[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8318]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: April 7, 1994]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VII
Department of the Interior
_______________________________________________________________________
Bureau of Indian Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
25 CFR Part 113
Indian Moneys, Proceeds of Labor;
Proposed Rule
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
25 CFR Part 113
RIN: 1076-AC86
Indian Moneys, Proceeds of Labor (IMPL)
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is proposing to delete the
regulations contained in the Code of Federal Regulations pursuant to
the public law which suspended all deposits to Indian Monies, Proceeds
of Labor (IMPL) accounts after September 30, 1982. The law eliminated
the use of IMPL accounts, and since these accounts are no longer in
use, they will be removed from the BIA accounting system.
DATES: Comments must be received before May 9, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be directed to the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Office of Trust Funds Management, 505 Marquette NW., suite
700, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Jim Parris, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Trust Funds
Management, 505 Marquette NW., suite 700, Albuquerque, NM 87102,
Telephone Number 505-766-3233.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed rule is published in exercise
of authority delegated by the Secretary of the Interior to the
Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.
This proposed rulemaking action will delete part 113 of subchapter
G of chapter I of title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which
contains regulations governing Indian Monies, Proceeds of Labor (IMPL)
established under the Act of March 3, 1883, as amended (25 U.S.C. 155).
Pursuant to the amendments contained in Public Law 197-257, title
I, section 100, 25 U.S.C. 155 B, which provided that, ``No funds shall
be deposited in such `Indian monies, proceeds of labor' (IMPL) accounts
after September 30, 1982,'' all deposits to IMPL accounts were
discontinued. The unobligated IMPL balances at the close of business on
September 30, 1982, including the income resulting from investment of
funds from such accounts prior to such date, were transferred to and
held in escrow accounts. After consultation with appropriate tribes and
individual Indians up to September 30, 1985, to determine the extent to
which the funds held in escrow accounts represented income from the
investment of ``special deposits'' relating to individual Indians or a
specific tribe, funds were transferred to appropriate trust accounts
for individual Indians and tribes during the period of October 1, 1985,
through September 30, 1987. The unobligated balances of the IMPL escrow
accounts as of the close of business on September 30, 1987, are to be
withdrawn and deposited into miscellaneous receipts of the U.S.
Treasury. The IMPL accounts are to be removed from the Bureau of Indian
Affairs trust accounting system and are no longer available for use.
The policy of the Department of the Interior is, whenever
practical, to afford the public an opportunity to participate in the
rulemaking process. Accordingly, interested persons may submit written
comments regarding the proposed rule to the office identified in the
Addresses section of this document.
The Department has certified to the Office of Management and Budget
that these proposed regulations meet the applicable standards provided
in sections 2(a) and 2(b)(2) of Executive Order 12778.
The Department of the Interior has determined that this document is
not a significant rule under Executive Order 12866 and therefore will
not require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget.
This rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq).
In accordance with Executive Order 12630, the Department has
determined that this proposed rule does not have significant takings
implications.
The Department has determined that this rule does not have
significant federalism effects.
The Department has determined that this proposed rule does not
constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality
of the human environment and that no detailed statement is required
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
There are no new information collection requirements requiring
approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.
The primary author of this proposed rule is Loren J. Farmer,
Policy, Analysis and Evaluation Staff, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office
of Trust Funds Management, 505 Marquette NW., suite 700, Albuquerque,
NM 87102.
List of Subjects in 25 CFR Part 113
Accounting, Indians--business and finance.
For reasons set out in the preamble and under the authority of
Public Law 97-257, title I, section 100 (September 30, 1982, 96 Stat.
839), part 113 of title 25, chapter I of the Code of Federal
Regulations is proposed to be removed.
