From: Medeiros, Andrea AM
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 9:16 AM
Subject: News Release: Proposed public use regulations improve hunting,
fishing and recreation access

Date: May 20, 2020
Contact: Andrea Medeiros, 907-786-3695, andrea_medeiros@fws.gov

Proposed public use regulations improve hunting, fishing and
recreation access
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is proposing amendments to
the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s public use regulations to align with state
regulations and improve access and opportunities for hunting, fishing and other
public uses consistent with Secretary’s Orders (S.O.) 3347 and 3356.
“President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt have prioritized increasing access
and opportunities for the public to experience our unforgettable public lands,
including celebrating the heritage of hunting and fishing in our nation’s wildlife
refuges. This proposed rule would make that priority a reality in one of the most
iconic refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, allowing this legacy of
conservation to inspire generations of public land users on the breathtaking
Kenai Peninsula,” said Service Director Aurelia Skipwith.
“These amendments represent years of cooperative work between the Service
and the State of Alaska. Expanding recreational opportunities and state
management in the magnificent Kenai Refuge benefits Alaskans and tourists
alike, and I thank President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt for their commitment
to listening to Alaskan voices,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy.
“I appreciate the Department of the Interior’s efforts to align its management
regulations with Alaska’s on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge,” said Senator
Lisa Murkowski (AK), Chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee. “Alignment between federal and state regulators is
common sense.”
“I welcome the Department of the Interior’s efforts to align management and
regulation with the State on the refuge,” said Senator Dan Sullivan (AK). “There
is still much more work to be done, but this is an important step towards a better
partnership between the Federal Government and Alaska.”
“Hunting, trapping, and other outdoor recreational activities are essential to
Alaska’s culture,” said Congressman Don Young (AK-At Large). “Alaskans are
responsible environmental stewards, and for too long, federal regulations have
stood in the way of our state’s ability to properly manage the Kenai National

 Wildlife Refuge. This proposed rule is welcome news for our outdoorsman and
delicate ecosystem. I am grateful to Secretary Bernhardt and the Trump
Administration for continuing their work to empower Alaskans to protect the
unique state they call home.”
If adopted, the amendments would allow for:
 state-regulated harvest of brown bears at registered bait stations;
 state-regulated trapping;
 the discharge of firearms along the Kenai and Russian rivers from
November 1 to April 30 in accordance with state law;
 increased access for the public using snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles
and utility task vehicles on certain lakes for ice fishing when there is
adequate ice cover; and,
 increased access for the public using bicycles and game carts.
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is Alaska’s most visited national wildlife
refuge and provides countless opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife
observation and photography, camping, river floating and canoeing. The refuge’s
regulations are intended to ensure safe, high-quality opportunities for public use,
consistent with the Service’s responsibilities to conserve fish, wildlife and habitats
in their natural diversity, protect cultural resources, steward designated
wilderness, and provide continued opportunities for subsistence uses.
S.O. 3347 has advanced conservation stewardship, improved game and habitat
management, and increased outdoor recreation opportunities since being signed
in 2017, and this proposal would further those objectives. S.O. 3356 provides
directives ensuring greater collaboration and consistency with state regulations,
which is a cornerstone of this proposed rule.
The Service is seeking public comments on the draft Environmental Assessment
and the proposed rule. In addition, we are soliciting information that would help
inform the Service’s Regulatory Impact Analysis for this rulemaking, including
information related to the costs and benefits associated with changes to
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge public use regulations. For example, we are
soliciting information or data that would help the Service quantify
the economic effects associated with increasing opportunities for consumptive
uses (e.g., harvest of brown bear at registered bait
stations), including impacts on non-consumptive uses (e.g., public safety,
wildlife viewing and photography).
The proposed rule will publishing in the Federal Register in the coming
days. Once published, it will be available on www.regulations.gov, search Docket
Number: FWS-R7-NWRS-2017-0058, to review the proposed rule and draft
Environmental Assessment and submit comments.

 For more information about Kenai National Wildlife Refuge,
visit http://www.fws.gov/refuge/kenai/.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and
enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the
American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us
through any of these social media
channels: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.