15888 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

36 CFR Part 7 

RIN 1024–AD88 

Special Regulations; Areas of the 

National Park System, Cape Cod 

National Seashore 

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 

ACTION: Proposed Rule. 

SUMMARY: The National Park Service 

(NPS) proposes to amend special 

regulations for Cape Cod National 

Seashore, to allow for a spring-season 

hunt for Eastern Wild Turkey. The 

proposed rule would implement the 

Cape Cod National Seashore Hunting 

Program Environmental Impact 

Statement of August 2007. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

April 21, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 

identified by RIN 1024–AD88 by any of 

the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Mail: Bob Grant, Chief Ranger, 99 

Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 

02667. 

All submissions received must 

include the agency name and docket 

number or Regulation Identifier Number 

(RIN) 1024–AD88 for this rulemaking. 

All comments received will be posted 

without change to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information provided. For 

detailed instructions on submitting 

comments and additional information 

on the rulemaking process, see the 

‘‘Public Participation’’ heading of the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 

this document. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments received, go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob 

Grant, Chief Ranger, 99 Marconi Site 

Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667; 

bob_grant@nps.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Description of the Park Area 

In 1961 the U.S. Congress established 

Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO). In 

establishing the seashore, Congress 

directed that the unique flora and fauna, 

the physiographic conditions and the 

historic sites and structures be 

permanently preserved, the public 

enjoyment and understanding of the 

unique natural, historic, and scientific 

features the seashore be facilitated by 

establishing trails, observation points, 

exhibits and services for the public, and 

provided that adaptable portions of the 

seashore may be managed for camping, 

swimming, boating, sailing, hunting, 

fishing, and other activities of similar 

nature. Public Law 87–126, Sec. 7, Aug. 

7, 1961, 75 Stat. 291. 

The seashore comprises 43,608 acres 

of shoreline; salt marshes; clear, deep, 

freshwater kettle ponds; uplands; as 

well as a great diversity of species 

supported by these habitats. 

Lighthouses, a life-saving station, dune 

shacks, modern and Cape Cod-style 

houses, cultural landscapes, and wild 

cranberry bogs provide a glimpse into 

Cape Cod’s past and continuing life 

ways. The Seashore offers six swimming 

beaches, eleven self-guiding nature 

trails, and a variety of picnic areas and 

scenic overlooks. 

Background 

The 1961 legislation establishing 

CACO allowed the NPS to permit 

hunting within the seashore. 

The Secretary may permit hunting and 

fishing, including shellfishing, on lands and 

waters under his jurisdiction within the 

seashore in such areas and under such 

regulations as he may prescribe during open 

seasons prescribed by applicable local, State 

and Federal law. The Secretary shall consult 

with officials of the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts and any political subdivision 

thereof who have jurisdiction of hunting and 

fishing, including shellfishing, prior to the 

issuance of any such regulations, and the 

Secretary is authorized to enter into 

cooperative arrangements with such officials 

regarding such hunting and fishing, 

including shellfishing, as he may deem 

desirable. * * * 16 U.S.C. 459b–6(c) 

The proposed rule would increase 

hunting opportunities by expanding the 

hunting season to include a spring 

turkey hunt. Hunting within CACO that 

is authorized by NPS regulations is 

conducted in accordance with 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife 

(MDFW) regulations. Upland game 

hunting is currently authorized at CACO 

and Eastern Wild Turkey is managed as 

a native upland game bird by the 

MDFW. The existing special regulation 

prohibits hunting from March 1 through 

August 31. The proposed rule is 

necessary because the Massachusetts 

spring turkey season generally takes 

place from late April to mid or late May 

when hunting is prohibited by the 

existing CACO special regulation. Fall 

turkey hunting could also be initiated if 

MDFW established such a season in its 

southeast region, but no rule change 

would be needed for a fall hunt since 

the State does not conduct hunting 

before September 1. 

For many years, CACO cooperated 

with the MDFW to release ring-necked 

pheasants within the seashore to 

provide a pheasant hunt. In 2002, CACO 

was sued for failure to follow the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) with respect to the hunting 

program. In September 2003, the U.S. 

