81 FR 93704 - Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council; Public Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 245 (December 21, 2016)

Page Range		93704-93705
FR Document		2016-30749

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a public meeting of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council (Council). The Council provides advice about wildlife and habitat conservation endeavors that benefit wildlife resources; encourage partnership among the public, sporting conservation organizations, States, Native American tribes, and the Federal Government; and benefit recreational hunting.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93704-93705]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30749]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-R-2016-N214]; [FXGO1664091HCC0-FF09D00000-178]


Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council; Public 
Meeting

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a public 
meeting of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council 
(Council). The Council provides advice about wildlife and habitat 
conservation endeavors that benefit wildlife resources; encourage 
partnership among the public, sporting conservation organizations, 
States, Native American tribes, and the Federal Government; and benefit 
recreational hunting.

DATES: Meeting: Tuesday, February 7, 2017, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
and Wednesday, February 8, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Eastern 
Standard Time). For deadlines and directions on

[[Page 93705]]

registering to attend, submitting written material, and giving an oral 
presentation, please see Public Input under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Room 5160 at the Main Interior 
Building, 1849 C Street NW., Washington DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Winchell, Council Designated 
Federal Officer, by U.S. mail at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
National Wildlife Refuge System, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3803; by telephone at (703) 358-2639; or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the requirements of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., we announce that the 
Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council will hold a meeting.

Background

    Formed in February 2010, the Council provides advice about wildlife 
and habitat conservation endeavors that:
    1. Benefit wildlife resources;
    2. Encourage partnership among the public, sporting conservation 
organizations, States, Native American tribes, and the Federal 
Government; and
    3. Benefit recreational hunting.
    The Council advises the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary 
of Agriculture, reporting through the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service), in consultation with the Director, Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM); Director, National Park Service (NPS); Chief, Forest 
Service (USFS); Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS); 
and Administrator, Farm Services Agency (FSA). The Council's duties are 
strictly advisory and consist of, but are not limited to, providing 
recommendations for:
    1. Implementing the Recreational Hunting and Wildlife Resource 
Conservation Plan--A Ten-Year Plan for Implementation;
    2. Increasing public awareness of and support for the Wildlife 
Restoration Program;
    3. Fostering wildlife and habitat conservation and ethics in 
hunting and shooting sports recreation;
    4. Stimulating sportsmen and women's participation in conservation 
and management of wildlife and habitat resources through outreach and 
education;
    5. Fostering communication and coordination among State, tribal, 
and Federal governments; industry; hunting and shooting sportsmen and 
women; wildlife and habitat conservation and management organizations; 
and the public;
    6. Providing appropriate access to Federal lands for recreational 
shooting and hunting;
    7. Providing recommendations to improve implementation of Federal 
conservation programs that benefit wildlife, hunting, and outdoor 
recreation on private lands; and
    8. When requested by the Designated Federal Officer in consultation 
with the Council Chairperson, performing a variety of assessments or 
reviews of policies, programs, and efforts through the Council's 
designated subcommittees or workgroups.
    Background information on the Council is available at http://www.fws.gov/whhcc.

Meeting Agenda

    The Council will convene to consider issues including:
    1. Wildlife habitat and health;
    2. Funding for public lands and wildlife management;
    3. Endangered Species Act; and
    4. Other Council business.
    The final agenda will be posted on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/whhcc.

Attendance

    To attend this meeting, register by close of business on the dates 
listed in Public Input. Please submit your name, time of arrival, email 
address, and phone number to the Council Designated Federal Officer 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Public Input

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          You must contact the Council
                                        Designated  Federal Officer (see
            If you wish to                  FOR  FURTHER  INFORMATION
                                             CONTACT) no later than
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attend the meeting....................  January 26, 2017.
Submit written information or           January 26, 2017.
 questions before the meeting for the
 council to consider during the
 meeting.
Give an oral presentation during the    January 26, 2017.
 meeting.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Submitting Written Information or Questions

    Interested members of the public may submit relevant information or 
questions for the Council to consider during the public meeting. 
Written statements must be received by the date in Public Input, so 
that the information may be made available to the Council for their 
consideration prior to this meeting. Written statements must be 
supplied to the Council Designated Federal Officer in both of the 
following formats: One hard copy with original signature, and one 
electronic copy via email (acceptable file formats are Adobe Acrobat 
PDF, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or rich text file).

Giving an Oral Presentation

    Individuals or groups requesting to make an oral presentation at 
the meeting will be limited to 2 minutes per speaker, with no more than 
a total of 30 minutes for all speakers. Interested parties should 
contact the Council Designated Federal Officer, in writing (preferably 
via email; see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), to be placed on the 
public speaker list for this meeting. Nonregistered public speakers 
will not be considered during the meeting. Registered speakers who wish 
to expand upon their oral statements, or those who had wished to speak 
but could not be accommodated on the agenda, may submit written 
statements to the Council Designated Federal Officer up to 30 days 
subsequent to the meeting.

Meeting Minutes

    Summary minutes of the conference will be maintained by the Council 
Designated Federal Officer (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). They 
will be available for public inspection within 90 days of the meeting, 
and will be posted on the Council's Web site at http://www.fws.gov/whhcc.

