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13 January 2007


[Federal Register: January 12, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 8)]

[Notices]               

[Page 1556-1557]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr12ja07-100]                         



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR



Fish and Wildlife Service



 

Draft Permit Conditions for Abatement Activities Using Raptors



AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.



ACTION: Notice.



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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have drafted permit 

conditions to allow the use of raptors protected by the Migratory Bird 

Treaty Act for abatement activities. We will authorize the use of these 

raptors for this purpose under our special purpose permits. We are 

asking for comments on our draft permit conditions. Allowing the use of 

raptors to conduct abatement activities is consistent with ensuring the 

long-term conservation of these species and will serve a public need.



DATES: We will accept written comments until February 12, 2007.



ADDRESSES: Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory 

Bird Management, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop MBSP-4107, 

Arlington, VA 22203, or E-mail: abatement@fws.gov



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shauna Hanisch, Division of Migratory 

Bird Management, (see ADDRESSES section); via e-mail at: 

Shauna_Hanisch@fws.gov; by telephone: (703) 358-1714; or by facsimile: (703) 



358-2217.



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:



Background



    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or Service) is the Federal 

agency with primary responsibility for managing migratory birds. Our 

authority is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) (16 U.S.C. 703 et 

seq.), which implements conventions with Great Britain (for Canada), 

Mexico, Japan, and the Soviet Union (Russia). Activities with migratory 

birds are prohibited unless specifically authorized by regulation. The 

MBTA authorizes us to issue regulations governing permits for migratory 

bird use. They are found in title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, 

parts 10, 13, 21, and 22.

    We have implemented a series of migratory bird permit memoranda to 

ensure consistent implementation of our regulations and policies 

pertaining to migratory birds. Our latest memorandum in the series 

provides guidance for issuing Special Purpose permits (50 CFR 21.27) to 

authorize the possession and use of raptors protected by the MBTA to 

abate depredation problems. For purposes of this memorandum, 

``abatement'' means the training and use of raptors to flush, haze, or 

take birds (or other wildlife where allowed) to mitigate depredation 

problems, including threats to human health and safety. Permit holders 

may be paid for providing abatement services. We developed this draft 

memorandum in response to growing



[[Page 1557]]



interest in the use of raptors to conduct commercial abatement 

activities. The Service has determined that authorizing such use is 

consistent with the MBTA and with the long-term conservation of raptor 

species. The Service seeks public comments on the draft permit 

conditions, which are presented below.

    Applicants for a Special Use--Abatement (SPA) permit would use FWS 

Form 3-200-10f, the Migratory Bird Special Purpose--Miscellaneous 

application form. If we determine that the application meets our 

requirements, we will issue an SPA permit containing the proposed 

conditions set forth below. The first three conditions (A, B, and C) 

are standard for all Special Purpose permits. The remaining conditions 

(D through K) would be unique to abatement permits. It is about these 

conditions that we seek comment.



Special Purpose--Abatement Permit Conditions



    A. General conditions set out in subpart D of 50 CFR 13, and 

specific conditions contained in Federal regulations cited in block 2 

above, are hereby made a part of this permit. All activities authorized 

by this permit must be carried out in accord with and for the purposes 

described in the application submitted. Continued validity, or renewal, 

of this permit is subject to complete and timely compliance with all 

applicable conditions.

    B. The validity of this permit is conditioned upon strict 

observance of all applicable State, local, or other Federal law.

    C. Valid for use by permittee named above.

    D. You are authorized to acquire, possess, and train up to [specify 

number] captive-bred raptors, in any species combination, to include 

hybrids from those species, of the following migratory bird species for 

the purpose of conducting abatement activities:

    [List species' common and scientific names.]

    All raptors must be captive-bred and must be marked on the 

metatarsus with a seamless numbered band issued by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service.

    E. You may not take species protected under the MBTA unless such 

take is authorized under a Federal depredation order or a Federal 

depredation permit identifying you as a subpermittee. You do not need a 

Federal permit to flush or haze depredating birds, other than 

endangered or threatened species or bald and golden eagles. You do not 

need a Federal depredation permit to take species that the MBTA does 

not protect.

    F. Under this permit, you may use a raptor held under your falconry 

permit for abatement. However, you may use a raptor held under this 

abatement permit for falconry only if it is transferred from your 

abatement permit to your falconry permit. If you use raptors to take 

depredating game birds in the context of falconry rather than 

abatement, you must comply with all applicable seasons and bag limits 

and may do so only in areas where the practice of falconry is 

authorized.

    G. Subpermittees: Persons under your direct control or employed by 

you, or under contract to you for purposes authorized by this permit, 

may carry out the permitted activities provided they are, or have been, 

a General or Master Falconer (in accordance with 50 CFR 21.28).

    H. You must submit FWS Form 3-186A (Migratory Bird Acquisition and 

Disposition Report) completed in accordance with the instructions on 

the form for each acquisition and disposition of a raptor.

    I. If your raptor takes a migratory bird in the course of 

conducting abatement activities and that take is not authorized by a 

depredation permit or a depredation order, the bird must be left in the 

field, though the raptor may be allowed to feed on it in the field.

    J. All facilities and equipment must meet standards described in 50 

CFR 21.29, and all birds must be maintained under humane and healthful 

conditions at all times.

    K. Acceptance of this permit authorizes us to inspect in accordance 

with 50 CFR 13.47.



Public Comments



    Please submit comments to one of the addresses listed above in 

ADDRESSES. If you mail a comment, it must be on 8\1/2\-inch-by-11-inch 

paper. Before including your address, telephone number, e-mail address, 

or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should 

be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 

information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 

ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 

able to do so. You may inspect comments by appointment during normal 

business hours at the address in ADDRESSES.



    Authority: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. 703-712.



    Dated: December 20, 2006.

David M. Verhey,

Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife.

 [FR Doc. E7-353 Filed 1-11-07; 8:45 am]



BILLING CODE 4310-55-P