Extension of Comment Period: Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations Regarding Baiting and Baited Areas

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

RIN 1018-AD74

Extension of Comment Period: Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations

Regarding Baiting and Baited Areas

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: The Service is extending the comment period on the Federal

Register rule dated March 25, 1998 (63 FR 14415) that invites public

comments on proposed changes to the migratory bird hunting regulations

regarding baiting and baited areas.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments will be extended form May

25, 1998 to October 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this proposed rulemaking should be

addressed to: Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Post Office Box

3247, Arlington, Virginia 22203-3247, or sent via electronic mail to:

[email protected] Comments may be hand delivered to 4401 North Fairfax

Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22203. The public may inspect

comments during normal business hours at 4401 North Fairfax Drive,

Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keven Adams, Chief, Division of Law

Enforcement, telephone 703/358-1949, or Paul Schmidt, Chief, Office of

Migratory Bird Management, telephone 703/358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has authority (16 U.S.C.

703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742a-j) to regulate activities involving the

hunting and other taking of migratory game birds. The Service has

promulgated regulations (50 CFR part 20) for the hunting of migratory

game birds that

[[Page 28344]]

includes sections for Methods of Take and Definitions of Terms.

In a Federal Register notice dated March 25, 1998, the Service

proposed new regulatory language for: accidental scattering of

agricultural crops or natural vegetation incidental to hunting, normal

agricultural and soil stabilization practices, baited areas, baiting,

manipulation, natural vegetation, and top-sowing of seeds. Proposed

changes also included new guidance with respect to hunting over natural

vegetation that has been manipulated. However, no change was proposed

regarding application of strict liability to the migratory game bird

baiting regulations.

The Service has received request from a number of organizations to

extend the comment period. The Service invites careful consideration by

all parties, and welcomes serious scrutiny from those committed to the

long-term conservation of migratory birds. Therefore, to facilitate

substantive public review, the Service is extending the comment period

through October 1, 1998.

Dated: May 19, 1998.

Donald J. Barry,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

[FR Doc. 98-13875 Filed 5-21-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710-55-M