District Court ordered CACO to prepare 

a NEPA environmental assessment of 

the hunting program. The court also 

enjoined the pheasant hunt until CACO 

completed the NEPA assessment. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

Process 

As a result of the court order, CACO 

initiated and completed a Final 

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), 

and Record of Decision (ROD), on the 

seashore hunting program. 

The goals of the NEPA process were 

to develop and evaluate several 

alternative approaches for managing 

hunting at CACO that would: 

• Balance diverse uses of the park 

while minimizing effects to wildlife 

populations, ecosystems, and sustaining 

natural processes; 

• Reduce or avoid conflicts during 

recreational uses of the park; 

• Protect natural and cultural 

resources, cultural heritage, and 

recreational values; 

• Provide opportunities for future 

generations to enjoy the natural and 

cultural resources, cultural heritage, and 

recreational values of CACO; and 

• Develop management solutions that 

address concerns related to the current 

hunting program to ensure diverse and 

high quality public experiences. 

The chosen alternative as documented 

by the ROD, was Alternative B— 

Develop a Modified Hunting Program. 

Through Alternative B, CACO seeks to 

increase hunting opportunities for 

native upland game bird species, 

including turkey, by establishing a 

turkey season generally consistent with 

MDFW regulations and making ancillary 

improvements to upland game bird 

habitat. The alternative would phase out 

pheasant stocking and hunting through 

adaptive management actions aimed at 

improving the availability of native 

upland game bird species. Hunting areas 

would be consolidated and clearly 

delineated and educational outreach 

concerning hunting would be expanded 

to hunting and non-hunting users. The 

NPS and MDFW would cooperatively 

monitor and manage game and other 

species. 

Alternative B, implemented in part 

through the proposed rule, will increase 

hunting opportunities for native upland 


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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2011 / Proposed Rules 15889 

game bird species. Eastern Wild Turkeys 

and Northern Bobwhite Quail are native 

species that were traditionally hunted 

on Cape Cod. Both turkeys and quail 

were extirpated from Cape Cod and 

other parts of New England in the past, 

but populations have now been restored 

to the point where MDFW has allowed 

hunting for some time. 

The proposed rule will restore 

opportunities to hunt turkey by 

modifying the dates when turkey 

hunting is allowed within CACO, but 

does not expand hunting for any other 

species. Fall turkey hunting will also be 

allowed within CACO if MDFW 

establishes a fall season for the MDFW 

Southeast Region, which includes 

CACO. 

Due to the limited turkey habitat 

within CACO, turkey hunting will be a 

controlled hunt, limiting the number of 

hunters, and will require hunters to 

obtain a NPS permit. Issuance of the 

permits may be managed through a 

lottery system. Specific areas will be 

designated as open to turkey hunting, 

generally for two to four weeks during 

the MDFW designated season. 

Continuation of this program will be 

based on monitoring of the annual hunt 

by MDFW, and responsive management, 

to ensure NPS goals regarding natural 

resource protection, visitor experience, 

and safety are met. 

Alternative B requires the NPS to 

designate areas where hunting is 

permitted, replacing the current policy 

that allows hunting in all areas except 

where specifically prohibited (which 

had been designated by the posting of 

signs and maps). Some small patches of 

land that are of only minimal value for 

hunting will be closed to hunting. The 

no-hunting buffer adjacent to bike paths 

will be increased from 150 feet to 500 

feet. Hunting areas may be further 

adjusted if necessary to meet public 

safety needs, and any changes will be 

made through the authority of the rule, 

and published in the superintendent’s 

compendium. These changes will 

provide added protection for visitors 

using the bike paths; should result in 

more predictable areas where hunting 

activity is likely to be encountered; and 

will provide consistent buffers for 

hunting set-backs from roads, buildings, 

and bike paths. Further, the changes 

will facilitate more efficient monitoring 

by law enforcement staff and will 

minimally reduce hunting 

opportunities. Maps of the areas where 

hunting is allowed, along with 

applicable CACO and MDFW 

regulations, will be made readily 

available at various locations within 

CACO, and will be integrated into 

educational outreach materials. 

