FACA

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DOI - 558 - National Park Service Subsistence Resource Commission-Wrangell-St. Elias National Park - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Park Service Subsistence Resource Commission-Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	Agency Name	Department of the Interior
Fiscal Year	2021	Committee Number	558
Original Establishment Date	12/2/1980	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.nps.gov/wrst/learn/management/subsi...
New Committee This FY	No	Presidential Appointments*	No
Terminated This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	9
Current Charter Date	10/19/2020	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Superintendent, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Date Of Renewal Charter	10/19/2022	Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Ben
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Specific Termination Authority	P.L. 96-487	Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Bobowski
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Establishment Authority*	P.L. 96-487	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(907) 822-7202
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/2/1980	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(907) 822-7216
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable	Designated Federal Officer Email*	ben_bobowski@nps.gov
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	Federal law and regulation provide the opportunity for continued subsistence uses, including hunting, within the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The Subsistence Resource Commission for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is a forum that promotes effective communication and mutual understanding of subsistence uses and related cultural resources. The Commission consults with every appropriate local advisory committee and regional council for comment and input on draft hunting plan recommendations. In addition to the advisory committee and regional council consultation process directed by P.L. 96-487 (the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act), the Commission is required to hold public meetings in all areas affected by the subsistence hunting program.
How is membership balanced?*	Membership, as prescribed by the Commission's enabling legislation, consists of nine members as follows: (a) three members appointed by the Secretary of the Interior; (b) three members appointed by the Governor of Alaska; and (c) three members appointed by the regional council, as established by the Secretary or the Governor pursuant to section 805 of P.L. 96-487. The members include a range of individuals having personal knowledge of the region's subsistence conditions, and having an interest in Federal subsistence management.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Meetings are generally held twice a year, or as often as circumstances require. Commission recommendations are vitally important on matters relating to the taking of wildlife within the park, and are the foundation for the development and review of the subsistence hunting program.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Commission’s recommendations help the NPS to ensure the continuation of the opportunity for local rural residents to engage in the subsistence use of resources in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The NPS has adopted the following mission statement to guide its activities. Subsistence will be managed as a legislated use consistent with the provisions of ANILCA, the Organic Act of 1916, and park's enabling legislation to:•protect the opportunity for qualified local rural residents to continue traditional subsistence activities;•recognize that subsistence ways of life differ from region to region and arecontinuing to evolve, and where appropriate, park management practicesmay reflect regional diversity and evolution;•promote local involvement and participation in processes associated withsubsistence management;•ensure that management practices involving the utilization of public landsadequately consider the potential for restriction of subsistence uses andimpacts upon subsistence resources;•ensure that management of park resources is consistent with the conserva-tion of unimpaired ecosystems and natural and healthy populations of fishand wildlife, incorporating scientific data and principles with traditionalknowledge and cultural values; and•promote effective communication and mutual understanding of subsistenceuses and related cultural and social values, and park purposes and protection,between the NPS, subsistence users, the State of Alaska and the public.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings are open.
Recommendation Remarks	The Wrangell Saint-Elias Subsistence Resource Commission met twice during fiscal year 2020. These meetings were held on 7-8 October 2019 in Copper Center and 25 February 2020 in Copper Center. The following recommendations were offered by the commission: Motions were approved regarding proposals to change federal subsistence hunting and trapping regulations. These included, opposing WP20-08 to require marking of traps and snares statewide; supporting WP20-10 to revise customary and traditional use determination for black bear in Units 1-3 & 5; supporting WP20-11 to revise customary and traditional use determination for brown bear in Units 1 & 3-5; deferring to the Southeast Alaska Regional Advisory Council for WP20-13 to establish customary and traditional use determination for elk in Unit 3; supporting WP20-14 to revise customary and traditional use determination for goat in Units 1, 4 & 5; supporting WP20-15 to revise customary and traditional use determination for moose in Units 1 & 3; supporting WP20-19 with modification to revise the elder/minor hunt sheep hunt in Unit 11. Modifications included to retain the existing elder sheep hunt and elder/minor hunt and to establish a stand-alone youth hunt for sheep; and supporting WP20-51 to revise customary and traditional use determination for sheep in Unit 12. Further, three motions were approved: A motion was approved to write a letter to the Southcentral Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council expressing support for two project proposals submitted for the 2020 Fisheries Resource Monitoring Program for Southcentral Alaska, specifically Proposal 20-501 Klutina River Sonar Pilot Project and Proposal 20-502 Abundance and Run Timing of Salmon in Tanada Creek. Another motion was approved to request that subsistence users be exempted from the food storage requirements – specifically use of bear resistant containers – in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Superintendent’s Compendium when hunting in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. A motion was approved to write a letter to the Federal Subsistence Board supporting Wildlife Special Action 20-01 with modification to change the harvest limit in Unit 13-remainder to two caribou, but not to eliminate the closed season for caribou in Unit 13 from October 1 to October 20.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	Yes
