[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13886-13887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06024]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-FAC-2015-N005; FXFR13360900000-FF09F14000-156]


National Control and Management Plan for Members of the Snakehead 
Family (Channidae)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), announces the 
availability of a draft document for public review: National Control 
and Management Plan for Members of the Snakehead Family (Channidae) 
(Plan). The goal of the Plan is to use the best available science and 
management practices to prevent the introduction of snakehead into new 
areas, contain and where possible eradicate newly established and 
localized populations, and minimize impacts in areas where they are 
established and eradication is not feasible.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
April 16, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: The draft document may be obtained 
online, by mail, or by email:
     http://anstaskforce.gov/documents.php;
     U.S. mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch of 
Aquatic Invasive Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg 
Pike, MS: FAC, Falls Church, VA 22041; or
     Email: [email protected].
    Submitting Comments: Please submit your comments in writing by one 
of the following methods:
     U.S. mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch of 
Aquatic Invasive Species, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: FAC, Falls Church, VA 
22041; or
     Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Norcutt, 703-358-2398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Through provisions in title 50, part 16 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR), the USFWS regulates the importation and interstate 
transport of certain aquatic species that have been determined to be 
injurious (50 CFR 16.13). The Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention 
and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) established the 
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF), an intergovernmental 
organization co-chaired by the USFWS and the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration and dedicated to prevent and control the 
spread of aquatic nuisance species.
    The 108th Congress requested that the USFWS address concerns about 
the introduction of northern snakehead. In response, the USFWS 
assembled a Northern Snakehead Working Group (NSWG) to provide input on 
the development of a Northern Snakehead Control and Management Plan. 
This Plan to guide the USFWS and other interested parties in managing 
and controlling existing populations, and preventing the spread and 
introduction of this species into additional areas of the United 
States, was completed in 2005 with the input of the NSWG and other 
northern snakehead experts. In 2011, the Mississippi River Basin Panel 
on Aquatic Nuisance Species requested that the ANSTF update the 2005 
Plan to include additional snakehead species that are, or have the 
potential to become, invasive in U.S. waters.

Development of the Draft Plan

    In 2011 the ANSTF established a committee to revise the Northern 
Snakehead Control and Management Plan to include all snakehead species 
to correspond with the Lacey Act. The committee was made up of 29 
committee members representing Federal and State agencies, 
nongovernmental organizations, and university experts. The ANSTF was 
provided an opportunity to review the draft document and comment in 
November 2013 and March 2014. ANSTF comments were addressed in this new 
version of the draft Plan.
    The goal of the revised Plan is to use the best available science 
and management practices to prevent the future introduction of 
snakehead into new areas; contain and, where possible, eradicate newly 
established and localized populations; and minimize impacts in areas 
where they are established and eradication is not feasible. The 
following is a list of objectives set forth by this plan:
    1. Prevent importation into the United States by refining 
regulations and improving compliance and enforcement.
    2. Contain the expansion of snakehead within the United States by 
assessing the risk of establishment and developing an effective 
snakehead surveillance program that can detect new introductions at a 
stage where populations are able to be eradicated.
    3. Develop long-term adaptive management options to mitigate 
potential impacts of Snakehead in U.S. waters where eradication is not 
possible.
    4. Conduct research to better understand the pathways of spread and 
potential impacts of snakehead on aquatic ecosystems, as well as to 
develop more effective surveillance, control, and eradication methods.
    5. Develop effective outreach materials to help prevent new 
introductions of snakehead within the United States and control the 
anthropogenic spread of established populations.
    6. Review and assess progress of the Plan.

Request for Public Comments

    The draft Plan is available on the ANSTF Web site (see ADDRESSES) 
for public review and comment.
    We request review and comment on our Plan from local, State, and 
Federal agencies and the public. All comments received by the date 
specified in DATES will be considered in preparing final documents. 
Methods of submitting comments are in ADDRESSES.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. You can ask 
the USFWS in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review; however, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.
    Responses to individual commenters will not be provided, but we 
will provide the comments we receive and a summary of how we addressed 
substantive comments in a document on the ANSTF Web site listed above 
in

[[Page 13887]]

ADDRESSES. Individuals without internet access may request an 
appointment to inspect the comments during normal business hours at our 
office (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: February 5, 2015.
David Hoskins,
Co-Chair, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Assistant Director for 
Fish and Aquatic Conservation.
[FR Doc. 2015-06024 Filed 3-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P