Updating the 1984 Special Regulation 

CACO’s hunting program has 

generally followed the Commonwealth 

of Massachusetts’ program, 

administered by the MDFW, with 

additional specific provisions or 

restrictions as necessary to meet park 

objectives and NPS policies. CACO 

regards MDFW as a key expert agency, 

with the State and region-wide 

perspective important for determining 

hunting seasons, bag limits, and other 

elements of a sound hunting program. 

As a result, management of hunting at 

CACO is best accomplished through 

close coordination between CACO and 

MDFW. CACO has adopted many of the 

State’s regulations without additional 

restrictions, although the ultimate 

responsibility for developing and 

managing an appropriate hunting 

program for CACO rests with the NPS. 

The current special regulation 

controlling hunting at CACO was 

promulgated through a proposed and 

final rule (48 FR 56971, December 27, 

1983; and 49 FR 18442, April 30, 1984). 

That rulemaking recognized that the 

superintendent needed the discretion 

afforded by 36 CFR 1.5, Closures and 

public use limits, to designate 

appropriate locations where hunting is 

allowed, and to impose reasonable 

limits or restrictions necessary to 

address park specific issues such as 

public safety, resource protection and 

visitor use concerns. The proposed rule 

would authorize a new hunt during a 

time that previously was closed to 

hunting. It also creates a CACO-specific 

discretionary authority for the 

superintendent, consistent with the 

public notice requirement of 36 CFR 1.7, 

to require permits where appropriate 

and ensure that potential park specific 

issues such as public safety, resource 

protection, and visitor use can be 

addressed should they arise. 

For example, at the time the FEIS 

(July 2007) and the ROD (September 

2007), were completed, the MDFW had 

a two week spring turkey hunting 

season, at the end of April to early May. 

The FEIS/ROD statements of being 

‘‘consistent with’’ the State season and 

‘‘expand CACO’s hunting season to 

accommodate the State’s spring turkey 

hunt’’ was written in the context of the 

two week season. Since that date, the 

State has expanded its spring turkey 

season from two to four weeks, ending 

in late May. Due to possible user 

conflicts that may arise in late May, the 

CACO superintendent, using 

discretionary authority of the rule, will 

set the closing date of the season. CACO 

will strive to be consistent with the 

MDFW’s turkey season dates, to avoid 

confusion, however the superintendent 

will have the discretion to adjust 

CACO’s closing date, based on factors 

such as safety, use patterns, and the 

park’s best interest. 

Other locations within Massachusetts, 

such as the Massachusetts Military 

Reservation, have their own special 

regulations that have different dates 

than the standard dates/times 

established by the MDFW, in order to 

authorize hunting activities that are 

compatible with their land management 

concerns. The superintendent’s 

discretion in this case would be similar 

to this established practice. The public 

will be notified of the spring turkey 

closing date, and other special 

conditions for the CACO hunting 

program, which will also be published 

in the superintendent’s compendium. 

Reduced Public Comment Period 

The NPS intends the public be given 

the greatest possible opportunity to 

comment, while simultaneously 

recognizing that a delay in the 

rulemaking process is impracticable, 

and will not allow sufficient time to 

establish a spring 2011 turkey season, 

consistent with the start date identified 

by the State of Massachusetts for 

Wildlife Management Zone 12 (which 

includes CACO). Further, if there is a 

delay in the rulemaking process, CACO 

and the MDFW will not have sufficient 

time to notify the public of the 

regulatory change. 

The proposed rule follows an 

extensive environmental analysis 

process described below, which 

concluded with the publication of a 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

and subsequent Record of Decision that 

allows for implementation of this rule. 

