[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 135 (Wednesday, July 15, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38143-38144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18756]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 14


Importation, Exportation, and Transportation of Wildlife

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 
(Service) intent to review aspects of the wildlife importation and 
exportation

[[Page 38144]]

regulations pertaining to domesticated species, certain captive-bred 
and captive-born species. In addition, the Service intends to review 
the current user fee structure. The Service intends for this review to 
lead to proposed changes in the wildlife importation and exportation 
regulations that would ease the burden on importers and exporters 
dealing in wildlife that involves no conservation risk, and allow the 
Service to focus its resources on areas of greater concern. This review 
will assess whether proposed changes in the current method of assessing 
user fees are warranted. Any proposed changes in the regulation of 
domesticated species and certain captive bred or captive-born species, 
will be addressed in a separate rule from any possible proposed changes 
to the user fee structure.

DATES: Comments and other information received on or before September 
14, 1998, will be considered by the Service in developing proposed 
amendments to 50 CFR part 14.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning this proposal should be 
sent to the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 3247, 
Arlington, Virginia 22203-3247. Comments and materials may be hand-
delivered to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law 
Enforcement, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 500, Arlington, Virginia, 
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Comments 
may also be submitted via electronic mail (E-mail) to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin R. Adams, Chief, Office of Law 
Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (703) 358-1949.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 21, 1996, the Service published a final rule (61 FR 31868) 
that defined ``domesticated species'' to include a list of certain 
species that would be exempt from the requirements of 50 CFR part 14, 
subpart B. The Service has experienced difficulty determining which 
species qualify as domesticated under the current definition in 50 CFR 
14.4. In addition, the Service has received continual requests for 
additions to the list. The Service is considering creating a new 
definition for ``domesticated species'' and reviewing the list to 
determine whether species should be added or deleted, or whether the 
list should be clarified or eliminated.
    The Service is interested in reviewing its role in the regulation 
of international trade of captive-bred and captive-born wildlife parts 
and products where it can be determined that no conservation risk 
exists. Many species are regularly bred or born in captivity for 
international trade such as the Ostrich (Struthio camelus) and American 
Bison (Bison bison bison), but are not considered to be domesticated 
animals and thus are subject to all wildlife import and export 
regulatory requirements. The Service intends to review those species 
that are routinely bred or born in captivity, where the commodities in 
international trade are primarily produced from captive-bred or 
captive-born populations in order to determine whether a reduced level 
of regulatory control and/or user fees is warranted.
    Finally, in the June 21, 1996 (61 FR 31868) final rule amendments 
to 50 CFR part 14, the Service also enacted new user fee requirements. 
All commercial importers and exporters of wildlife are required to be 
licensed and pay appropriate user fees for each shipment. Since the 
implementation of the new user fees, the Service has received numerous 
complaints from small businesses about the increased burden on their 
operation. Although the Service does not intend to change the license 
requirement for commercial importers and exporters, the Service is 
interested in reviewing the user fees charged for each shipment. The 
Service is exploring different user fee structures including a tiered 
system that would assess user fees based on various factors including 
quantity and value. The Service is interested in receiving comments on 
the current user fees including information documenting specific 
economic, paperwork, or other burdens that have been imposed on small 
businesses.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 14

    Animal welfare, Exports, Fish, Imports, Labeling, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation, Wildlife.

    Dated: June 23, 1998.
Donald J. Barry,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 98-18756 Filed 7-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P