Draft Tribal Information Letter

	United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Office of Law Enforcement National Eagle and Wildlife Property Repository 6550 Gateway Road, Bldg. 128 Commerce City, CO 80022
In Reply Refer to: FWS/R6

FWS/OLE

Date

Tribal Enrollment Office

(Address)

Subject: Native American Eagle Parts/Feather Permits Now Processed by National Eagle Repository

Dear Tribal Enrollment Officer:

We are requesting that tribal enrollment offices inform tribal members that the National Eagle Repository will be processing all eagle feather permit applications. A permit is required for Native Americans to order eagle feathers and parts from the National Eagle Repository. To date, the Native American Religious Purposes permit applications have been processed by the regional Migratory Bird Permit Offices. Those permits were then forwarded from the regional Migratory Bird Permit Office to the National Eagle Repository, and the National Eagle Repository processed the order request.

During the 2018 tribal consultation on potential changes to 50 CFR 22.22 regulations, Tribes identified eagle feather permit process as confusing and slow. As a result of the consultation, the Service identified how to streamline the permitting process by designating the National Eagle Repository to process eagle feather permit applications through a policy change.

Effective October 1, 2021, the National Eagle Repository will process all eagle feather permit applications. This includes all new applications, amendments (e.g. name change, contact information), and re-orders. Tribal members should submit permit applications (Form 3-200-15a) directly to the National Eagle Repository, rather than to the regional Migratory Bird Management Offices. Applications submitted using our online application portal (www.fws.gov/ePermits) will automatically be directed to the National Eagle Repository, so there is no change to the online application process for tribal members.

In support of Service outreach efforts, we are requesting that your tribal enrollment office inform tribal members that the National Eagle Repository will be processing all eagle feather permit actions and should be contacted with any eagle feather permit questions. If you have any questions or for further information, please contact the National Eagle Repository at:

National Eagle Repository

6550 Gateway Road, RMA, Bldg. 128

Commerce City, CO 80022

(303) 287-2110

www.fws.gov/eaglerepository

repository@fws.gov

Sincerely,

Gregory J. Langer

Supervisory Wildlife Repository Specialist, National Eagle Repository