[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9368-9369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2532]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Harvest and Export of American Ginseng

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice: request for information from the public; announcement 
of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 
public meeting on American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). This meeting 
will help us gather information from the public in preparation for our 
2006 findings on the export of American ginseng roots, for the issuance 
of permits under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

DATES: The meeting date is: Saturday, March 11, 2006, 10 a.m. to 3 
p.m., with a one-hour lunch break from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting location is: Sutton/Flatwoods--Days Inn, 2000 
Sutton Lane, Sutton, West Virginia 26601; (304) 765-5055.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, or directions 
to the meeting, contact Ms. Pat Ford, Division of Scientific Authority, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 750, 
Arlington, VA 22203; 703-358-1708 (telephone), 703-358-2276 (fax), or 
[email protected] (e-mail).



[[Page 9369]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 
Fauna and Flora (CITES, or Convention) is an international treaty 
designed to control and regulate international trade in certain animal 
and plant species that are now or potentially may be threatened with 
extinction by international trade. Currently, 169 countries, including 
the United States, are Parties to CITES. The species for which trade is 
controlled are listed in Appendices I, II, and III of the Convention. 
Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction that are or may 
be affected by international trade. Commercial trade in Appendix-I 
species is prohibited. Appendix II includes species that, although not 
necessarily threatened with extinction at the present time, may become 
so unless their trade is strictly controlled through a system of export 
permits. Appendix II also includes species that CITES must regulate so 
that trade in other listed species may be brought under effective 
control (i.e., because of similarity of appearance between listed 
species and other species). Appendix III comprises species subject to 
regulation within the jurisdiction of any CITES Party country that has 
requested the cooperation of the other Parties in regulating 
international trade in the species.
    American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) was listed in Appendix II of 
CITES on July 1, 1975. The Division of Scientific Authority and the 
Division of Management Authority of the Service regulate the export of 
American ginseng, including whole plants, whole roots, and root parts. 
To meet CITES requirements for export of American ginseng from the 
United States, the Division of Scientific Authority must determine that 
the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species, and 
the Division of Management Authority must be satisfied that the 
American ginseng roots to be exported were legally acquired.
    Since the inclusion of American ginseng in CITES Appendix II, the 
Divisions of Scientific Authority and Management Authority have issued 
findings on a State-by-State basis. To determine whether or not to 
approve exports of American ginseng, the Division of Scientific 
Authority has annually reviewed available information from various 
sources (other Federal agencies, State regulatory agencies, industry 
and associations, nongovernmental organizations, and academic 
researchers) on the biology and trade status of the species. After a 
thorough review, the Division of Scientific Authority makes a non-
detriment finding and the Division of Management Authority makes a 
legal acquisition finding on the export of American ginseng to be 
harvested during the year in question. From 1999 through 2004, the 
Division of Scientific Authority included in its non-detriment finding 
for the export of wild (including wild-simulated and woodsgrown) 
American ginseng roots an age-based restriction (i.e., plants were 
required to be at least 5 years old). In 2005, the Division of 
Scientific Authority included in its non-detriment findings for the 
export of wild American ginseng roots an age-based restriction that 
plants must be at least 10 years old, and for the export of wild-
simulated and woodsgrown American ginseng roots that plants must be at 
least 5 years old.
    States with harvest programs for wild and/or artificially 
propagated American ginseng are: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, 
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, 
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West 
Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Public Meeting

    On Saturday, March 11, 2006, in Sutton, West Virginia, from 10 a.m. 
to 3 p.m., we will hold an open public meeting (a listening session) to 
hear from people involved or interested in American ginseng harvest and 
trade. We will break for lunch from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. We are 
particularly interested in obtaining any current information on the 
status of American ginseng in the wild, and other pertinent information 
that would contribute to improvements in the CITES export program for 
this species. We will discuss the Federal regulatory framework for the 
export of American ginseng and how these regulations control the 
international trade of this species. We will also discuss the different 
CITES definitions as they are applied to American ginseng grown under 
different production systems and how these systems affect the export of 
American ginseng roots.
    You may get directions to the meeting locations from the Division 
of Scientific Authority or the Division of Management Authority (see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or ADDRESSES). Persons planning to 
attend the March 11, 2006, meeting who require interpretation for the 
hearing impaired must notify the Division of Scientific Authority by 
March 1, 2006 (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Pat Ford, the Division of 
Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

    Dated: February 15, 2006.
William F. Hartwig,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-2532 Filed 2-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P