[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 69 (Thursday, April 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19952-19953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07504]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2020-0012; FF09M21200-201-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-BE34


Migratory Bird Hunting; Service Regulations Committee and Flyway 
Council Meetings

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Announcement of meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) Migratory 
Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) will conduct an open meeting on April 
28, 2020, to identify and discuss preliminary issues concerning the 
2021-2022 migratory bird hunting regulations. We will conduct another 
meeting in October 2020 to review information on the status of 
migratory game birds and develop 2021-2022 migratory game bird 
regulations recommendations for these species. In accordance with 
Departmental policy, these meetings are open to public observation.

DATES: SRC meeting: The Service Regulations Committee meeting will be 
held April 28, 2020. The meeting will commence at approximately 12:00 
p.m. (Eastern) and is open to the public. The meeting will be conducted 
telephonically with the aid of video technology. Details will be posted 
at https://www.fws.gov/birds/ when they become available.
    Accommodation requests: Please submit all requests for meeting 
accommodations by the close of business on April 20, 2020. See Meeting 
Accommodations, below, for more information.

ADDRESSES: Meeting details with web links and telephone numbers will be 
posted at https://www.fws.gov/birds/ when they become available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Richkus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service,

[[Page 19953]]

Department of the Interior, MS: MB, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, 
VA 22041-3803; (703) 358-1780.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Under the authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 
703-712), the Service regulates the hunting of migratory game birds. We 
update the migratory game bird hunting regulations, located in title 50 
of the Code of Federal Regulations in part 20 (50 CFR part 20), 
annually. Through these regulations, we establish the frameworks, or 
outside limits, for season lengths, bag limits, and areas for migratory 
game bird hunting. Acknowledging regional differences in hunting 
conditions, the Service has administratively divided the Nation into 
four Flyways for the primary purpose of managing migratory game birds. 
Each Flyway (Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific) has a Flyway 
Council, a formal organization generally composed of one member from 
each State and Province in that Flyway. The Flyway Councils, 
established through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 
assist in researching and providing migratory game bird management 
information for Federal, State, and Provincial governments, as well as 
private conservation entities and the public.
    The process for adopting migratory game bird hunting regulations, 
located in 50 CFR part 20, is constrained by three primary factors. 
Legal and administrative considerations dictate how long the rulemaking 
process will last. Most importantly, however, the biological cycle of 
migratory game birds controls the timing of data-gathering activities 
and thus the dates on which these results are available for 
consideration and deliberation.
    For the regulatory cycle, Service biologists gather, analyze, and 
interpret biological survey data and provide this information to all 
those involved in the process through a series of published status 
reports and presentations to Flyway Councils and other interested 
parties. Because the Service is required to take abundance of migratory 
game birds and other factors into consideration, the Service undertakes 
a number of surveys throughout the year in conjunction with Service 
Regional Offices, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and State and 
Provincial wildlife-management agencies. To determine the appropriate 
frameworks for each species, we consider factors such as population 
size and trend, geographical distribution, annual breeding effort, 
condition of breeding and wintering habitat, number of hunters, and 
anticipated harvest. After frameworks are established for season 
lengths, bag limits, and areas for migratory game bird hunting, States 
may select season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for 
the hunting seasons. States may always be more conservative in their 
selections than the Federal frameworks, but never more liberal.

Upcoming Meetings

    The SRC will conduct an open meeting on April 28, 2020, to identify 
and discuss preliminary issues concerning the 2021-2022 migratory bird 
hunting regulations. We will conduct another meeting in October 2020 to 
review information on the status of migratory game birds and develop 
2021-2022 migratory game bird regulations recommendations for these 
species. In accordance with Departmental policy, these meetings are 
open to public observation. In addition, Service representatives 
attended the individual meetings of the four Flyway Councils in March 
and will reassess attending the August-October Flyway Council meetings. 
We will provide the meeting dates, commencement times, and locations 
for the SRC and Flyway Council meetings on our website at https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/flyways.php as this information becomes 
available. If these meetings are not held in person, these meetings may 
be conducted telephonically with or without the aid of video 
technology.

Meeting Accommodations

    The Service is committed to providing access to the April 28, 2020, 
SRC meeting for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign 
language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other 
accommodation needs to the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT with your request by close of business on April 20, 2020. If 
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

Aurelia Skipwith,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-07504 Filed 4-8-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P