The environmental analysis included a 

series of public meetings and a 60-day 

period for comment. The comments 

received from the public were 

considered while evaluating the 

alternatives in the FEIS resulting in the 

selection of Alternative B, which 

included establishing turkey hunting 

consistent with MDFW regulations. In 

developing the rule, the NPS consulted 

with the MDFW, which strongly 

supports a spring 2011 season. The 

National Wild Turkey Federation and 

more than a dozen Cape Cod sporting 

groups in the Barnstable League, 

including among others, the Highland 

Fish and Game Club, the Brewster Rod 

and Gun Club and the Bass River Rod 

and Gun Club, have also collectively 

strongly urged the NPS to initiate a 

turkey season this spring. 

Finally, the failure to establish a 

spring 2011 season will have a direct 

negative effect on the economy of the 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with PROPOSALS
15890 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

local communities as a result of lost 

sales of goods and services to turkey 

hunters. The NPS therefore finds that 

timely action is required, and consistent 

with 318 DM 5, is reducing the public 

comment period from 60 to 30 days. 

Compliance With Other Laws and 

Executive Orders 

Regulatory Planning and Review 

(Executive Order 12866) 

This document is not a significant 

rule and the Office of Management and 

Budget has not reviewed this rule under 

Executive Order 12866. 

(1) This rule will not have an effect of 

$100 million or more on the economy. 

It will not adversely affect in a material 

way the economy, productivity, 

competition, jobs, the environment, 

public health or safety, or State, local, 

or Tribal governments or communities. 

(2) This rule will not create a serious 

inconsistency or otherwise interfere 

with an action taken or planned by 

another agency. This is an agency 

specific rule. 

(3) This rule does not alter the 

budgetary effects of entitlements, grants, 

user-fees, or loan programs or the rights 

or obligations of their recipients. 

(4) This rule does not raise novel legal 

or policy issues. The rule meets the 

requirements of the NPS general 

regulations at 36 CFR 2.2(b)(2). 

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 

The Department of the Interior 

certifies that this document will not 

have a significant economic effect on a 

substantial number of small entities 

under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 

(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 

Fairness Act (SBREFA) 

This rule is not a major rule under 

5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business 

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. 

This rule: 

a. Does not have an annual effect on 

the economy of $100 million or more. 

The rule will benefit small businesses in 

the local communities through the sale 

of goods and services to turkey hunters. 

b. Will not cause a major increase in 

costs or prices for consumers, 

individual industries, Federal, State, or 

local government agencies, or 

geographic regions. The rule will not 

impose restrictions on business in the 

local communities in the form of fees, 

recordkeeping or other requirements 

that would increase costs. 

c. Does not have significant adverse 

effects on competition, employment, 

investment, productivity, innovation, or 

the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to 

compete with foreign-based enterprises. 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

(UMRA) 

This rule does not impose an 

unfunded mandate on State, local, or 

Tribal governments or the private sector 

of more than $100 million per year. The 

rule does not have a significant or 

unique effect on State, local or Tribal 

governments or the private sector. A 

statement containing the information 

required by the UMRA (2 U.S.C. 1531 

et seq.) is not required. 

Takings (Executive Order 12630) 

Under the criteria in Executive Order 

12630, this rule does not have 

significant takings implications. A 

takings implication assessment is not 

required. 

Federalism (Executive Order 13132) 

Under the criteria in Executive Order 

13132, the rule sufficient federalism 

implications to warrant the preparation 

of a Federalism summary impact 

statement. A Federalism summary 

impact statement is not required. 

Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 

12988) 

This rule complies with the 

requirements of Executive Order 12988. 

Specifically this rule: 

(a) Meets the requirements of section 

3(a) requiring all regulations be 

reviewed to eliminate errors and 

ambiguity and be written to minimize 

litigation; and 

(b) Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2) 

requiring that all regulations be written 

in clear language and contain clear legal 

standards. 

