The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing amending its refuge-specific regulations on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to allow State-regulated trapping, harvest of brown bears over bait, discharge of firearms along the Kenai and Russian Rivers during certain times of the year in accordance with State law, increased access for the public using bicycles and game carts, and the use of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and utility task vehicles on certain lakes when there is adequate snow and ice cover.
According to a release from the Fish and Wildlife Service, the purpose of this proposed rule is to align public use regulations on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge with State of Alaska regulations, align Service and State management of fish and wildlife to the extent practicable and consistent with Federal law, enhance consistency with harvest regulations on adjacent non-Federal lands and waters, and increase access to Federal lands.
The Fish and Wildlife Service also notes that the aforementioned objectives are reflected in the 2010 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement: “The Refuge will manage all recreation use to avoid crowded conditions and to minimize adverse effects to cultural resources, fish and wildlife, wilderness, and other special values of the Refuge. `Leave No Trace’ will be the standard. The least intrusive means of managing use will be employed. Actions that may be taken to manage recreation include limiting commercial guiding and outfitting; regulating use and access subject to the provisions of section 1110(a) of ANILCA; and recommending changes in State and/or Federal fishing, hunting, and/or trapping regulations. When necessary, recreation opportunities may be seasonally or otherwise restricted to minimize user conflicts and to protect the natural or other values of a refuge.”
Public comments are being accepted until August 10. How can you comment?
- To do so online: go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal. In the Search box, enter FWS-R7-NWRS-2017-0058, which is the docket number for this rule-making. Then, click on the Search button. On the resulting page, in the Search panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the Proposed Rule box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment Now!”
- By hard copy: Submit your comments by U.S. mail to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R7-NWRS-2017-0058, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: JAO/1N, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.