Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/03/2019-18954/migratory-bird-permits-regulations-concerning-a-depredation-order
Timestamp: 2020-01-18 08:41:53
Document Index: 185972460

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 21', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', '§\u200921', 'art 46', 'art 516', '§\u200921', '§\u200921']

Federal Register :: Migratory Bird Permits; Regulations Concerning a Depredation Order
A Rule by the Fish and Wildlife Service on 09/03/2019
This rule is effective October 3, 2019.
84 FR 45921
45921-45924 (4 pages)
Docket Number: FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0225
FF09M29000-190-FXMB12320900000
1018-BB77
FWS-HQ-MB-2018-0025
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2019-18954 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2019-18954
We are following up on a 2013 proposal to remove regulations that set forth a means for controlling damage caused by certain depredating Start Printed Page 45922scrub jays and Steller's jays. We had proposed to remove the regulations that set forth a depredation order for these species to protect nut crops in certain counties in Washington and Oregon. Our reason for the proposed removal of these regulations was that we believed they were no longer necessary. However, we now withdraw this proposal based on comments received, as well as reports of activities conducted under this depredation order. Instead of removing the regulations, we hereby make minor updates to them to ensure timely reporting of activities conducted under this depredation order.
The proposed rule, which published under RIN 1018-AX92, and comments received are available at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R9-MB-2011-0100.
Eric Kershner, 703-358-2376, eric_kershner@fws.gov.
On November 4, 2013, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), published a proposed rule (78 FR 65953) to remove certain regulations concerning control activities for depredating migratory birds from part 21 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations, at 50 CFR 21.42, 21.45, and 21.46, set forth provisions for depredation orders that allowed control activities to be conducted without a permit issued by the Service. Prior to 2013, we had received no reports of activities undertaken under these regulations and no requests for authorization of a depredation order under these regulations for many years. Because these regulations apparently were unused, we proposed to remove them.
On March 25, 2015, we published a final rule (80 FR 15689) removing the depredation orders at 50 CFR 21.42 and 21.45, as well as references to those two sections that appeared in 50 CFR 21.41 and 21.53, as we had received no comments on our 2013 proposal to remove those regulations. However, we did receive comments on our proposal to remove 50 CFR 21.46. In the preamble to the March 25, 2015, final rule, we stated that we would address our proposal to remove 50 CFR 21.46 and respond to the comments we received concerning that proposal in a separate document to be published later in the Federal Register.
Under 50 CFR 21.46, landowners, sharecroppers, tenants, or their employees or agents actually engaged in the production of nut crops in Washington and Oregon may, without a permit and in accordance with certain conditions, take scrub jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) and Steller's jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) when these species are found committing or about to commit serious depredations to nut crops on the premises owned or occupied by such persons.
In response to our November 4, 2013, proposed rule (78 FR 65953), we requested that all interested parties submit written comments on the proposal by February 3, 2014. During the public comment period, we received eight comments on our proposal to remove 50 CFR 21.46. We received comments from individuals, organizations, a State agency, and the Pacific Flyway Council, an administrative body that forges cooperation among public wildlife agencies for the purpose of protecting and conserving migratory birds in western North America. All comment letters are available at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R9-MB-2011-0100.
(1) Comment: One commenter was supportive of removing regulations that are no longer used or outdated.
Response: At the time of the proposed rule we had not received a report of activities conducted under 50 CFR 21.46 for 10 years. However, in response to the proposed rule, we received comments stating that this depredation order was being used, but activities had gone unreported due to a lack of knowledge of the reporting requirements. Since publishing the proposed rule, we have received annual permit reports of activities conducted under this depredation order in the period 2014-2017.
(2) Comment: Five commenters were opposed to the proposed removal of 50 CFR 21.46 because it is currently being used by nut farmers in Oregon and Washington; however, the activities have been underreported due to a lack of awareness of reporting requirements.
Response: Since publishing the proposed rule in 2013, we have received reports of activities conducted under 50 CFR 21.46 in 2014-2017. As part of this document, which revises the 2013 proposed rule in regard to 50 CFR 21.46, we have also changed the due date and mailing address for the annual report.
(3) Comment: Two commenters were opposed to lethal take of birds.
