Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Proposed Rules 48649 

outlining our reasons for this 

determination in the Federal Register 

on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244). 

References Cited 

A complete list of references cited is 

available on http://www.regulations.gov 

under Docket Number FWS–R4–ES– 

2019–0014. 

Authority 

The authority for this action is the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 

Authors 

The primary authors of this proposed 

rule are the staff members of the Branch 

of Delisting and Foreign Species, 

Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17 

Endangered and threatened species, 

Exports, Imports, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements, 

Transportation. 

Proposed Regulation Promulgation 

Accordingly, we hereby propose to 

amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter 

I, title 50 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations, as follows: 

PART 17—ENDANGERED AND 

THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 17 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361–1407; 1531– 

1544; and 4201–4245; unless otherwise 

noted. 

■ 2. Amend § 17.11(h) by adding an 

entry for ‘‘Caribou, barren-ground 

[Dolphin and Union caribou DPS]’’ in 

alphabetical order under Mammals to 

the List of Endangered and Threatened 

Wildlife, to read as follows: 

§ 17.11 Endangered and threatened 

wildlife. 

* * * * * 

(h) * * * 

Common name Scientific name Where listed Status Listing citations and applicable 

rules 

MAMMALS

* * * * * * * 

Caribou, barren-ground [Dolphin 

and Union caribou DPS].

Rangifer tarandus 

groenlandicus.

Canada (Victoria Island, Canadian Mainland in Nunavut and 

Northwest Territories).

T [Federal Register citation when 

published as a final rule]; 50 

CFR 17.40(t). 4d

* * * * * * * 

■ 3. Amend § 17.40 by adding paragraph 

(t) to read as follows: 

§ 17.40 Special rules—mammals. 

* * * * * 

(t) Caribou, barren-ground [Dolphin 

and Union caribou distinct population 

segment (DPS)] (Rangifer tarandus 

groenlandicus). 

(1) Prohibitions. Except as provided 

under paragraph (t)(2) of this section 

and §§ 17.4–17.5, it is unlawful for any 

person subject to the jurisdiction of the 

United States to commit, to attempt to 

commit, to solicit another to commit, or 

to cause to be committed, any of the 

following acts with regard to this 

species: 

(i) Import or export, as set forth for 

endangered wildlife at § 17.21(b). 

(ii) Interstate or foreign commerce in 

the course of commercial activity, as set 

forth for endangered wildlife at 

§ 17.21(e). 

(iii) Sale or offer for sale, as set forth 

for endangered wildlife at § 17.21(f). 

(2) Exceptions from prohibitions. 

With regard to this species, you may: 

(i) Import personal sport-hunted 

trophies legally hunted in and exported 

from Canada with accompanying 

hunting tags. 

(ii) Conduct activities as authorized 

by permit under § 17.32. 

(iii) Conduct activities as authorized 

by a captive-bred wildlife registration 

for endangered wildlife under 

§ 17.21(g). 

Martha Williams, 

Principal Deputy Director, Exercising the 

Delegated Authority of the Director, U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18098 Filed 8–30–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

50 CFR Part 20 

[Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2021–0057; 

FF09M22000–212–FXMB1231099BPP0] 

RIN 1018–BF07 

Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed 

2022–23 Migratory Game Bird Hunting 

Regulations (Preliminary) With 

Requests for Indian Tribal Proposals; 

Notification of Meetings 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; availability of 

supplemental information. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (Service or we) proposes to 

establish annual hunting regulations for 

certain migratory game birds for the 

2022–23 hunting season. We annually 

prescribe outside limits (frameworks) 

within which States may select hunting 

seasons. This proposed rule provides 

the regulatory schedule, announces the 

Service Migratory Bird Regulations 

Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council 

meetings, describes the proposed 

regulatory alternatives for the 2022–23 

general duck seasons and preliminary 

proposals that vary from the 2021–22 

hunting season regulations, and requests 

proposals from Indian Tribes that wish 

to establish special migratory game bird 

hunting regulations on Federal Indian 

reservations and ceded lands. Migratory 

bird hunting seasons provide 

opportunities for recreation and 

sustenance; aid Federal, State, and 

Tribal governments in the management 

of migratory game birds; and permit 

harvests at levels compatible with 

migratory game bird population status 

and habitat conditions. 

DATES:

Comments: You may comment on the 

general duck season regulatory 

alternatives and other preliminary 

proposals for the 2022–23 season until 

September 30, 2021. In subsequent 

Federal Register documents, you will be 

given an opportunity to submit 

comments on the proposed frameworks 

(see Schedule of Biological Information 

Availability, Regulations Meetings and 

Federal Register Publications for the 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
48650 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

2022–23 Hunting Season at the end of 

this proposed rule for further 

information). Tribes must submit 

proposals and related comments on or 

before December 1, 2021. 

Meetings: The SRC will meet on 

September 28–29, 2021, to consider and 

develop proposed regulations for the 

2022–23 migratory game bird hunting 

seasons. Meetings on both days will 

commence at approximately 11 a.m. 

(Eastern) and are open to the public. 

ADDRESSES: 

Comments: You may submit 

comments on the proposals by one of 

the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

on Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2021– 

0057. 

• U.S. mail: Public Comments 

Processing, Attn: FWS–HQ–MB–2021– 

0057; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 

MS: PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls 

Church, VA 22041–3803. 

We will not accept emailed or faxed 

comments. We will post all comments 

on http://www.regulations.gov. This 

generally means that your entire 

submission—including any personal 

identifying information—will be posted 

on the website. See Public Comments, 

below, for more information. 

Meetings: The September 28–29, 

2021, SRC meeting will be conducted in 

person and or by video-teleconference. 

The meeting is open to the public. 

Meeting details and opportunities for 

the public to listen to and observe the 

meeting will be posted at https://

www.fws.gov/birds when they become 

available. 

