[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45793-45794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21124]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 36
[Docket No. FWS-R7-NWRS-2017-0058; FF07R00000 178 FXRS12610700000]
Refuge-Specific Regulation; Public Use; Kenai National Wildlife
Refuge
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Regulatory review.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) intends to initiate a
rulemaking process that will consider changes to public use regulations
that are applicable to Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and that were
promulgated on May 5, 2016.
DATES: October 2, 2017.
ADDRESSES: The final rule that is the subject of this document may be
found at www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-R7-NWRS-2017-0058.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Mollnow, Division of Natural
Resources Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System--Alaska, 1011 E. Tudor
Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; telephone: (907) 786-3326; facsimile: (907)
786-3901; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 5, 2016, the FWS published a final
rule to amend its regulations in title 50 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) in part 36 regarding public use of Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge (81 FR 27030). The final rule became effective on June
6, 2016. The provisions of the final rule:
(1) amended regulations regarding use of aircraft, motorboats,
motorized vehicles, and snowmobiles;
(2) codified historic restrictions on hunting and trapping within
the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area (WRA) consistent with the 2007
Skilak WRA final revised management plan;
(3) expanded a prohibition on the discharge of firearms to include
areas of intensive public use along the Russian and Kenai Rivers;
[[Page 45794]]
(4) clarified the intent of existing regulations that require a
special use permit for hunting black bears over bait by specifying that
only the take of black bears is authorized under this requirement;
(5) amended regulations associated with camping, use of public use
cabins, and public use facilities;
(6) established permanent regulations for managing wildlife
attractants in the Russian River Special Management Area to reduce
potential for human-bear conflicts; and
(7) established regulations allowing for noncommercial gathering of
edible wild foods and shed antlers.
The FWS intends to initiate a rulemaking process that will consider
changes to the May 5, 2016, final rule (81 FR 27030) that was codified
at 50 CFR part 36. Throughout this process, the FWS will consider the
purposes of Secretarial Order 3347 (``Conservation Stewardship and
Outdoor Recreation''): Enhanced conservation stewardship, increased
opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing,
for all Americans, and improved management of game species and their
habitat. The FWS will also identify ways to improve cooperation,
consultation, and communication with State of Alaska wildlife managers
regarding recreational hunting and fishing.
At this time, the FWS is not accepting comments on the upcoming
rulemaking process. When we publish a proposed rule in the Federal
Register, the FWS will comply with all applicable laws governing the
rulemaking process, including the requirement under 5 U.S.C. 553 to
provide an opportunity for public comment on any proposed regulatory
changes.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 460k et seq., 668dd-668ee, 3101 et seq.
Todd Willens,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2017-21124 Filed 9-29-17; 8:45 am]
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