Department of the Interior November 5, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Park Service is proposing this rule to manage winter visitation and recreational use in Yellowstone National Park for an interim period of three winter seasons commencing with the 2008-2009 season. The proposed rule would also establish the framework for the long-term management of winter use in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway. This proposed rule would require that most recreational snowmobiles and snowcoaches operating in the parks meet certain air and sound requirements, and that snowmobilers in Yellowstone be accompanied by a commercial guide. It also proposes daily entry limits on the numbers of snowmobiles and snowcoaches that may enter the parks. Traveling off designated oversnow routes will remain prohibited.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental assessment (EA) for Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, located in Colorado and Austin Counties, Texas. We provide this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the planning process.

Various populations of light geese (greater and lesser snow geese and Ross's geese) have undergone rapid growth during the past 30 years, and have become seriously injurious to their habitat, habitat important to other migratory birds, and agricultural interests. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believes that several of these populations have exceeded the long-term carrying capacity of their breeding and/or migration habitats and must be reduced. This final rule sets forth regulations that authorize measures to increase harvest of certain populations of light geese. In addition, the rule revises the regulations for the management of overabundant light goose populations and modifies the conservation order that will increase take of birds from such populations. The Record of Decision is also published here.