Dated: February 4, 1994.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-8325 Filed 4-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VIII
Department of the Interior
_______________________________________________________________________
Fish and Wildlife Service
_______________________________________________________________________
50 CFR Part 20
Proposed 1994-1995 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations
(Preliminary) With Requests for Indian Tribal Proposals; Proposed Rule
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
RIN 1018-AA24
Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed 1994-1995 Migratory Game Bird
Hunting Regulations (Preliminary) with Requests for Indian Tribal
Proposals
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter the Service)
proposes to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory
game birds. The Service also requests proposals from Indian Tribes that
wish to establish special migratory bird hunting regulations. These
regulations will permit the taking of the designated species during the
1994-95 season. The Service annually prescribes outside limits
(frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. The
Service has also employed guidelines to establish special migratory
bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations and ceded
lands. These seasons provide hunting opportunities for recreation and
sustenance; aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the
management of migratory game birds; and are designed to permit harvests
at levels compatible with migratory bird population and habitat
conditions.
DATES: Tribal proposals and related comments should be submitted by
June 3, 1994. The comment period for proposed early-season frameworks
will end on July 22, 1994; and for proposed late-season frameworks on
September 2, 1994. The public hearing for early-season frameworks will
be held on June 23, 1994, at 9 a.m. The public hearing for late-season
frameworks will be held on August 4, 1994, at 9 a.m.
ADDRESSES: Both public hearings will be held in the Auditorium,
Department of the Interior Building, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC.
Written comments on the proposals and notice of intention to testify at
either hearing may be mailed 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. 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: For further information on tribal
proposals contact Keith A. Morehouse, for other issues regarding annual
migratory bird hunting regulations contact William O. Vogel. Both Dr.
Morehouse and Mr. Vogel may be contacted at: 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: For administrative purposes, this document
consolidates the notice of intent and request for Tribal proposals with
the preliminary proposals for the annual regulations-development
process. The remaining proposed and final rulemaking documents will be
published separately.
Notice of Intent to Establish Open Seasons
This notice announces the intention of the Director, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, to establish open hunting seasons and daily bag and
possession limits for certain designated groups or species of migratory
game birds for 1994-1995 in the contiguous United States, Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, under Secs. 20.101 through
20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K of 50 CFR part 20.
``Migratory game birds'' are those bird species so designated in
conventions between the United States and several foreign nations for
the protection and management of these birds. For the 1994-95 hunting
season, regulations will 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
proposals are described under Proposed 1994-95 Migratory Game Bird
Hunting Regulations (Preliminary) in this document. Definitions of
waterfowl flyways and mourning dove management units, as well as a
description of the data used in and the factors affecting the
regulatory process, were published in the March 14, 1990, Federal
Register (55 FR 9618).
Regulatory Schedule for 1994-1995
This is the first in a series of proposed and final rulemaking
documents for migratory game bird hunting regulations. Proposals
relating to the harvest of migratory game birds that may be initiated
after publication of this proposed rulemaking will be made available
for public review in supplemental proposed rulemakings to be published
in the Federal Register. Also, additional supplemental proposals will
be published for public comment in the Federal Register as population,
habitat, harvest, and other information becomes available.
Because of the late dates when certain portions of these data
become available, it is anticipated that comment periods on some
proposals will necessarily be abbreviated. Special circumstances that
limit the amount of time which the Service can allow for public comment
are involved in the establishment of these regulations. Specifically,
two considerations compress the time in which the rulemaking process
must operate: the need, on one hand, to establish final rules at a time
early enough in the summer to allow resource agencies to select and
publish season dates and bag limits prior to the hunting seasons and,
on the other hand, the lack of current data on the status of most
migratory game birds until later in the summer.
Because the process is strongly influenced by the times when
information is available for consideration, the overall regulations
process is divided into two segments. Early seasons are those seasons
that generally open prior to October 1, and include seasons in Alaska,
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Late seasons are those
seasons opening in the remainder of the United States about October 1
and later, and include most of the waterfowl seasons.
Major steps in the 1994-1995 regulatory cycle relating to public
hearings and Federal Register notifications are illustrated in the
accompanying diagram. Dates shown relative to publication of Federal
Register documents are target dates.
