[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24577-24584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08871]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0008; FXIA16710900000-FF09A10000-212]


Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International 
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Nineteenth 
Regular Meeting: Taxa Being Considered for Amendments to the CITES 
Appendices

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States, as a Party to the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 
(CITES), may propose amendments to the CITES Appendices for 
consideration at meetings of the Conference of the Parties. The 
nineteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES 
(CoP19) is scheduled to be held in Panama City, Panama, November 14-25, 
2022. With this notice, we respond to recommendations received from the 
public concerning proposed amendments to the CITES Appendices (species 
proposals) that the United States might submit for consideration at 
CoP19; invite your comments and information on these proposals; and 
provide information on how U.S. nongovernmental organizations can 
attend CoP19 as observers.

[[Page 24578]]


DATES: 
    Meeting: The meeting is scheduled to be held in Panama City, 
Panama, November 14-25, 2022.
    Submitting Information and Comments: We will consider written 
information and comments we receive by May 26, 2022.

ADDRESSES: 
    Further information: We have posted an extended table version of 
this notice on our website, at https://www.fws.gov/program/cites/federal-register-notices, with text describing in more detail certain 
proposed actions and explaining the rationale for the tentative U.S. 
position on these possible proposals. We also describe in that table 
the information that we are seeking for proposals where the United 
States is undecided on submission. Copies of the extended table version 
of the notice are also available from the Division of Scientific 
Authority (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) or at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0008.
    Comments: You may submit comments pertaining to species proposals 
for consideration at CoP19 by one of the following methods:
     Internet: https://www.regulations.gov. Search for and 
submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0008.
     Hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to Public Comments 
Processing; Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0008; U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service; MS: PRB (JAO/3W); 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, 
VA 22041-3803.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information pertaining to species 
proposals, contact Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of Scientific 
Authority, at 703-358-1708 (phone); 703-358-2276 (fax); or 
[email protected] (email). Individuals in the United States 
who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability 
may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications 
relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the 
relay services offered within their country to make international calls 
to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States (or we), as a Party to the 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna 
and Flora (CITES, or the Convention), may propose amendments to the 
CITES Appendices for consideration at meetings of the Conference of the 
Parties. The nineteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the 
Parties to CITES (CoP19) is scheduled to be held in Panama City, 
Panama, November 14-25, 2022. With this notice, we describe proposed 
amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals) that the United 
States might submit for consideration at CoP19; invite your comments 
and information on these proposals; and provide information on how U.S. 
nongovernmental organizations can attend CoP19 as observers.

Background

    CITES is an international treaty designed to control and regulate 
international trade in certain animal and plant species that are 
affected by trade and are now, or potentially may become, threatened 
with extinction. These species are included in the Appendices to CITES, 
which are available on the CITES Secretariat's website at https://www.cites.org. Currently there are 184 Parties to CITES--183 countries, 
including the United States, and one regional economic integration 
organization, the European Union. The Convention calls for regular 
biennial meetings of the Conference of the Parties, unless the 
Conference decides otherwise. At these meetings, the Parties review the 
implementation of CITES, make provisions enabling the CITES Secretariat 
in Switzerland to carry out its functions, consider amendments to the 
species included in Appendices I and II, consider reports presented by 
the Secretariat, and make recommendations for the improved 
effectiveness of CITES. Any country that is a Party to CITES may 
propose amendments to Appendices I and II, as well as resolutions, 
decisions, and agenda items for consideration by all the Parties. Our 
regulations governing this public process are found in title 50 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 23.87.
    This is our third notice in a series of Federal Register notices 
that, together with an announced public meeting (time and place to be 
announced), provide you with an opportunity to participate in the 
development of the U.S. submissions and negotiating positions for the 
nineteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES 
(CoP19), which is scheduled to be held in Panama City, Panama, November 
14-25, 2022. We published our first CoP19-related Federal Register 
notice on March 2, 2021 (86 FR 12199). That notice requested 
information and recommendations on animal and plant species proposals 
and on proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the United 
States to consider submitting for consideration at CoP19; the notice 
also provided preliminary information on how to request approved 
observer status for nongovernmental organizations that wish to attend 
the meeting. We published our second CoP19-related Federal Register 
notice on March 7, 2022 (87 FR 12719); that notice described proposed 
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the United States might 
submit for consideration at CoP19. Comments received on those two 
notices may be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-
HQ-IA-2021-0008.