Accommodation requests: The 

Service is committed to providing 

access to the SRC meeting for all 

participants and observers. Please direct 

all requests for sign language 

interpreting services, closed captioning, 

or other accommodation needs to the 

person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT by close of 

business on September 1, 2021. If you 

use a telecommunications device for the 

deaf (TDD), call the Federal Relay 

Service at 800–877–8339. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jerome Ford, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Department of the Interior, 

(202) 208–1050. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Process for Establishing Annual 

Migratory Game Bird Hunting 

Regulations 

As part of the Department of the 

Interior’s 2015 retrospective regulatory 

review, we changed our process for 

developing migratory game bird hunting 

regulations with the goal of enabling the 

State agencies to select and publish 

their season dates earlier than was 

allowed under the prior process. We 

provided a detailed overview of this 

process in the August 6, 2015, Federal 

Register (80 FR 47388). This proposed 

rule is the first in a series of proposed 

and final rules that establish regulations 

for the 2022–23 migratory bird hunting 

season. 

Background and Overview 

Migratory game birds are those bird 

species so designated in conventions 

between the United States and several 

foreign nations for the protection and 

management of these birds. Under the 

Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 

703–712), the Secretary of the Interior is 

authorized to determine when ‘‘hunting, 

taking, capture, killing, possession, sale, 

purchase, shipment, transportation, 

carriage, or export of any such bird, or 

any part, nest, or egg’’ of migratory game 

birds can take place, and to adopt 

regulations for this purpose (16 U.S.C. 

704(a)). These regulations are written 

after giving due regard to ‘‘the zones of 

temperature and to the distribution, 

abundance, economic value, breeding 

habits, and times and lines of migratory 

flight of such birds’’ (16 U.S.C. 704(a)), 

and are updated annually. This 

responsibility has been delegated to the 

Service as the lead Federal agency for 

managing and conserving migratory 

birds in the United States. However, 

migratory bird management is a 

cooperative effort of Federal, State, and 

Tribal governments. 

The Service annually develops 

migratory game bird hunting regulations 

by establishing the frameworks, or 

outside limits, for season dates, season 

lengths, shooting hours, bag and 

possession limits, and areas where 

migratory game bird hunting may occur. 

These frameworks are necessary to 

allow harvest at levels compatible with 

migratory game bird population status 

and habitat conditions. 

Acknowledging regional differences 

in hunting conditions, the Service has 

administratively divided the United 

States into four Flyways for the primary 

purpose of managing migratory game 

birds. Each Flyway (Atlantic, 

Mississippi, Central, and Pacific) has a 

Flyway Council, a formal organization 

generally composed of one member 

from each State within the Flyway, as 

well as Provinces in Canada that share 

migratory bird populations with the 

Flyway. The Flyway Councils, 

established through the Association of 

Fish and Wildlife Agencies, also assist 

in researching and providing migratory 

game bird management information for 

Federal, State, and Provincial 

governments, as well as private 

conservation entities and the general 

public. 

The process for adopting migratory 

game bird hunting regulations (50 CFR 

part 20) is constrained by three primary 

factors. Legal and administrative 

considerations dictate how long the 

rulemaking process will last. Most 

importantly, however, the biological 

cycle of migratory game birds controls 

the timing of data-gathering activities 

and thus the dates on which these 

results are available for consideration 

and deliberation. 

For the regulatory cycle, Service 

biologists gather, analyze, and interpret 

biological survey data and provide this 

information to all those involved in the 

process through a series of published 

status reports and presentations to 

Flyway Councils and other interested 

parties. Because the Service is required 

to take abundance of migratory game 

birds and other factors into 

consideration, the Service undertakes a 

number of surveys throughout the year 

in conjunction with Service Regional 

Offices, the Canadian Wildlife Service, 

and State and Provincial wildlifemanagement agencies. To determine the 

appropriate frameworks for each 

species, we consider factors such as 

population size and trend, geographical 

distribution, annual breeding effort, 

condition of breeding and wintering 

habitat, number of hunters, and 

anticipated harvest. After frameworks 

are established, States may select 

migratory game bird hunting seasons 

within these frameworks. States may 

always be more conservative in their 

selections than the Federal frameworks, 

but never more liberal. 

Service Migratory Bird Regulations 

Committee Meetings 

The SRC conducted an open meeting 

on April 6, 2021, to discuss preliminary 

issues for the 2022–23 regulations, and 

will conduct another meeting on 

September 28–29, 2021, to review 

information on the current status of 

migratory game birds and develop 

2022–23 migratory game bird 

regulations recommendations for these 

species. In accordance with 

Departmental policy, these meetings are 

open to public observation. You may 

submit written comments to the Service 

on the matters discussed. See DATES and 

ADDRESSES for information about these 

meetings. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Proposed Rules 48651 

Notice of Intent To Establish Open 

Seasons 

This document announces our intent 

to establish open hunting seasons for 

certain designated groups or species of 

migratory game birds for 2022–23 in the 

contiguous United States, Alaska, 

Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin 

Islands, under §§ 20.101 through 20.107, 

20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K of 50 

CFR part 20. For the 2022–23 migratory 

game bird hunting season, we will 

propose regulations for certain 

designated members of the avian 

families Anatidae (ducks, geese, and 

swans); Columbidae (doves and 

pigeons); Gruidae (cranes); Rallidae 

(rails, coots, and gallinules); and 

Scolopacidae (woodcock and snipe). We 

describe these proposals under 

Proposed 2022–23 Migratory Game Bird 

Hunting Regulations (Preliminary) in 

this document. We annually publish 

definitions of flyways and management 

units, and a description of the data used 

in and the factors affecting the 

regulatory process in proposed and final 

rules later in the regulations 

development process (see February 22, 

2021, Federal Register, 86 FR 10622, for 

the latest definitions and descriptions). 

Regulatory Schedule for 2022–23 

This document is the first in a series 

of proposed, supplemental, and final 

rulemaking documents for migratory 

game bird hunting regulations. We will 

publish additional supplemental 

proposals for public comment in the 

Federal Register as population, habitat, 

harvest, and other information become 

available. Major steps in the 2022–23 

regulatory cycle relating to open public 

meetings and Federal Register 

notifications are illustrated in the 

diagram at the end of this proposed rule. 

