36 CFR Part 13, Subpart B - General Provisions

The National Park Service amends it regulations for National Park System units in Alaska to allow qualified subsistence users to collect nonedible fish and wildlife parts and plants for creating handicrafts for barter and customary trade. The rule also clarifies that capturing, collecting or possessing living wildlife is generally prohibited and adopts restrictions on using human-produced foods to bait bears for subsistence uses.

The National Park Service proposes to allow qualified subsistence users to collect and use nonedible fish and wildlife parts and plant materials for the creation and subsequent disposition (use, barter, or sale) of handicrafts. The rule would also (1) clarify that collecting or possessing living wildlife is generally prohibited and (2) limit the types of bait that may be used to take bears for subsistence uses.

The National Park Service is revising the special regulations for Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park to close the core Dyea Historic Townsite to the use of horses except by special use permit issued by the superintendent.

The National Park Service is amending its regulations for sport hunting and trapping in national preserves in Alaska. This rule provides that the National Park Service does not adopt State of Alaska management actions or laws or regulations that authorize taking of wildlife, which are related to predator reduction efforts (as defined in this rule). This rule affirms current State prohibitions on harvest practices by adopting them as federal regulation. The rule also prohibits the following activities that are allowed under State law: Taking any black bear, including cubs and sows with cubs, with artificial light at den sites; taking brown bears and black bears over bait; taking wolves and coyotes during the denning season; harvest of swimming caribou or taking caribou from a motorboat while under power; and using dogs to hunt black bears. The rule also simplifies and updates procedures for closing an area or restricting an activity in National Park Service areas in Alaska; updates obsolete subsistence regulations; prohibits obstructing persons engaged in lawful hunting or trapping; and authorizes the use of native species as bait for fishing.

The National Park Service proposes to revise the special regulations for Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park to close the core Dyea Historic Townsite to the use of horses except by special use permit issued by the superintendent.

The National Park Service is making technical corrections to its regulations. In response to Congress's enactment of Title 54 United States Code, the rule corrects the authority citations. The rule fixes typographical errors and incorrect citations and cross-references. The rule removes a firearms provision that was vacated by court order in 2009 and adds language consistent with federal law governing the possession of firearms in National Park units. The rule removes an outdated reference to a designated airstrip at Lake Mead National Recreation Area that has been closed since 1987.

The National Park Service is reopening the public comment period for the proposed rule to amend its regulations for sport hunting and trapping in National Preserves in Alaska. The proposed rule also includes updates to procedures for closing an area or restricting an activity in National Park Service Areas in Alaska and other minor changes. Reopening the comment period for 31 days will allow more time for the public to review the proposal and submit comments.

The National Park Service proposes to amend its regulations for sport hunting and trapping in National Preserves in Alaska. This proposed rule would not adopt state laws or regulations that authorize taking of wildlife, hunting or trapping activities, or management actions involving predator reduction efforts with the intent or potential to alter or manipulate natural predator-prey dynamics and associated natural ecological processes to increase harvest of ungulates by humans. The rule would maintain long-standing prohibited sport hunting and trapping practices; update procedures for closing an area or restricting an activity in National Park Service areas in Alaska; update obsolete subsistence regulations; prohibit obstructing persons engaged in lawful hunting or trapping; and authorize use of native species as bait for fishing.

The National Park Service is amending its special regulations for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve to designate trails in the portion of the Nabesna District located within the National Preserve where motor vehicles may be used off roads for recreational purposes. The rule prohibits the use of certain types of vehicles based upon size and weight, and closes certain areas in designated wilderness within the Nabesna District that are located outside of established trails and trail corridors to the use of motor vehicles for subsistence.