[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 52868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24444]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
36 CFR Part 13
[NPS-AKRO-23925; PPAKAKROZ5, PPMPRLE1Y.L00000]
Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Regulatory review.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) intends to initiate a
rulemaking process that will consider changes to regulations applicable
to Alaska that were promulgated in October 2015.
DATES: November 15, 2017.
ADDRESSES: The final rule that is the subject of this announcement may
be found at www.regulations.gov in Docket No. NPS-2014-0004-2632.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andee Sears, Regional Law Enforcement
Specialist, Alaska Regional Office, 240 West 5th Ave., Anchorage, AK
99501. Phone (907) 644-3410. Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 23, 2015, the NPS published a
final rule (Final Rule) to amend its regulations for sport hunting and
trapping in national preserves in Alaska (80 FR 65325). The Final Rule
provided that the NPS does not adopt State of Alaska management actions
or laws or regulations that authorize taking of wildlife, which are
related to predator reduction efforts (as defined in the Final Rule).
The Final Rule affirmed current State prohibitions on harvest practices
by adopting them as federal regulation. The Final Rule also changed
procedures for closing an area or restricting an activity in NPS areas
in Alaska; updated obsolete subsistence regulations; prohibited
obstructing persons engaged in lawful hunting or trapping; and
authorized the use of native species as bait for fishing. Pursuant to
the Congressional Review Act (CRA), the NPS submitted copies of the
final rule to Congress on October 16, 2015. A joint resolution of
disapproval was not filed by Congress within the time periods specified
by the CRA. The Final Rule became effective on November 23, 2015.
The NPS intends to initiate a rulemaking process that will consider
changes to the provisions in the Final Rule that were codified in 36
CFR part 13. Throughout this process, the NPS will consider the purpose
of Secretarial Order 3347 (``Conservation Stewardship and Outdoor
Recreation'') to advance conservation stewardship and increase outdoor
recreation opportunities, including hunting and fishing, for all
Americans. The NPS will also identify ways to improve recreational
hunting and fishing cooperation, consultation, and communication with
State of Alaska wildlife managers. The NPS will comply with all
applicable laws governing the rulemaking process, including the
requirement to provide an opportunity for public comment on any
proposed regulatory changes under 5 U.S.C. 553. The NPS is not
accepting comments on this announcement. The public will have an
opportunity to comment when a proposed rule is published in the Federal
Register.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 3124; 54 U.S.C. 100101, 100751, 320102;
Sec. 13.1204 also issued under Sec. 1035, Pub. L. 104-333, 110 Stat.
4240.
Jason Larrabee,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2017-24444 Filed 11-14-17; 8:45 am]
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