[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 53773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27398]
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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 32
RIN 1018-AE18
1997-98 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: This proposed rule adds additional national wildlife refuges
to the list of areas open for hunting and/or sport fishing, along with
pertinent refuge-specific regulations for such activities; and amends
certain regulations on other refuges that pertain to migratory game
bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting and sport fishing.
The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice of reopening of
the comment period for only the specific proposal to hunt bison on the
National Elk Refuge in Wyoming.
DATES: The public comment period closes November 17, 1997 to ensure
consideration by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal
should be sent directly to Assistant Director, Refuges and Wildlife,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street, NW, MS 670 ARLSQ,
Washington, DC 20240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen R. Vehrs, at the above address; Telephone (703) 358-2397.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service had received a second request
from the Fund for Animals to extend the comment period on the proposal
to permit bison hunting on the National Elk Refuge. The original
comment period was open for 30 days and then extended to September 19,
1997 (62 FR 38959 published July 21, 1997 and 62 FR 47372, Sept. 9,
1997) to accommodate a public review of a pending interagency bison
herd management plan. Due to the need by the Service for additional
time to complete their portion of the herd management plan and review
information and comments from interested parties on this proposed
action, the comment period is reopened for an additional 30 days. The
herd management plan was signed on September 30, 1997. In addition to
this reopening of comments, several other documents, such as a
compatibility determination and a National Elk Refuge Hunt Plan
Amendment needed to be finalized before a bison hunt would take place.
Both documents were signed on October 1, 1997. All parties are invited
to submit comments on the proposed bison hunt. Copies of the Hunt Plan
Amendment and the compatibility determination are available from the
Refuge Manager, National Elk Refuge, Box C, Jackson, Wyoming 83001.
Refuge hunting programs are reviewed annually to determine whether
additional refuges should be added or whether individual refuge
regulations governing existing programs should be modified, deleted or
have additions made to them. Changing environmental conditions, State
and Federal regulations, and other factors affecting wildlife
populations and habitat may warrant modifications ensuring continued
compatibility of hunting with the purposes for which individual
refuges, and the National Wildlife Refuge System (System) were
established.
Statutory Authority
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (NWRSAA) of
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 668dd), and the Refuge Recreation Act of
1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k) govern the administration and public use of
national wildlife refuges. Specifically, section 4(d)(1)(A) of the
NWRSAA authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to permit
the use of any area within the System for any purpose, including but
not limited to, hunting, fishing and public recreation, accommodations
and access, when he determines that uses are compatible with the major
purpose(s) for which the area was established.
The Refuge Recreation Act (RRA) authorizes the Secretary to
administer areas within the System for public recreation as an
appropriate incidental or secondary use only to the extent that it is
practicable and not inconsistent with the primary purpose(s) for which
the areas were established. The NWRSAA and the RRA also authorize the
Secretary to issue regulations to carry out the purposes of the Acts
and regulate uses.
Primary Author
Stephen R. Vehrs, Division of Refuges, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Washington, DC 20240, is the primary author of this rulemaking
document.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 32
Fishing, Hunting, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Wildlife, Wildlife refuges.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Service amends Title
50, Chapter I, subchapter C of the Code of Federal Regulations as
follows:
PART 32--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 32 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k, 664, 668dd, and 715i.
2. Amend Sec. 32.70 Wyoming by revising paragraph C. of National
Elk Refuge to read as follows:
Sec. 32.70 Wyoming.
* * * * *
National Elk Refuge
* * * * *
C. Big Game Hunting. Hunters may hunt elk and bison on
designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
* * * * *
Dated: October 3, 1997.
Ralph O. Morgenweck,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-27398 Filed 10-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