Sections of this and subsequent documents which outline hunting
frameworks and guidelines are organized under numbered headings. These
headings are:
1. Ducks
2. Sea Ducks
3. Mergansers
4. Canada Geese
5. White-fronted Geese
6. Brant
7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese
8. Tundra Swans
9. Sandhill Cranes
10. Coots
11. Moorhens and Gallinules
12. Rails
13. Snipe
14. Woodcock
15. Band-tailed Pigeons
16. Mourning Doves
17. White-winged and White-tipped Doves
18. Alaska
19. Hawaii
20. Puerto Rico
21. Virgin Islands
22. Falconry
23. Other
Later sections of this and subsequent documents will refer only to
numbered items requiring attention. Therefore, items requiring no
attention will be omitted and the remaining numbered items will be
discontinuous and appear incomplete.
Hearings
Two public hearings pertaining to 1994-1995 migratory game bird
hunting regulations are scheduled. Both hearings will be conducted in
accordance with 455 DM 1 of the Departmental Manual. On June 23, a
public hearing will be held at 9 a.m. in the Auditorium of the
Department of the Interior Building, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC.
This hearing is for the purpose of reviewing the status of migratory
shore and upland game birds. Proposed hunting regulations will be
discussed for these species plus regulations for migratory game birds
in Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; special September
waterfowl seasons in designated States; special sea duck seasons in the
Atlantic Flyway, and extended falconry seasons. On August 4, a public
hearing will be held at 9 a.m. in the Auditorium of the Department of
the Interior Building, address above. This hearing is for the purpose
of reviewing the status and proposed regulations for waterfowl not
previously discussed at the June 23 public hearing. The public is
invited to participate in both hearings. Persons wishing to make a
statement at these hearings should write to the address indicated under
the caption ADDRESSES.
Requests for Tribal Proposals
Background
Beginning with the 1985-86 hunting season, the Service has employed
guidelines described in the June 4, 1985 Federal Register (50 FR 23467)
to establish special migratory bird hunting regulations on Federal
Indian reservations (including off-reservation trust lands) and ceded
lands. The guidelines were developed in response to tribal requests for
Service recognition of their reserved hunting rights, and for some
tribes, recognition of their authority to regulate hunting by both
tribal and nontribal members throughout their reservations. The
guidelines include possibilities for: (1) on-reservation hunting by
both tribal and nontribal members, with hunting by nontribal members on
some reservations to take place within Federal frameworks, but on dates
different from those selected by the surrounding State(s); (2) on-
reservation hunting by tribal members only, outside of usual Federal
frameworks for season dates and length, and for daily bag and
possession limits; and (3) off-reservation hunting by tribal members on
ceded lands, outside of usual framework dates and season length, with
some added flexibility in daily bag and possession limits. In all
cases, the regulations established under the guidelines would have to
be consistent with the annual March 10 to September 1 closed season
mandated by the 1916 Convention Between the United States and Great
Britain (for Canada) For the Protection of Migratory Birds
(Convention). The guidelines are capable of application to those tribes
that have reserved hunting rights on Federal Indian reservations
(including off-reservation trust lands) and ceded lands. They also
apply to the establishment of migratory bird hunting regulations for
nontribal members on all lands within the exterior boundaries of
reservations where tribes have full wildlife management authority over
such hunting, or where the tribes and affected States otherwise have
reached agreement over hunting by nontribal members on non-Indian
lands.
Tribes usually have the authority to regulate migratory bird
hunting by nonmembers on Indian-owned reservation lands, subject to
Service approval. The question of jurisdiction is more complex on
reservations that include lands owned by non-Indians, especially when
the surrounding States have established or intend to establish
regulations governing hunting by non-Indians on these lands. In such
cases, the Service encourages the tribes and States to reach agreement
on regulations that would apply throughout the reservations. When
appropriate, the Service will consult with a tribe and State with the
aim of facilitating an accord. The Service also will consult jointly
with tribal and State officials in the affected States where tribes may
wish to establish special hunting regulations for tribal members on
ceded lands. As explained in previous rulemaking documents, it is
incumbent upon the tribe and/or the State to put forward a request for
consultation as a result of the proposal being published in the Federal
Register. The Service will not presume to make a determination, without
being advised by a tribe or a State, that any issue is/is not worthy of
formal consultation.
