Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act; Title VIII implementation (subsistence priority): Northwest Arctic Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council; meeting,

[Federal Register: July 30, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 146)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 40682]

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

[DOCID:fr30jy98-28]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 242

[4310-55]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 100

Northwest Arctic Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Meeting; Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA; Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the Regional Council meeting identified above. The public is invited to attend and observe meeting proceedings. In addition, the public is invited to provide oral testimony before the Northwest Arctic Advisory Council on a Special Action request to change Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska for the 1998-99 regulatory year as set forth in a final rule on June 29, 1998 (63 FR 35332-35381). The Regional Council will receive testimony and will consider a request opening sheep hunting in Unit 23 in northwest Alaska and closing Federal lands in the same area to non-qualified subsistence users.

DATES: The Federal Subsistence Board announces the forthcoming public meeting of the Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council. The Northwest Arctic Regional Council will meet in Kotzebue, AK on July 29, 1998, at 1 p.m. in the Alaska Technical Center.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chair, Federal Subsistence Board, c/o Thomas H. Boyd, Office of Subsistence Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (907) 786-3888. For questions related to subsistence management issues on National Forest Service lands, inquiries may also be directed to Ken Thompson, Regional Subsistence Program Manager, USDA, Forest Service, Alaska Region, (907) 271-2540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regional Councils have been established in accordance with Section 805 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Pub. L. 96-487, and Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska, 36 CFR part 242 and 50 CFR part 100, subparts A, B, and C (57 FR 22940-22964). The Regional Councils advise the Federal Government on all matters related to the subsistence taking of fish and wildlife on public lands in Alaska and operate in accordance with provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

The Northwest Arctic Regional Council meeting will be open to the public. The public is invited to attend this meeting, observe the proceedings, and provide comments to the Regional Council.

This document provides less than the required 15 days notice. However, under the proposal just received, the opening date for the hunt and the proposed closure of public lands to non-Federally qualified users would take effect August 1. Thus, in order to provide the Regional Council and the public an opportunity to comment on this proposal before Board action and for the Board to act in a timely manner on this proposal, the Board finds good cause under 41 CFR 101- 6.1015(b)(2) to conduct the meeting with less than 15 days notice. Additional notice of the meeting will be placed in local papers and broadcast on local radio and television stations.

Dated: July 24, 1998. Ken Thompson, Acting Regional Forester, USDA-Forest Service.

Thomas H. Boyd, Acting Chair, Federal Subsistence Board.

[FR Doc. 98-20362Filed7-29-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-M