[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 190 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24261]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 3, 1994]
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Part IX
Department of the Interior
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Fish and Wildlife Service
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50 CFR Part 20
Migratory Bird Hunting; Late Seasons and Bag and Possession Limits for
Certain Migratory Game Birds; Final Rule
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR PART 20
RIN 1018-AA24
Migratory Bird Hunting; Late Seasons and Bag and Possession
Limits for Certain Migratory Game Birds
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This rule prescribes the hunting seasons, hours, areas, and
daily bag and possession limits for general waterfowl seasons and those
early seasons for which States previously deferred selection. Taking of
migratory birds is prohibited unless specifically provided for by
annual regulations. This rule will permit taking of designated species
during the 1994-95 season.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 30, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments received will be available for public inspection
during normal business hours in room 634, Arlington Square Building,
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Paul R. Schmidt, Chief, Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, ms 634--ARLSQ, 1849 C
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240, (703) 358-1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulations Schedule for 1994
On April 7, 1994, the Service published for public comment in the
Federal Register (59 FR 16762) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20, with
comment periods ending July 21 for early-season proposals and September
2 for late-season proposals. The deadline for late-season proposals was
subsequently extended to September 9 in the September 7 Federal
Register (58 FR 46320). These regulations would be proposed for certain
designated members of the avian families Anatidae (ducks, geese, and
swans); Columbidae (doves and pigeons), Gruidae (cranes); Rallidae
(rails, coots, moorhens, and gallinules); and Scolopacidae (woodcock
and snipe). These species are designated as ``migratory game birds'' in
conventions between the United States and several foreign nations for
the protection and management of these birds. All other birds
designated as migratory (under 10.13 of Subpart B of 50 CFR Part 10) in
the aforementioned conventions may not be hunted. On June 8, 1994, the
Service published for public comment a second document (59 FR 29700)
which provided supplemental proposals for early- and late-season
migratory bird hunting regulations frameworks. On June 23, 1994, a
public hearing was held in Washington, DC, an announced in the April 7
and June 8 Federal Register, to review the status of migratory shore
and upland game birds. Proposed hunting regulations were discussed for
these species and for other early seasons. On July 12, 1993, the
Service published in the Federal Register (59 FR 35566) a third
document in the series of proposed, supplemental, and final rulemaking
documents which dealt specifically with proposed early-season
frameworks for the 1994-95 season. On August 4, 1994, a public hearing
was held in Washington, DC, as announced in the April 7, June 8, and
July 12 Federal Register, to review the status of waterfowl. Proposed
hunting regulations were discussed for these late seasons. On August
17, 1994, the Service published a fourth document (59 FR 42474)
containing final frameworks for early migratory bird hunting seasons
from which wildlife conservation agency officials from the States,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands selected early-season hunting
dates, hours, areas, and limits for 1994-95. The fifth document in the
series, published August 24, 1994 (59 FR 43684), dealt specifically
with proposed frameworks for the 1994-95 late-season migratory bird
hunting regulations. On September 1, 1994, the Service published in the
Federal Register a sixth document consisting of a final rule amending
subpart K of title 50 CFR part 20 to set hunting seasons, hours, areas,
and limits for early seasons. On September 7, 1994, the Service
published in the Federal Register a seventh document announcing an
extension of the closing date for the comment period on late-season
regulations from September 2 to September 9. On September 27, 1994, the
Service published an eighth document in the Federal Register consisting
of final late-season frameworks for migratory game bird hunting
regulations, from which State wildlife conservation agency officials
selected late-season hunting dates, hours, areas, and limits for 1994-
95. The final rule described here is the ninth in a series of proposed,
supplemental, and final rulemaking documents for migratory game bird
hunting regulations and deals specifically with amending subpart K of
CFR part 20 to set hunting seasons, hours, areas, and limits for
species subject to late-season regulations and those for early seasons
that were previously deferred.
NEPA Consideration
NEPA considerations are covered by the programmatic document,
``Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual
Regulations Permitting the Sport Hunting of Migratory Birds (FSES 88-
14),'' filed with EPA on June 9, 1988. Notice of Availability was
published in the Federal Register on June 16, 1988 (53 FR 22582). The
Service's Record of Decision was published on August 18, 1988 (53 FR
31341). However, this programmatic document does not prescribe year-
specific regulations; those are developed annually. The annual
regulations and options are being considered in the Environmental
Assessment, ``Waterfowl Hunting Regulations for 1994,'' which is
available upon request.
Endangered Species Act Consideration
In August 1994, the Division of Endangered Species concluded that
the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence
of listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification
of their critical habitats. Hunting regulations are designed, among
other things, to remove or alleviate chances of conflict between
seasons for migratory game birds and the protection and conservation of
endangered and threatened species and their habitats. The Service's
biological opinions resulting from its consultation under section 7 are
considered public documents and are available for inspection in the
Division of Endangered Species and the Office of Migratory Bird
Management.
Regulatory Flexibility Act; Executive Order 12866; and the Paperwork
Reduction Act
In the Federal Register dated April 7, 1994 (59 FR 16762), the
Service reported measures it had undertaken to comply with requirements
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the Executive Order. These
included preparing an Analysis of Regulatory Effects and an updated
Final Regulatory Impact Analysis, under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq), and publication of a summary of the latter. This
information is included in the present document by reference. This
action was not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget
under E.O. 12866. This rule does not contain any information collection
requiring approval by the Office of Management and Budget under 44
U.S.C. 3504.
Authorship
The primary author is Robert J. Blohm, Office of Migratory Bird
Management.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20
Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Transportation, Wildlife.
Dated: September 26, 1994
George T. Frampton, Jr.
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
PART 20--[AMENDED]
For the reasons set out in the preamble, title 50, chapter I,
subchapter B, part 20, subpart K is amended as follows.
1. The authority citation for part 20 is revised to read as
follows:
Authority: Migratory Bird Treaty Act (July 3, 1918), as amended,
(16 U.S.C. 703-711); the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978
(November 8, 1978), as amended, (16 U.S.C. 712); and the Fish and
Wildlife Act of 1956 (August 8, 1956), as amended, (16 U.S.C. 742 a-
d and e-j).
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[FR Doc. 94-24261 Filed 9-30-94; 8:45 am]
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