I couldn't find my email for Tom Foote, but thought he'd be interested in
this, as might the rest of the Tweeters community.



Best,

Jon. Anderson

Olympia, WA

Festuca At OlyWA.US





[Federal Register: June 21, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 119)]
[Proposed Rules] [Page 35599-35600]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov
/2006/E6-9725.htm
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Parts 21 and 22

Migratory Bird Permits; Changes in the Regulations Governing Falconry and
Raptor Propagation; Draft Environmental Assessment on Take of Raptors From
the Wild for Falconry and Raptor Propagation

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability
of a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) evaluating the take of raptors
from the wild for use in falconry and in raptor propagation. We have
prepared this DEA as part of the process we must follow to finalize two
rules under the National Environmental Policy Act.

DATES: Send comments on the DEA by September 19, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may pick up a copy of the DEA or hand-deliver your comments
to the Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop 4107, Arlington, Virginia
22203-1610. The DEA also is available on the Division of Migratory Bird
Management Web pages at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/
<http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log
=linklog&to=http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/> .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. George T. Allen, Division of Migratory
Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at 703-358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We have prepared this DEA as part of the process
we must follow under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.) as we move toward finalizing two proposed rules on falconry and
raptor propagation. We published proposed falconry regulations on February
9, 2005 (70 FR 6978), in which we proposed numerous changes governing the
practice of falconry. We published proposed raptor propagation regulations
on October 14, 2005 (70 FR 60052). We proposed few significant changes to
the falconry regulations, but for both proposed rules we changed to simpler
language for the regulations. We now make available our DEA on the effects
of take from the wild for these two activities.


In the DEA, we considered three alternatives for take of raptors from
the wild for use in falconry and in raptor propagation. The first, the No
Action Alternative, would leave take regulated as it is now; take limits for
falconry would not be established. Neither the dual Federal/State permitting
system for falconry nor the permitting system for raptor propagation would
be changed.


Under Alternative 2, we would establish upper limits on take of raptor
species based on the published data for, and biology of, each species. We
would not change falconry or captive propagation permitting; neither the
dual Federal/State permitting system for falconry nor the permitting system
for raptor propagation would be changed. Under this alternative, we would
base allowed take on published data and evaluations of the effects of take
for falconry and raptor propagation. Harvest of juvenile raptors would be
limited to levels that would not harm wild populations.


Our preferred choice is Alternative 3. Under this alternative, we would
establish upper limits on take of raptor species based on the published data
for, and biology of, each species. We would eliminate Federal permitting for
falconry, but would not change the captive propagation regulations in a
manner that would impact take of raptors from the wild. We would base
allowed take on published data and evaluations of the effects of take for
falconry and raptor propagation. Harvest of juvenile raptors would be
limited to levels that would not harm wild populations. The Federal/State
permitting system for falconry would be changed, with the responsibility for
falconry permitting resting with the States, subject to the requirements of
revised falconry regulations. The current permitting for raptor propagation
would be maintained.


Based on our modeling of raptor populations using the best available
survival data, we have concluded that the impact of any of these
alternatives on raptor populations would be imperceptible. Our analyses
indicate that most raptor populations can sustain significantly more take
for falconry and raptor propagation than will occur under any reasonable
take scenario.

Public Comments

We welcome comments on the DEA. When submitting written comments, please
include your name and return address in your letter and identify it as
comments on the DEA. To facilitate our compilation of the Administrative
Record for this action, you must submit written comments on 8\1/2\ inch by
11 inch paper. Or, you may submit comments electronically via the Migratory
Bird Management Web page at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/, where a link
for comments will be available. Please submit comments by only one method,
do not send duplicate submissions. All comments received, including any
personal information provided, will be available for public inspection at
the address given above for hand delivery of comments. We will not consider
anonymous comments.

Dated: June 12, 2006.
H. Dale Hall,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E6-9725 Filed 6-20-06; 8:45 am]