[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 58455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24339]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R9-IA-2011-0027; 96300-1671-0000-R4]
RIN 1018-AW81


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; U.S. Captive-Bred 
Inter-subspecific Crossed or Generic Tigers

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
extension of the public comment period on the proposed rule to amend 
the regulations that implement the Endangered Species Act (Act) by 
removing inter-subspecific crossed or generic tigers (i.e., specimens 
not identified or identifiable as members of the Bengal, Sumatran, 
Siberian, or Indochinese subspecies) from the list of species that are 
exempt from registration under the captive-bred wildlife regulations. 
We are extending the comment period by 30 days to allow all interested 
parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed rule.

DATES: We will consider comments received on or before October 21, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
    Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Enter Keyword or ID box, enter FWS-R9-IA-
2011-0027, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, in the 
Search panel at the top of the screen, under the Document Type heading, 
check the box next to Proposed Rules to locate this document. You may 
submit a comment by clicking on ``Send a Comment.''
    By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R9-IA-2011-0027; Division of Policy and 
Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax 
Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
    We will not accept e-mails or faxes. We will post all comments on 
http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see the Public Comments section at 
the end of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further information about 
submitting comments).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy J. Van Norman, Chief, Branch 
of Permits, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 212, Arlington, VA 22203; 
telephone 703-358-21040; fax 703-358-2281. If you use a 
telecommunications devise for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 22, 2011, we published a proposed rule (76 FR 52297) to 
amend the Captive-bred Wildlife (CBW) regulations that implement the 
Act by removing inter-subspecific crossed or generic tiger (Panthera 
tigris) (i.e., specimens not identified or identifiable as members of 
Bengal, Sumatran, Siberian, or Indochinese subspecies (Panthera tigris 
tigris, P. t. sumatrae, P. t. altaica, and P. t. corbetti, 
respectively) from paragraph (g)(6) of 50 CFR 17.21. This action would 
eliminate the exemption from registering and reporting under the CBW 
regulations by persons who want to conduct otherwise-prohibited 
activities under the Act with live inter-subspecific crossed or generic 
tigers born in the United States. Inter-subspecific crossed or generic 
tigers remain listed as endangered under the Act, and a person would 
need to qualify for an exemption or obtain an authorization under the 
remaining statutory and regulatory requirements to conduct any 
prohibited activities.
    The comment period was opened for 30 days from August 22, 2011, to 
September 21, 2011. We have received several requests to extend the 
comment period in order to give all interested parties an increased 
opportunity to fully research this issue and provide more substantial 
comments. Accordingly, we are extending the comment period by 30 days. 
Our August 22, 2011, proposed rule (79 FR 52297) specifies the 
information that we seek from the public. If you submitted comments 
previously, you do not need to resubmit them because we have already 
incorporated them into the public record and will fully consider them 
in preparation of the final rule.

Public Comments

    You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed 
rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We will not accept 
comments sent by e-mail or fax or to an address not listed in 
ADDRESSES.
    We will post your entire comment--including your personal 
identifying information--on http://www.regulations.gov. If you provide 
personal identifying information in your written comments, you may 
request at the top of your document that we withhold this information 
from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.
    Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting 
documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be 
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by 
appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service; Division of Management Authority; 4401 N. Fairfax 
Drive, Suite 212; Arlington, VA 22203; telephone, (703) 358-2093.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.

    Dated: September 15, 2011.
Rachel Jacobson,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2011-24339 Filed 9-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P