[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45793-45794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21124]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 36

[Docket No. FWS-R7-NWRS-2017-0058; FF07R00000 178 FXRS12610700000]


Refuge-Specific Regulation; Public Use; Kenai National Wildlife 
Refuge

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Regulatory review.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) intends to initiate a 
rulemaking process that will consider changes to public use regulations 
that are applicable to Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and that were 
promulgated on May 5, 2016.

DATES: October 2, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The final rule that is the subject of this document may be 
found at www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-R7-NWRS-2017-0058.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Mollnow, Division of Natural 
Resources Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System--Alaska, 1011 E. Tudor 
Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; telephone: (907) 786-3326; facsimile: (907) 
786-3901; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b79726a65546664676765647c4b6d7c78256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c9bbb0a8a796a4a6a5a5a7a6be89afbebae7aea6bf">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 5, 2016, the FWS published a final 
rule to amend its regulations in title 50 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) in part 36 regarding public use of Kenai National 
Wildlife Refuge (81 FR 27030). The final rule became effective on June 
6, 2016. The provisions of the final rule:
    (1) amended regulations regarding use of aircraft, motorboats, 
motorized vehicles, and snowmobiles;
    (2) codified historic restrictions on hunting and trapping within 
the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area (WRA) consistent with the 2007 
Skilak WRA final revised management plan;
    (3) expanded a prohibition on the discharge of firearms to include 
areas of intensive public use along the Russian and Kenai Rivers;

[[Page 45794]]

    (4) clarified the intent of existing regulations that require a 
special use permit for hunting black bears over bait by specifying that 
only the take of black bears is authorized under this requirement;
    (5) amended regulations associated with camping, use of public use 
cabins, and public use facilities;
    (6) established permanent regulations for managing wildlife 
attractants in the Russian River Special Management Area to reduce 
potential for human-bear conflicts; and
    (7) established regulations allowing for noncommercial gathering of 
edible wild foods and shed antlers.
    The FWS intends to initiate a rulemaking process that will consider 
changes to the May 5, 2016, final rule (81 FR 27030) that was codified 
at 50 CFR part 36. Throughout this process, the FWS will consider the 
purposes of Secretarial Order 3347 (``Conservation Stewardship and 
Outdoor Recreation''): Enhanced conservation stewardship, increased 
opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, 
for all Americans, and improved management of game species and their 
habitat. The FWS will also identify ways to improve cooperation, 
consultation, and communication with State of Alaska wildlife managers 
regarding recreational hunting and fishing.
    At this time, the FWS is not accepting comments on the upcoming 
rulemaking process. When we publish a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register, the FWS will comply with all applicable laws governing the 
rulemaking process, including the requirement under 5 U.S.C. 553 to 
provide an opportunity for public comment on any proposed regulatory 
changes.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 460k et seq., 668dd-668ee, 3101 et seq.

Todd Willens,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2017-21124 Filed 9-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P


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