(a) The regulations in this subpart apply to management of the Copper River-Rude River addition and Copper River-Bering River portion of the Chugach National Forest, for the conservation of fish, wildlife and their habitat as required by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 539). These regulations supplement the general regulations governing use and occupancy of National Forest System lands nationwide in 36 CFR part 251—Land Uses.

(b) The rules of this subpart are applicable only on Federally-owned lands within the boundaries of the Copper River-Rude River addition and the Copper River-Bering River portion of the Chugach National Forest, Alaska, known as the Copper River Management Area and as described and displayed in the Chugach National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, July 1984.

(c) Nothing in these regulations is intended to enlarge or diminish the responsibility and authority of the State of Alaska for management of fish and wildlife.

(d) The primary purpose for the management of the Copper River-Rude River addition and the Copper River-Bering River portion of the Chugach National Forest, Alaska, is the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitat. Consistent with the regulations at part 219 of this chapter, direction for managing the fish and wildlife resources of these units shall be documented in the land management plan for the Chugach National Forest.

For the purpose of this subpart, the terms listed in this section shall be defined as follows:

ANILCA refers to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)

Federal lands mean lands the title to which is in the United States, but does not include those lands: (1) Tentatively approved, legislatively conveyed, or patented to the State of Alaska, or (2) interim-conveyed or patented to a Native corporation or person.

Fish and Wildlife means any member of the animal kingdom, including without limitation any mammal, fish, bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, or other invertebrate, and includes any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof, or dead body or part thereof. For the purposes of this subpart, birds also include any migratory or endangered bird for which protection is afforded by treaty or other international agreement.

Land means lands, waters, and interests therein.

Multiple-use activity is a specific management or permitted activity, use, measure, course of action, or treatment of National Forest System lands carried out under the statutory charter of the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (16 U.S.C. 528 et seq.) and the National Forest Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.).

Responsible Forest Officer is the Forest Service employee who has the authority to select, authorize, permit and/or carry out a specific multiple-use activity.

(a) Subject to valid existing rights, a multiple-use activity may be permitted or authorized within the areas of the Chugach National Forest subject to this subpart only after a determination by the responsible Forest Officer that such activity is consistent with the conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitat. A use or activity may be determined to be consistent if it will not materially interfere with or detract from the conservation of fish, wildlife and their habitat.

(b) Where an evaluation is made pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321) for a proposed multiple-use activity, and the responsible Forest Officer prepares an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA) or categorically excludes an activity from documentation in an EA or EIS, the consistency determination required by this section for the use or activity shall be included as a part of the decision document.

(c) Guidelines that are consistent with this section may be developed for specific multiple-use activities as a part of the planning and implementation process required by the National Forest Management Act and the implementing regulations at 36 CFR part 219, National Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning.

(d) Subject to valid existing rights, the responsible Forest Officer may incorporate into any permit or other authorization issued pursuant to 36 CFR part 251 or other regulations of this chapter any reasonably practicable measures that are determined to be necessary to maintain consistency with the conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitat as provided by this subpart.

(e) Subject to valid existing rights, the responsible Forest Officer may revoke, suspend, restrict, or require modification of any activity if it is determined that such measures are required to conserve wildlife, fish, or their habitat within areas of the Chugach National Forest subject to this subpart. Prior to taking action to revoke, suspend, restrict, or require modification of an activity under this section, the responsible Forest Officer shall give affected parties reasonable prior notice and an opportunity to comment, unless it is determined that doing so would likely result in irreparable harm to conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitat.

(f) Decisions made pursuant to this section are subject to appeal only as provided in 36 CFR part 214.

(g) Nothing in this section affects subsistence activities carried out in accordance with § 241.23 of this subpart or other applicable law.

(a) The taking of fish and wildlife by hunting, trapping, or fishing from lands subject to the rules of this subpart is authorized in accordance with applicable State and Federal law.

(b) To the extent consistent with the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitat in accordance with recognized scientific management principles, local rural residents who depend upon the Chugach National Forest for subsistence needs shall continue to have the opportunity to engage in a subsistence way of life on the lands to which this subpart applies pursuant to applicable State and Federal law.

(c) To the extent consistent with the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitat, the continuation of existing uses and the future establishment and use of temporary campsites, tent, platforms, shelters, and other temporary facilities and equipment directly and necessarily related to the taking of fish and wildlife may be authorized in accordance with applicable law and regulations. However, the Forest Supervisor may restrict or prohibit facilities or uses in the Copper River-Rude River addition or Copper River-Bering River area if it is determined, after adequate notice to the affected parties, that the continuation of such facilities or uses would materially interfere with or adversely affect the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitat.