Federal Register/Vol. 85, No. 163/Friday, August 21, 2020/Rules
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51854 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 163 / Friday, August 21, 2020 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR review, we changed our process for regulations. We have considered all developing migratory game bird hunting pertinent comments received through Fish and Wildlife Service regulations with the goal of enabling the the close of the comment period on State agencies to select and publish April 20, 2020, which includes 50 CFR Part 20 their season dates earlier than was comments submitted in response to our [Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2019–0004; allowed under the prior process. We October 15 and March 19 proposed FF09M21200–201–FXMB1231099BPP0] provided a detailed overview of this rulemaking documents and comments process in the August 3, 2017, Federal RIN 1018–BD89 from the October SRC meeting. This Register (82 FR 36308). This final rule document establishes final frameworks is the third in a series of proposed and Migratory Bird Hunting; Final 2020–21 for migratory bird hunting regulations final rules that establish regulations for Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting for the 2020–21 season and includes no the 2020–21 migratory bird hunting Regulations season. substantive changes from the March 19, 2020, proposed rule. We will publish AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Regulations Schedule for 2020 Interior. State selections in the Federal Register as amendments to §§ 20.101 through ACTION: Final rule. On October 15, 2019, we published in the Federal Register (84 FR 55120) a 20.107 and 20.109 of title 50 CFR part SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife proposal to amend title 50 of the Code 20. Service (Service or we) prescribes final of Federal Regulations (CFR) at part 20. Population Status and Harvest frameworks from which States may The proposal provided a background select season dates, limits, and other and overview of the migratory bird Each year we publish reports that options for the 2020–21 migratory bird hunting regulations process, and provide detailed information on the hunting seasons. We annually prescribe addressed the establishment of seasons, status and harvest of certain migratory limits, and other regulations for hunting frameworks, or outer limits, for dates gamebird species. These reports are migratory game birds under §§ 20.101 and times when hunting may occur and available at the address indicated under the number of birds that may be taken through 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or and possessed in hunting seasons. subpart K. Major steps in the 2020–21 from our website at https:// These frameworks are necessary to regulatory cycle relating to open public www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/ allow State selections of seasons and meetings and Federal Register limits and to allow harvest at levels notifications were illustrated in the reports-and-publications/population- compatible with migratory game bird diagram at the end of the October 15, status.php. population status and habitat 2019, proposed rule. For this regulatory We used the following annual reports conditions. Migratory game bird hunting cycle, we combined elements of the published in August 2019 in the seasons provide opportunities for document that is described in the development of proposed frameworks recreation and sustenance, and aid diagram as Supplemental Proposals for the migratory bird hunting Federal, State, and Tribal governments with the document that is described as regulations: Adaptive Harvest in the management of migratory game Proposed Season Frameworks. Management, 2020 Hunting Season; Further, the October 15, 2019, birds. American Woodcock Population Status, proposed rule set forth a list of 2019; Band-tailed Pigeon Population DATES: This rule takes effect on August numbered headings under which all 21, 2020. subsequent hunting frameworks and Status, 2019; Migratory Bird Hunting ADDRESSES: States should send their guidelines would be organized (see 84 Activity and Harvest During the 2017– season selections to: Chief, Division of FR 55122). Because each of the 18 and 2018–19 Hunting Seasons; Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish regulatory documents in this Mourning Dove Population Status, 2019; and Wildlife Service, MS: MB, 5275 rulemaking cycle includes only those Status and Harvests of Sandhill Cranes, Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041– numbered items requiring attention, the Mid-continent, Rocky Mountain, Lower 3803. You may inspect comments list of remaining numbered items Colorado River Valley and Eastern received on the migratory bird hunting appears incomplete. Populations, 2019; and Waterfowl regulations at http:// We provided the meeting dates and Population Status, 2019. www.regulations.gov at Docket No. locations for the Service Regulations Our long-term objectives continue to FWS–HQ–MB–2019–0004. You may Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council include providing opportunities to obtain copies of referenced reports from meetings on Flyway calendars posted on harvest portions of certain migratory the street address above, or from the our website at https://www.fws.gov/ game bird populations and to limit Division of Migratory Bird birds/management/flyways.php. On harvests to levels compatible with each Management’s website at http:// October 8–9, 2019, we held open population’s ability to maintain healthy, www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/, or at meetings with the Flyway Council http://www.regulations.gov at Docket Consultants, at which the participants viable numbers. Having taken into No. FWS–HQ–MB–2019–0004. reviewed information on the current account the zones of temperature and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: status of migratory game birds and the distribution, abundance, economic Jerome Ford, U.S. Fish and Wildlife developed recommendations for the value, breeding habits, and times and Service, Department of the Interior, 2020–21 regulations for these species. lines of flight of migratory birds, we (202) 208–1050. The October 15, 2019, proposed rule conclude that the hunting seasons SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: provided detailed information on the provided for herein are compatible with proposed 2020–21 regulatory schedule the current status of migratory bird Process for Establishing Annual and announced the SRC meetings. populations and long-term population Migratory Game Bird Hunting On March 19, 2020, we published in goals. Additionally, we are obligated to, Regulations the Federal Register (85 FR 15870) the and do, give serious consideration to all As part of the Department of the proposed frameworks for the 2020–21 information received during the public Interior’s 2015 retrospective regulatory season migratory bird hunting comment period. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:55 Aug 20, 2020 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\21AUR2.SGM 21AUR2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 163 / Friday, August 21, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 51855 Review of Public Comments and believe that the hunting seasons Pacific Flyway Councils each Flyway Council Recommendations provided for herein are compatible with recommended adopting the liberal The preliminary proposed the current status of migratory bird regulatory alternative for their rulemaking, which appeared in the populations and long-term population respective flyways. The Mississippi and Central Flyway October 15, 2019, Federal Register (84 goals. The Flyway Council system of Councils further recommended several FR 55120), opened the public comment migratory bird management has been a changes to the AHM decision period for migratory game bird hunting longstanding example of State—Federal framework for mid-continent mallards regulations and described the proposed cooperative management since its beginning with the 2021–2022 (next) regulatory alternatives for the 2020–21 establishment in 1952. However, as season. Specifically, the Mississippi duck hunting season. Comments and always, we continue to seek new ways Flyway Council made the following recommendations are summarized to streamline and improve the process. recommendations: below and numbered in the order set In regard to longer duck seasons, we develop duck hunting regulations (1) Continue to base the annual forth in the October 15, 2019, proposed regulatory decision on current mallard rule. cooperatively with the four Flyway Councils and use an adaptive harvest breeding population estimates and We received recommendations from spring pond counts in central North all four Flyway Councils. Some management (AHM) decision framework that allows selection of the optimal America (Federal Waterfowl Breeding recommendations supported Population and Habitat Survey continuation of last year’s frameworks. regulation each year based on agreed- upon objectives, regulatory alternatives, [WBPHS] strata 13–18, 20–50, and 75– Due to the comprehensive nature of the 77), and in Michigan, Minnesota, and annual review of the frameworks population models, observed and expected harvest, habitat conditions, Wisconsin (State surveys). performed by the Councils, support for (2) Remove the North American continuation of last year’s frameworks is and the status of duck populations (see 1. Ducks, below, for more details on the Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) assumed for items for which no mallard population goal from the AHM recommendations were received. process for establishing duck hunting regulations). Public comments are objective function. Council recommendations for changes (3) Replace the current four discrete in the frameworks are summarized considered