Recommendations for Species Proposals for the United States to Consider 
Submitting for CoP19

    In response to our March 2021 notice, we received 31 comments with 
recommendations from 3 individuals and 51 organizations for possible 
proposals involving more than 600 animal taxa and almost 200 plant taxa 
for amendments to the CITES Appendices. These commenters include 
organizations such as the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), American 
Herbal Products Association; Center for Biological Diversity; Costa 
Farms LLC; Forest Based Solutions; Ginseng Board of Wisconsin; Humane 
Society International; International Wood Products Association; 
International Union for Conservation of Nature, Species Survival 
Commission, Specialist Groups; League of American Orchestras; Safari 
Club International; Safari Club International Foundation; Species 
Survival Network; Wildlife Conservation Society; World Animal 
Protection; and World Wildlife Fund. Additionally, the United States 
may submit three animal species proposals that previously resulted from 
the Periodic Review Process (Resolution Conf. 14.8 (Rev. CoP17)) by the 
Animals Committee, and where that Committee recommended that the United 
States, as a range country for the species being reviewed, bring 
forward a proposal to amend the Appendices.
    We have undertaken initial evaluations of the available trade and 
biological information on many of these taxa. Based on the information 
available, we made provisional evaluations of whether to proceed with 
the development of proposals for species to be included in, removed 
from, or transferred between the CITES Appendices. We made these 
evaluations by considering the best information available on the 
species; the presence, absence, and effectiveness of other mechanisms 
that may preclude the need for species' inclusion in the CITES 
Appendices (e.g., range country actions or other international 
agreements); and

[[Page 24579]]

availability of resources. We have also considered the following 
factors, consistent with the U.S. approach for CoP19 discussed in our 
March 2, 2021, Federal Register notice (86 FR 12199):
    (1) Does the proposed action address a serious wildlife or plant 
trade issue that the United States is experiencing as a range country 
for species in trade?
    (2) Does the proposed action address a serious wildlife or plant 
trade issue for species not native to the United States?
    (3) Does the proposed action provide additional conservation 
benefit for a species already covered by another international 
agreement?
    Based on our initial evaluations, we have assigned each taxon to 
one of three categories, which reflects the likelihood of our 
submitting a proposal. In sections A, B, and C, below, we have listed 
the current status of each species proposal recommended by the public, 
as well as species proposals we have been developing on our own from 
the Periodic Review Process. Please note that we have provided here 
only a list of taxa and the proposed action of likely, unlikely, or 
undecided on whether to submit a species proposal for consideration at 
CoP19. We have posted an extended table version of this notice on our 
website, at https://www.fws.gov/program/cites/federal-register-notices, 
with text describing in more detail certain proposed actions and 
explaining the rationale for the tentative U.S. position on these 
possible proposals. We also describe in this table the information that 
we are seeking for proposals where the United States is undecided on 
submission. Copies of the extended table version of the notice are also 
available from the Division of Scientific Authority at the above 
address or at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2021-
0008. We note that a number of commenters submitted suggestions for how 
to approach possible amendment proposals submitted for a variety of 
taxa. We do not respond specifically to these comments here, and we 
refer again to the criteria in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) and 
our regulations (50 CFR 23.89).
    We welcome your comments, especially if you are able to provide any 
additional biological or trade information on these species.