All publication dates of Federal 

Register documents are target dates. All 

sections of this and subsequent 

documents outlining hunting 

frameworks and guidelines are 

organized under numbered headings. 

These headings are: 

1. Ducks 

A. General Harvest Strategy 

B. Regulatory Alternatives 

C. Zones and Split Seasons 

D. Special Seasons/Species Management 

i. Early Teal Seasons 

ii. Early Teal/Wood Duck Seasons 

iii. Black Ducks 

iv. Canvasbacks 

v. Pintails 

vi. Scaup 

vii. Mottled Ducks 

viii. Wood Ducks 

ix. Youth and Veterans-Active Military 

Personnel Hunting Days 

x. Mallard Management Units 

xi. Other 

2. Sea Ducks 

3. Mergansers 

4. Canada Geese 

A. Special Early Seasons 

B. Regular Seasons 

C. Special Late Seasons 

5. White-fronted Geese 

6. Brant 

7. Snow and Ross’s (Light) Geese 

8. Swans 

9. Sandhill Cranes 

10. Coots 

11. Gallinules 

12. Rails 

13. Snipe 

14. Woodcock 

15. Band-Tailed Pigeons 

16. Doves 

17. Alaska 

18. Hawaii 

19. Puerto Rico 

20. Virgin Islands 

21. Falconry 

22. Other 

This and subsequent documents will 

refer only to numbered items requiring 

attention. We will omit those items not 

requiring attention, and remaining 

numbered items may be discontinuous 

and appear incomplete. 

The proposed regulatory alternatives 

for the 2022–23 duck hunting seasons 

are contained at the end of this 

document. We plan to publish final 

regulatory alternatives for duck seasons 

about fall 2021, proposed season 

frameworks about winter 2021, and final 

season frameworks near the end of 

February 2022. 

Review of Public Comments 

This proposed rulemaking contains 

the proposed regulatory alternatives for 

the 2022–23 general duck hunting 

seasons. This proposed rulemaking also 

describes other recommended changes 

or specific preliminary proposals that 

vary from the 2021–22 regulations and 

issues requiring early discussion, action, 

or the attention of the States or Tribes. 

We will publish responses to all 

proposals and written comments when 

we develop final frameworks for the 

2022–23 season. We seek additional 

information and comments on this 

proposed rule. 

Consolidation of Rulemaking 

Documents 

For administrative purposes, this 

document consolidates the notice of our 

intent to establish open migratory game 

bird hunting seasons and the request for 

Tribal proposals with the preliminary 

proposals for the annual hunting 

regulations-development process. We 

will publish the remaining proposed 

and final rulemaking documents 

separately. For inquiries on Tribal 

guidelines and proposals, Tribes should 

contact: 

Gregory Fleming, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service Headquarters, Division 

of Migratory Bird Management, 5275 

Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041; 

telephone: 703–358–2391; email: 

gregory_fleming@fws.gov. 

Requests for Tribal Proposals 

Background 

Beginning with the 1985–86 hunting 

season, we have employed guidelines 

described in the June 4, 1985, Federal 

Register (50 FR 23467) to establish 

special migratory game bird hunting 

regulations on Federal Indian 

reservations (including off-reservation 

trust lands) and ceded lands. We 

developed these guidelines in response 

to Tribal requests for our recognition of 

their reserved hunting rights, and for 

some Tribes, recognition of their 

authority to regulate hunting by both 

Tribal and nontribal members 

throughout their reservations. The 

guidelines include possibilities for: 

(1) On-reservation hunting by both 

Tribal and nontribal members, with 

hunting by nontribal members on some 

reservations to take place within Federal 

frameworks, but on dates different from 

those selected by the surrounding 

State(s); 

(2) On-reservation hunting by Tribal 

members only, outside of usual Federal 

frameworks for season dates, season 

length, and daily bag and possession 

limits; and 

(3) Off-reservation hunting by Tribal 

members on ceded lands, outside of 

usual framework dates and season 

length, with some added flexibility in 

daily bag and possession limits. 

In all cases, Tribal regulations 

established under the guidelines must 

be consistent with the annual March 11 

to August 31 closed season mandated by 

the 1916 Convention Between the 

United States and Great Britain (for 

Canada) for the Protection of Migratory 

Birds, as amended by the Protocol 

Between the Government of the United 

States of America and the Government 

of Canada Amending the 1916 

Convention Between the United 

Kingdom and the United States of 

America for the Protection of Migratory 

Birds in Canada and the United States. 

The guidelines are applicable to those 

Tribes that have reserved hunting rights 

on Federal Indian reservations 

(including off-reservation trust lands) 

and ceded lands. They also may be 

applied to the establishment of 

migratory game bird hunting regulations 

for nontribal members on all lands 

within the exterior boundaries of 

reservations where Tribes have full 

wildlife-management authority over 


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48652 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

such hunting, or where the Tribes and 

affected States otherwise have reached 

agreement over hunting by nontribal 

members on non-Indian lands. 

Tribes usually have the authority to 

regulate migratory game bird hunting by 

nonmembers on Indian-owned 

reservation lands, subject to our 

approval. The question of jurisdiction is 

more complex on reservations that 

include lands owned by non-Indians, 

especially when the surrounding States 

have established or intend to establish 

regulations governing migratory bird 

hunting by non-Indians on these lands. 

In such cases, we encourage the Tribes 

and States to reach agreement on 

regulations that would apply throughout 

the reservations. When appropriate, we 

will consult with a Tribe and State with 

the aim of facilitating an accord. We 

also will consult jointly with Tribal and 

State officials in the affected States 

where Tribes may wish to establish 

special hunting regulations for Tribal 

members on ceded lands. It is 

incumbent upon the Tribe and/or the 

State to request consultation as a result 

of the proposal being published in the 

Federal Register. We will not presume 

to make a determination, without being 

advised by either a Tribe or a State, that 

any issue is or is not worthy of formal 

consultation. 