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	Not Applicable
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Not Applicable	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Not Applicable	Grants Review Comment	Not Applicable
Number Of Recommendations*	27	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Historically, only formal hunting recommendations were tracked by this report. Federal and state wildlife proposals will also be included in the SRC's recommendations list. The Commission made 11 recommendations in FY 2020. The following recommendations were offered by the commission on Federal Subsistence wildlife proposals: 1) opposing WP20-08 to require marking of traps and snares statewide; 2) supporting WP20-10 to revise customary and traditional use determination for black bear in Units 1-3 & 5; 3) supporting WP20-11 to revise customary and traditional use determination for brown bear in Units 1 & 3-5; 4) deferring to the Southeast Alaska Regional Advisory Council for WP20-13 to establish customary and traditional use determination for elk in Unit 3; 5) supporting WP20-14 to revise customary and traditional use determination for goat in Units 1, 4 & 5; 6) supporting WP20-15 to revise customary and traditional use determination for moose in Units 1 & 3; 7) supporting WP20-19 with modification to revise the elder/minor hunt sheep hunt in Unit 11. Modifications included to retain the existing elder sheep hunt and elder/minor hunt and to establish a stand-alone youth hunt for sheep; 8) and supporting WP20-51 to revise customary and traditional use determination for sheep in Unit 12. Further, three motions were approved: 9) A motion was approved to write a letter to the Southcentral Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council expressing support for two project proposals submitted for the 2020 Fisheries Resource Monitoring Program for Southcentral Alaska, specifically Proposal 20-501 Klutina River Sonar Pilot Project and Proposal 20-502 Abundance and Run Timing of Salmon in Tanada Creek. 10) Another motion was approved to request that subsistence users be exempted from the food storage requirements – specifically use of bear resistant containers – in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Superintendent’s Compendium when hunting in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. 11) A motion was approved to write a letter to the Federal Subsistence Board supporting Wildlife Special Action 20-01 with modification to change the harvest limit in Unit 13-remainder to two caribou, but not to eliminate the closed season for caribou in Unit 13 from October 1 to October 20.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	60.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	SRC hunting program recommendations have addressed the following:- Appoint alternate for each SRC member to ensure quorum. - Define resident zone community boundaries.- Evaluate Cordova for resident zone status.- Evaluate Tolsona for resident zone status.- Conduct subsistence access study.- Conduct analysis of ATV use on Malaspina Forelands.- Establish fall spring and summer subsistence waterfowl season. Allow summer harvest of birds.- Implement Mentasta Caribou Management Plan.- Allow collection of horns and antlers.- Support studies of subsistence fish stocks.- Allow making , selling or trading handicraft items by subsistence users for customary trade.-- Clarify NPS definition of trap regarding use of firearms.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	20.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	SRC Proposed Actions:- Amend charter to allow SRC to report to Superintendent and Federal Subsistence Board.- Appoint alternate for each SRC member to ensure quorum. - Define resident zone community boundaries.- Evaluate Cordova for resident zone status.- Evaluate Tolsona for resident zone status.- Establish minimum residency requirement for resident zones communities.-Conduct subsistence access study.- Conduct analysis of ATV use on Malaspina Forelands.- Establish fall spring and summer subsistence waterfowl season. Allow summer harvest of birds.- Implement Mentasta Caribou Management Plan.- Use predator control on NPS lands.- Allow collection of horns and antlers.- Support studies of subsistence fish stocks.- Allow making , selling or trading handicraft items by subsistence users for customary trade.- Allow aircraft for subsistence access.- Clarify NPS definition of trap regarding use of firearms.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	For information on Wrangell-St. Elias National Park SRC go online to: https://www.nps.gov/wrst/learn/management/subsistence-resource-commission.htm
Agency Feedback Comment*	Public meetings and response letters to the committee.	Narrative Description*	The Subsistence Resource Commission for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park has been established by the Congress to devise and recommend to the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of Alaska a program for subsistence hunting within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The Commission's unique insight on local customary and traditional patterns of subsistence use within the park has been important in developing workable subsistence hunting plan recommendations.

COSTS

Payments to Non-Federal Members*		Est Payments to Non-Fed Members Next FY*
Payments to Federal Members*		Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
Payments to Federal Staff*		Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
Payments to Consultants*		Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Members*		Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Members nextFY*
Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staff Next FY*
Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		Est Travel Reimb to Consultants Next FY*
Other Costs		Est. Other Costs Next FY*
Total Costs	$0.00	Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified		Federal Staff Support (FTE)*
Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*		Cost Remarks
Est Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Animals Fish and Wildlife Environment Environmental Issues Land National Parks, Sites, Trails, Recreational Areas Monuments

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