96-22194. Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment on Permits for Control of Injurious Canada Geese and Request for Comments on Potential Regulations

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 3, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 46431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22194]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 21


Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment on Permits for 
Control of Injurious Canada Geese and Request for Comments on Potential 
Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that a Draft Environmental 
Assessment on Permits for Control of Injurious Canada Geese is 
available for public review and announces the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service's (hereinafter Service) intent to consider regulatory changes 
to the process for issuing these permits. Comments and suggestions are 
requested.
DATES: Written comments are requested by October 18, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft Environmental Assessment can be obtained 
by writing to the Chief, Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, room 634--Arlington Square, Washington, DC 20240. 
Written comments can be sent to the same address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul R. Schmidt, Chief, Office of 
Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (703) 358-
1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft Environmental Assessment reviews 
the existing regulations governing issuance of permits to control 
injurious Canada geese. The Assessment was prompted by requests from 
States and the U. S. Department of Agriculture to improve the permit 
issuance process. The Assessment deals only with how permits are issued 
and does not address specific control measures used to control injury 
problems in the field. The Service's proposed action is to issue a 
blanket permit to State Conservation Agencies and/or the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture on a State-specific basis. This permit will 
be limited to the period March 11 through August 31 to avoid conflicts 
with existing hunting seasons. This approach is intended to provide a 
quicker response time to problem situations, allow for greater local 
oversight in control actions, and reduce government administrative 
costs and overhead related to issuance of these permits. Three 
alternatives, including the proposed action, are considered.

    Dated: August 23, 1996
George T. Frampton, Jr.
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
[FR Doc. 96-22194 Filed 8-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-F