Providing Public Testimony to Regional Advisory Councils

Regional Advisory Councils provide a forum for the collection and expression of opinions and recommendations on matters related to subsistence harvests and uses of fish and wildlife on Federal public lands. Members of the public may participate in the Federal regulatory process by providing comments on proposals to change regulations, on closure reviews, and on any other subsistence related issue for that region. These public comments are to Regional Advisory Councils to aid them in their deliberations and are not public comments to the Federal Subsistence Board.

Public testifies at the Eastern Interior Council meeting

Instructions to Provide Public comments on Proposals to Change Regulations or on Closure Reviews

The public can provide written or oral comments to a Regional Advisory Council in-person, telephonically, or by email. If you submit a written comment your entire comment, including any personal identifying information, will be part of the administrative record of the Regional Advisory Council meeting, and would be available to the public upon request.

1) Submit a written comment(s) up until the start of the presentation of each proposal to change regulations or closure review (check each Regional Advisory Council meeting agenda at https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/regions to determine the date of the meeting).  On your written comment you must clearly indicate your name, affiliation (if applicable), and if commenting on a proposal to change regulations or on a closure review, include the number of that item (see https://www.doi.gov/wildlife-proposal-book-2024-2026-part-1.pdf and https://www.doi.gov/wildlife-proposal-book-2024-2026-part-2 ).

You must submit your written comment(s) by one of the following ways:

  • Email your comment to subsistence@fws.gov
  • Bring a hard copy of your written comment to the Regional Advisory Council meeting and present it to the Council Coordinator for distribution.  If you cannot bring your comment yourself, you may ask someone to deliver it to the Council meeting on your behalf.

2) Provide an oral comment(s).  The Chair will announce opportunities to provide oral public comments after the presentation of each proposal to change regulations or closure review. Time limits may be set to keep the meeting on schedule. Before presenting your comment, state your name, affiliation (if applicable), and the proposal to change regulations number or the closure review number you would like to comment on.

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    • In-person – You must fill out a public comment form (provided on the public table) to provide oral comments and turn it into the Council Coordinator or other staff member.  The Chair will call your name when it is your turn. 
    • Telephonically – After the summary of written public comments and in-person oral comments, the Chair will ask if there is anyone on the phone that would like to provide comments. 

Instructions to Provide Public Comments on Non-agenda Items

The public can provide comments on non-agenda items at the start of each day of Regional Advisory Council meetings. The Chair will announce this opportunity daily. Subsistence issues not on the agenda will be evaluated by the Council and brought to the attention of the Federal Subsistence Board as warranted.

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