One of the guidelines provides for the 

continuation of Tribal members’ harvest 

of migratory game birds on reservations 

where such harvest is a customary 

practice. We are supportive of this 

harvest provided it does not take place 

during the closed season required by the 

Convention and it is not so large as to 

adversely affect the status of the 

migratory game bird resource. Since the 

inception of these guidelines, we have 

reached annual agreement with Tribes 

for migratory game bird hunting by 

Tribal members on their lands or on 

lands where they have reserved hunting 

rights. We will continue to consult with 

Tribes that wish to reach a mutual 

agreement on hunting regulations for 

on-reservation hunting by Tribal 

members. These guidelines provide 

appropriate opportunity to 

accommodate the reserved hunting 

rights and management authority of 

Indian Tribes while also ensuring that 

the migratory game bird resource 

receives necessary protection. The 

conservation of this important 

international resource is paramount. 

Use of the guidelines is not required if 

a Tribe wishes to observe the hunting 

regulations established by the State(s) in 

which the reservation is located. 

Details Needed in Tribal Proposals 

Tribes that wish to use the guidelines 

to establish special hunting regulations 

for the 2022–23 migratory game bird 

hunting season should submit a 

proposal that includes: (1) The 

requested migratory game bird hunting 

season dates and other details regarding 

the proposed regulations; (2) harvest 

anticipated under the proposed 

regulations; and (3) Tribal capabilities to 

enforce migratory game bird hunting 

regulations. For those situations where 

limited capabilities to enforce 

regulations could result in harvest levels 

that significantly impact the migratory 

game bird resource, we also request 

information on the methods employed 

to monitor harvest and any potential 

measures to limit harvest levels. 

A Tribe that desires the earliest 

possible opening of the migratory game 

bird season for nontribal members 

should specify this request in its 

proposal, rather than request a date that 

might not be within the final Federal 

frameworks. Similarly, unless a Tribe 

wishes to set more restrictive 

regulations than Federal regulations will 

permit for nontribal members, the 

proposal should request the same daily 

bag limit, possession limit, and season 

length for migratory game birds that 

Federal regulations are likely to permit 

for the States in the Flyway in which 

the reservation is located. 

Tribal Proposal Procedures 

We will publish details of Tribal 

proposals for public review in later 

Federal Register documents. Because of 

the time required for review by us and 

the public, Tribes that desire special 

migratory game bird hunting regulations 

for the 2022–23 hunting season should 

submit their proposals no later than 

December 1, 2021. Tribes should direct 

inquiries regarding the guidelines and 

proposals to the person listed above 

under the caption Consolidation of 

Rulemaking Documents. Tribes that 

request special migratory game bird 

hunting regulations for Tribal members 

on ceded lands should send a courtesy 

copy of the proposal to officials in the 

affected State(s). 

Public Comments 

The Department of the Interior’s 

policy is, whenever practicable, to 

afford the public an opportunity to 

participate in the rulemaking process. 

Accordingly, we invite interested 

persons to submit written comments, 

suggestions, or recommendations 

regarding the proposed regulations. 

Before promulgation of final migratory 

game bird hunting regulations, we will 

take into consideration all comments we 

receive. Such comments, and any 

additional information we receive, may 

lead to final regulations that differ from 

these proposed rules. 

You may submit your comments and 

materials concerning this proposed rule 

by one of the methods listed in 

ADDRESSES. We will not accept 

comments sent by email or fax or to an 

address not listed in ADDRESSES. 

Finally, we will not consider mailed 

comments that are not postmarked by 

the date specified in DATES. We will post 

all comments in their entirety— 

including your personal identifying 

information—on http://

www.regulations.gov. Before including 

your address, phone number, email 

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. Comments and materials we 

receive, as well as supporting 

documentation we used in preparing 

this proposed rule, will be available for 

public inspection on http://

www.regulations.gov. 

For each series of proposed 

rulemakings, we will establish specific 

comment periods. We will consider, but 

may not respond in detail to, each 

comment. As in the past, we will 

summarize all comments we receive 

during the comment period and respond 

to them after the closing date in any 

final rules. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) Consideration 

The programmatic document, 

‘‘Second Final Supplemental 

Environmental Impact Statement: 

Issuance of Annual Regulations 

Permitting the Sport Hunting of 

Migratory Birds (EIS 20130139),’’ filed 

with the Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) on May 24, 2013, 

addresses NEPA compliance by the 

Service for issuance of the annual 

framework regulations for hunting of 

migratory game bird species. We 

published a notice of availability in the 

Federal Register on May 31, 2013 (78 

FR 32686), and our Record of Decision 

on July 26, 2013 (78 FR 45376). We also 

address NEPA compliance for waterfowl 

hunting frameworks through the annual 

preparation of separate environmental 

assessments, the most recent being 

‘‘Duck Hunting Regulations for 2021– 

22,’’ with its corresponding March 2021 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Proposed Rules 48653 

finding of no significant impact. In 

addition, an August 1985 environmental 

assessment entitled ‘‘Guidelines for 

Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations on 

Federal Indian Reservations and Ceded 

Lands’’ is available from the person 

listed above under the caption 

Consolidation of Rulemaking 

Documents. 

Endangered Species Act Consideration 

Before issuance of the 2022–23 

migratory game bird hunting 

regulations, we will comply with 

provisions of the Endangered Species 

Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 

1531–1543; hereinafter ‘‘the Act’’), to 

ensure that hunting is not likely to 

jeopardize the continued existence of 

any species designated as endangered or 

threatened or adversely modify or 

destroy its critical habitat and is 

consistent with conservation programs 

for those species. Consultations under 

section 7 of the Act may cause us to 

change proposals in future 

supplemental proposed rulemaking 

documents. 

Regulatory Planning and Review— 

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 provides 

that the Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will review 

all significant rules. OIRA has reviewed 

this rule and has determined that this 

rule is significant because it would have 

an annual effect of $100 million or more 

on the economy. 

