37854 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 134 / Friday, July 16, 2021 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The hunting regulations that is more process for promulgating annual efficient and establishes hunting season Fish and Wildlife Service regulations for the hunting of migratory dates earlier than was possible under game birds involves the publication of the previous process. Under the current 50 CFR Part 20 a series of proposed and final process, we develop proposed hunting [Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2020–0032; rulemaking documents. In this final season frameworks for a given year in FF09M22000–212–FXMB1231099BPP0] rule, in addition to our normal the fall of the prior year. We then procedure of setting forth frameworks finalize those frameworks a few months RIN 1018–BE34 for the annual hunting regulations later, thereby enabling the State agencies to select and publish their Migratory Bird Hunting; Final 2021–22 (described below), we are also making season dates in early summer. We Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting minor changes to the permanent provided a detailed overview of the Regulations, and Special Procedures regulations that govern the migratory current process in the August 3, 2017, for Issuance of Annual Hunting bird hunting program. The annual regulations are set forth in subpart K of Federal Register (82 FR 36308). This Regulations part 20 of the regulations in title 50 of rule is the third in a series of proposed AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). and final rules that establish regulations Interior. In this document, we also make minor for the 2021–22 migratory bird hunting ACTION: Final rule. changes to subpart N of 50 CFR part 20, season. as follows: SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regulations Schedule for 2021 Service (Service or we) is establishing Changes to Regulations at 50 CFR Part On October 9, 2020, we published in the final frameworks from which States 20 (Subpart N) the Federal Register (85 FR 64097) a may select season dates, limits, and The regulations governing special proposal to amend 50 CFR part 20. The other options for the 2021–22 migratory procedures for issuance of annual proposal provided a background and game bird hunting season, and making hunting regulations are at 50 CFR part overview of the migratory bird hunting a minor change to the special 20, subpart N. The rules of subpart N regulations process, and addressed the procedures for issuance of annual apply only to subpart K regarding the establishment of seasons, limits, and hunting regulations. We annually issuance of the annual regulations other regulations for hunting migratory prescribe outside limits, frameworks, establishing seasons, bag limits, and game birds under §§ 20.101 through within which States may select hunting other requirements for the seasonal 20.107, 20.109, and 20.110 of subpart K. seasons. Frameworks specify the outside hunting of migratory birds. Major steps in the 2021–22 regulatory dates, season lengths, shooting hours, In subpart N, the current regulations cycle relating to open public meetings bag and possession limits, and areas require that the Service publish a notice and Federal Register notifications were where migratory game bird hunting may of meetings of the Service’s Regulations illustrated in the diagram at the end of occur. These frameworks are necessary Committee and the Flyway Councils in the October 9, 2020, proposed rule. For to allow State selections of seasons and the process of developing frameworks this regulatory cycle, we have combined limits and to allow harvest at levels for migratory bird hunting seasons. elements of the document that is compatible with migratory game bird Specifically, notice of each meeting of described in the diagram as population status and habitat the Regulations Committee and Flyway Supplemental Proposals with the conditions. Migratory game bird hunting Council to be attended by any official of document that is described as Proposed seasons provide opportunities for the Department of the Interior will be Season Frameworks. recreation and sustenance, and aid published in the Federal Register at Further, in the October 9, 2020, Federal, State, and Tribal governments least 2 weeks before the meeting or as proposed rule we explained that all in the management of migratory game soon as practicable after the Service sections of subsequent documents birds. learns of the Flyway Council meeting. outlining hunting frameworks and In addition to or in place of guidelines would be organized under DATES: This rule takes effect on July 16, publishing a meeting notice in the numbered headings, which were set 2021. Federal Register, we add posting on the forth at 85 FR 64098. This and ADDRESSES: States should send their Service’s Migratory Bird Program subsequent documents will refer only to season selections to: Chief, Division of website as a method to notify the public numbered items requiring attention. We Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish of these meetings. We are making this will omit those items not requiring and Wildlife Service, MS: MB, 5275 change because it will increase our attention, and