82 FR 61577 - Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council Establishment; Request for Nominations

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 248 (December 28, 2017)

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is establishing and seeking nominations for the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (Council). The Council will provide recommendations to the Federal Government, through the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) and the Secretary of Agriculture, regarding the establishment and implementation of existing and proposed policies and authorities with regard to wildlife and habitat conservation endeavors that: Benefit wildlife resources; encourage partnership among the public, sporting conservation organizations, Federal, state, tribal, and territorial governments; and benefit recreational hunting and recreational shooting sports.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61577-61578]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28054]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-R-2017-N118]; [FXGO1664091HCC0-FF09D00000-178]


Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council Establishment; 
Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is establishing and 
seeking nominations for the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation 
Council (Council). The Council will provide recommendations to the 
Federal Government, through the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) 
and the Secretary of Agriculture, regarding the establishment and 
implementation of existing and proposed policies and authorities with 
regard to wildlife and habitat conservation endeavors that: Benefit 
wildlife resources; encourage

[[Page 61578]]

partnership among the public, sporting conservation organizations, 
Federal, state, tribal, and territorial governments; and benefit 
recreational hunting and recreational shooting sports.

DATES: Comments regarding the establishment of this Council must be 
submitted no later than January 12, 2018. Nominations for the Council 
must be submitted by January 29, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments and/or nominations by any of the 
following methods:
     Mail or hand-carry nominations to Joshua Winchell, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System, 5275 
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; or
     Email nominations to: [email protected].

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: The Council is established under the 
authority of the Secretary and regulated by the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2). The Council's 
duties are strictly advisory and consist of, but are not limited to, 
providing recommendations for implementation of Executive Order 13443--
Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation; Secretary's 
Order 3347--Conservation Stewardship and Outdoor Recreation; and 
Secretary's Order 3356--Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting, and 
Wildlife Conservation Opportunities and Coordination with States, 
Tribes, and Territories. Duties shall include, but are not be limited 
to: (a) Assessing and quantifying implementation of Executive Order 
13443 and Secretary's Orders 3347 and 3356 across relevant departments, 
agencies, and offices; and making recommendations to enhance and expand 
their implementation as identified; (b) making recommendations 
regarding policies and programs that conserve and restore wetlands, 
agricultural lands, grasslands, forests, and rangeland habitats; 
promote opportunities and expand access to hunting and shooting sports 
on public and private lands; encourage hunting and shooting safety by 
developing ranges on public lands; recruit and retain new shooters and 
hunters; increase public awareness of the importance of wildlife 
conservation and the social and economic benefits of hunting and 
shooting; and encourage coordination among the public, hunting and 
shooting sports community; wildlife conservation groups; and Federal, 
state, tribal, and territorial governments.
    The Council will meet approximately two times per year. The 
Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture (Secretaries) will appoint 
members and their alternates to the Council to serve up to a 3-year 
term. The Council will not exceed 18 discretionary members and 7 ex 
officio members. Ex officio members will include:
     Secretary of the Interior or designated DOI 
representatives;
     Secretary of Agriculture or designated Department of 
Agriculture representatives; and
     Executive Director, Association of Fish and Wildlife 
Agencies.
    The Secretaries will select remaining members from among, but not 
limited to, the entities listed below. These members must be senior-
level representatives of their organization and/or have the ability to 
represent their designated constituency.
     State fish and wildlife management agencies;
     Wildlife and habitat conservation/management 
organizations;
     Game bird hunting organizations;
     Waterfowl hunting organizations;
     Big game organizations (deer, elk, sheep, bear);
     U.S. hunters actively engaged in domestic and/or 
international hunting conservation;
     The firearms or ammunition manufacturing industry;
     Archery, hunting and/or shooting sports industry;
     Tourism, outfitter, and/or guide industries related to 
hunting and/or shooting sports;
     Tribal resource management organizations;
     The agriculture industry;
     The ranching industry; and
     Veterans service organizations.
    Nominations should include a resume providing an adequate 
description of the nominee's qualifications, including information that 
would enable DOI to make an informed decision regarding meeting the 
membership requirements of the Council and to permit DOI to contact a 
potential member.
    Members of the Council serve without compensation. However, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business, Council and 
subcommittee members engaged in Council or subcommittee business that 
the DFO approves may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703, in the same manner 
as persons employed intermittently in Federal Government service.
    Public Disclosure of Comments: Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Certification Statement: I hereby certify that the Hunting and 
Shooting Sports Conservation Council is necessary, in the public 
interest, and is in connection with the performance of duties imposed 
on the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture 
under 43 U.S.C. 1457 and provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 
1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1996 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National Forest Management Act of 
1976 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.), the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) and Executive Order 
13443, Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation.

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.

Ryan K. Zinke,
Secretary, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2017-28054 Filed 12-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P