[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 44 (Monday, March 6, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5293]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 16


Injurious Wildlife

AGENCY:  Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:  Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

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SUMMARY:  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is evaluating the 
ecological and economic impact of non-indigenous fish and wildlife for 
possible addition to the lists of injurious fish and wildlife contained 
in the Code of Federal Regulations. Adding any animals to these lists 
would prohibit their importation except in limited situations. By this 
advance notice, we are requesting comments on such non-native animals 
that you believe should be prohibited entry into the United States, its 
possessions, or territories. When submitting your suggestions, please 
include background and available documentation to support your 
contention that said animals should be determined to be ``injurious.'' 
However, if you do not submit comments by the date established in the 
DATES Section below, we will still accept future petitions and 
supporting documentation from you for injurious listings as new 
concerns and threats arise.

DATES:  Please submit your comments to us so that we receive them by 
June 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  You may submit comments in response to this advance notice 
in any of the following ways: (1) by mail to Jeff Horwath, Division of 
Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 1749 C Street, NW, ARLSQ-Room 840, Washington, DC 20240; (2) 
by FAX to 703/358-2044 (Att'n: Jeff Horwath); (3) by electronic mail to 
[email protected]>; or (4) in person to 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, 
Room 840, Arlington, Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jeff Horwath, Division of Fish and 
Wildlife Management Assistance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. 
Fairfax Drive, Room 840, Arlington, VA 22203, Telephone: 703/358-1718.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

Background

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for implementing 
the ``injurious'' provisions of the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42). Section 
42 of this Act and our companion implementing regulations in 50 CFR 
Part 16 restrict importation into, or the transportation of live 
wildlife or eggs thereof between, the continental United States, the 
District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any 
territory or possession of the United States of any non-indigenous 
species of fish and wildlife determined to be injurious to certain 
interests including those of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, the 
health and welfare of human beings, and the welfare and survival of 
wildlife or wildlife resources of the United States. However, injurious 
fish and wildlife may be imported by permit for zoological, 
educational, medical, or scientific purposes, or without a permit by 
Federal agencies solely for their own use. Our implementing regulations 
include lists of fish and wildlife determined to be injurious to the 
interests of the United States as described above. We also implement 
Executive Order 13112 on invasive species.
    To assist us in identifying non-indigenous fish and wildlife that 
warrant our consideration as injurious, we ask for your comments on 
non-native fish and wildlife that you believe should be added to the 
appropriate lists of animals in 50 CFR Part 16. In addition to 
identifying these animals, we ask that you also submit comments to 
support your assertion that such animals are, or would be, injurious to 
U.S. interests and should be added to our regulations.
    We will accept and consider petitions after June 7, 2000 requesting 
that we list non-indigenous fish or wildlife that you believe to be 
injurious to U.S. interests, even if you are not presently aware of any 
such animals and you do not submit any comments in response to this 
Notice.

    Dated: December 2, 1999.
Jamie Rappaport-Clark,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-5293 Filed 3-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M