The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday announced a proposed temporary closure of sport hunting of brown bears on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

According to a press release from the refuge, the temporary closure would be implemented as a resource protection measure to ensure consistency with refuge purposes. The closure would be effective Sept. 1 through May 31, 2015. Additional information can be found at http://www.fws.gov/alaska/. Fish and Wildlife is accepting written comments on the proposed temporary closure.

Written comments may be submitted by mail to: Refuge Manager, P.O. Box 2139, Soldotna, AK 99669; by fax to 907-262-3599 (attention Refuge Manager); or by email to kenai@fws.gov.

Written comments will be accepted through August 27.

Fish and Wildlife will hold public hearings to provide notice of and additional information on the proposed temporary closure. Hearings will be held at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage on August 26, and at the Soldotna Sports Center, Kalifornsky Beach Road, on August 27. Both hearings will be held from 6-9 p.m. Fish and Wildlife will accept verbal and written testimony at the hearings.

For additional information, contact the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge office at 907-262-7021.

— Staff report