1997-98 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 32

RIN 1018-AE18

1997-98 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: This proposed rule adds additional national wildlife refuges

to the list of areas open for hunting and/or sport fishing, along with

pertinent refuge-specific regulations for such activities; and amends

certain regulations on other refuges that pertain to migratory game

bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting and sport fishing.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice of reopening of

the comment period for only the specific proposal to hunt bison on the

National Elk Refuge in Wyoming.

DATES: The public comment period closes November 17, 1997 to ensure

consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal

should be sent directly to Assistant Director, Refuges and Wildlife,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street, NW, MS 670 ARLSQ,

Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephen R. Vehrs, at the above address; Telephone (703) 358-2397.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service had received a second request

from the Fund for Animals to extend the comment period on the proposal

to permit bison hunting on the National Elk Refuge. The original

comment period was open for 30 days and then extended to September 19,

1997 (62 FR 38959 published July 21, 1997 and 62 FR 47372, Sept. 9,

1997) to accommodate a public review of a pending interagency bison

herd management plan. Due to the need by the Service for additional

time to complete their portion of the herd management plan and review

information and comments from interested parties on this proposed

action, the comment period is reopened for an additional 30 days. The

herd management plan was signed on September 30, 1997. In addition to

this reopening of comments, several other documents, such as a

compatibility determination and a National Elk Refuge Hunt Plan

Amendment needed to be finalized before a bison hunt would take place.

Both documents were signed on October 1, 1997. All parties are invited

to submit comments on the proposed bison hunt. Copies of the Hunt Plan

Amendment and the compatibility determination are available from the

Refuge Manager, National Elk Refuge, Box C, Jackson, Wyoming 83001.

Refuge hunting programs are reviewed annually to determine whether

additional refuges should be added or whether individual refuge

regulations governing existing programs should be modified, deleted or

have additions made to them. Changing environmental conditions, State

and Federal regulations, and other factors affecting wildlife

populations and habitat may warrant modifications ensuring continued

compatibility of hunting with the purposes for which individual

refuges, and the National Wildlife Refuge System (System) were

established.

Statutory Authority

The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (NWRSAA) of

1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 668dd), and the Refuge Recreation Act of

1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k) govern the administration and public use of

national wildlife refuges. Specifically, section 4(d)(1)(A) of the

NWRSAA authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to permit

the use of any area within the System for any purpose, including but

not limited to, hunting, fishing and public recreation, accommodations

and access, when he determines that uses are compatible with the major

purpose(s) for which the area was established.

The Refuge Recreation Act (RRA) authorizes the Secretary to

administer areas within the System for public recreation as an

appropriate incidental or secondary use only to the extent that it is

practicable and not inconsistent with the primary purpose(s) for which

the areas were established. The NWRSAA and the RRA also authorize the

Secretary to issue regulations to carry out the purposes of the Acts

and regulate uses.

Primary Author

Stephen R. Vehrs, Division of Refuges, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Washington, DC 20240, is the primary author of this rulemaking

document.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 32

Fishing, Hunting, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,

Wildlife, Wildlife refuges.

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Service amends Title

50, Chapter I, subchapter C of the Code of Federal Regulations as

follows:

PART 32--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 32 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 16 U.S.C. 460k, 664, 668dd, and 715i.

2. Amend Sec. 32.70 Wyoming by revising paragraph C. of National

Elk Refuge to read as follows:

Sec. 32.70 Wyoming.

* * * * *

National Elk Refuge

* * * * *

C. Big Game Hunting. Hunters may hunt elk and bison on

designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

* * * * *

Dated: October 3, 1997.

Ralph O. Morgenweck,

Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 97-27398 Filed 10-15-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M