Subsistence News-3/24/95

To   Subsistence 2

From:      Larry Roberts:R10F02A

Postmark:  Mar 23,95  3:30 PM          Delivered: Mar 24,95  9:59 AM

Status:    Previously read

Subject: Subsistence News-3/24/95

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Message:

*Mitch Demientieff, President of Nenana’s village corporation, has been appointed chairperson of the Federal Subsistence Board (FSB). The FSB is made up of the Regional Forester, Regional Directors of the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service, The State Director of the Bureau of Land Management, and Area Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

*Alaska’s state legislature has hired, under 5-month contract, three individuals to advise them on natural resource issues. The three include former Assistant Attorney General Lisa Gay, and former deputy Fish and Game Commissioners Ron Somerville and Charles Meachum. The trio will advise the legislature on such issues as subsistence, endangered species, and fisheries treaties.

*Norm Howse, Assistant Director of Subsistence, retires effective April 1. Norm’s career spans nearly 35 years of federal service. In all, he has spent twenty four years of service in R10, as well as five years in R1. Additionally, he served in the Navy and completed summer seasonal work in R4.

Subsistence News-3/17/95

To   Subsistence 2

From:      Larry Roberts:R10F02A

Postmark:  Mar 14,95  2:43 PM          Delivered: Mar 17,95  9:59 AM

Status:    Previously read

Subject: Subsistence News-3/17/95

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Message:

*Native groups say the Federal Subsistence Management Program (FSMP) works better for them than state regulations set by the Alaska Boards of Fisheries and Game. “Basically, we feel that, given the track records, the feds have accomodated a majority of our immediate concerns and, unlike the state boards, the federal [subsistence] board seems more politically insulated and seems to have more sanity in its decisions”, said Pete Schaeffer, vice chair of the NW Arctic Federal Subsistence Council.

*William Stelle, NW Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in Seattle, says that dams will no longer be operated to maximize power production. From now on, survival of fish will come first. Three salmon species have been declared endangered and the Endangered Species Act requires NMFS to take the lead in salmon recovery.

*David R. Allen, Director of Alaska’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has been named Acting Chair of the Federal Subsistence Board (FSB). Allen replaces Willie Hensley.

*The Federal Subsistence Board (FSB) will meet in Anchorage, April 10-14. For information call 1-800-478-1456.

Subsistence News-3/10/95

To   Subsistence 2

From:      Larry Roberts:R10F02A

Postmark:  Mar 10,95  9:22 AM          Delivered: Mar 10,95  9:58 AM

Status:    Previously read

Subject: Subsistence News-3/10/95

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Message:

*The Secretary of Interior has released the draft contingency plan for extended federal jurisdiction of subsistence fisheries in Alaska. The report was submitted to the Sectys of Agriculture and Interior this past September.

*CORRECTION-several Alaska Native groups have petitioned the Sectys of Agriculture and Interior to expand federal management of fish and game in Alaska. The petition seeks to expand federal authority in regulating fish and game on “non-public” lands. It also seeks to include millions of acres of Alaska lands selected, but not conveyed, to the state and Native Corporations. Comments on the petition for rule-making are due by April 3.

*Federal land managing agencies in Alaska assumed fish and game management on federal public lands in 1990. At that time, former Secty. of Interior Manuel Lujan ruled that “public lands” in Alaska did not include lands selected, but not conveyed, by the state and Native Corporations, navigable waters, and Native Corporation lands,or other private lands. The above petition asks the Sectys to revisit the question.

*Traditionally, the Tlingit & Haida of SE Alaska, viewed the heads of houses and lineages as the trustees of their groups subsistence areas.