Secretary Seeks Input for Review of Federal Subsistence Program

On October 23, 2009, Secretary of the Interior Salazar announced to the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage the initiation of a Departmental review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program in Alaska. The review will focus on how the program is meeting the purposes and subsistence provisions of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), and how the program is serving rural subsistence users as envisioned when the program was begun in the early 1990s.

The Alaska Affairs office of the Secretary will lead this review effort. The Secretary has directed that the review be driven by input from subsistence users. Comments and suggestions are welcomed and encouraged in this review. In addition to legislative mandates, the review will include the structures and operations of the Federal Subsistence Board, the Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils, and budgetary issues. The Secretary has indicated his desire to complete the review and to consider recommendations for possible actions in the next several months. More