Migratory bird hunting: Baiting and baited areas,

[Federal Register: May 22, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 99)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 28343-28344]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr22my98-31]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20

RIN 1018-AD74

Extension of Comment Period: Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations Regarding Baiting and Baited Areas

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY: The Service is extending the comment period on the Federal Register rule dated March 25, 1998 (63 FR 14415) that invites public comments on proposed changes to the migratory bird hunting regulations regarding baiting and baited areas.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments will be extended form May 25, 1998 to October 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this proposed rulemaking should be addressed to: Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Post Office Box 3247, Arlington, Virginia 22203-3247, or sent via electronic mail to: R9LE--WWW@FWS.GOV. Comments may be hand delivered to 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22203. The public may inspect comments during normal business hours at 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keven Adams, Chief, Division of Law Enforcement, telephone 703/358-1949, or Paul Schmidt, Chief, Office of Migratory Bird Management, telephone 703/358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has authority (16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742a-j) to regulate activities involving the hunting and other taking of migratory game birds. The Service has promulgated regulations (50 CFR part 20) for the hunting of migratory game birds that

[[Page 28344]]

includes sections for Methods of Take and Definitions of Terms.

In a Federal Register notice dated March 25, 1998, the Service proposed new regulatory language for: accidental scattering of agricultural crops or natural vegetation incidental to hunting, normal agricultural and soil stabilization practices, baited areas, baiting, manipulation, natural vegetation, and top-sowing of seeds. Proposed changes also included new guidance with respect to hunting over natural vegetation that has been manipulated. However, no change was proposed regarding application of strict liability to the migratory game bird baiting regulations.

The Service has received request from a number of organizations to extend the comment period. The Service invites careful consideration by all parties, and welcomes serious scrutiny from those committed to the long-term conservation of migratory birds. Therefore, to facilitate substantive public review, the Service is extending the comment period through October 1, 1998.

Dated: May 19, 1998. Donald J. Barry, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

[FR Doc. 98-13875Filed5-21-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710-55-M