[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 56 (Thursday, March 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15957-15958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06144]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2021-0030; FF09M22000-212-FXMB1231099BPP0]
RIN 1018-BF07


Migratory Bird Hunting; Service Regulations Committee and Flyway 
Council Meetings

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; announcement of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) Migratory 
Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) will conduct an open meeting on April 
6, 2021, to identify and discuss preliminary issues concerning the 
2022-2023 migratory bird hunting regulations. We will conduct a second 
SRC meeting

[[Page 15958]]

in September/October 2021 to review information on the status of 
migratory game birds and develop 2022-2023 migratory game bird 
regulation 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 6, 2021. The meeting will commence at approximately 12:00 
p.m. (Eastern Time) and is open for public observation. The Department 
of the Interior will post the September/October SRC meeting on the 
Service's Migratory Bird Program website as a method to notify the 
public of these meetings in the future (https://www.fws.gov/birds/). 
This posting will occur at least 2 weeks before the meeting or as soon 
as practicable after the Service can schedule.
    Accommodation requests: Please submit all requests for meeting 
accommodations at least 7 days prior to the meeting date. See Meeting 
Accommodations, below, for more information.

ADDRESSES: The SRC meeting will be conducted by video and 
telephonically with or without the aid of video technology. 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, 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 the migratory game bird hunting 
regulations 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 6, 2021, to identify 
and discuss preliminary issues concerning the 2022-2023 migratory bird 
hunting regulations. We will conduct a second SRC meeting in September/
October 2021 to review information on the status of migratory game 
birds and develop 2022-2023 migratory game bird regulation 
recommendations for these species. In accordance with departmental 
policy, these meetings are open to public observation. In addition, 
Service representatives will be present at the individual meetings of 
the four Flyway Councils in February-March and again in August-October. 
We will provide the meeting dates, commencement times, and locations 
for the second SRC and Flyway Council meetings on our website at 
https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/flyways.php as this information 
becomes available.

Meeting Accommodations

    The Service is committed to providing access to the April 6, 2021, 
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 March 29, 2021. If 
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

Martha Williams,
Principal Deputy Director, Exercising the Delegated Authority of the 
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-06144 Filed 3-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P