regarding development of this updated Native American 
Policy continues until 30 days after this Federal Register 
notification. Comments from local, State, and Federal government 
agencies; federally recognized tribal governments; non-federally 
recognized tribal governments; ANCSA corporations; and the general 
public are welcome. If you submitted comments or information during the 
initial open comment period, which ended on September 2, 2015 (80 FR 
46043), you need not resubmit them. They will be reviewed and 
considered.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be 
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

     Dated: September 4, 2015.
James W. Kurth,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-23689 Filed 9-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P