NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN McNEIL RIVER AND WALRUS ISLANDS STATE GAME SANCTUARIES ACCESS PERMIT FEE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
The Department of Fish and Game proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 5 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with fees for access permits to the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary and the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary:
5 AAC 93.030. Permit application procedures and fees for McNeil River State Game Sanctuary access permits, is proposed to be changed to update fees for access permits, which have not been updated since 2000, to offset operation and maintenance costs for the facility.
5 AAC 93.035. Fees for Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary access permits, is proposed to be changed to update fees for access permits, which have not been updated since 1991, to offset operation and maintenance costs for the facility.
You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Joe Meehan, Lands and Refuges Program Coordinator, Department of Fish and Game, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518. Additionally, the Department of Fish and Game will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 267-2859 and by electronic mail at joe.meehan@alaska.gov. The comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 19, 2018.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Joe Meehan, Lands and Refuges Program Coordinator, at Department of Fish and Game, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518, or by facsimile at (907) 267-2859, or by electronic mail at joe.meehan@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Fish and Game may, but is not required to, respond to written questions received after the 10-day cut-off date and before the end of the comment period. The Department of Fish and Game will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System (https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices) by attaching them to this notice and by posting them on the Department of Fish and Game website (http://www.adfg.alaska.gov).
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Joe Meehan at (907) 267-2281 or joe.meehan@alaska.gov no later than January 5, 2018, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System (https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices), as an attachment to this notice and by contacting Joe Meehan, Lands and Refuges Program Coordinator, at the mailing address, telephone number, or email address listed above.
After the public comment period ends, the Department of Fish and Game will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulations may be different from that of the proposed regulations. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.
Statutory Authority: AS 16.05.020; AS 16.05.050
Statutes Being Implemented, Interpreted, or Made Specific: AS 16.05.020; AS 16.05.050; AS 16.20.090; AS 16.20.092; AS 16.20.094; AS 16.20.160; AS 16.20.162
Fiscal Information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
Bruce Dale, Director
Division of Wildlife Conservation
Department of Fish and Game
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS NOTICE INFORMATION
(AS 44.62.190(d))
1. Adopting agency: Department of Fish and Game
2. General subject of regulation: McNeil River and Walrus Islands Sanctuary Access Permit Fees
3. Citation of regulation (may be grouped): 5 AAC 93.030 and 5 AAC 93.035
4. Department of Law file number, if any: JU2017200041
5. Reason for the proposed action:
( ) Compliance with federal law or action (identify):
( ) Compliance with new or changed state statute
( ) Compliance with federal or state court decision (identify):
( ) Development of program standards
(X) Other (identify): Update fees that haven't been changed since 2000 (McNeil River) and 1991 (Walrus Islands)
6. Appropriation/Allocation: N/A
7. Estimated annual costs in the aggregate to comply with the proposed action to:
A private person: Because the regulation is regarding access permit fees, the cost to a person using the facility would be the fee established for the applicable use under the section.
Another state agency: $0
A municipality: $0
8. Cost of implementation to the state agency and available funding (in thousands of dollars):
Initial Year Subsequent
FY 2018 Years
Operating Cost $ 0 $ 0
Capital Cost $ 0 $ 0
1002 Federal receipts $ 0 $ 0 1003 General fund match $ 0 $ 0
1004 General fund $ 0 $ 0
1005 General fund/program $ 0 $ 0
Other (identify) $ 0 $ 0
9. The name of the contact person for the regulations:
Name: Joe Meehan
Title: Lands and Refuges Program Coordinator
Address: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 333 Raspberry Road; Anchorage, AK 99518 Telephone: (907) 267-2281
E-mail address: joe.meehan@alaska.gov
10. The origin of the proposed action:
__X__ Staff of state agency
_____ Federal government
_____ General public
_____ Petition for regulation change
_____ Other (identify):
11. Date: 12/11/2017 Prepared by:
Name: Joe Meehan
Title: Lands and Refuges Program Coordinator Telephone: (907) 267-2281