A. What species proposals will the United States likely submit for 
consideration at CoP19? *
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    * Indicates species that occur in the United States of America 
or its territories.
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    The taxa in this section have been undergoing review through the 
periodic review of the CITES Appendices by the Animals Committee (AC), 
two at AC31 and a third at AC27, in accordance with Resolution Conf. 
14.8 (Rev. CoP17). This is a regular process under CITES to evaluate 
whether listings of taxa in CITES Appendices I and II continue to be 
appropriate, based on current biological and trade information.
Birds
1. * Short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)--Transfer from 
Appendix I to Appendix II
2. * Aleutian cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia)--Transfer 
from Appendix I to Appendix II
Reptiles
3. * Puerto Rico boa (Epicrates inornatus)--Transfer from Appendix I to 
Appendix II

B. On what species proposals is the United States undecided, pending 
additional information and consultations? *

    The United States is still undecided on whether to submit CoP19 
proposals for the following taxa. In most cases, we have not completed 
our consultations with relevant range countries. In other cases, in the 
immediate future we expect meetings to occur at which participants will 
generate important recommendations, trade analyses, or biological 
information on the taxon in question that may be useful to our final 
decisionmaking.
Plants
1. * American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)--Remove sliced American 
ginseng roots from the provisions of the Convention and revise 
annotation as follows: ``Whole and sliced roots and parts of roots, 
excluding manufactured parts or derivatives, such as slices, powders, 
pills, extracts, tonics, teas and confectionery.''
2. African mahogany (Afzelia africana) Fabaceae (legume) family--Add to 
Appendix I or II
3. Dipteryx spp. [12 species], Fabaceae (legume) family--Add to 
Appendix I or II (co-sponsor/support proposals) [12 species, includes 1 
species that would transfer from Appendix III (Nicaragua and Costa 
Rica)]
4. Ipe (Handroanthus spp. [~30+ species]) Bignoniaceae (bignonia) 
family--Add to Appendix I or II (co-sponsor/support) [~30/35 species]
5. Trumpet trees (Tabebuia spp. [~73 species])--Add to Appendix I or II 
(co-sponsor/support) [~73/74 species]
6. Roseodendron spp. [2-3 species]--Add to Appendix I or II (co-
sponsor/support) [2-3 species]
7. African mahogany (Khaya spp. [5 species])--Add to Appendix I or II 
(co-sponsor/support) [5 species]
8. Pterocarpus spp. [~70 species, but recommendation limited to African 
species/populations]--Add/transfer to Appendix I or add to Appendix II 
(co-sponsor/support) [<70 species; P. erinaceus and P. tinctorius are 
currently listed on Appendix II]
9. * Rhodilia spp. (58 species)--Add the genus to Appendix II with 
annotation #2.
Mammals
10. * Reindeer/caribou (Rangifer tarandus)--Add to Appendix I
Birds
11. Straw-headed bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus)--Transfer from Appendix 
I to Appendix II
Reptiles
12. Freshwater turtles [~348 species, ~185 not listed in CITES or 
listed as Appendix III]--List all species in at least Appendix II [~185 
species]
13. Order Testudines [~348 species, ~185 not listed in CITES or listed 
as Appendix III]--Include all species not currently listed in Appendix 
II [~185 species]; transfer threatened or endangered species from 
Appendix II to Appendix I
14. * Western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II
15. * Southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II
16. * Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) (including C. p. dorsalis)--
Include all species not currently listed in Appendix II
17. * Chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
18. * Alabama redbelly turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis)--Include all 
species not currently listed in Appendix II
19. * Eastern river cooter (Pseudemys concinna)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II

[[Page 24580]]

20. * Florida cooter (Pseudemys floridana)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
21. * Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
22. * Florida redbelly turtle (Pseudemys nelson)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II
23. * Peninsula cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II
24. * Northern red-bellied turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris)--Include all 
species not currently listed in Appendix II
25. * Texas river cooter (Pseudemys texana)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
26. * Big Bend slider (Trachemys gaigeae)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
27. * Razorback musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus)--Include all 
species not currently listed in Appendix II
28. * Flattened musk turtle (Sternotherus depressus)--Include all 
species not currently listed in Appendix II
29. * Intermediate musk turtle (Sternotherus intermedius)--Include all 
species not currently listed in Appendix II
30. * Loggerhead musk turtle (Sternotherus minor)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II
31. * Stinkpot turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
32. * Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II
33. * Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)--Include all 
species not currently listed in Appendix II
34. * Cagle's map turtle (Graptemys caglei)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
35. * Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
36. * Northern map turtle (Graptemys geographica)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II
37. * Black-knobbed map turtle (Graptemys nigrinoda)--Include all 
species not currently listed in Appendix II
38. * Ringed map turtle (Graptemys oculifera)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
39. * Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II
40. * False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)--Include all 
species not currently listed in Appendix II
41. * Alabama map turtle (Graptemys pulchra)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
42. * Texas map turtle (Graptemys versa)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
43. * Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
44. * Smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
45. * Spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera)--Include all species 
not currently listed in Appendix II
46. * Suwannee alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis)--
Include all species not currently listed in Appendix II
47. * Sabine map turtle (Graptemys sabinensis)--Include all species not 
currently listed in Appendix II
48. * Barbour's map turtle (Graptemys barbouri)--Transfer from Appendix 
III (United States) to Appendix I
49. * Yellow-blotched sawback (Graptemys flavimaculata)--Transfer from 
Appendix III (United States) to Appendix I
50. * Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi)--Transfer from 
Appendix III (United States) to Appendix I
51. * Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys pearlensis)--Transfer from 
Appendix III (United States) to Appendix I
52. Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra indica)--Transfer 
from Appendix III (United States) to Appendix I
53. Mud turtles (Kinosternon spp. [~20 species])--Add to Appendix I or 
II [~20 species]
54. * Arizona mud turtle (Kinosternon arizonense)--Add to Appendix II
55. * Striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii)--Add to Appendix II
56. * Yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens)--Add to Appendix II
57. * Rough-footed mud turtle (Kinosternon hirtipes)--Add to Appendix 
II
58. * Sonoran mud turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense)--Add to Appendix II
59. * Eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum)--Add to Appendix II
60. * Desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)--Add to Appendix II
61. * Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)--Add to Appendix II
Amphibians
62. Harlequin frogs, stubfoot toads (Atelopus spp. ~94+ species; 1 
species already included in CITES Appendix I: Atelopus zetek)--Add to 
Appendix I
63. Pebas stubfoot toad (Atelopus spumarius)--Add to Appendix I
Sharks & Rays
64. * Family Sphyrnidae [9 species, 6 species not currently included in 
CITES]--S. media, S. tudes, S. corona, S. gilberti, S. tiburo and 
Eusphyra blochii--Add all species not currently included in Appendix II 
[6 species]
Bony Fishes
65. Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)--Add to Appendix II
Invertebrates
Corals
66. * Corallium spp. [31 species] and Family Corallidae [>31 species]--
Add to Appendix II (Add to Appendix I [AWI]) [3 species]
Sea Cucumbers
67. * Redfish sea cucumbers (Thelenota spp. [3 species])--Add to 
Appendix II (Add to Appendix I [AWI]) [3 species]
68. Brown sea cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus)--Transfer from Appendix 
III (Ecuador) to Appendix I
69. * Chocolate chip sea cucumber (Isostichopus badionotus)--Add to 
Appendix II
70. * Herrmann's sea cucumber (Stichopus herrmanni)--Add to Appendix II
71. * Surf redfish (Actinopyga mauritiana)--Add to Appendix II
72. Additional sea cucumbers (focus on those in international trade 
[~70 species] that attract high prices, are experiencing local declines 
or extirpation, and are readily identifiable)--Add to Appendix II

C. For which species is the United States unlikely to submit proposals 
for consideration at CoP19, unless we receive significant additional 
information? *
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    * Indicates species that occur in the United States of America 
or its territories.
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    The United States does not intend to submit proposals for the 
following taxa unless we receive significant additional information 
indicating that a proposal is warranted.
Fungus
73. * Eburiko (Fomitopsis officinalis)--Add to Appendix I
Plants
74. * American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)--Amend Appendix II listing 
to include the annotation: ``Specimens marked and identified

