This notice announces the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (hereinafter Service) intent to review aspects of the migratory bird regulations pertaining to the mid-continent lesser snow goose (MCLSG) population. The Service intends for this review to lead to proposed changes in the migratory bird regulations that would result in reducing the MCLSG population from over 3 million birds to a more sustainable population of approximately 1.5 million birds over the next few years. The reduction appears necessary to reverse the damage by these geese on the Arctic ecosystem which also provides important nesting habitat for many other species of migratory birds, some of which are species of management concern. Population reduction will also decrease the likelihood of avian disease outbreaks, such as avian cholera, that sometimes are associated with extremely high concentrations of waterfowl. The Service has attempted to curb the population growth of MCLSG through habitat management, expansion and liberalization of existing seasons, and increases in bag and possession limits. However, the population continues to grow and the geese continue to rapidly degrade their breeding habitats. Proposed regulatory measures, along with possible changes in the Service's habitat management strategies for MCLSG, may be the first of several phases needed to reduce the MCLSG population. Any subsequent proposals will be noticed in the Federal Register and will be subject to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, as appropriate. As part of the first phase, the Service will prepare an Environmental Assessment for public review to evaluate migratory bird regulatory alternatives for reducing the MCLSG population. The Service invites public comment and suggestions on possible options.

DATES:

Written comments are requested by June 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Paul R. Schmidt, Chief, Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, (703) 358-1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

"Migratory Birds'' are defined in 50 CFR 10.12 as meaning any bird, irrespective of its origin in the wild or in captivity, which belongs to the species listed in 10.13, for the purposes of protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 703-712). Snow geese (Anser caerulescens) are among the species listed.

Mid-continent lesser snow geese (MCLSG) breed in the arctic and subarctic regions of Canada, specifically along the west coast of Hudson and James Bays and the southern portions of Baffin and South Hampton Islands. Beginning in late August, they migrate southward over the Canadian boreal forests and along the Central and western Mississippi flyways to their wintering grounds spanning across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and New Mexico and into the northern States of Mexico. During migration, these geese stage at sites along the Central and Mississippi flyways such as the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District in Nebraska and De Soto National Wildlife Refuge on the Iowa-Nebraska border.

The MCLSG population has increased in the last 30 years from an estimated 900,000 birds in 1969 to over 3 million birds in 1996 and the population continues to grow at an annual rate of 5 percent (Abraham et al. 1996). Due to this high growth rate, virtually unlimited food resources in the lower 48 United States and prairie Canada, and a decline in overall mortality in the last 30 years, the MCLSG population has become a threat to itself and to other migratory bird species. MCLSG are destroying arctic and subarctic breeding habitats used by many other species to the point of desertification, soil salinization, and depletion of vegetative communities (Abraham and Jefferies 1997). The Service believes that the MCLSG population exceeds sustainable levels for their arctic and subarctic breeding habitats, and the population must be reduced to approximately 1.5 million birds to bring the population to within long-term management objective levels (Central/Mississippi Flyway Councils 1982). The Service is also concerned that avian cholera, a highly contagious and deadly disease, could be transmitted to other migratory birds that stage with large concentrations of MCLSG during spring and fall migration.

The Service has attempted to curb the population growth of MCLSG through habitat management, expansion and liberalization of existing seasons, and increases in bag and possession limits, however, the population continues to grow and the geese continue to rapidly degrade their breeding habitats. Over the last year, the Service has consulted with various scientific and conservation organizations in the United States and Canada and has worked in coordination with the Canadian Wildlife Service to bring all available scientific information regarding MCLSG to decision makers.

Under the Act, the Secretary of the Interior has the responsibility for setting appropriate regulations for the take of migratory birds, with due regard for maintaining such populations in a healthy state and at satisfactory levels. As a first step in determining whether and how to reduce the MCLSG population to healthy and sustainable levels, the Service will examine various migratory bird regulatory alternatives and their impacts in an Environmental Assessment, a draft of which will be made available for public review.

Along with the Service's review of regulatory alternatives, the Service will develop habitat management strategies to contribute to a reduction in the MCLSG population. When developed, any proposals will be subject to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, as appropriate.

Literature Cited

Abraham, K.F., and R.L. Jefferies. 1997. High goose populations: causes, impacts, and implications. Pages 7-72 in B.D.J. Batt (editor).

Arctic Ecosystems in Peril: Report of the Arctic Goose Habitat Working Group. Arctic Goose Joint Venture Special Publication. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. and Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario.

Abraham, K.F., R.L. Jefferies, R.F. Rockwell, and C.D. MacInnes. 1996. Why are there so many white geese in North America? Pages 79-92 in J. Ratti (editor). Proceedings of the 7th International Waterfowl Symposium. Ducks Unlimited, Memphis, Tennessee.

Central and Mississippi Flyway Councils. 1982. Management guidelines for mid-continent snow geese in Wildfowl Management Guidelines. 22 pages.

Dated: March 26, 1998.

Donald J. Barry, Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.