Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska, 9799-9800 [2016-04133]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 38 / Friday, February 26, 2016 / Proposed Rules Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS comments and information during this reopened comment period. We are specifically soliciting comments from peer reviewers (see Peer Review, below), but we are providing all interested parties with this additional time to submit information. Please refer to the proposed rule for more information on our proposed action and the specific information we seek. You may submit your comments and materials concerning the proposed rule or the associated draft post-delisting monitoring plan by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. All comments and recommendations, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record. If you submit information via https:// www.regulations.gov, your entire comment—including any personal identifying information—will be posted on the Web site. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. If you mail or hand-deliver a hardcopy comment that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. To ensure that the electronic docket for this rulemaking is complete and all comments we receive are publicly available, we will post all hardcopy submissions on https:// www.regulations.gov. Peer Review In accordance with our policy published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), and the OMB’s Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review, dated December 16, 2004, we are soliciting the expert opinions of at least three appropriate and independent specialists regarding the science in our proposed rule published on September 1, 2015 (80 FR 52717), and the associated draft postdelisting monitoring plan. The purpose of such review is to ensure that we base our decisions on scientifically sound data, assumptions, and analyses. We are sending peer reviewers copies of the proposed rule and the draft postdelisting monitoring plan. We are inviting peer reviewers to comment, VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:20 Feb 25, 2016 Jkt 238001 during this reopened public comment period, on the specific assumptions and conclusions regarding the proposed delisting and draft post-delisting monitoring plan. We will summarize the opinions of these reviewers in the final decision documents, and we will consider their input and any additional information we receive as part of our process of making a final decision on the proposal and the draft post-delisting monitoring plan. Such communication may lead to a final decision that differs from the proposal. Dated: February 17, 2016. Stephen Guertin, Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2016–04095 Filed 2–25–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Parts 32 and 36 [Docket No. FWS–R7–NWRS–2014–0005; FF07R06000 167 FXRS12610700000] RIN 1018–BA31 Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and rescheduled public open house and hearing. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are extending the comment period for our January 8, 2016, proposed rule to amend our regulations for National Wildlife Refuges (refuges) in Alaska. This action ensures that the public has an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. We are also rescheduling the Kodiak open house and public hearing to March 2, 2016. DATES: Comment submission: Submit your comments on the proposed rule on or before April 7, 2016. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. Public meetings: The rescheduled open house and public hearing in Kodiak will be held on March 2, 2016; the open house will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the public SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 9799 hearing will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain copies of the proposed rule and associated draft environmental assessment at https:// www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS–R7–NWRS–2014–0005. Comment submission: You may submit comments on the proposed rule by any one of the following methods: (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS–R7–NWRS–2014–0005, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then click on the Search button. On the resulting page, you may submit a comment by clicking on ‘‘Comment Now!’’ (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R7–NWRS– 2014–0005; Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. (3) At open houses or public hearings: Written comments will be accepted by Service personnel at any of the nine scheduled open houses or public hearings. Public testimony will be recorded and submitted for the record at only the public hearings via a court reporter. We request that you send comments only by the methods described above. We will post all comments on https:// www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us. Public meetings: The rescheduled open house and public hearing will be held at the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 402 Center Ave., Kodiak, Alaska; 907–487–2600. For the dates and times of the other open houses and public hearings, see our Federal Register document announcing these open houses and public hearings (81 FR 886; January 8, 2016). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Brady, Chief of Conservation Planning and Policy, National Wildlife Refuge System, Alaska Regional Office, 1011 E. Tudor Rd., Mail Stop 211, Anchorage, AK 99503; telephone (907) 306–7448. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 8, 2016, we published a proposed rule (81 FR 887) to clarify how our existing mandates for the conservation of natural and biological diversity, biological integrity, and environmental health on refuges in Alaska relate to predator control; to E:\FR\FM\26FEP1.SGM 26FEP1 9800 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 38 / Friday, February 26, 2016 / Proposed Rules prohibit several particularly effective methods and means for take of predators; and to update our public participation and closure procedures. The proposed rule would not change Federal subsistence regulations or restrict the taking of fish or wildlife for subsistence uses under Federal subsistence regulations. We received multiple requests from several entities, including the Alaska Congressional Delegation and the Governor of Alaska, to extend the comment period on the proposed rule. In order to provide all interested parties an additional opportunity to review and comment on our proposed rule, we are extending the comment period on the proposed rule for an additional 30 days, until April 7, 2016. If you previously submitted comments or information on the proposed rule, please do not resubmit them. We have incorporated them into the public record, and we will fully consider them in our final rulemaking. Our final determination concerning the proposed rulemaking will take into consideration all written comments and any additional information we receive. You may submit your comments and any associated materials concerning the proposed rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the methods described in ADDRESSES. If you submit information via https:// www.regulations.gov, your entire submission—including any personal identifying information—will be posted on the Web site. If your submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy submissions on https://www.regulations.gov. Authority Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS The authority for this action is 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k et seq., 664, 668dd–668ee, 715i, and 3101 et seq. Dated: February 19, 2016. Michael J. Bean, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks. [FR Doc. 2016–04133 Filed 2–25–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:20 Feb 25, 2016 Jkt 238001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [Docket No. 150623546–6098–01] RIN 0648–BF18 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Amendments to the Reef Fish, Spiny Lobster, Queen Conch, and Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates Fishery Management Plans of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS proposes to implement measures described in Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) (Reef Fish FMP), Amendment 6 to the FMP for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the USVI (Spiny Lobster FMP), Amendment 5 to the FMP for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the USVI (Coral FMP), and Amendment 4 to the FMP for the Queen Conch Resources of Puerto Rico and the USVI (Queen Conch FMP), as prepared by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council). In combination, these amendments represent the Application of Accountability Measures (AM) Amendment (AM Application Amendment). If implemented, the AM Application Amendment would resolve an existing inconsistency between language in the FMPs and the regulations implementing the application of AMs in the U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The purpose of the AM Application Amendment is to ensure the authorizing FMPs are consistent with the regulations governing AMs in the Caribbean EEZ. Additionally, this proposed rule would clarify the AM closure provisions, the application of the spiny lobster ACL in the Puerto Rico management area of the Caribbean EEZ, and the minimum size limit for queen conch in the Caribbean EEZ. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 28, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule identified by SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2015–0124’’ by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20150124, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to ´ ´ Marıa del Mar Lopez, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Electronic copies of the AM Application Amendment, which includes an environmental assessment, a Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) analysis, and a regulatory impact review may be obtained from the Southeast Regional Office Web site at https:// sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_ fisheries/caribbean/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ´ ´ Marıa del Mar Lopez, telephone: 727– 824–5305; email: maria.lopez@ noaa.gov. In the Caribbean EEZ, the reef fish, spiny lobster, queen conch, and corals and reef associated plants and invertebrates fisheries are managed under their respective FMPs. The FMPs were prepared by the Council and are implemented through regulations at 50 CFR part 622 under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The final rule implementing Amendment 2 to the Queen Conch FMP and Amendment 5 to the Reef Fish FMP (2010 Caribbean Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Amendment) established ACLs and AMs for species/species groups that were at the time experiencing overfishing (i.e., parrotfish, snapper, grouper, queen conch) (76 FR 82404, E:\FR\FM\26FEP1.SGM 26FEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 38 (Friday, February 26, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9799-9800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04133]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Parts 32 and 36

