94 STAT. 2424
PUBLIC LAW 96-487—DEC. 2, 1980 LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTICIPATION
16 USC 3115.
SEC. 805. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section, one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary in consultation with the State shall establish— (1) at least six Alaska subsistence resource regions which, taken together, include all public lands. The number and boundaries of the regions shall be sufficient to assure that regional differences in subsistence uses are adequately accommodated; (2) such local advisory committees within each region as he finds necessary at such time as he may determine, after notice and hearing, that the existing State fish and game advisory committees do not adequately perform the functions of the local committee system set forth in paragraph (3)(D)(iv) of this subsection; and (3) a regional advisory council in each subsistence resource region. Regional adviso- Each regional advisory council shall be composed of residents of the ry council, auregion and shall have the following authority: thority. (A) the review and evaluation of proposals for regulations, policies, management plans, and other matters relating to subsistence uses offish and wildlife within the region; (B) the provision of a forum for the expression of opinions and recommendations by persons interested in any matter related to the subsistence uses of fish and wildlife within the region; (C) the encouragement of local and regional participation pursuant to the provisions of this title in the decisionmaking process affecting the taking of fish and wildlife on the public lands within the region for subsistence uses; Annual report to (D) the preparation of an annual report to the Secretary which Secretary.
ghall contain—
(i) an identification of current and anticipated subsistence uses of fish and wildlife populations within the region; (ii) an evaluation of current and anticipated subsistence needs for fish and wildlife populations within the region; (iii) a recommended strategy for the management of fish and wildlife populations within the region to accommodate such subsistence uses and needs; and (iv) recommendations concerning policies, standards, guidelines, and regulations to implement the strategy. The State fish and game advisory committees or such local advisory committees as the Secretary may establish pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection may provide advice to, and assist, the regional advisory councils in carrying out the functions set forth in this paragraph. (b) The Secretary shall assign adequate qualified staff to the regional advisory councils and make timely distribution of all available relevant technical and scientific support data to the regional advisory councils and the State fish and game advisory committees or such local advisory committees as the Secretary may establish pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a). (c) The Secretary, in performing his monitoring responsibility pursuant to section 806 and in the exercise of his closure and other administrative authority over the public lands, shall consider the report and recommendations of the regional advisory councils concerning the taking offish and wildlife on the public lands within their respective regions for subsistence uses. The Secretary may choose not to follow any recommendation which he determines is not supported
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