[[Page 24581]]

as artificially propagated Panax quinquefolius grown under artificial 
shade are not subject to the provisions of the Convention.''
75. 7 Aloe spp., Family Liliaceae--Annotate to exclude more 
artificially propagated specimens
76. * Alakai Swamp pritchardia (Pritchardia minor) Arecaceae (palm) 
family--Add to Appendix I
77. * Flynn's loulu (Pritchardia flynnii) Arecaceae (palm) family--Add 
to Appendix I
78. * California lady's slipper (Cypripedium californicum) Orchidaceae 
(orchid) family--Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
79. * Mountain lady's slipper (Cypripedium montanum) Orchidaceae 
(orchid) family--Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
80. * Sparrow's-egg lady's slipper (Cypripedium passerinum) Orchidaceae 
(orchid) family--Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
81. * Texas crested coralroot (Hexalectris warnockii) Orchidaceae 
(orchid) family--Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
82. * Triphora yucatanensis Orchidaceae (orchid) family--Transfer from 
Appendix II to Appendix I
83. * Two-keeled hooded orchid (Galeandra bicarinata) Orchidaceae 
(orchid) family--Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
84. * Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) Oleaceae (olive) family--Add 
to Appendix I
85. * Murray plum (Prunus murrayana) Roseaceae (rose) family--Add to 
Appendix I
86. * Rockland morning glory (Ipomoea tenuissima) Convolvulaceae 
(bindweed) family--Add to Appendix I
87. * Walker's manioc (Manihot walkerae) Euphorbiaceae family--Add to 
Appendix I
88. * Butternut (Juglans cinerea) Juglandaceae (walnut) family--Add to 
Appendix I
89. * White ash (Fraxinus americana) Oleaceae (olive) family--Add to 
Appendix I
90. * Lanai sandalwood (Santalum freycinetianum) Santalaceae 
(sandalwood) family--Add to Appendix I
91. * Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Cupressaceae (redwood) 
family--Add to Appendix I
92. Family Cactaceae [The request was aimed at the cactus family in 
general, mentioning 6 species as examples]--Annotate to exclude more 
artificially propagated specimens
93. Euphorbia spp. [The request was aimed at the genus, mentioning one 
species (Euphorbia lactea) as an example]--Annotate to exclude more 
artificially propagated specimens
Animals--General
94. All species that are IUCN-assessed as critically endangered, 
endangered, and qualifying vulnerable species for which the United 
States is a range state or is a significant importer, and which are or 
may be affected by trade--Add to Appendix I or Appendix II (vulnerable 
qualifying species for the latter)
95. All species that could contribute to the spread of zoonotic 
disease--Ban all international trade
Mammals
96. * Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata)--Add to Appendix I
97. * Sea otter (Enhydra lutris)--Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix 
I (one subspecies, Enhydra lutris nereis, is listed in Appendix I)
98. * Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)--Transfer from Appendix III (Canada) 
to Appendix I
99. * Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
100. Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)--Mexico population--Remove 
Mexico's population from Appendix II
101. Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura)--Add to Appendix II
102. Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
103. African lion (Panthera leo)--Amend current annotated listing to 
adopt a zero quota for bones, bone pieces, bone products, claws, 
skeletons, skulls, and teeth traded for commercial purposes, whether 
from wild or captive-bred lions
104. Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis subsp.): Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa 
camelopardalis antiquorum), Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis), West 
African giraffe (G. c. peralta), Reticulated giraffe (G. c. 
reticulata), Rothschild's giraffe (G. c. rothschildi), Thornicroft's 
giraffe (G. c. thornicrofti)--Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
105. African elephants (Loxodonta africana)--Transfer populations in 
Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
106. Rhinocerotidae--Revisit current international ban on rhinoceros 
horn
107. Old World monkeys (Genera: Cercopithecus; Colobus; Lophocebus; 
Miopithecus)--9 species--Transfer from Appendix II to I
Birds
108. * Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica)--Add to Appendix I
109. * Black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)--Add to Appendix I
110. * Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes)--Add to Appendix I
111. * Common pochard (Aythya ferina)--Add to Appendix I
112. * Evening grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina)--Add to Appendix I
113. * Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)--Add to Appendix I
114. * Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana)--Add to Appendix I
115. * Java sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
116. * Iiwi (Drepanis coccinea)--Add to Appendix I
117. * Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis)--Add to Appendix I
118. * Omao (Myadestes obscurus)--Add to Appendix I
119. * Snowy owl (Nyctea scandiaca, synonym Bubo scandiacus)--Transfer 
from Appendix II to Appendix I
120. * Steller's eider (Polysticta stelleri)--Add to Appendix I
121. * Yellow-billed magpie (Pica nutalli)--Add to Appendix I
122. Greater green leafbird (Chloropsis sonnerati)--Add to Appendix II
123. Black-throated laughingthrush (Garrulax (Ianthocincla) 
chinensis)--Add to Appendix II
124. Collared laughingthrush (Trochalopteron yersini)--Add to Appendix 
II
125. Magpie-robins and shamas Copsychus spp. [7 species]--Add to 
Appendix II [7 species]
126. Passerine songbirds identified by Parties as species of 
conservation concern that are subject to unsustainable trade--Support 
proposals to add to Appendix II or Appendix I depending on conservation 
status
127. * All Neotropical seed-finches and seedeaters (Sporophila spp., 
Family Thraupidae [~43 species])--Add to Appendix II [~43 species]
128. * White-collared seed eater (Sporophila morelleti)--Add to 
Appendix II

