[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3373-3374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01142]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0176; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-A104


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Removal 
of the Scarlet-Chested Parakeet and Turquoise Parakeet From the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
reopening of the public comment period on our September 2, 2003, 
proposed rule to remove the scarlet-chested parakeet (Neophema 
splendida) and the turquoise parakeet (Neophema pulchella) from the 
List (List) of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended. We are taking this action to determine 
whether removing these species from the List is still warranted, and to 
ensure we get the best scientific and commercial information available.

DATES: We will consider comments received or postmarked on or before 
February 22, 2016. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES section, below) must be received by 
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search field, enter FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0176, 
which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click the Search 
button. You may submit a comment by clicking on ``Comment Now!''
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0176, Division of Policy and 
Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: BPHC, 5275 
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    We request that you send comments only by the methods described 
above. 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, below, for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janine Van Norman, Chief, Branch of 
Foreign Species, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
MS: ES, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; telephone, 
703-358-2171; facsimile, 703-358-1735. If you use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In our September 2, 2003 proposed rule (68 FR 52169), we proposed 
to remove the scarlet-chested parakeet (Neophema splendida) and the 
turquoise parakeet (Neophema pulchella) from the List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife under the Act, because the endangered designation 
no longer correctly reflected the current conservation status of these 
birds. Our review of the status of the species at the time showed that 
the wild populations of these species were stable and increasing, with 
more than 20,000 breeding-age turquoise parakeets and 10,000 breeding-
age scarlet-chested parakeets found throughout their range. 
Furthermore, trade in wild caught specimens was strictly limited, and 
the species' were protected through domestic regulation within the 
range country (Australia), as well as through additional national and 
international treaties and laws. Currently, the Act prohibits the 
import, export and interstate and foreign commerce of these species, 
unless the individual can prove that the otherwise prohibited act 
enhances the propagation or survival of the species, or it is for 
scientific research. Removal of these species from the List means that 
the protections of the Act will no longer apply. However, protections 
under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Fauna and 
Flora the Lacey Act and the Wild Bird Conservation Act (for wild-caught 
specimens only) would remain unchanged.
    For more information on previous Federal actions concerning the 
scarlet-chested and turquoise parakeet, or information regarding the 
species' biology, status, distribution, and habitat, refer to the 
proposed rule published in the Federal Register on September 2, 2003 
(68 FR 52169), which is available online at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/FR-2003-09-02/03-22225, or by mail from the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service in Falls Church, VA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).

[[Page 3374]]

Public Comments

    We will accept written comments and information during this 
reopened comment period on our proposal to remove the scarlet-chested 
parakeet (Neophema splendida) and the turquoise parakeet (Neophema 
pulchella) from the List. We will consider information and 
recommendations from all interested parties. We intend that any final 
action resulting from the proposal be as accurate as possible and based 
on the best available scientific and commercial data.
    If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire 
comment--including any personal identifying information--will be posted 
on the Web site. We will post all hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov as well. If you submit a hardcopy comment that 
includes personal identifying information, 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 the proposed listing, will be 
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov at Docket 
No. FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0176, or by appointment, during normal business 
hours at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Falls Church, VA (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Authors

    The primary authors of this notice are staff members in the 
Ecological Services Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Falls 
Church, VA.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)

    Dated: January 8, 2016.
Stephen Guertin,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01142 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-55-P