One of the guidelines provides for the continuation of harvest of
migratory game birds by tribal members on reservations where it is a
customary practice. The Service does not oppose this harvest, provided
it does not take place during the closed season required by the
Convention, and it is not so large as to adversely affect the status of
the migratory bird resource. For several years, the Service has reached
annual agreement with tribes (for example, in Minnesota, the Mille Lacs
Band of Chippewa Indians) for hunting by tribal members on their lands
or on lands where they have reserved hunting rights. The Service will
continue to consult with tribes that wish to reach a mutual agreement
on hunting regulations for on-reservation hunting by tribal members.
The guidelines should not be viewed as inflexible. Nevertheless,
the Service believes that they provide appropriate opportunity to
accommodate the reserved hunting rights and management authority of
Indian tribes while ensuring that the migratory bird resource receives
necessary protection. The conservation of this important international
resource is paramount. Use of the guidelines is not required if a tribe
wishes to observe the hunting regulations established by the State(s)
in which the reservation is located.
Details Needed in Tribal Proposals
Tribes that wish to use the guidelines to establish special hunting
regulations for the 1994-95 hunting season must submit a proposal that
includes: (1) The requested hunting season dates and other details
regarding regulations to be observed; (2) harvest anticipated under the
requested regulations; (3) methods that will be employed to measure or
monitor harvest (mail-questionnaire survey, bag checks, etc.); (4)
steps that will be taken to limit level of harvest, where it could be
shown that failure to limit such harvest would impact seriously on the
migratory bird resource; and (5) tribal capabilities to establish and
enforce migratory bird hunting regulations.
A tribe that desires the earliest possible opening of the waterfowl
season should specify this in the proposal, rather than request a date
that might not be within the final Federal frameworks. Similarly,
unless a tribe wishes to set more restrictive regulations than Federal
regulations will permit, the proposal should request the same daily bag
and possession limits and season length for ducks and geese that
Federal regulations are likely to permit the States in the Flyway in
which the reservation is located.
Proposal Procedures
Pertinent details in proposals received from tribes will be
published for public review in later Federal Register documents.
Because of the time required for Service and public review, Indian
tribes that desire special migratory bird hunting regulations for the
1994-95 hunting season should submit their proposals as soon as
possible, but no later than June 3, 1994. Tribal inquiries regarding
the guidelines and proposals should be directed to the appropriate
Service Regional Office. Tribes that request special hunting
regulations for tribal members on ceded lands should send a courtesy
copy of the proposal to officials in the affected State(s).
Public Comments Solicited
The policy of the Department of the Interior is, whenever
practicable, to afford the public an opportunity to participate in the
rulemaking process. Accordingly, interested persons are invited to
submit written comments, suggestions, or recommendations regarding the
proposed regulations. Promulgation of final migratory game bird hunting
regulations will take into consideration all comments received by the
Service. Such comments, and any additional information received, may
lead to final regulations that differ from these proposals. Interested
persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
written comments to the address indicated under the caption ADDRESSES.
Comments received on the proposed annual regulations will be
available for public inspection during normal business hours at the
Service's office in room 634, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington,
Virginia. Specific comment periods will be established for each series
of proposed rulemakings. All relevant comments will be accepted through
the closing date of the comment period on the particular proposal under
consideration. The Service will consider, but possibly may not respond
in detail to, each comment. As in the past, the Service will summarize
all comments received during the comment period and respond to them
after the closing date.
Flyway Council Meetings
Departmental representatives will be present at the following
winter meetings of the various Flyway Councils:
Date: March 20, 1994
--Atlantic Flyway Council, 8:30 a.m.
--Mississippi Flyway Council, 8:30 a.m.
--Central Flyway Council, 8:00 a.m.
--Pacific Flyway Council, 9:30 a.m.
--National Waterfowl Council, 3:30 p.m.
The Council meetings will be held at the Egan Civic and Convention
Center, Anchorage, Alaska.
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 the Environmental Protection Agency 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). In addition, an August 1985
environmental assessment entitled ``Guidelines for Migratory Bird
Hunting Regulations on Federal Indian Reservations and Ceded Lands'' is
available from the Service at the address indicated under the caption
ADDRESSES.
