[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 99 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28343-28344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13875]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
RIN 1018-AD74
Extension of Comment Period: Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
Regarding Baiting and Baited Areas
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Service is extending the comment period on the Federal
Register rule dated March 25, 1998 (63 FR 14415) that invites public
comments on proposed changes to the migratory bird hunting regulations
regarding baiting and baited areas.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments will be extended form May
25, 1998 to October 1, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this proposed rulemaking should be
addressed to: Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Post Office Box
3247, Arlington, Virginia 22203-3247, or sent via electronic mail to:
[email protected] Comments may be hand delivered to 4401 North Fairfax
Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22203. The public may inspect
comments during normal business hours at 4401 North Fairfax Drive,
Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keven Adams, Chief, Division of Law
Enforcement, telephone 703/358-1949, or Paul Schmidt, Chief, Office of
Migratory Bird Management, telephone 703/358-1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has authority (16 U.S.C.
703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742a-j) to regulate activities involving the
hunting and other taking of migratory game birds. The Service has
promulgated regulations (50 CFR part 20) for the hunting of migratory
game birds that
[[Page 28344]]
includes sections for Methods of Take and Definitions of Terms.
In a Federal Register notice dated March 25, 1998, the Service
proposed new regulatory language for: accidental scattering of
agricultural crops or natural vegetation incidental to hunting, normal
agricultural and soil stabilization practices, baited areas, baiting,
manipulation, natural vegetation, and top-sowing of seeds. Proposed
changes also included new guidance with respect to hunting over natural
vegetation that has been manipulated. However, no change was proposed
regarding application of strict liability to the migratory game bird
baiting regulations.
The Service has received request from a number of organizations to
extend the comment period. The Service invites careful consideration by
all parties, and welcomes serious scrutiny from those committed to the
long-term conservation of migratory birds. Therefore, to facilitate
substantive public review, the Service is extending the comment period
through October 1, 1998.
Dated: May 19, 1998.
Donald J. Barry,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 98-13875 Filed 5-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-55-M