E.O. 13563 reaffirms the principles of 

E.O. 12866 while calling for 

improvements in the nation’s regulatory 

system to promote predictability, to 

reduce uncertainty, and to use the best, 

most innovative, and least burdensome 

tools for achieving regulatory ends. E.O. 

13563 directs agencies to consider 

regulatory approaches that reduce 

burdens and maintain flexibility and 

freedom of choice for the public where 

these approaches are relevant, feasible, 

and consistent with regulatory 

objectives. E.O. 13563 emphasizes 

further that regulations must be based 

on the best available science and that 

the rulemaking process must allow for 

public participation and an open 

exchange of ideas. We have developed 

this rule in a manner consistent with 

these requirements. 

An economic analysis was prepared 

for the 2022–23 migratory bird hunting 

season. This analysis was based on data 

from the 2016 National Survey of 

Fishing, Hunting, and WildlifeAssociated Recreation (National 

Survey), the most recent year for which 

data are available (see discussion under 

Regulatory Flexibility Act, below). This 

analysis estimated consumer surplus for 

three alternatives for duck hunting 

regulations. As defined by the U.S. 

Office of Management and Budget in 

Circular A–4, consumers’ surplus is the 

difference between what a consumer 

pays for a unit of a good or service and 

the maximum amount the consumer 

would be willing to pay for that unit. 

The duck hunting regulatory 

alternatives are (1) issue restrictive 

regulations allowing fewer days than 

those issued during the 2021–22 season, 

(2) issue moderate regulations allowing 

more days than those in Alternative 1, 

and (3) issue liberal regulations similar 

to the regulations in the 2021–22 

season. For the 2021–22 season, we 

chose Alternative 3, with an estimated 

consumer surplus across all flyways of 

$270–$358 million with a mid-point 

estimate of $314 million. We also chose 

Alternative 3 for the 2009–10 through 

2020–21 seasons. The 2022–23 analysis 

is part of the record for this rule and is 

available at http://www.regulations.gov 

at Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2021– 

0057. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

The annual migratory bird hunting 

regulations have a significant economic 

impact on substantial numbers of small 

entities under the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). An Initial 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis was 

prepared to analyze the economic 

impacts of the annual hunting 

regulations on small business entities. 

This analysis is updated annually. The 

primary source of information about 

hunter expenditures for migratory game 

bird hunting is the National Survey, 

which is generally conducted at 5-year 

intervals. The 2021 analysis is based on 

the 2016 National Survey and the U.S. 

Department of Commerce’s County 

Business Patterns, from which it is 

estimated that migratory bird hunters 

would spend approximately $2.2 billion 

at small businesses in 2022. Copies of 

the analysis are available upon request 

from the person listed above under the 

caption Consolidation of Rulemaking 

Documents or from http://

www.regulations.gov at Docket No. 

FWS–HQ–MB–2021–0057. 

Clarity of the Rule 

We are required by E.O. 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 ADDRESSES. 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. 

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 

Fairness Act 

This proposed rule is a major rule 

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

Business Regulatory Enforcement 

Fairness Act. For the reasons outlined 

above, this rule would have an annual 

effect on the economy of $100 million 

or more. However, because this rule 

would establish hunting seasons, which 

are time sensitive, we do not plan to 

defer the effective date under the 

exemption contained in 5 U.S.C. 808(1). 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

This rule does not contain any new 

collection of information that requires 

approval by the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 

et seq.). OMB has previously approved 

the information collection requirements 

associated with migratory bird surveys 

and the procedures for establishing 

annual migratory bird hunting seasons 

under the following OMB control 

numbers: 

• 1018–0019, ‘‘North American 

Woodcock Singing Ground Survey’’ 

(expires 02/29/2024). 

• 1018–0023, ‘‘Migratory Bird 

Surveys, 50 CFR 20.20’’ (expires 04/30/ 

2023). Includes Migratory Bird Harvest 

Information Program, Migratory Bird 

Hunter Surveys, Sandhill Crane Survey, 

and Parts Collection Survey. 

• 1018–0171, ‘‘Establishment of 

Annual Migratory Bird Hunting 

Seasons, 50 CFR part 20’’ (expires 02/ 

29/2024). 

You may view the information 

collection request(s) at http://

www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, 

and a person is not required to respond 

to, a collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number. 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

We have determined and certify, in 

compliance with the requirements of the 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, 2 


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U.S.C. 1502 et seq., that this proposed 

rulemaking would not impose a cost of 

$100 million or more in any given year 

on local or State government or private 

entities. Therefore, this rule is not a 

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under 

the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

Civil Justice Reform—Executive Order 

12988 

The Department, in promulgating this 

proposed rule, has determined that this 

proposed rule will not unduly burden 

the judicial system and that it meets the 

requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 

of E.O. 12988. 

Takings Implication Assessment 

In accordance with E.O. 12630, this 

proposed rule, authorized by the 

Migratory Bird Treaty Act, does not 

have significant takings implications 

and does not affect any constitutionally 

protected property rights. This rule 

would not result in the physical 

occupancy of property, the physical 

invasion of property, or the regulatory 

taking of any property. In fact, this rule 

would allow hunters to exercise 

otherwise unavailable privileges and, 

therefore, would reduce restrictions on 

the use of private and public property. 

Energy Effects—Executive Order 13211 

E.O. 13211 requires agencies to 

prepare Statements of Energy Effects 

when undertaking certain actions. 

While this proposed rule is a significant 

regulatory action under E.O. 12866, it is 

not expected to adversely affect energy 

supplies, distribution, or use. Therefore, 

this action is not a significant energy 

action and no Statement of Energy 

Effects is required. 

Government-to-Government 

Relationship With Tribes 

In accordance with the President’s 

memorandum of April 29, 1994, 

‘‘Government-to-Government Relations 

with Native American Tribal 

Governments’’ (59 FR 22951), E.O. 

13175, and 512 DM 2, we have 

evaluated possible effects on Federally 

recognized Indian Tribes and have 

determined that there are de minimis 

effects on Indian trust resources. 