Endangered Species Act Consideration
Prior to issuance of the 1994-95 migratory game bird hunting
regulations, consideration will be given to provisions of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543;
hereinafter the Act) to ensure that hunting is not likely to jeopardize
the continued existence of any species designated as endangered or
threatened or modify or destroy its critical habitat and is consistent
with conservation programs for those species. Consultations under
section 7 of this Act may cause changes to be made to proposals in this
and future supplemental proposed rulemaking documents.
Regulatory Flexibility Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act
This document was reviewed under Executive Order 12866.
These regulations have a significant economic impact on substantial
numbers of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Therefore, in accordance with Office of Management
and Budget instructions, a Final Regulatory Impact Analysis (FRIA) was
prepared in 1981 and revised in 1990. Although a FRIA is no longer
required, the economic analysis contained in the FRIA has been reviewed
and the Service has determined that it meets the requirements of
Executive Order 12866. This analysis was updated for 1994. The FRIA
update included waterfowl hunter and harvest information from the 1992-
93 season. The summary of the 1994 update follows:
``New information which can be compared to that appearing in the
1990 Final Regulatory Impact Analysis (FRIA) includes estimates of the
1992 fall flight of ducks from surveyed areas, and hunter activity and
harvest information from the 1992-93 hunting season. There was
essentially no change in the total fall flight of ducks, regulatory
frameworks, hunter numbers, number of hunting days, or total duck
harvest between the 1991-92 and the 1992-93 seasons.''
Copies of the updated analysis are available upon request from the
Office of Migratory Bird Management. The address is indicated under the
caption ADDRESSES.
These regulations contain no information collections subject to
Office of Management and Budget review under the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Authorship
The primary authors of this proposed rule are Keith A. Morehouse
and William O. Vogel, Office of Migratory Bird Management, (703) 358-
1714.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR part 20
Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Transportation, Wildlife.
The rules that eventually will be promulgated for the 1994-95
hunting season are authorized under the 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).
Dated: March 10, 1994.
George T. Frampton,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
Proposed 1994-1995 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations
(Preliminary)
Pending current information on populations, harvest, and habitat
conditions, and receipt of recommendations from the four Flyway
Councils; specific framework proposals (including opening and closing
dates, seasons lengths, and bag limits) may be deferred. Unless
otherwise specified, no change from the final 1993-94 frameworks of
August 23 and September 24, 1993, (58 FR 44590 and 50188) is proposed.
Specific preliminary proposals that vary from the 1993-94 frameworks
and issues requiring early discussion, action, or the attention of the
States or Tribes are contained below:
1. Ducks.
F. Zones and Splits.
Temporary Zone in the Southern San Joaquin Valley of California. In
1993, the Service allowed the State of California an additional year to
modify its zoning proposal to conform more closely with the Service's
policy. The Service encourages a reopening of dialogue in order to
resolve this problem as soon as possible.
G. Special seasons/species management.
i. Canvasback Management.
During 1983-92, annual sport-harvest regulations for this species
were guided by provisions in the environmental assessment ``Proposed
Hunting Regulations on Canvasback Ducks, 1983''. That document
acknowledged separate eastern and western populations and set breeding-
population threshold levels for each, below which all possible actions,
including season closure, in the respective regions, would be
considered for canvasbacks. In 1993, after completing a review of
canvasback databases, the Service determined that currently there is
not sufficient evidence to warrant managing canvasbacks as separate
eastern and western populations. However, the Service did not adopt a
new harvest strategy to regulate the overall harvest of canvasbacks and
the allocation of that harvest. Rather, it continued to follow
guidelines set forth in the environmental assessment for a continental
population. Because the most recent 3-year average (482,000 birds) was
below the threshold identified in the assessment (500,000 birds), the
Service determined liberalizations were not warranted during 1993-94;
no changes in regulations from those which occurred during 1992-93 were
enacted.
Although the Service delayed implementation of a revised harvest
strategy, the Service is not satisfied with an indefinite continuation
of the 1983 guidelines. The Service desires to build consensus on an
improved harvest-management strategy which ensures the welfare of the
canvasback population and preserves the historical emphasis on Flyway-
based management.
