[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 28, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36742-36743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10150]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Parts 10, 13, 17, and 23

RIN 1018-AD87


Revision of Regulations for the Convention on International Trade 
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Reopening of the 
Comment Period

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), give notice that 
we are reopening the comment period for the proposed rule to revise the 
regulations for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We are reopening the public 
comment period to allow interested parties additional time to comment 
on the proposed rule. The proposed rule was published and the public 
comment period initially opened on April 19, 2006 (71 FR 20168). In 
response to requests, we are reopening the public comment period for an 
additional 30 days.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 28, 2006. If you previously 
submitted comments on this proposed rule, you do not need to resubmit 
them during this comment period. Any comments received after the 
closing date may not be considered in the final determination on the 
proposal.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by RIN 1018-AD87, by one 
of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (703) 358-2280.
     Mail or hand delivery: Dr. Peter Thomas, Chief, Division 
of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. 
Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
    See Public Comments Solicited at the end of SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for further information about submitting comments. All 
comments received will be available for public inspection by 
appointment from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the 
above address.
    Comments specific to the information collection aspects of this 
proposed rule should be submitted to the Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior at OMB-OIRA via facsimile or e-mail using 
the following fax number or e-mail address: (202) 395-6566 (fax); 
[email protected] (e-mail). Please provide a copy of your 
comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Information Collection 
Officer, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 222 ARLSQ, Arlington, Virginia 
22203; (703) 358-2269 (fax); or [email protected] (e-mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Peter Thomas, at the above address 
(telephone, (703) 358-2093; fax, (703) 358-2280).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    CITES is a treaty that regulates international trade in certain 
protected species. The United States was one of the original 
signatories to the Treaty, which has been in effect since July 1, 1975. 
CITES uses a system of permits and certificates to help ensure that 
international trade is legal and does not threaten the survival of 
wildlife or plant species in the wild. Currently 169 countries have 
ratified, accepted, approved, or acceded to CITES; these countries are 
known as Parties. In the United States, CITES is implemented under the 
Endangered Species Act, and implementation authority for CITES has been 
delegated to the Service. We implement CITES through regulations in 50 
CFR part 23. Changes to the interpretation and implementation of CITES 
and amendments to the listing of species in the CITES Appendices occur 
at meetings of the Conference of the Parties (CoP), which are held 
every 2 to 3 years.
    We published a proposed rule on May 8, 2000 (65 FR 26664) (2000 
proposal), to incorporate in the CITES regulations at 50 CFR part 23 
needed changes resulting from CoP2 through CoP10. The 2000 proposal was 
never finalized. On April 19, 2006, we published a new proposed rule 
(71 FR 20168) to incorporate, as appropriate, applicable resolutions 
adopted at CoP2 through CoP13. We reviewed all of the comments received 
on the 2000 proposal and addressed them where appropriate in the 
current proposed rule. The initial comment period on this proposed rule 
closed on June 19, 2006. In response to requests we received, we are 
reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days.

Public Comments Solicited

    We invite interested organizations and the public to comment on the 
proposed rule, which generally reflects the way we currently implement 
CITES. We have drafted the proposal as part of our ongoing permits 
reform effort to simplify procedures, use risk assessment to reduce 
paperwork while still ensuring effective species conservation, and help 
people understand how to conduct international trade in CITES species. 
We are seeking comments, in particular, on whether the provisions of 
the proposed rule allow the affected public to effectively comply with 
CITES.
    When providing comments, to the extent possible, reference the 
section of the proposed regulations on which you are commenting and 
give the category of your comments. Select one of the following 
categories: (1) International organization; (2) government; (3) 
nongovernmental conservation organization; (4) humane or animal welfare 
organization; (5) wildlife/pet business; (6) other business; or (7) 
private citizen. You may send comments via e-mail to: [email protected]. 
Please submit Internet comments as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of 
special characters and any form of encryption.

[[Page 36743]]

Also, please reference in your e-mail message the following 
information: ``IN 1018-AD87''; your name and mailing address; and the 
category of your comments.
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Any person commenting may request that we withhold 
their name and home address, which we will honor to the extent 
allowable by law. In some circumstances, we may also withhold a 
commenter's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold 
your name and address or e-mail address, you must state this request 
prominently at the beginning of your comments. We will not, however, 
consider anonymous comments. To the extent consistent with applicable 
law, we will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in 
their entirety. Comments and materials received will be available for 
public inspection by appointment, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., at the 
Division of Management Authority (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is 27 U.S.C. 1087 and 16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.

    Dated: June 19, 2006.
Matt Hogan,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. E6-10150 Filed 6-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P