[[Page 24582]]

Reptiles
129. * Wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
130. * Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
131. * Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)--Transfer from Appendix 
II to Appendix I
132. * Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)--Transfer from 
Appendix II to Appendix I
133. * Wattle-necked softshell turtle (Palea steindachneri)--Transfer 
from Appendix II to Appendix I
134. * Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
135. Mud turtles (Kinosternon spp. [~20 species of which 6 occur in the 
United States] (The remainder include K. acutum, K. alamosae, K. 
angustipons, K. chimalhuaca, K. cora, K. creaseri, K. dunni, K. 
durangoense, K. herrerai, K. integrum, K. leucostomum, K. leucostomum, 
K. oaxacae, K. scorpioides, K. vogti, and K. sonoriense 
longifemorale)--Add to Appendix I or II [~20 species]
136. Horned lizards (Phrynosoma spp. [21 species--18 to be added to 
CITES])--Add to Appendix I or II [18 species]
137. Masked water snakes, puff-faced water snakes (Homalopsis spp. [5 
species])--Add to Appendix II [5 species]
138. Rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp. [30 species])--Add to Appendix II [30 
species]
Amphibians
139. * Pigeon Mountain salamander (Plethodon petraeus)--Add to Appendix 
I
140. Laos warty newt (Laotriton laoensis)--Add to Appendix I
141. Bug-eyed frogs, mossy frogs (Theloderma spp.])--Add to Appendix II 
[~28 species]
Sharks & Rays
142. * Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
143. * Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
144. * Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
145. Additional shark species [ultimate goal: All sharks ~500+ 
species]--Add to Appendix II/Support proposals to add to Appendix II
146. * Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)--Transfer from 
Appendix II to Appendix I
147. * Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)--Add to Appendix I
148. * Spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna)--Add to Appendix II
149. * Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis)--Transfer from Appendix 
II to Appendix I (AWI requests to add to Appendix II, but it's already 
on Appendix II)
150. * Night shark (Carcharhinus signatus)--Add to Appendix I
151. * Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)--Add to Appendix II
152. * Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
153. * Longfin mako (Isurus paucus)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
154. * Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
155. * Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
156. * Common thresher (Alopias vulpinus)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
157. * White shark (Carcharodon carcharias)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
158. * Kitefin shark (Dalatias licha)--Add to Appendix I or II
159. * Tope (Galeorhinus galeus)--Add to Appendix I
160. * Porbeagle (Lamna nasu)--Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
161. * Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias)--Add to Appendix I or II
162. * Atlantic nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)--Add to Appendix 
II
163. * Gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus)--Add to Appendix I
164. * Mosaic gulper shark (Centrophorus tessellatus)--Add to Appendix 
I
165. * Pacific sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon longurio)--Add to 
Appendix II
166. * Atlantic devilray (Mobula hypostoma)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
167. * Sicklefin devilray (Mobula tarapacana)--Transfer from Appendix 
II to Appendix I
168. * Giant manta ray (Manta birostris, synonym Mobula birostris)--
Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
169. * Spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus)--Add to Appendix I
170. * Whitespotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari)--Add to Appendix II
171. * Bullnose eagle ray (Myliobatis freminvillii)--Add to Appendix II
172. * American cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus)--Add to Appendix II
173. * Spiny butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela)--Add to Appendix II
174. * Winter skate (Leucoraja ocellata)--Add to Appendix I
175. * Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata)--Add to Appendix I
Bony Fishes
176. * American eel (Anguilla rostrata)--Add to Appendix II
177. * Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)--Add to Appendix I
178. * Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis)--Add to Appendix I
179. * Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)--Add to Appendix I
180. * Brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)--Add to 
Appendix I
181. * Camouflage grouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion)--Add to Appendix 
I
182. * Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus; global and Gulf of 
Mexico)--Add to Appendix I
183. * Red grouper (Epinephelus morio)--Add to Appendix I or II
184. * Black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci)--Add to Appendix I
185. * Yellow-fin grouper [Gulf of Mexico] (Mycteroperca venenosa)--Add 
to Appendix I
186. * Yellowmouth grouper (Mycteroperca interstitialis)--Add to 
Appendix I
187. * Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)--Add to Appendix I
188. * Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans)--Add to Appendix I
189. * California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher)--Add to Appendix I
190. * Carolina pygmy sunfish (Elassoma boehlkei)--Add to Appendix I
191. Cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus)--Add to Appendix I
192. * Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus)--Add to Appendix I
193. * Golden tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps)--Add to Appendix 
I
194. * Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus)--Add to Appendix I
195. * Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)--Add to Appendix I
196. Maya hamlet (Hypoplectrus maya)--Add to Appendix I
197. * Mexican blindcat (Prietella phreatophila)--Add to Appendix I
198. * Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris)--Add to Appendix 
I
199. * Squaretail coralgrouper (Plectropomus areolatus)--Add to 
Appendix I

