Extension of Comment Period: Migratory Bird Hunting; Regulations To Increase Harvest of Mid-Continent Light Geese

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

RIN 1018-AF25

Extension of Comment Period: Migratory Bird Hunting; Regulations

To Increase Harvest of Mid-Continent Light Geese

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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

Register rule dated November 9, 1998 (63 FR 60271). The rule invites

public comments on the proposed changes to the migratory bird hunting

regulations that authorize additional hunting methods (electronic

callers and unplugged shotguns) during a normal open mid-continent

light goose hunting season when all other migratory bird hunting

seasons are closed.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments is extended from January 8,

1999 to January 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Chief, Office of Migratory Bird

Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Interior, Ms

634--ARLSQ, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, D.C. 20240. The public may

inspect comments during normal business hours in room 634--Arlington

Square Building, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia.

[[Page 822]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Blohm, Acting Chief, Office of

Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (703) 358-

1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mid-continent lesser snow goose and

Ross' goose population has nearly quadrupled in the last 30 years. The

Western Central Flyway lesser snow and Ross' goose population also has

quadrupled in the last 23 years. Collectively, these central and

eastern arctic and subarctic-nesting light goose populations are

referred to as Mid-continent light geese (MCLG). Due to high population

growth rates, a decline in adult mortality, and an increase in winter

survival, MCLG are now seriously injurious to their habitat and habitat

important to other migratory birds which poses a serious threat to the

short and long-term health and status of migratory bird populations.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or ``we'') believes that

MCLG populations exceed long-term sustainable levels for their arctic

and subarctic breeding habitats and the populations must be reduced.

In a Federal Register notice dated November 9, 1998, we proposed to

amend 50 CFR Part 21 to authorize the use of additional hunting methods

(electronic callers and unplugged shotguns) during a normal open light-

goose hunting season when all other migratory bird hunting seasons are

closed. We are concurrently proposing an additional but separate

population reduction strategy. In addition to this proposed rule to

amend 50 CFR Part 20, we are also proposing to amend 50 CFR Part 21 to

authorize the use of a conservation order to increase take of MCLG.

This proposal is also in the nature of a proposed rule and the

extension of the comment period on the rule is published in this issue

of the Federal Register. The combination of these two proposals is

designed to increase MCLG harvest and to provide a biologically sound

and cost effective and efficient method for the reduction and

management of overabundant MCLG populations.

We have received a request to extend the comment period on this

rule. 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, we are extending the comment period to January 15, 1999.

Dated: December 30, 1998.

Thomas O. Melius,

Acting Director.

[FR Doc. 99-145 Filed 1-5-99; 8:45 am]

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