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AGENCIES:

Forest Service, Agriculture; Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

We, the Federal Subsistence Board, are extending the comment period through November 9, 2006, on the proposed rule that would amend the regulations governing subsistence use of fish and wildlife in Alaska by creating an additional subsistence resource region for the Kenai Peninsula.

DATES:

The comments period on the proposed rule is extended through November 9, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments electronically to Subsistence@fws.gov or via the Federal E-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for file format and other information about electronic filing. You may also submit written comments to the Office of Subsistence Management, 3601 C Street, Suite 1030, Anchorage, AK 99503.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For general subsistence management program questions, contact Pete Probasco at (907) 786-3888. For Forest Service questions, contact Steve Kessler, Regional Subsistence Program Leader, USDA-FS Alaska Region, at (907) 786-3592.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) (16 U.S.C. 3111-3126), Congress found that “the situation in Alaska is unique in that, in most cases, no practical alternative means are available to replace the food supplies and other items gathered from fish and wildlife which supply rural residents dependent on subsistence uses * * * ” and that “continuation of the opportunity for subsistence uses of resources on public and other lands in Alaska is threatened * * * ” As a result, Title VIII requires, among other things, that the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretaries) implement a joint program to grant a preference for subsistence uses of fish and wildlife resources on public lands in Alaska, unless the State of Alaska enacts and implements laws of general applicability that are consistent with ANILCA and that provide for the subsistence definition, preference, and participation specified in Sections 803, 804, and 805 of ANILCA.

The State implemented a program that the Department of the Interior previously found to be consistent with ANILCA. However, in December 1989, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in McDowell v. State of Alaska that the rural preference in the State subsistence statute violated the Alaska Constitution. The Court's ruling in McDowell required the State to delete the rural preference from its subsistence statute and, therefore, negated State compliance with ANILCA. The Court stayed the effect of the decision until July 1, 1990. As a result of the McDowell decision, Start Printed Page 56422the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (Departments) assumed, on July 1, 1990, responsibility for implementation of Title VIII of ANILCA on public lands. On June 29, 1990, the Temporary Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska were published in the Federal Register (55 FR 27114).

Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils

Pursuant to the Subsistence Management Regulations for Federal Public Lands in Alaska, April 6, 1992, and the Subsistence Management Regulations for Federal Public Lands in Alaska, 36 CFR 242.11 (2002) and 50 CFR 100.11 (2002), and for the purposes identified therein, we divided Alaska into 10 subsistence resource regions, each of which is represented by a Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council (Regional Council). The Regional Councils provide a forum for residents of the regions, who have personal knowledge of local conditions and resource requirements, to have a meaningful role in the subsistence management of fish and wildlife on Alaska public lands. The Regional Council members represent varied geographical, cultural, and user diversity within each region.

Comments and Extension of Comment Period on the Proposed Rule

The Kenai Peninsula has unique fish and wildlife management challenges due to intense use of the Peninsula's fish and wildlife by local and nonlocal residents and by nonresidents, and due to the recent Board actions to begin to provide a meaningful subsistence priority for fisheries in Federally managed fresh waters on the Kenai Peninsula. Kenai Peninsula lands primarily under Federal management include the Chugach National Forest and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

On August 14, 2006, the Board published a proposed rule (71 FR 46427) related to the establishment of a new Kenai Peninsula Subsistence Resource Region. During a Southcentral Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council meeting held in Anchorage, Alaska on August 24, 2006, we heard significant testimony regarding the creation of a new Kenai Peninsula Subsistence Resource Region. Additionally, the Southcentral Regional Council unanimously recommended against the formation of such a region without providing more opportunity for public input. Letters from the public also strongly recommended providing more opportunity for public input. Therefore, the comment period on that proposed rule is extended through November 9, 2006. Prior to that date, the Board will hold public meetings on the Kenai Peninsula to receive testimony and discuss the proposed Kenai Peninsula Subsistence Resource Region. The specific time and place will be noticed in local and regional newspapers and by press release. You may submit electronic comments (preferred method) as a PDF or MS Word file, avoiding the use of any special characters and any form of encryption.

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