Consultation With Indian Tribes 

(Executive Order 13175) 

Under the criteria in Executive Order 

13175 we have evaluated this rule and 

determined that it has no potential 

effects on Federally recognized Indian 

Tribes. 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 

This rule does not contain 

information collection requirements and 

a submission under the PRA is not 

required. An individual seeking a NPS 

turkey hunting permit will only be 

required to present a drivers license, 

vehicle registration and Massachusetts 

State Hunting license, to ensure 

compliance with legal requirements, to 

verify the identity of the applicants and 

facilitate management of emergent or 

other incidents if they occur. OMB 

regulations at 5 CFR 1320.3(h) define 

this action as an exemption to the 

requirements of the PRA. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) 

This rule implements a portion of a 

major Federal action significantly 

affecting the quality of the human 

environment. CACO formally initiated 

the NEPA process with a Notice of 

Intent (NOI) to prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

on the Cape Cod National Seashore 

Hunting Program. CACO published the 

NOI in the Federal Register on June 21, 

2004. A series of public and agency 

scoping meetings followed to solicit 

input on hunting in the park from 

American Indian Tribes, Federal and 

State agencies and local towns, the 

public and interested groups. Using the 

information gathered during the scoping 

process, CACO prepared a Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement (Draft 

EIS) for public review and comment. 

The comment period opened on April 

21, 2006, with the Environmental 

Protection Agency’s publication of a 

Notice of Availability (NOA) in the 

Federal Register, and closed on June 19, 

2006, 60 days later. Two public 

meetings were held during the 60-day 

review period to receive oral comment. 

The availability of the Draft EIS and the 

dates and times of the public meetings 

were also publicized through a second 

NOA published by the NPS in the 

Federal Register on May 10, 2006, and 

through press releases sent to local 

newspapers and radio stations. Over 200 

comments were received on the Draft 

EIS. These comments were used to 

improve the Draft and produce the Final 

EIS. 

Completion of the Final EIS was 

noticed in the Federal Register by the 

DOI and EPA on August 7 and August 

10, 2007, respectively. The Record of 

Decision (ROD) was signed on 

September 18, 2007. The chosen 

alternative was Alternative B—Develop 

a Modified Hunting Program. The Final 

EIS and ROD may be reviewed at: 

http://www.nps.gov/caco/parkmgmt/ 

planning. 

Information Quality Act (IQA) 

In developing this rule we did not 

conduct or use a study, experiment or 

survey requiring peer review under the 

Information Quality Act (Pub. L. 106– 

554). 

Effects on the Energy Supply (Executive 

Order 13211) 

This rule is not a significant energy 

action under the definition in Executive 

Order 13211. A statement of Energy 

Effects is not required. 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2011 / Proposed Rules 15891 

Clarity of This Rule 

We are required by Executive Orders 

12866 and 12988 and by the 

Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 

1998, to write all rules in plain 

language. This means that each rule we 

publish must: 

(a) Be logically organized; 

(b) Use the active voice to address 

readers directly; 

(c) Use clear language rather than 

jargon; 

(d) Be divided into short sections and 

sentences; and 

(e) Use lists and tables wherever 

possible. 

If you feel that we have not met these 

requirements, send us comments by one 

of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES

section. To better help us revise the 

rule, your comments should be as 

specific as possible. For example, you 

should tell us the numbers of the 

sections or paragraphs that are unclearly 

written, which sections or sentences are 

too long, the sections where you feel 

lists or tables would be useful, etc. 

Drafting Information 

The primary authors of this regulation 

were Stephen Prokop, former Chief 

Ranger CACO; Bob Grant, Chief Ranger 

CACO; Carrie Phillips, former Chief of 

Resources Management, CACO; Robin 

Lepore, Office of the Regional Solicitor, 

Department of the Interior; Philip A. 

Selleck, Associate Regional Director, 

Operations and Education, National 

Park Service, National Capital Region; 

Russel J. Wilson, Chief Regulations and 

Special Park Uses, National Park 

Service, Washington, DC; and A.J. 

North, Regulations Coordinator, 

National Park Service, Washington, DC. 

Public Participation 

Instructions: All submissions received 

must include the agency name and 

docket number or Regulation Identifier 

Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. All 

comments received will be posted 

without change to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information provided. 

Public Availability of Comments 

Before including your address, phone 

number, e-mail 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. 