The Service has circulated to the Flyway Councils and Technical
Sections a draft harvest-management strategy to be considered for the
1994-95 hunting season and continues to welcome suggestions for
improving our capabilities to manage the harvests of this important
species. Copies of the draft harvest-management strategy are available
at the address indicated under the caption ADDRESSES.
ii. September Teal Seasons.
Evaluations of shooting hours for teal seasons were initiated in
several Mississippi and Central Flyway States in 1993, and more than 1
year likely will be required to achieve needed sample sizes. Provided
methods being employed are acceptable and the amount of progress being
made indicates a good-faith effort, we would recommend continuation of
presunrise shooting hours conditional upon satisfactory progress toward
completion of evaluations.
iii. September Wood Duck/Teal Seasons.
Evaluations of shooting hours for wood duck/teal seasons forwarded
to Service in 1993 were sufficient to allow continuation of presunrise
shooting hours in Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
4. Canada Geese.
In 1993, the Service announced that the administrative process for
setting hunting seasons does not permit the setting of regular seasons
that open prior to the Saturday nearest October 1 during the late-
season regulations-development cycle. Those portions of seasons that
open earlier must be established during the early-season regulations-
development cycle in June. The Service is concerned about setting
seasons in the absence of current status information. Because of this,
requests for regular Canada goose seasons that open earlier than the
Saturday nearest October 1 must include full justification of the need
for the early opening, which will be weighed against the risk of
establishing seasons prior to the time status information is available.
The Service proposed to implement these procedures beginning with the
1994-95 hunting season in order to allow those States desiring early-
season dates for regular Canada goose seasons sufficient time to
prepare their proposals and to provide an opportunity for flyway
council review.
7. Snow and Ross's (Light) Geese.
In 1993, the Central Flyway Council recommended a review of
framework closing dates for light geese. The Service indicated it would
work with the Flyway Councils during the coming year to review its
policy of framework dates for light geese. At this time, the Service
requests that the States and Flyway Councils submit any pertinent
information for joint review and that the Service, States, Flyway
Councils, and other interested parties accelerate discussions regarding
closing dates for light geese in migration-terminus and other areas.
9. Sandhill Cranes.
The Service has clearly indicated that it does not believe it is
appropriate to increase harvest on the Mid-continent Population at this
time, and that there should be no increase or shift in harvest toward
the Gulf Coast Subpopulation, especially the greater-sandhill-crane
component. In recent years, the Central Flyway Council has requested
changes in the frameworks which would increase harvest pressure on this
population. The Service recognizes the desire of the Central Flyway
Council to liberalize regulations in certain areas, but concern for
greater sandhill cranes would preclude any increase under the current
approach to establishing frameworks.
Because there is an east-west gradient in the distribution of the 3
subspecies managed as the Mid-continent Population, the Service would
be willing to consider an approach that would, in the future, provide
the ability to establish frameworks by geographic areas within the
Central Flyway. Such an approach of setting differential frameworks
would provide the ability to shift harvest toward the western portions
of the flyway, while limiting harvest in eastern portions. The Service
requests comments regarding such an approach.
15. Band-tailed Pigeons.
Evidence from three separate surveys suggests that the long-term
decline experienced by the Coastal Population may have subsided; and,
in fact, the overall and individual State population estimates appear
to have stabilized at low levels. Also, the status of the Interior
Population is not well understood. Efforts are underway to gather more
information about both populations. In 1993, all States having band-
tailed pigeon hunting seasons either participated in the nationwide
Migratory Bird harvest Information Program or required band-tailed
pigeon hunters to obtain mandatory State permits to provide sampling
frames for obtaining more precise estimates of band-tailed pigeon
harvest. Those States issuing permits were required to conduct a
harvest survey and provide the results to the Service by June 1 of each
year. In addition, all States with band-tailed pigeon hunting seasons
are participating in a wing-collection survey to provide information on
annual recruitment. The Service will continue to closely monitor
population and harvest information from both populations and will
evaluate this information in June prior to making any decisions
regarding the 1994-95 seasons. Indian Tribes also should consider this
situation when proposing harvest regulations for this species.
BILLING CODE 4310-55-F
TP07AP94.015
[FR Doc. 94-8318 Filed 4-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-C