Federal Subsistence Board to hold work session in Anchorage August 15 – 16, 2019

The public is invited to attend either in person or by teleconference. To participate by teleconference, dial toll-free (888) 566-1030 (passcode 3344290). The full agenda and meeting materials will be posted to the Federal Subsistence Management Program’s website at www.doi.gov/subsistence/board.

During the work session, the Board will discuss Regional Advisory Council Annual Report Replies and proposed revisions to the Board’s Policy on Nonrural Determinations, and will take action on three Wildlife Temporary Special Action Requests: WSA19-01, WSA19-02, and WSA19-04.

Wildlife Temporary Special Action Request WSA19-01, submitted by the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, requests that the moose hunt area in the portion of Unit 18 south of and including the Kanektok River drainage to the Goodnews River drainage be expanded to south of the Eek River drainage to match the existing State hunt area boundary. WSA19-01 also requests that the Federal public lands closure be rescinded within this newly described hunt area and that a Sept. 1–Sept. 30 season be opened with a harvest limit of one antlered bull by State registration permit. A public hearing to solicit testimony on WSA19-01 was held on July 10, 2019 in Quinhagak. Tribal and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation consultations were held on July 10, 2019 in Anchorage via teleconference.

Wildlife Temporary Special Action Request WSA19-02, submitted by the Southeast Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council, requests that the Board change the sealing period for wolf hunting and trapping from “within 14 days of harvest” to “within 30 days of the end of the season,” and remove language referencing a “combined Federal-State harvest quota” for wolves in Unit 2. These changes would be consistent with recent changes implemented by the Alaska Board of Game. A public hearing to solicit testimony on WSA19-02 was held on June 25, 2019, in Klawock. Tribal and ANCSA Corporation consultations were held on June 18, 2019 in Anchorage via teleconference.

Wildlife Temporary Special Action Request WSA19-04, submitted by the Northwest Arctic Subsistence Regional Advisory Council, requests eliminating the cow moose season for the 2019/20 regulatory year (Nov. 1–Dec. 31) to conserve cow moose and to facilitate recovery and growth of the Unit 23 moose population. This action would also align Federal and State hunting seasons and harvest limits. A public hearing to solicit testimony on WSA19-04 was held on July 11, 2019 in Kotzebue. Tribal and ANCSA consultations were held on July 1, 2019 in Anchorage via teleconference.

The Federal Subsistence Board is committed to providing access to this meeting for all participants. Please direct requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other accommodation needs to the Office of Subsistence Management at (800) 478-1456 or (907) 786-3888 or by e-mail, subsistence@fws.gov at least seven business days prior to the meeting.

Additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program may be found on the web at www.doi.gov/subsistence or by visiting www.facebook.com/subsistencealaska.

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