[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 141 (Thursday, July 23, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 39553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19625]
[[Page 39553]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 21
RIN 1018-AE46
Migratory Bird Special Canada Goose Permit
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; re-opening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the re-
opening of the comment period for the Service's proposed rule on the
establishment of a Canada goose damage management program. The program
is designed to provide a biologically sound and more cost-effective and
efficient method for the control of locally-breeding (resident) Canada
geese that pose a threat to health and human safety and are responsible
for damage to personal and public property.
DATES: The original comment period for the proposed rule closed June 1,
1998. The re-opened comment period will end on September 21, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties should submit written comments on the
proposal to the 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. The public may inspect comments
during normal business hours in room 634, ARLSQ 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, (703) 358-
1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 31, 1998, the Service published in
the Federal Register (63 FR 15698) a proposal to amend 50 CFR part 21.
The proposal dealt with the establishment of a Canada goose damage
management program. This program is designed to provide a biologically
sound and more cost-effective and efficient method for the control of
locally-breeding (resident) Canada geese that pose a threat to health
and human safety and are responsible for damage to personal and public
property. More specifically, the Service proposed to add a new permit
option available to State conservation agencies specifically for
resident Canada goose control and damage management. The special permit
would only be available to a State conservation or wildlife management
agency responsible for migratory bird management. Under this permit,
States and their designated agents could initiate resident goose damage
management and control injury problems within the conditions/
restrictions of the program. Those States not wishing to obtain this
new permit would continue to operate under the current permitting
process.
The comment period is being re-opened to incorporate views from all
parties that have expressed an interest in reviewing the proposed rule
and environmental assessment. All previously submitted comments
received after the original June 1, 1998, closing date will be
considered.
In addition, the Service notifies the public of an administrative
error associated with this proposal. In compliance with the
requirements of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(C)), and the Council on Environmental
Quality's regulation for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), the
Service prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the proposed
establishment of the program and options considered in the
``Environmental Assessment: Permits for the Control and Management of
Injurious Resident Canada Geese.'' In conjunction with that EA, the
Service had prepared a draft finding that the new permit option would
not be a major Federal action that would significantly affect the
quality of the human environment as an administrative convenience. In
error, the draft finding was included in the materials accompanying the
final EA and was mistakenly finalized. The Service is now rescinding
that inadvertent finding and will be considering the NEPA requirements
if and when it makes a final decision on the proposed action. The EA is
available to the public at the location indicated under the ADDRESSES
caption.
Paperwork Reduction Act and Information Collection
As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3507(d)), the Service submitted the necessary paperwork to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval to collect the information
required by the applicant and permittee. Under the Act, information
collections must be approved by OMB. After review, the information
collection requirements of the Special Canada Goose Permit were
approved by OMB and assigned clearance number 1018-0099. The
information collection requirement will be used to administer this
program and, particularly in the issuance and monitoring of these
special Canada goose permits. The information requested will be
required to obtain a special Canada goose permit, and to determine if
the applicant meets all the permit issuance criteria, and to protect
migratory birds.
Authority: Pub. L. 95-616, 92 Stat. 3112 (16 U.S.C. 712(2)).
Dated: July 17, 1998.
Stephen C. Saunders,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 98-19625 Filed 7-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
