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

Two telephonic public hearings are scheduled for November 17 and December 2, 2021. Both will be held from 4pm to 6pm (or until the end of public participation). The purpose of these hearings is to receive additional public testimony on this deferred temporary special action request. The Board previously held a public hearing on this issue on April 23, 2021, and is seeking further public comment.

The public is encouraged to participate in these hearings by calling the telephone numbers below. When prompted, enter the passcode.

Public Hearing Information:

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 from 4pm – 6pm (or until the end of public participation)

Teleconference: Toll Free: 888-942-9690

Passcode: 6071806

Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 4pm – 6pm (or until the end of public participation)

Teleconference: Toll Free: 888-390-1184

Passcode: 4410011

Comments will be forwarded to the Board for consideration. The Board will further discuss and take action on WSA21-01 in 2022, and the public will be informed in advance of the Board’s meeting through news releases, radio and newspaper ads, the program webpage, 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.

More on WSA 21-01:

This request, if approved by the Board, would add the following language to the current Federal regulations for caribou and moose in Units 23 and 26A:

“Federal public lands are closed to the harvest of caribou and moose from August 1 through September 30, 2022, except by Federally qualified subsistence users hunting under these regulations.”

When the Board deferred WSA21-01, it directed the Office of Subsistence Management to seek additional input on concerns related to caribou from the Western Arctic Caribou Herd Working Group, Federal land-managing agencies, local Fish and Game Advisory Committees, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils, commercial guides and transporters, and subsistence users in the area. These public hearings are being held to provide additional opportunity for public input.

The original analysis for WSA21-01 is available for review on our website at https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/wsa21-01-fsb_0.pdf. This analysis refers to implementation in 2021; note that due to deferral, this action would now take effect in 2022 if approved by the Board.

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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