New Mexico Register / Volume XXX, Issue 23 / December 17, 2019

STATE GAME COMMISSION MEETING AND RULE MAKING NOTICE

The New Mexico State Game Commission (“Commission”) has scheduled a regular meeting and rule hearing for Thursday January 17, 2020, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Rd, Las Cruces, NM, 88011 to hear and consider action as appropriate on the following: 1) presentation of proposed new Fair Chase rule.

Synopsis:

The proposal is to adopt a new Fair Chase rule, 19.30.18 NMAC, which will become effective February 11, 2020.

The proposed new Fair Chase rule will allow the Department to withhold data that could be used to locate a wild animal or be used contrary to the principles of fair chase. This includes location information from: 1) any live animal with a transmitter; 2) animals included in an ongoing study; 3) animals that may have limited distribution; 4) animals that could encourage illegal take or compromise a population’s viability; 5) studies conducted by other agencies or researchers; and 6) VHF frequencies of the aforementioned animals. Any location that is disclosed may be buffered so that the information will not compromise the individual or population. Location data may be provided if an agreement is entered into for scientific, management, conservation, or educational purposes.

A full text of changes will be available on the Department’s website at: www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Interested persons may submit comments on the proposed changes to the Fair Chase rule at: Elise.Goldstein@state.nm.us, or individuals may submit written comments to the physical address below. Comments are due by 9:00 a.m. on January 16, 2020. The final proposed rule will be voted on by the Commission during a public meeting on January 17, 2020. Interested persons may also provide data, views or arguments, orally or in writing, at the public rule hearing to be held on January 17, 2020.

Full copies of text of the proposed new rule, technical information related to proposed rule changes, and the agenda can be obtained from the Office of the Director, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507, or from the Department’s website at www.wildlife.state.nm.us/commission/proposals-under-consideration/. This agenda is subject to change up to 72 hours prior to the meeting. Please contact the Director’s Office at (505) 476-8000, or the Department’s website at www.wildlife.state.nm.us for updated information.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact the Department at (505) 476-8000 at least one week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats. Please contact the Department at 505-476-8000 if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed.

Legal authority for this rulemaking can be found in the General Powers and Duties of the State Game Commission 17-1-14, et seq. NMSA 1978; Commission’s Power to establish rules and regulations 17-1-26, et seq. NMSA 1978.