[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9374-9375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03498]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-R-2021-N217; FXGO1664091HCC0-FF09D00000-190]


Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council Charter Renewal; 
Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) are renewing the charter for and seeking member 
nominations to the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council (Council). 
The renewed Council replaces and changes the name of the previous 
Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council. The Secretary of the 
Interior and Secretary of Agriculture (Secretaries), after consultation 
with the General Services Administration, have renewed the Council 
charter for 2 years. The Council will provide recommendations to the 
Federal Government, through the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) 
and the Secretary of Agriculture, regarding the establishment and 
implementation of existing and proposed policies and authorities with 
regard to wildlife and habitat conservation endeavors that benefit 
wildlife resources; encourage partnership among the public, sporting 
conservation organizations, and Federal, State, Tribal, and territorial 
governments; and benefit recreational hunting and recreational shooting 
sports.

DATES: Comments regarding the establishment of this Council must be

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submitted no later than March 7, 2022. Nominations for the Council must 
be submitted by March 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments and nominations via email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Hobbs, by telephone at (703) 
358-2336, 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 Council's 
duties are strictly advisory and consist of, but are not limited to, 
providing recommendations for implementation of Executive Order 13443, 
Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation; Executive 
Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad; and 
Secretarial Order 3362, Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big Game 
Winter Range and Migration Corridors. Duties include, but are not 
limited to:
    A. Assessing and quantifying implementation of Executive Order 
13443, Executive Order 14008, and Secretarial Order 3362 across 
relevant departments, agencies, and offices and making recommendations 
to enhance and expand their implementation as identified;
    B. Making recommendations regarding policies and programs that 
accomplish the following objectives:
    1. Conserve and restore wetlands, grasslands, forests, and other 
important wildlife habitats, and improve management of rangelands and 
agricultural lands to benefit wildlife;
    2. Promote opportunities for fair chase hunting and safe 
recreational shooting sports and wildlife-associated recreation on 
public and private lands; encourage hunting and recreational shooting 
sports safety, including by developing sighting-in ranges on public 
lands; recruit and retain hunters; increase public awareness of the 
importance of wildlife conservation and the social and economic 
benefits of fair chase hunting, safe recreational shooting sports, and 
wildlife-associated recreation; and
    3. Encourage coordination among the public; the hunting and 
shooting sports communities; wildlife conservation groups; wildlife-
associated recreation interests; and Federal, State, Tribal, and 
territorial governments.
    The Council will meet at least two times per year. The Secretaries 
will appoint members and their alternates to the Council to serve up to 
a 3-year term. The Council will not exceed 18 discretionary primary 
members, up to 18 alternate members, and 4 ex officio members. Ex 
officio members will include:
     Secretary of the Interior or designated DOI 
representatives;
     Secretary of Agriculture or designated Department of 
Agriculture representatives; and
     Executive Director, Association of Fish and Wildlife 
Agencies.
    The Secretaries will select remaining members from among, but not 
limited to, the organization/interests listed below. These members must 
be senior-level representatives of their organization and/or have the 
ability to represent their designated constituencies.
     State fish and wildlife management agencies;
     Wildlife and habitat conservation/management 
organizations;
     Upland bird hunting organizations;
     Waterfowl hunting organizations;
     Big game hunting organizations;
     Shooting sports interests;
     Archery interests;
     Wildlife-associated recreation interests;
     Tourism, outfitter, and/or guide industries related to 
hunting and/or wildlife conservation;
     Tribal resource management organizations;
     Agriculture interests;
     Ranching interests; and
     Veterans' service organizations.

Member Terms and Vacancies To Fill

    Each member is appointed to serve a 3-year term. Nominations are 
sought to fill 10 primary member positions and at least 5 alternate 
member positions. We are requesting nominations to fill vacancies to 
represent the following organizations/interests:
     Tribal resource management organizations;
     State fish and wildlife management agencies;
     Wildlife and habitat conservation/management 
organizations;
     Waterfowl hunting organizations;
     Shooting sports interests;
     Archery interests;
     Wildlife-associated recreation interests; and
     Big game hunting organizations.

Nomination Method and Information

    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 the national interest 
potentially represented, 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 designated Federal official (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 Hunting and 
Wildlife Conservation Council is necessary, in the public interest, and 
is in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the 
Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture under 43 
U.S.C. 1457 and provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 
U.S.C. 742a), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1996 (43 
U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 
U.S.C. 1600 et seq.), the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement 
Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), and Executive Order 13443, 
Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation.
    Authority: 5 U.S.C. appendix 2.

    Dated: January 24, 2022.
Deb Haaland,
Secretary, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2022-03498 Filed 2-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P