Public hearing announced for deferred Temporary Wildlife Special Action Request WSA21-01 regarding caribou and moose in Units 23 and 26A

For Immediate Release: 
March 9, 2022

In February 2021, the Northwest Arctic Subsistence Regional Advisory Council submitted Wildlife Special Action Request WSA21-01 to close Federal public lands in Units 23 and 26A to the harvest of caribou and moose by non-Federally qualified users from August 1 through September 30, 2021. In June 2021, the Federal Subsistence Board (Board) deferred this request to 2022, instructing the Office of Subsistence Management (OSM) to seek additional input on concerns related to caribou. The Board also asked OSM to include comparisons of moose harvest by survey area within Unit 23 in their analysis.

03/09/2022
Last edited 03/09/2022
Contact Information
Robbin La Vine
Policy Coordinator
907-206-0900 or 800-478-1456
robbin_lavine@fws.gov

Public hearings on this issue took place on April 23, November 17, and December 2, 2021. An additional opportunity for public testimony on this request is scheduled for Monday, March 21, 2022 from 3pm – 6pm because significant new information on the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) population became available after the previous public hearings occurred. Specifically, the WACH declined 24% in two years from an estimated 244,000 caribou in 2019 to an estimated 188,000 caribou in 2021.

The public is encouraged to participate in this hearing by calling the telephone number below. When prompted, enter the passcode.

Public Hearing Information:

Monday, March 21 from 3pm – 6pm (or until the end of public participation)
Teleconference: Toll Free: 1-800-779-2712
Passcode: 5653753

The most recent analysis for WSA21-01 is available for review on our website at https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/board. The final version of the analysis will be posted no later than March 23, 2022 at the same web address.

Comments will be forwarded to the Board for consideration when it meets to take action on WSA21-01 on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 1pm. Further information on the upcoming Board meeting is provided through news releases, radio and newspaper ads, the program webpage (https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/board), and social media.

The Board is committed to providing access to this public meeting for all participants. Please direct requests for 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.

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

Missing out on the latest Federal subsistence issues? If you’d like to receive emails and notifications on the Federal Subsistence Management Program you may subscribe for regular updates by emailing fws-fsb-subsistence-request@lists.fws.gov.

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