[Docket No. FWS-R7-NWRS-2014-0005; FF07R06000 167 FXRS12610700000]
RIN 1018-BA31


Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and 
Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and rescheduled 
public open house and hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are 
extending the comment period for our January 8, 2016, proposed rule to 
amend our regulations for National Wildlife Refuges (refuges) in 
Alaska. This action ensures that the public has an additional 
opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. We are also rescheduling 
the Kodiak open house and public hearing to March 2, 2016.

DATES: 
    Comment submission: Submit your comments on the proposed rule on or 
before April 7, 2016. Comments submitted electronically using the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.
    Public meetings: The rescheduled open house and public hearing in 
Kodiak will be held on March 2, 2016; the open house will be held from 
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the public hearing will be held from 5:30 
p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: 
    Document availability: You may obtain copies of the proposed rule 
and associated draft environmental assessment at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R7-NWRS-2014-0005.
    Comment submission: You may submit comments on the proposed rule by 
any one of the following methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-R7-NWRS-2014-0005, 
which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then click on the 
Search button. On the resulting page, you may submit a comment by 
clicking on ``Comment Now!''
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R7-NWRS-2014-0005; Division of Policy, 
Performance, and Management Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    (3) At open houses or public hearings: Written comments will be 
accepted by Service personnel at any of the nine scheduled open houses 
or public hearings. Public testimony will be recorded and submitted for 
the record at only the public hearings via a court reporter.
    We request that you send comments only by the methods described 
above. We will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov. This 
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us.
    Public meetings: The rescheduled open house and public hearing will 
be held at the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 402 
Center Ave., Kodiak, Alaska; 907-487-2600. For the dates and times of 
the other open houses and public hearings, see our Federal Register 
document announcing these open houses and public hearings (81 FR 886; 
January 8, 2016).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Brady, Chief of Conservation 
Planning and Policy, National Wildlife Refuge System, Alaska Regional 
Office, 1011 E. Tudor Rd., Mail Stop 211, Anchorage, AK 99503; 
telephone (907) 306-7448.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 8, 2016, we published a proposed 
rule (81 FR 887) to clarify how our existing mandates for the 
conservation of natural and biological diversity, biological integrity, 
and environmental health on refuges in Alaska relate to predator 
control; to

[[Page 9800]]

prohibit several particularly effective methods and means for take of 
predators; and to update our public participation and closure 
procedures. The proposed rule would not change Federal subsistence 
regulations or restrict the taking of fish or wildlife for subsistence 
uses under Federal subsistence regulations.
    We received multiple requests from several entities, including the 
Alaska Congressional Delegation and the Governor of Alaska, to extend 
the comment period on the proposed rule. In order to provide all 
interested parties an additional opportunity to review and comment on 
our proposed rule, we are extending the comment period on the proposed 
rule for an additional 30 days, until April 7, 2016.
    If you previously submitted comments or information on the proposed 
rule, please do not resubmit them. We have incorporated them into the 
public record, and we will fully consider them in our final rulemaking. 
Our final determination concerning the proposed rulemaking will take 
into consideration all written comments and any additional information 
we receive.
    You may submit your comments and any associated materials 
concerning the proposed rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. 
We request that you send comments only by the methods described in 
ADDRESSES.
    If you submit information via https://www.regulations.gov, your 
entire submission--including any personal identifying information--will 
be posted on the Web site. If your submission is made via a hardcopy 
that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the 
top of your document that we withhold this information from public 
review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We 
will post all hardcopy submissions on https://www.regulations.gov.

Authority

    The authority for this action is 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k et 
seq., 664, 668dd-668ee, 715i, and 3101 et seq.

     Dated: February 19, 2016.
Michael J. Bean,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2016-04133 Filed 2-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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