[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8326-S8327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 1990 PROTOCOL TO THE 1983 MARITIME ENVIRONMENT OF THE WIDER CARIBBEAN 
              REGION CONVENTION--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 103-5

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
consider Executive Calendar No. 8, the 1990 Protocol to the 1983 
Maritime and Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region Convention; that 
the convention be advanced through its parliamentary stages, up to and 
including the presentation of the resolution of ratification; that the 
reservations, understandings, and declarations be agreed to; and that 
the Senate now vote on the resolution of ratification.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The question is on agreeing to the resolution of ratification.
  Senators in favor of the resolution of ratification will rise and 
stand until counted. (After a pause.) Those opposed will rise and stand 
until counted.
  On a division vote, two-thirds of the Senators present having voted 
in the affirmative, the resolution of ratification is agreed to.
  The resolution of ratification reads as follows:


 1990 protocol to the 1983 maritime environment of the wider caribbean 
                  region convention--treaty doc. 103-5

       Resolved (two-thirds of the Senators present concurring 
     therein),
       Section 1. Advice and Consent to Ratification of the 
     Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife to 
     the Convention for the Protection and Development of

[[Page S8327]]

     the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, subject 
     to Reservations, an Understanding, and a Declaration.
       The Senate advises and consents to the ratification of the 
     Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife to 
     the Convention for the Protection and Development of the 
     Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, including 
     Annexes, done at Kingston on January 18, 1990 (Treaty Doc. 
     103-5), subject to the reservations in section 2, the 
     understanding in Section 3, and the declaration in Section 4.
       Section 2. Reservations.
       The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is 
     subject to the following reservations, which shall be 
     included in the instrument of ratification.
       (1) The United States of America does not consider itself 
     bound by Article 11(1) of the Protocol to the extent that 
     United States law permits the limited taking of flora and 
     fauna listed in Annexes I and II--
       (A) which is incidental, or
       (B) for the purpose of public display, scientific research, 
     photography for educational or commercial purposes, or rescue 
     and rehabilitation.
       (2) The United States has long supported environmental 
     impact assessment procedures, and has actively sought to 
     promote the adoption of such procedures throughout the world. 
     U.S. law and policy require environmental impact assessments 
     for major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality 
     of the human environment. Accordingly, although the United 
     States expects that it will, for the most part, be in 
     compliance with Article 13, the United States does not accept 
     an obligation under Article 13 of the Protocol to the extent 
     that the obligations contained therein differ from the 
     obligations of Article 12 of the Convention for the 
     Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the 
     Wider Caribbean Region.
       (3) The United States does not consider the Protocol to 
     apply to six species of fauna and flora that do not require 
     the protection provided by the Protocol in U.S. territory. 
     These species are the Alabama, Florida and Georgia 
     populations of least term (Sterna antillarum), the Audubon's 
     shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri), the Mississippi, Louisiana 
     and Texas population of the wood stork (Mycteria americana) 
     and the Florida and Alabama populations of the brown pelican 
     (Pelicanus occidentalis), which are listed on Annex II, as 
     well as the fulvous whistling duck (Dendrocygna bicolor), and 
     the populations of widgeon or ditch grass (Rupia maritima) 
     located in the continental United States, which are listed on 
     Annex III.
       Section 3. Understanding.
       The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is 
     subject to the following understanding, which shall be 
     included in the instrument of ratification:
       The United States understands that the Protocol does not 
     apply to non-native species, defined as species found outside 
     of their natural geographic distribution, as a result of 
     deliberate or incidental human intervention. Therefore, in 
     the United States, certain exotic species, such as the 
     muscovy duck (Carina moschata) and the common iguana (Iguana 
     iguana), are not covered by the obligations of the Protocol.
       Section 4. Declaration.
       The advice and consent of the Senate under section 1 is 
     subject to the following declaration:
       Existing federal legislation provides sufficient legal 
     authority to implement United States obligations under the 
     Protocol. Accordingly, no new legislation is necessary in 
     order for the United States to implement the Protocol.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that any statements 
relating to this protocol be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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