remaining numbered Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041– ability to provide more timely items may be discontinuous and appear 3803. You may inspect comments information as meeting information incomplete. received on the migratory bird hunting becomes available, and more flexibility We provided the meeting dates and regulations at http:// to inform the public of changes in locations for the Service Regulations www.regulations.gov at Docket No. meeting dates and locations should such Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council FWS–HQ–MB–2020–0032. You may changes be necessary. Greater flexibility meetings on Flyway calendars posted on obtain copies of referenced reports from has become critical when unforeseen our website at https://www.fws.gov/ the street address above, or from the exigencies require venue changes for birds/management/flyways.php. We Division of Migratory Bird these meetings. announced the April SRC meeting in the Management’s website at http:// April 9, 2020, Federal Register (85 FR www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/, or at Process for Establishing Annual 19952). The October 9, 2020, proposed http://www.regulations.gov at Docket Migratory Game Bird Hunting rule provided detailed information on No. FWS–HQ–MB–2020–0032. Regulations (Subpart K) the proposed 2021–22 regulatory FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: As part of the Department of the schedule and announced the October Jerome Ford, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Interior’s retrospective regulatory SRC meeting. Service, Department of the Interior, review, in 2015 we developed a On February 22, 2021, we published (202) 208–1050. schedule for migratory game bird in the Federal Register (86 FR 10622) VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:35 Jul 15, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\16JYR2.SGM 16JYR2 jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 134 / Friday, July 16, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 37855 the proposed frameworks for the 2021– Review of Public Comments and migratory bird populations and long- 22 season migratory bird hunting Flyway Council Recommendations term population goals. In regard to the regulations. We have considered all The preliminary proposed regulations process, the Flyway Council pertinent comments received through rulemaking, which appeared in the system of migratory bird management March 24, 2021, which includes October 9, 2020, Federal Register, has been a longstanding example of comments submitted in response to our opened the public comment period for State-Federal cooperative management October 9 and February 22 proposed migratory game bird hunting regulations since its establishment in 1952 in rulemaking documents and comments and described the proposed regulatory regulation development process and from the October SRC meeting. This alternatives for the 2021–22 duck bird population and habitat monitoring. document establishes final frameworks hunting season. Comments and However, as always, we continue to for migratory bird hunting regulations recommendations are summarized seek new ways to streamline and for the 2021–22 season and includes no below and numbered in the order set improve the process and ensure substantive changes from the February forth in the October 9, 2020, proposed adequate conservation of the resource. 22, 2021, proposed rule except a minor rule (see 85 FR 64098). 1. Ducks correction (see 4. Canada and Cackling We received recommendations from Geese, below). We will publish State all four Flyway Councils at the April A. General Harvest Strategy selections in the Federal Register as and October SRC meetings; all Council Recommendations: The amendments to §§ 20.101 through recommendations are from the October Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and 20.107 and 20.109 of title 50 CFR part meeting unless otherwise noted. Some Pacific Flyway Councils recommended 20. recommendations supported adoption of the liberal regulatory Population Status and Harvest continuation of last year’s frameworks. alternative for their respective flyways. Due to the comprehensive nature of the Service Response: As we stated in the Each year we publish reports that annual review of the frameworks October 9, 2020, proposed rule, we provide detailed information on the performed by the Councils, support for intend to continue use of Adaptive status and harvest of certain migratory continuation of last year’s frameworks is Harvest Management (AHM) to help game bird species. These reports are assumed for items for which no determine appropriate duck-hunting available at the address indicated under recommendations were received. regulations for the 2021–22 season. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or Council recommendations for changes AHM is a tool that permits sound from our website at https:// in the frameworks are summarized resource decisions in the face of www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/ below. As explained earlier in this uncertain regulatory impacts and reports-and-publications/population- document, we have included only the provides a mechanism for reducing that status.php.