However, in this proposed rule, we 

solicit proposals for special migratory 

bird hunting regulations for certain 

Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, 

off-reservation trust lands, and ceded 

lands for the 2022–23 migratory bird 

hunting season. The resulting proposals 

are contained in a separate proposed 

rule published in spring and final rule 

published in summer 2022. Through 

this process to establish annual hunting 

regulations, we regularly coordinate 

with Tribes that are affected by this rule. 

Federalism Effects 

Due to the migratory nature of certain 

species of birds, the Federal 

Government has been given 

responsibility over these species by the 

Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We annually 

prescribe frameworks from which the 

States make selections regarding the 

hunting of migratory birds, and we 

employ guidelines to establish special 

regulations on Federal Indian 

reservations and ceded lands. This 

process preserves the ability of the 

States and Tribes to determine which 

seasons meet their individual needs. 

Any State or Tribe may be more 

restrictive in its regulations than the 

Federal frameworks at any time. The 

frameworks are developed in a 

cooperative process with the States and 

the Flyway Councils. This process 

allows States to participate in the 

development of frameworks from which 

they will make selections, thereby 

having an influence on their own 

regulations. These rules do not have a 

substantial direct effect on fiscal 

capacity, change the roles or 

responsibilities of Federal or State 

governments, or intrude on State policy 

or administration. Therefore, in 

accordance with E.O. 13132, these 

regulations do not have significant 

federalism effects and do not have 

sufficient federalism implications to 

warrant the preparation of a federalism 

summary impact statement. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 20 

Exports, Hunting, Imports, Reporting 

and recordkeeping requirements, 

Transportation, Wildlife. 

Authority 

The rules that eventually will be 

promulgated for the 2022–23 hunting 

season are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 

703–711, 712, and 742 a–j. 

Shannon A. Estenoz, 

Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and 

Parks. 

Proposed 2022–23 Migratory Game 

Bird Hunting Regulations (Preliminary) 

Pending current information on 

populations, harvest, and habitat 

conditions, and receipt of 

recommendations from the four Flyway 

Councils, we may defer specific 

regulatory proposals. Due to the 

coronavirus pandemic, several annual 

monitoring activities that provide 

information used in developing 

regulatory recommendations have been 

temporarily cancelled or otherwise 

impacted. We intend to follow existing 

harvest management strategies to the 

extent possible, although some 

modifications will be necessary due to 

the absence of status information for 

2021 for many species and populations 

of game birds. Service staff are in the 

process of developing adjustments to 

the strategies to accommodate this issue. 

Given the recent cancellations, we 

cannot provide specific changes at this 

time, but will detail the changes in 

subsequent rulemaking and notices 

published in the Federal Register. 

Issues requiring early discussion, action, 

or the attention of the States or Tribes 

are described below. 

1. Ducks 

Categories used to discuss issues 

related to duck harvest management are: 

(A) General Harvest Strategy, (B) 

Regulatory Alternatives, (C) Zones and 

Split Seasons, and (D) Special Seasons/ 

Species Management. Only those 

categories containing substantial 

recommendations are discussed below. 

A. General Harvest Strategy 

We will continue to use adaptive 

harvest management (AHM) to help 

determine appropriate duck-hunting 

regulations for the 2022–23 season. 

AHM is a tool that permits sound 

resource decisions in the face of 

uncertain regulatory impacts and 

provides a mechanism for reducing that 

uncertainty over time. We use an AHM 

protocol (decision framework) to 

evaluate four regulatory alternatives, 

each with a different expected harvest 

level, and choose the optimal regulation 

for duck hunting based on the status 

and demographics of mallards for the 

Mississippi, Central, and Pacific 

Flyways, and based on the status and 

demographics of a suite of four species 

(eastern waterfowl) in the Atlantic 

Flyway. We have specific AHM 

protocols that guide appropriate bag 

limits and season lengths for species of 

special concern, including black ducks, 

scaup, and pintails, within the general 

duck season. These protocols use the 

same outside season dates and lengths 

as those regulatory alternatives for the 

2022–23 general duck seasons. 

For the 2022–23 hunting season, we 

will continue to use independent 

optimizations to determine the 

appropriate regulatory alternative for 

mallard stocks in the Mississippi, 

Central, and Pacific Flyways and for 

eastern waterfowl in the Atlantic 

Flyway. This means that we will 

develop regulations for mid-continent 

mallards, western mallards, and eastern 

waterfowl independently based on the 

breeding stock that contributes 

primarily to each Flyway. We detailed 


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implementation of AHM protocols for 

mid-continent and western mallards in 

the July 24, 2008, Federal Register (73 

FR 43290), and for eastern waterfowl in 

the September 21, 2018, Federal 

Register (83 FR 47868). 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and 

associated travel restrictions and human 

health concerns in the United States and 

Canada, certain migratory bird 

monitoring surveys have been cancelled 

in 2021. This includes the Waterfowl 

Breeding Population and Habitat 

Survey, which provides status 

information for many species of 

waterfowl, including those used in our 

AHM protocols. Consequently, in some 

cases, we will need to deviate from our 

AHM protocols and other decision 

processes to address missing data from 

2021. We will adjust our AHM protocols 

and decision tools for general duck 

seasons and species of concern, 

including pintails, scaup, black ducks, 

canvasbacks, and wood ducks only to 

the extent necessary to inform the 

regulatory decisions for the 2022–23 

season. For existing AHM protocols, we 

propose to use the strategy for each 

flyway, but use the long-term data and 

models to predict 2021 spring 

abundances of ducks and habitat 

conditions in place of the spring 2021 

data, which will not be available. The 

predicted 2021 breeding populations 

would be used in combination with the 

most current policy matrix (e.g., 

breeding population and pond counts) 

to develop recommendations for the 

2022–23 hunting season. For other 

decision support tools such as those 

used for canvasback and blue-winged 

teal, similar to AHM protocols, we will 

develop statistical predictions of the 

2021 spring abundance of these species 

to inform harvest regulation decisions 

for the 2022–23 hunting season. We will 

work cooperatively with the Flyway 

Councils as we develop a plan for 

addressing missing data in regulatory 

decision-making for the 2022–23 

hunting season, and will post specific 

details about deviations from our AHM 

protocols and decision support tools on 

our website at https://www.fws.gov/ 

birds when they become available. 

