[Federal Register: September 1, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 169)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 46394] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr01se98-6] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service 36 CFR Part 242 [4310-55] DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 100 Bristol Bay 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 invited to provide oral testimony before the Bristol Bay Advisory Council on a Special Action request to change Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska for the 1998-1999 regulatory year as set forth in a final rule on June 29, 1998 (63 FR 35332-35381). The Regional Council will receive testimony and consider six requests from local villages asking that federal public lands in Unit 9(E) be closed to taking of caribou by non-qualified subsistence users. Three requests from local villages additionally ask that federal lands be closed to the taking of moose by non-qualified subsistence users. The requests cite recent information on the continuing decline in population of the North Alaska Peninsula caribou herd. In addition, the severe reduction in the commercial fishery incomes this year is said to result in higher reliance on subsistence food resources. DATES: The Federal Subsistence Board announces the forthcoming public meeting for the Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council. The Bristol Bay Regional Council will meet in Naknek, AK on September 2, 1998 at 10:30 A.M. in the Bristol Bay Borough Assembly Chambers. 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 Bristol Bay 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, these requests were just received, and the Federal closure is requested to coincide with a comparable closure by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game which takes effect on September 10, 1998. 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: August 25, 1998. Thomas H. Boyd, Acting Chair, Federal Subsistence Board. Dated: August 25, 1998. Ken Thompson, Acting Regional Forester, USDA-Forest Service. [FR Doc. 98-23562 Filed 8-28-98; 10:19 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P