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FWS: Migratory Bird Hunting--Final Frameworks for Late-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations and Late Seasons and Bag and Possession Limits for Certain Migratory Game Birds

OGC-99-5 Published: Oct 14, 1998. Publicly Released: Oct 14, 1998.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) new rules on migratory bird hunting. GAO noted that: (1) the final frameworks rule establishes the late-season frameworks from which states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands may select dates and other options available to them for the 1998-99 migratory bird hunting seasons; (2) the late seasons and bag and possession limits rule would prescribe hunting seasons, hours, areas, and daily bag limits and possession limits for species subject to late-season regulations and early seasons that states previously deferred; and (3) FWS complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.

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Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service:, OGC-99-5, October 14, 1998



B-281164; B-281183

October 14, 1998

The Honorable John H. Chafee Chairman The Honorable Max Baucus Ranking Minority Member Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate

The Honorable Don Young Chairman The Honorable George Miller Ranking Minority Member Committee on Resources House of Representatives

Subject:Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service: Migratory Bird Hunting; (1) Final Frameworks for Late-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations; (2) Late Seasons and Bag and Possession Limits for Certain Migratory Game Birds

Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on two major rules promulgated by the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, entitled "Final Frameworks for Late-Season Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations" and "Migratory Bird Hunting; Late Seasons and Bag and Possession Limits for Certain Migratory Game Birds" (RIN: 1018-AE93). We received the rules on September 23, 1998 and September 24, 1998. They were published in the Federal Register as final rules on September 29 and September 30, 1998, respectively. 63 Fed. Reg. 51998 and 63 Fed. Reg. 52322.

These rules are part of a series of regulations dealing with the establishment of seasons, limits, and other regulations for migratory game bird hunting under amendments to 50 C.F.R. part 20.

The "final frameworks" rule establishes the late-season frameworks from which states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands may select dates and other options available to them for the 1998-99 migratory bird hunting seasons. The "late seasons and bag and possession limits" rule prescribes hunting seasons, hours, areas, and daily bag limits and possession limits for species subject to late-season regulations and early seasons that states previously deferred.

Enclosed is our assessment of the Fish and Wildlife Service's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that the Fish and Wildlife Service complied with the applicable requirements.

If you have any questions about this report, please contact Alan Zuckerman, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-4586. The official responsible for GAO evaluation work relating to the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, is Victor Rezendes, Director for Energy, Resources and Science Issues. Mr. Rezendes can be reached at (202) 512-3841.

Robert P. Murphy General Counsel

Enclosure

cc: The Honorable Donald J. Barry Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Department of the Interior ENCLOSURE

ANALYSIS UNDER 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iv) OF TWO MAJOR RULES ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ENTITLED "MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING; FINAL FRAMEWORKS FOR LATE-SEASON MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING REGULATIONS"; AND "LATE SEASONS AND BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS FOR CERTAIN MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS" (RIN: 1018-AE93)

(i) Cost-benefit analysis

According to the cost-benefit analysis contained in the filing, the migratory bird hunting regulations (of which these regulations are a part) collectively have an economic impact in excess of an estimated $600 million in direct expenditures. For example, the analysis indicates that $293.3 million will be spent by duck hunters on equipment, $144.3 million on food, $147.1 million on transportation and lodging, plus $73.8 million "other" direct expenditures. Without these regulations, the Service opines that the resources spent in game bird hunting would, to some degree, be spent on other recreational activities.

The analysis notes that the rules impose some costs of administration and enforcement on the state, but as the states also derive revenue from licensing, the net cost, if any, is not quantifiable.

(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 603-605, 607, and 609

The Service's compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act consisted of a "Small Entity Flexibility Analysis" updated with information from the 1996 National Hunting and Fishing Survey issued in 1998 (and available from the Office of Migratory Bird Management upon request). It appears that the analysis was so limited because the regulation's impact is primarily beneficial to a very substantial number of small businesses.

The analysis provided by the Service indicates that the regulations are promulgated annually to set frameworks for harvest levels and seasons for migratory bird hunting; that the states then issue regulations within the established framework, and that under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq., no legal migratory bird hunting could take place without the regulations.

The objective noted by the analysis is to ensure that harvest levels are commensurate with the current population of each species, based on surveys conducted in the spring and early summer.

The analysis notes that small entities will share in the estimated $429-$1,084 million spent by migratory bird hunters during the 1998-99 season. There are no new compliance requirements for small business resulting from the regulations. In addition, since the regulations are largely beneficial to small entities, the Service indicates that no special treatment was considered for them.

(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1532-1535

The Service has certified that the rulemaking will not impose a cost of $100 million or more on local or state governments or private entities.

(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders

The Service notes that National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) considerations are covered by its "Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Issuance of Annual Regulations Permitting the Sport Hunting of Migratory Birds," which was filed with the Environmental Protection Agency on June 9, 1988. The Service also asserts that pursuant to Endangered Species Act considerations, it designs hunting regulations to "remove or alleviate chances of conflict between migratory game bird hunting seasons and the protection and conservation of endangered and threatened species." In addition, the regulations do not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism assessment.

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.

The rules were promulgated through the general notice of proposed rulemaking procedures of the Act, 5 U.S.C. 553. The Service afforded interested persons the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule, and the final rule addresses the comments.

Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520

The Service states that it uses various information collection requirements to develop future migratory game bird hunting regulations. The information collection requirements of the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Programs have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and have been assigned clearance number 1018-0015.

Statutory authorization for the rule

The rules concerning migratory waterfowl hunting are authorized by 16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 742 a-j.

Executive Order No. 12866

Our review indicates that the Service adhered to the requirements of Executive Order 12866. Collectively, the rules for migratory bird hunting are reviewed by OMB and are considered to be economically significant.



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