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. 

List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 7 

National Parks, Hunting, Reporting 

and recordkeeping requirements. 

For the reasons stated in the 

preamble, the National Park Service 

proposes to amend 36 CFR part 7 as 

follows: 

PART 7—SPECIAL REGULATIONS, 

AREAS OF THE NATIONAL PARK 

SYSTEM 

1. The authority citation for Part 7 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1, 3, 9a, 462(k); Sec. 

7.96 also issued under 36 U.S.C. 501–511, DC 

Code 10–137 (2001) and DC Code 50–2201 

(2001). 

2. In § 7.67 revise paragraph (f) to read 

as follows: 

§ 7.67 Cape Cod National Seashore. 

* * * * * 

(f) Hunting. (1) Hunting is allowed at 

times and locations designated by the 

Superintendent as open to hunting. 

(2) Except as otherwise provided in 

this section, hunting is permitted in 

accordance with § 2.2 of this chapter. 

(3) Only deer, upland game (including 

Eastern Wild Turkey), and migratory 

waterfowl may be hunted. 

(4) Hunting is prohibited from March 

1st through August 31st each year, 

except for the taking of Eastern Wild 

Turkey as designated by the 

superintendent. 

(5) The superintendent may: 

(i) Require permits and establish 

conditions for hunting. 

(ii) Temporarily limit, restrict, or 

terminate hunting access or activities 

after taking into consideration public 

health and safety, natural and cultural 

resource protection, and other 

management activities and objectives, 

such as those described in the Cape Cod 

National Seashore Hunting Program/ 

Final Environmental Impact Statement. 

(6) The public will be notified of such 

closures through one or more methods 

listed in § 1.7(a) of this chapter. 

(7) Violating a closure, designation, 

use or activity restriction or a term or 

condition of a permit is prohibited. 

Violating a term or condition of a permit 

may also result in the suspension or 

revocation of the permit by the 

superintendent. 

Dated: March 14, 2011. 

Will Shafroth, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and 

Wildlife and Parks. 

[FR Doc. 2011–6703 Filed 3–21–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–WV–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Patent and Trademark Office 

37 CFR Chapter I 

[Docket No. PTO–C–2011–0017] 

Improving Regulation and Regulatory 

Review 

AGENCY: United States Patent and 

Trademark Office, Commerce. 

ACTION: Request for information. 

SUMMARY: The United States Patent and 

Trademark Office (‘‘USPTO’’ or ‘‘Office’’) 

is preparing a preliminary plan to 

review its existing significant 

regulations in response to the 

President’s Executive Order 13563 on 

Improving Regulation and Regulatory 

Review. The purpose of this regulatory 

review is to determine whether any of 

these regulations should be modified, 

streamlined, expanded, or repealed in 

order to make the Office’s regulatory 

program more effective and less 

burdensome. More effective and less 

burdensome regulations will help the 

Office in its mission to foster innovation 

and competitiveness through providing 

high quality and timely examination of 

patent and trademark applications, 

guiding domestic and international 

intellectual property policy, and 

delivering intellectual property 

information and education worldwide. 

The Office is asking the public to 

provide ideas and information about 

preparing such a review plan and to 

help the Office identify which 

regulations should be reviewed. 

DATES: You must submit any comments 

on or before April 21, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments 

electronically by e-mailing them 

directly to the Office at regulatory_

review_comments@uspto.gov. 

Comments may also be submitted by 

mail addressed to: Office of the General 

Counsel, United States Patent and 

Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 

Alexandria, VA 22313–1450, marked to 

the attention of Nicolas Oettinger. 

Although comments may be submitted 

by mail, the Office prefers to receive 

comments via the Internet. Comments 

may also be submitted through the 

Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at 

http://www.regulations.gov. Additional 

instructions on providing comments 

through the Federal eRulemaking Portal 

are available at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. All comments 

submitted directly to the Office or 

provided on the Federal eRulemaking 

Portal should include the docket 

number (PTO–P–2011–0017). 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with PROPOSALS