Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on April 1, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., at the Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N501, main conference room of the Natural Resources Commission, Division of Hearings, Indianapolis, Indiana, the Natural Resources Commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed rule to add 312 IAC 9-10-13.1 concerning falconry licenses, to amend the definition of "falconry" at 312 IAC 9-1-7, and to repeal 312 IAC 9-10-13.

IC 4-22-2-24(d)(3) Justification Statement: The United States Fish and Wildlife Service adopted new regulations governing falconry licenses and is requiring all states to come into compliance prior to January 1, 2014. As a result, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing to modify the definition of "falconry" and establish a new rule governing falconry licenses that complies with the federal requirements governing the taking of raptors from the wild; the housing, care, and transportation of raptors held under this license; the banding of raptors; other uses of raptors held under this license; and the disposition of the raptors and their feathers. All requirements or costs by the rule amendments on regulated entities under IC 4-22-2-24(d)(3) are reasonably necessary to the DNR's responsibility to provide for the protection, reproduction, care, management, survival, and regulation of wild animal populations as required under IC 14-22-2-3. These rule amendments will also positively impact falconers who are under the Department's regulatory control by IC 14-22-23.

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N501 and Legislative Services Agency, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.