B. Regulatory Alternatives 

The basic structure of the current 

regulatory alternatives for AHM was 

adopted in 1997. In 2002, based upon 

recommendations from the Flyway 

Councils, we extended framework dates 

in the ‘‘moderate’’ and ‘‘liberal’’ 

regulatory alternatives by changing the 

opening date from the Saturday nearest 

October 1 to the Saturday nearest 

September 24, and by changing the 

closing date from the Sunday nearest 

January 20 to the last Sunday in 

January. These extended dates were 

made available with no associated 

penalty in season length or bag limits. 

In 2018, we adopted a closing duck 

framework date of January 31 for the 

‘‘moderate’’ and ‘‘liberal’’ alternatives in 

the Atlantic Flyway as part of the 

Atlantic Flyway’s eastern waterfowl 

AHM protocol (83 FR 47868; September 

21, 2018). We subsequently extended 

the framework closing date to January 

31 across all four Flyways for the 2019– 

20 hunting season (84 FR 16152; April 

17, 2019). 

More recently, the John D. Dingell, Jr. 

Conservation, Management, and 

Recreation Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116–9, 

Dingell Act) amended the Migratory 

Bird Treaty Act to establish that the 

closing framework date for duck seasons 

will be January 31, unless a flyway 

chooses an earlier closing date. Thus, in 

2019, as directed by the Dingell Act, we 

adjusted the framework closing date 

under each regulatory alternative for all 

four Flyways to January 31 (84 FR 

42996; August 19, 2019). In 2020, we 

agreed to move the opening framework 

date to one week earlier in the 

restrictive regulatory alternative for the 

Mississippi and Central Flyways 

beginning with the 2021–22 season 

based on their recommendations (85 FR 

15870; March 19, 2020). 

For the 2022–23 general duck season, 

we propose to utilize the same 

regulatory alternatives that are in effect 

for the 2021–22 season (see table at the 

end of this proposed rule for specifics 

of the regulatory alternatives). 

Alternatives are specified for each 

Flyway and are designated as ‘‘RES’’ for 

the restrictive, ‘‘MOD’’ for the moderate, 

and ‘‘LIB’’ for the liberal alternative. We 

plan to finalize AHM regulatory 

alternatives for the 2022–23 season in 

the supplemental proposed rule, which 

we plan to publish by fall of 2021 (see 

Schedule of Biological Information 

Availability, Regulations Meetings and 

Federal Register Publications for the 

2022–23 Hunting Season at the end of 

this proposed rule for further 

information). We will propose a specific 

regulatory alternative in or around 

December 2021 for each of the Flyways 

to use for their 2022–23 seasons after 

status information and results from 

analytical adjustments to strategies 

become available in about late August 

2021. 

D. Special Seasons/Species 

Management 

xi. Other 

For the Atlantic Flyway, under the 

eastern waterfowl AHM protocol for the 

Atlantic Flyway, the mallard bag limit is 

not prescribed by the regulatory 

alternative but is instead based on a 

separate assessment of the harvest 

potential of eastern mallards. We will 

propose a specific mallard bag limit for 

the Atlantic Flyway in or around 

December 2021. 

Also, although not part of any current 

harvest management strategy, we 

propose to allow South Dakota and 

Nebraska to continue to conduct a pilot 

study during the 2022–23 duck season 

of a two-tier regulation system as 

described in the March 19, 2020, 

proposed rule (85 FR 15870). This 

would be the second year of a planned 

4-year pilot study. The intent of the twotier license study is to evaluate whether 

regulations that relax hunters’ 

requirement to identify duck species 

can improve waterfowl hunter 

recruitment and retention. Declines in 

waterfowl hunter numbers have been of 

concern to the Service and the Flyway 

Councils, prompting the development of 

recruitment, retention, and reactivation 

(R3) efforts in the conservation 

community. The study would allow 

each person to obtain one of two license 

types during the duck season. The first 

license type would allow a daily bag 

limit as specified in the current duck 

regulations (six ducks), along with 

attendant species and sex restrictions. 

The second license type would allow a 

daily bag limit of only three ducks, but 

they could be of any species or sex. 

Additional years of study would be 

contingent on whether results from the 

first duck season (2021–22) warrant 

additional investigation. Memoranda of 

agreements between the Service and the 

two States specify the purpose of the 

study and the roles and responsibilities 

of each party while conducting the pilot 

study. 

2. Sea Ducks 

During the April 6, 2021, SRC 

meeting, the Atlantic Flyway Council 

recommended three changes to the 

special sea duck season in the Atlantic 

Flyway: (1) Elimination of the special 

sea duck season; (2) reduction of the sea 

duck daily bag limit within the regular 

duck season to 4 ducks in the aggregate 

of which no more than 3 may be scoters, 

long-tailed ducks, or eiders, and no 

more than 1 may be a hen eider; and (3) 

retention of the exception that allows 

shooting of crippled waterfowl from a 

boat under power in the currently 

defined special sea duck areas in the 

Atlantic Flyway. The Atlantic Flyway 

Council and SRC will again discuss and 

consider proposing sea duck harvest 

regulations during the September 28–29, 

2021, SRC meeting. Any resultant 


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48656 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

recommended regulations will be 

included in the proposed season 

frameworks published in or around 

December 2021 (see Schedule of 

Biological Information Availability, 

Regulations Meetings and Federal 

Register Publications for the 2022–23 

Hunting Season at the end of this 

proposed rule). We are announcing 

these possible changes to sea duck 

hunting regulations in the Atlantic 

Flyway starting with the 2022–23 

season now to allow the greatest 

opportunity for public review and 

comment. 