Response: Lethal take is authorized under 50 CFR 21.46 as a tool to help reduce damage to nut crops in specific counties of Oregon and Washington caused by scrub jays and Steller's jays. As discussed in the final rule that set forth the provisions of 50 CFR 21.46 (39 FR 31326, August 28, 1974), before allowing the use of lethal take, the Service evaluated other options, such as the use of scaring devices, but such methods of reducing take proved to be ineffective or otherwise unsatisfactory. In addition, § 21.46(a) states that jays may only be taken between 1 August and 1 December in any year, limiting the season when birds can be taken. Take is limited to three counties in Washington and nine counties in Oregon.
In response to the comments submitted and the annual reports received, we are (1) withdrawing our proposal to remove 50 CFR 21.46 from the Code of Federal Regulations, (2) updating the reporting requirements for activities conducted under the depredation order, and (3) updating the taxonomy of scrub jays as stated in the rule.
We are revising paragraph (f) of § 21.46 by: Updating the report due date to January 31 of the year following activities conducted under the depredation order, and updating the mailing address for the submission of the report forms.
We solicited comments on the revised reporting requirements by publishing a notice of information collection under OMB Control Number 1018-0146 (Dec. 8, 2017, 82 FR 58022). No comments were received, and OMB approved the request on January 29, 2018.
We are also revising the common and scientific names of one of the species covered by the depredation order, which pertains to scrub jays and Steller's jays. The scientific name for scrub jay in the introductory text of § 21.46 is Aphelocoma coerulescens. However, that is the currently accepted scientific name for the Florida scrub jay. The currently accepted scientific name for the California scrub jay, which is the species of concern to nut growers in Washington and Oregon, is Aphelocoma californica, as listed in the List of Migratory Birds at 50 CFR 10.13. Accordingly, we are amending § 21.46 to change the scientific name and replace all references to “scrub jays” with “California scrub jays.”
Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563) Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) will review all significant Start Printed Page 45923rules. OIRA has determined that this rule is not significant.
SBREFA amended the Regulatory Flexibility Act to require Federal agencies to provide the statement of the factual basis for certifying that a rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. We have examined this rule's potential effects on small entities as required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act. This action will not have a significant economic impact on any small entity, so a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required. There are no costs associated with the nonsubstantive changes we are making to the regulations regarding the depredation order to protect nut crops in Washington and Oregon. Entities that undergo control activities under the depredation order are already required to report on their activities to the Service.
This rule is not a major rule under the SBREFA (5 U.S.C. 804(2)). It will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities:
This rule will 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
In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), we have determined the following.
This rule does not have sufficient federalism effects to warrant preparation of a federalism summary impact statement under Executive Order 13132. It will not interfere with the States' abilities to manage themselves or their funds.
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 depredation orders and assigned OMB Control Number 1018-0146 (expires January 31, 2021). 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.
We have analyzed this rule in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 432-437(f), and U.S. Department of the Interior regulations at 43 CFR part 46. This rule can be classified as a policy, directive, regulation, and guideline that is of an administrative nature (43 CFR 46.210(i)) and are changes to an already approved action and will have no or minor potential environmental impacts (DM Part 516) and therefore can be categorically excluded from the NEPA process. This action will have no significant effect on the quality of the human environment, nor will it involve unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources.
In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, “Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments” (59 FR 22951), Executive Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, we have determined that there are no potential effects on Federally recognized Indian Tribes from this final rule. The regulatory revisions will not interfere with Tribes' abilities to manage themselves or their funds or to regulate migratory bird activities on Tribal lands.
This rule will affect only one depredation order for migratory birds and will not affect energy supplies, distribution, or use. This is not a significant energy action, and no Statement of Energy Effects is required.
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that “The Secretary [of the Interior] shall review other programs administered by him and utilize such programs in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter” (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(1)). It further states that the Secretary must “insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out . . . is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of [critical] habitat” (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)). Our consultation concluded that the regulations are not likely to jeopardize Start Printed Page 45924the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species, nor result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat.
2. Amend § 21.46 by revising the section heading, introductory text, and paragraphs (a), (b), and (f) to read as follows:
§ 21.46
Depredation order for depredating California scrub jays and Steller's jays in Washington and Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2019-18954 Filed 8-30-19; 8:45 am]