The rules of this subpart N apply to the issuance of the annual regulations establishing seasons, bag limits, and other requirements for the seasonal hunting of migratory birds. The rules of this subpart N do not apply to the issuance of regulations under part 21 of this title or under subparts A through J and L through M of this part 20.

As used in this subpart N:

(a) Flyway Council means the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, or Pacific Flyway Council;

(b) Regulations Committee means the Migratory Bird Regulations Committee of the Fish and Wildlife Service; and

(c) Significant, as used in reference to a communication or other form of information or data, means related to the merits of the regulation and received, utilized, or transmitted by an official of the Department who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process on the regulation.

(a) Notice of meetings. Notice of each meeting of the Regulations Committee to be attended by any person outside the Department of the Interior will be published in the Federal Register or online on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Migratory Bird Program website at least 2 weeks before the meeting. The notice will state the time, place, and general subject(s) of the meeting, as well as the extent of public involvement.

(b) Public observation and written comment. Each meeting of the Regulations Committee for which notice is published pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section will be open to the public for observation and the submission of written comments.

(c) Public participation. Except for the mid-summer meetings held in Washington, DC, in conjuction with the public hearing on waterfowl and other late season frameworks, the public may participate in any meeting of the Regulations Committee for which notice is published pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section through the submission of oral statements that comply with the rules stated in the notice.

(d) Minutes of meetings. Minutes will be made of each meeting of the Regulations Committee for which notice is published pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.

(a) Notice of meetings. Notice of each meeting of a Flyway Council to be attended by any official of the Department of the Interior will be published in the Federal Register or online on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Migratory Bird Program website at least 2 weeks before the meeting or as soon as practicable after the Department of the Interior learns of the meeting. The notice will state the time, place, and general subject(s) of the meeting.

(b) [Reserved]

(a) Establishment. A public file will be established for each rulemaking to which this subpart N is applicable.

(b) Contents. Except for information exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552, a public file established pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section will contain:

(1) The minutes of Regulations Committee meetings made pursuant to paragraph (d) of § 20.153;

(2) Any written comments and other significant written communications which occur after the notice of proposed rulemaking;

(3) Summaries, identifying the source, of any significant oral communications which occur after the notice of proposed rulemaking; and

(4) Copies of or references to any other significant data or information.