FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

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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	2025	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...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	9
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Superintendent, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	9/25/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Joshua
Date Of Renewal Charter	9/25/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	M
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Scott
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	P.L. 96-487	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(907) 822-7243
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(907) 822-7216
Specific Establishment Authority*	P.L. 96-487	Designated Federal Officer Email*	joshua_scott@nps.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/2/1980
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
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?*	The Commission generally meets 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. Commission meetings provided an opportunity for Commission members, National Park Service staff, other agency staff, and the public to share information on subsistence issues.
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 to the public. During each meeting time is allocated for public testimony. The public is welcome to present written or oral comments to the Commission.
Recommendation Remarks	The Wrangell-Saint Elias Subsistence Resource Commission met twice during fiscal year 2025. The meetings were held on Oct 4-5, 2024, in Copper Center, Alaska and via teleconference, and on February 25-26, 2025, in Copper Center, Alaska and via teleconference. Quorum was met during both meetings. The Commission is scheduled to meet again on September 25-26, 2025, in Tok, Alaska.

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	The Commission and National Park Service are working together to address concerns for management of wildlife populations within the national park and preserve. During FY 2025, the Commission made recommendations regarding updates for the Superintendent’s Compendium as well as proposals to the Alaska Boards of Fisheries and Game. It also heard reports from the Superintendent, the Division of Interpretation and Education, the Research Stewardship and Science Team, and the NPS Alaska Region Subsistence Program. Staff from the Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission and the Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office provided reports on staffing and activities.	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*	104	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The Commission made 23 recommendations in FY25, so far: Recommendations were made to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Superintendent regarding possible changes to the Superintendent’s Compendium: • To unanimously support the recommendations of the working group on proposed updates to subsistence log harvest policy. • To unanimously support the recommendations of the working group on provisions related to the use of small bridges to support subsistence access. • To support the recommendations of the working group on proposed external boundaries of the resident zone with five in support and two in opposition. The following recommendations were made to the Federal Subsistence Board regarding: • FP25-03a: Tolsona C&T for salmon in the Chitina Subdistrict: Support. • WP25-01: Nelchina caribou seasons, hunt management, and 804 analysis: Support OSM modification. The following recommendations were made to the Alaska Board of Fisheries regarding proposals for the 2024 Prince William Sound and Upper Copper/Upper Susitna Finfish and Shellfish Meeting: • Proposal 48: Repeal the prohibition of subsistence guide services in the Glennallen Subdistrict: Oppose. • Proposal 50: Prohibit the use of chart-plotters or fish finders in the Chitina and Glennallen Subdistricts: Support. • Proposals 51, 52, 53: Reduce commercial salmon fishing opportunity in the Copper River District: Support. • Proposal 54: Restrict use of Copper River District inside closure area during statistical weeks 20 and 21: Oppose. • Proposal 70: Extend the lower boundary of the Chitina Subdistrict: Oppose. • Proposal 89: Increase the bag and possession limit for burbot in Lake Louise: Support. • Proposal 90: Modify bag and possession limits of burbot in Crosswind Lake: Support. The following recommendations were made to the Alaska Board of Game regarding proposals for 2025 Central and Southwest Region Meeting: • Proposal 49: Eliminate the harvest of Nelchina caribou: Support. • Proposal 59: Lengthen the wolf trapping season in Unit 11: Support. • Proposal 60: Lengthen the coyote trapping season in Unit 11: Support. • Proposals 4, 45, and 56: Establish archery-only hunts for sheep, moose, and goat in specified units including Units 11 and 13: Oppose. Other: • The commission supported the Priority Information Needs for the Southcentral and Eastern Interior Regional Advisory Councils and suggested adding an additional one to study the effects of predation as salmon move upriver. • The commission created a working group to review the communities identified in the Nelchina caribou ANILCA Section 804 user prioritization analysis. Working group members are Bruce Ervin, Dan Stevens, Mercedes Knighten, and Nathan Brown. • The commission voted to write letters to the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of Alaska reporting on the highlights of this meeting. • A motion was passed to write a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, introducing the commission, reporting on recent accomplishments, and sharing concerns about key subsistence resources. The Governor of Alaska will be copied on the letter. • The commission voted to write letters to the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of Alaska regarding concerns about Copper River Chinook salmon. • WP24-01: Statewide sale of brown bear hides: To unanimously support the revised OSM conclusion in addendum. • Tolsona Resident Zone Request: To not support the request to add Tolsona to the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park resident zone.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	80.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	The park is working to implement recommendations and comments made to regulatory proposals were forwarded to the relevant Board.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	20.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	The park continues to work on implementing recommendations.	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 Commission. NPS officials will provide oral or written briefings or status reports during meetings of the Commission.	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

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$80,622.90	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$83,041.59
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$8,567.70	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$8,824.73
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$6,496.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$6,690.88
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$1,025.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$1,055.75
11. Total Costs	$98,949.02	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$101,917.19
Date Cost Last Modified	9/15/2025 4:23 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.53
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.51	Est Cost Remarks	The estimated costs for the next FY are calculated based on the standard 3% inflation rate.
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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