Special season regulations are used to 

provide additional hunting opportunity 

for species considered to be underutilized or to address nuisance problems 

with overabundant species. We have 

authorized a special sea duck season 

(including eiders, long-tailed duck, and 

scoters) in the Atlantic Flyway since 

1938. By 1973, 13 of the 17 Atlantic 

Flyway States allowed special seasons 

consisting of 107 days with a daily bag 

limit of 7 sea ducks. We reduced the 

scoter daily bag limit to 4 ducks in 1993. 

In 2016, we reduced the season length 

from 107 to 60 days and the daily bag 

limit from 6 to 5 sea ducks of which no 

more than 4 may be eiders, long-tailed 

ducks, or scoters. The 2016 restrictions 

were anticipated to reduce average 

annual sea duck harvest by 

approximately 25 percent compared to 

average annual harvest during the 

period 2011–2015. See the March 28, 

2016, Federal Register (81 FR 17305) for 

a discussion of the Sea Duck Harvest 

Potential Assessment completed at that 

time. 

The changes to the Atlantic Flyway 

sea duck regulations did not achieve the 

target reduction in total sea duck 

harvest. Therefore, we are considering 

the changes recommended by the 

Atlantic Flyway Council due to the 

continued concern regarding the status 

and trends of sea duck populations in 

the Atlantic Flyway, and our desire to 

reduce sea duck harvest in the Atlantic 

Flyway below the average annual 

harvest observed during 2011–2015. 

Regarding the Council’s 

recommendation to retain the regulation 

exception that allows shooting of 

crippled waterfowl from a boat under 

power in the currently defined special 

sea duck area, we provide that the 

purpose of this regulation is to protect 

human safety and minimize duck 

crippling loss associated with hunting 

ducks at sea in the Atlantic Flyway 

regardless of the special sea duck 

season. 

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PROPOSED REGULA TORY ALTERNATIVES FOR THE 2022-23 GENERAL DUCK SEASONS 

ATLANTIC FLYWAY MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY CENTRAL FLYWAY lal PACIFIC FLYWAY lbllcl 

RES I MOD I LIB RES I MOD I LIB RES I MOD I LIB RES I MOD I LIB 

Beginning 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 1/2 hr. 

Shooting before before before before before before before before before before before before 

Time sunrise sunrise sunrise sunrise sunrise sunrise sunrise sunrise sunrise sunrise sunrise sunrise 

Ending 

Shooting Sunset Sunset Sunset Sunset Sunset Sunset Sunset Sunset Sunset Sunset Sunset Sunset 

Time 

Opening Oct. 1 Sat. nearest Sat. nearest Sat. nearest Sat. nearest Sat. nearest Sat. nearest Sat. nearest Sat. nearest Sat. nearest Sat. nearest Sat. nearest 

Date Seot. 24 Seot. 24 Sept. 24 Seot. 24 Sept. 24 Sept. 24 Seot. 24 Seot. 24 Oct. 1 Sept. 24 

Closing Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 

Date 

Season 30 45 60 30 45 60 39 60 74 60 86 

Lenath (in davs) 

Dailv Baa 3 6 6 3 6 6 3 6 6 4 7 

Soecies/Sex Limits within the Overall Daily Baa Limit 

Mallard (Total/Female) (d) (d) (d) 2/1 4/1 4/2 3/1 5/1 5/2 3/1 5/2 

(a) In the High Plains Mallard Management Unit, all regulations would be the same as the remainder of the Central Flyway, with the exception of season length. Additional days would 

be allowed under the various alternatives as follows: restrictive - 12, moderate and liberal - 23. Under all alternatives, additional days must be on or after the Saturday nearest 

December 10. 

(b) In the Columbia Basin Mallard Management Unit, all regulations would be the same as the remainder of the Pacific Flyway, with the exception of season length. Under all alternatives 

except the liberal alternative, an additional 7 days would be allowed. 

Seot. 24 

Jan.31 

107 

7 

712 

(c) In Alaska, framework dates, bag limits, and season length would be different from the remainder of the Pacific Flyway. The bag limit (depending on the area) would be 5-8 under the restrictive 

alternative, and 7-10 under the moderate and liberal alternatives. Under all alternatives, season length would be 107 days and framework dates would be Sep. 1-Jan. 26. 

(d) Under the proposed multi-stock AHM protocol for the Atlantic Flyway, the mallard bag limit would not be prescribed by the regulatory alternative. 
48658 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 31, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

[FR Doc. 2021–18742 Filed 8–30–21; 8:45 am] 

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SCHEDULE OF BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION AVAILABILITY, REGULATIONS MEETINGS AND 

FEDERAL REGISTER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE 2022-23 HUNTING SEASON 

SURVEY & ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE MEETING SCHEDULE FEDERAL REGISTER SCHEDULE 

March-Jure, 2021 July 10, 2021 

SPRING POPULATION SURVEYS I April 6, 2021 - Video-teleconference I PROPOSED RULEMAKING (PRELIMINARY) 

SRC Meeting WITH STATUS INFORMATION 

and ISSUES 

August 15, 2021 September 15, 2021 

WA7ERFOWL STATUS REPORT SUPPLEMENTAL PROPOSALS 

August 20, 2021 

AHM REPORT w/OPTIMAL ALTERNATIVES. 

WEBLESS and CRANE STATUS 

INFORMATION, DOVE and WOODCOCK I August 15 - September 15, 2021 

REGULATORY ALTERNATIVES, and FlywayTech And Council Meetings I HUNTER ACTIVITY and HARVEST REPORT 

I September 28-29, 2021 - Virtual 

SRC Regulatory Meeting I 

December 10, 2021 

PROPOSED SEASON FRAMEWORKS 

(30 Day Comment Period) 

December 15, 2021--January 31, 2022 

FALL and WIN7ER SURVEY 

INFORMATION for CRANES 

andWA7ERFOWL I March 2022 (at North American Confererce) 

FlywayCouncil Mtgs I 

February 25, 2022 

FINAL SEASON FRAMEWORKS 

Jure 1, 2022 

ALL HUNTING SEASONS SELECTIONS 

(Season Selections Due To USFWS April 30) 

I September 1, 2022 ard later 

ALL HUNTING SEASONS I