[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 51 (Thursday, March 14, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10557-10558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6124]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 91

RIN 1018-AD71


Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck 
Stamp) Contest

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is revising the 
regulations governing the conduct of the annual Migratory Bird Hunting 
and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp) Contest. This proposed rule 
would allow the Service to keep pace with the increasing costs of 
running the 1996-97 Federal Duck Stamp Contest (Contest) and cover 
expenses associated with the program. The following changes are 
proposed by the Service: eligible species list; deadline for submitting 
entry; age requirement established to participate in contest; entry fee 
increase; subject matter of entry; and contest voting procedures.

DATES: Comments concerning these amendments must be received no later 
than April 15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Manager of Licensing, Federal Duck Stamp 
Contest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 
1849 C Street, NW, Suite 2058, Washington, D.C. 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Lita F. Edwards, (202) 208-4354.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Duck Stamp Contest is the only 
Federal agency-run art contest and has been in existence since 1949 
with the 1950 stamp the first to be selected in open competition. The 
Federal Duck Stamp's main use is a revenue stamp needed by waterfowl 
hunters. This year's Contest and species information follows:
    1. Contest schedule:

1996-97 Federal Duck Stamp Contest--October 15-17, 1996
Public viewing--Tuesday, October 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Judging--Wednesday, October 16 at 10:30 a.m. through Thursday, October 
17 at 9:00 a.m.

    2. The Contest will be held at the Department of the Interior 
building, Auditorium (C Street entrance), 1849 C Street, NW, 
Washington, DC.
    3. The five eligible species for the Contest: (1) Black Duck; (2) 
Canada Goose; (3) Greater Scaup; (4) American Green-winged Teal; and 
(5) Northern Pintail.
    As part of an effort to keep pace with the cost of administering 
and making minor improvements to the Contest, the Service proposes the 
following changes to this year's contest:
    1. The Service is correcting the common and Latin name of American 
Green-winged Teal.
    2. Persons wishing to enter this year's Contest may submit entries 
anytime after July 1, but all entries must be postmarked no later than 
midnight Friday, August 30, 1996.
    3. The Service is increasing the fee for art contest entrants to 
$100.00. Contest expenses have escalated each year and this increase 
will defray Service expenses in administering the Contest.
    4. The Service is requiring that all entrants must be 18 years of 
age as of July 1 to participate in the Contest, as 18 is considered the 
general age of majority by most jurisdictions.
    5. The Service is clarifying that other living creatures, scenes, 
designs may be part of the design as long as living migratory birds are 
the dominant feature.
    6. Contest procedures are modified for the third round of judging 
to allow more consistent scores.
    This regulation was not subject to Office of Management and Budget 
review under Executive Order 12866. These proposed regulations have 
been examined under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and have been 
found to contain no information collection requirements. The Department 
of the interior has determined that this regulation will not have 
significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) as the 
changes/revisions to the Contest will affect individuals not businesses 
or other small entities as defined in the Act. Due to tight timeframes 
associated with the contest rules, the Service is allowing only 30 days 
for public comment.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 91

    Hunting, Wildlife.

    Accordingly, Title 50, Part 91 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
is proposed to be amended as follows:

[[Page 10558]]


PART 91--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 91 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 718j; 31 U.S.C. 9701.

    2. Section 91.4 is amended by revising paragraph (e)(4) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 91.4  Eligible species.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (4) American Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis)
* * * * *
    3. Section 91.11 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 91.11  Contest deadlines.

* * * * *
    (b) Entries must be postmarked no later than midnight of August 30.
    4. Section 91.12 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 91.12  Contest eligibility.

    United States citizens, nationals, or resident aliens are eligible 
to participate in the contest. Any person who has won the contest 
during the preceding three years will be ineligible to submit an entry 
in the current year's contest. All entrants must be 18 years of age as 
of July 1 to participate in the Federal Duck Stamp Contest. Contest 
judges and their relatives are ineligible to submit an entry. All 
entrants must submit a non-refundable fee of $100.00 by a cashiers 
check, certified check, or money order made payable to: U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service. (Personal checks will not be accepted.) All entrants 
must submit signed Reproduction Rights and Display and Participation 
Agreements.
    5. Section 91.14 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 91.14  Restrictions on subject matter of entry.

    A live portrayal of any bird(s) of the five or fewer identified 
eligible species must be the dominant feature of the design. The design 
may depict more than one of the eligible species. Designs may include, 
but are not limited to, hunting dogs, hunting scenes, use of waterfowl 
decoys, National Wildlife Refuges as the background of habitat scenes, 
and other designs that depict the sporting, conservation, stamp 
collecting and other uses of the stamp. The overall mandate will be to 
select the best design that will make an interesting, useful and 
attractive duck stamp that will be accepted and prized by hunters, 
stamp collectors, conservationists, and others. The design must be the 
contestant's original creation and may not be copied or duplicated from 
previously published art, including photographs. An entry submitted in 
a prior contest that was not selected for the Federal or a state stamp 
design may be submitted in the current contest if it meets the above 
criteria.
    6. Section 91.24 is amended by revising paragraph (h) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 91.24  Contest procedures.

* * * * *
    (h) In the third round of judging, the judges will vote on the 
remaining entries using the same method as in round two, except they 
would indicate a numerical score from 3 to 5 for each entry. The 
Contest Coordinator will tabulate the final votes and present them to 
the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who will announce the 
winning entry as well as the entries that placed second and third.
* * * * *
    Dated: March 1, 1996.
George T. Frampton, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 96-6124 Filed 3-13-96; 8:45 am]
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