[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51857-51858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24328]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-R-2017-N118]; [FXGO1664091HCC0-FF09D00000-178]


International Wildlife Conservation Council Establishment; 
Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is establishing and 
seeking nominations for the International Wildlife Conservation Council 
(Council). The Council will provide advice to the Federal Government, 
through the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), on increasing public 
awareness domestically regarding the conservation, wildlife law 
enforcement, and economic benefits that result from U.S. citizens 
traveling to foreign nations to engage in hunting. Additionally, the 
Council shall advise the Secretary on the benefits international 
hunting has on foreign wildlife and habitat conservation, anti-poaching 
and illegal wildlife trafficking programs, and other ways in which 
international hunting benefits human populations in these areas.

DATES: Comments regarding the establishment of this Council must be 
submitted no later than November 24, 2017. Nominations for the Council 
must be submitted by December 8, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments and/or nominations by any of the 
following methods:
     Mail or hand-carry nominations to Joshua Winchell, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, 5275 
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; or
     Email nominations to: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Winchell, Council Designated 
Federal Officer, by U.S. mail at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
National Wildlife Refuge System, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3803; by telephone at (703) 358-2639; or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council is established under the 
authority of the Secretary and regulated by the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2). The duties of 
the Council are solely advisory and include, but are not limited to: 
Developing a plan for public engagement and education on the benefits 
of international hunting;

[[Page 51858]]

reviewing and making recommendations for changes, when needed, on all 
Federal programs, and/or regulations, to ensure support of hunting as: 
(a) An enhancement to foreign wildlife conservation and survival, and 
(b) an effective tool to combat illegal trafficking and poaching; 
recommending strategies to benefit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 
permit office in receiving timely country data and information so as to 
remove barriers that impact consulting with range states; recommending 
removal of barriers to the importation into the United States of 
legally hunted wildlife; ongoing review of import suspension/bans and 
providing recommendations that seek to resume the legal trade of those 
items, where appropriate; reviewing seizure and forfeiture actions/
practices, and providing recommendations for regulations that will lead 
to a reduction of unwarranted actions; reviewing the Endangered Species 
Act's foreign listed species and interaction with the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, with 
the goal of eliminating regulatory duplications; and recommending 
methods for streamlining/expediting the process of import permits.
    The Council will meet approximately two times per year. The 
Secretary will appoint members and their alternates to the Council to 
serve up to a 3-year term. The Council will not exceed 18 discretionary 
members and 4 ex officio members.
    Ex officio members will include:
     Secretary of the Interior or designated DOI 
representatives; and
     Secretary of State or designated Department of State 
representatives.
    The remaining members will be selected from among, but not limited 
to, the entities listed below. These members must be senior-level 
representatives of their organizations and/or have the ability to 
represent their designated constituency.
     Wildlife and habitat conservation/management 
organizations;
     U.S. hunters actively engaged in international and/or 
domestic hunting conservation;
     The firearms or ammunition manufacturing industry;
     Archery and/or hunting sports industry; and
     Tourism, outfitter, and/or guide industries related to 
international hunting.
    Nominations should include a resume providing an adequate 
description of the nominee's qualifications, including information that 
would enable DOI to make an informed decision regarding meeting the 
membership requirements of the Council and to permit DOI to contact a 
potential member.
    Members of the Council serve without compensation. However, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business, Council and 
subcommittee members engaged in Council or subcommittee business that 
the DFO approves may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703, in the same manner 
as persons employed intermittently in Federal Government service.
    Public Disclosure of Comments: Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, 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.
    Certification Statement: I hereby certify that the International 
Wildlife Conservation Council is necessary and is in the public 
interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the 
Department of the Interior 43 U.S.C. 1457, under the provisions of the 
Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-742j), and other Acts 
applicable to specific bureaus.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.

    Dated: November 3, 2017.
Ryan K. Zinke,
Secretary, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2017-24328 Filed 11-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P