Joshua Winchell,
Designated Federal Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30749 Filed 12-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

93704 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 245 / Wednesday, December 21, 2016 / Notices

inconsistent with the requirements of additional restrictions beyond the level to include as HCP-covered species all
the ESA. otherwise agreed to in the HCP without ESA-listed wildlife species for which
Response 3: Some commenters took the consent of the permit holder. incidental take is reasonably certain to
issue with the explanations in the The Handbook does not change or occur, unless take is addressed through
Handbook, particularly in Chapter 9, of undermine the ‘‘no surprises’’ rule, but a separate ESA mechanism (e.g., section
the ESA requirement that applicants rather it encourages applicants to 7 consultation with another Federal
must ‘‘to the maximum extent consider a robust list of potential agency, separate incidental take permit,
practicable, minimize and mitigate the changed and unforeseen circumstances etc.), or to explain or demonstrate in the
impacts of’’ permitted taking. Some that could arise during the permit term. HCP why the applicant does not
commenters interpreted these This will ensure successful anticipate take or will avoid take during
explanations and related discussions of implementation of the HCP and help to implementation of covered activities
the concept of ‘‘fully offset,’’ as creating ensure that the conservation strategy (e.g., inclusion of measures that will
an alternative or substitute for the ESA’s and mitigation plan will endure in avoid potential for take).’’ In the view of
statutory ‘‘maximum extent practicable’’ perpetuity, as required by the incidental the Services, this best reflects the
standard. However, the Handbook take permit issuance criteria. We have language, structure, and congressional
explains the ESA standard and clarifies provided clarifying language regarding purposes of ESA section 10 and the ESA
the discussion that was in the 1996 the ‘‘No Surprises’’ rule. as a whole. In addition, it is important
Handbook. It does not establish a new Comment 6: The term ‘‘mitigation’’ is to note that section 9 prohibitions make
or alternative standard for minimization used throughout the Handbook, and it illegal for any person subject to the
and mitigation. there is no clear description about what jurisdiction of the United States to take
We acknowledge that the manner in mitigation actually means. any wildlife species listed as
which this topic was presented in the Response 6: The Handbook treats endangered (and threatened through
draft may be confusing. Therefore, we mitigation in a manner consistent with FWS regulations), without written
have modified the language to provide the requirements and legal authorities authorization.
clearer guidance that is consistent with provided by the ESA. We acknowledge
the ESA’s ‘‘maximum extent that our use of the term ‘‘mitigation’’ in Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
practicable’’ standard. We have also the draft was sometimes confusing. We Dated: December 7, 2016.
revised the language to better explain have clarified our treatment of the ESA James W. Kurth,
how applicants can meet the ESA’s section 10 mitigation requirements and Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
‘‘maximum extent practicable’’ also provided additional background, Service.
standard. including the definition of mitigation Dated: December 8, 2016
Comment 4: The guidance on climate and general principles of Federal Samuel D. Rauch, III,
change in the Handbook goes too far. mitigation policy as described in the
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Applicants should not have to come up November 3, 2015, Presidential Regulatory Programs, National Marine
with complex models or complex global Memorandum on mitigation. These Fisheries Service.
climate change scenarios. clarifications can be found primarily in [FR Doc. 2016–30673 Filed 12–20–16; 8:45 am]
Response 4: We have clarified that Chapter 9.
BILLING CODE P
climate change effects that could impact Comment 7: Please clarify whether
the applicant’s proposed conservation the HCP Handbook is guidance or
strategy and the durability of mitigation policy. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
should be considered in the HCP. In Response 7: The HCP Handbook is a
addition, we changed all references of Services guidance document that Fish and Wildlife Service
‘‘climate change’’ to ‘‘climate change includes reference to respective agency
effects,’’ in order to reduce confusion. policies (and citations) where [FWS–HQ–R–2016–N214];
appropriate. [FXGO1664091HCC0–FF09D00000–178]
Furthermore, applicants are not
responsible for addressing climate Comment 8: Contrary to the
Wildlife and Hunting Heritage
change at a global scale. statements in the Handbook, the
Conservation Council; Public Meeting
Regarding the comments concerning Services cannot require that all ESA-
complex modeling, we suggest the use listed species that applicants expect AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
of various models to help applicants they may take from proposed covered Interior.
consider the effects of climate change activities be covered by the HCP and ACTION: Notice of meeting.
while developing their conservation incidental take permit. The Services
strategy. The Handbook does not impose should clarify that it is up to applicants SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
a requirement to use specific models. to decide which species to include as Wildlife Service, announce a public
Comment 5: The draft HCP Handbook covered species. meeting of the Wildlife and Hunting
undermines the ‘‘No Surprises’’ rule. Comment 8: Ultimately, it is the Heritage Conservation Council
Response 5: One of our main goals Services who determine if the (Council). The Council provides advice
with this HCP Handbook revision was to applicant’s incidental take permit about wildlife and habitat conservation
incorporate lessons learned throughout application is complete. If the endeavors that benefit wildlife
our 30 years of program implementation application does not include all of the resources; encourage partnership among
in order to better address the possibility ESA-listed wildlife species that we are the public, sporting conservation
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

of changed or unforeseen circumstances reasonably certain may be taken as a organizations, States, Native American
by using tools such as adaptive result of the covered activities, then the tribes, and the Federal Government; and
management and better advance Services would consider the application benefit recreational hunting.
planning. With ‘‘No Surprises,’’ State incomplete. Therefore, to ensure the DATES: Meeting: Tuesday, February 7,
and private landowners are assured that applicant provides a complete 2017, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and
if ‘‘unforeseen circumstances’’ arise, the incidental take permit application, the Wednesday, February 8, 2017, from 8
Services will not require the revised final version of the Handbook a.m. to 1 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).
commitment of additional activities or states, ‘‘The Services require applicants For deadlines and directions on

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Document Created: 2018-02-14 09:11:35
Document Modified: 2018-02-14 09:11:35

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of meeting.
Dates		Meeting: Tuesday, February 7, 2017, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, February 8, 2017, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). For deadlines and directions on registering to attend, submitting written material, and giving an oral presentation, please see Public Input under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Contact		Joshua Winchell, Council Designated Federal Officer, by U.S. mail at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; by telephone at (703) 358-2639; or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 93704

81 FR 93704 - Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council; Public Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 245 (December 21, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service