[[Page 24583]]

200. * Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)--Add to Appendix I
201. * Vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens)--Add to Appendix I
202. * Peppermint goby (Coryphopterus lipernes)--Add to Appendix I
203. * Glass goby (Coryphopterus hyalinus)--Add to Appendix I or II
204. * Masked goby (Coryphopterus personatus)--Add to Appendix I or II
205. * Broadstripe goby (Elacatinus prochilos)--Add to Appendix I or II
206. * Lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
207. * Slender seahorse (Hippocampus reidi)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
208. * Thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
209. * Spotted seahorse (Hippocampus kuda)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
210. Tiger-tail seahorse (Hippocampus comes)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
Invertebrates
211. Giant armored trapdoor spider (Liphistius malayanus)--Add to 
Appendix I
212. Tarantulas (Typhochlaena spp. [5 species])--Add to Appendix I [5 
species]
213. * Blue coral (Heliopora coerulea)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
214. * Cactus coral (Pavona cactus)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
215. * Cactus coral (Pavona decussata)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
216. * Daisy coral (Alveopora allingi)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
217. * Daisy coral (Alveopora verrilliana)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
218. * Disc coral (Turbinaria mesenterina)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
219. * Disc coral (Turbinaria peltata)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
220. * Disc coral (Turbinaria reniformis)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
221. * Galaxy coral (Galaxea astreata)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
222. * Hawaiian reef coral (Montipora dilatata)--Transfer from Appendix 
II to Appendix I (Order is listed under Appendix II)
223. * Montipora coral (Montipora angulata)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
224. * Montipora coral (Montipora calcarea)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
225. * Montipora coral (Montipora caliculata)--Transfer from Appendix 
II to Appendix I
226. * Porites coral (Porites pukoensis)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
227. * Porites coral (Porites horizontalata)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
228. * Porites coral (Porites nigrescens)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
229. * Scleractinian coral (Psammocora stellata)--Transfer from 
Appendix II to Appendix I
230. * Staghorn coral (Acropora acuminata)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
231. * Staghorn coral (Acropora aspera)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
232. * Staghorn coral (Acropora horrida)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
233. * Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
234. * Staghorn coral (Acropora polystoma)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I
235. * Staghorn coral (Acropora vaughani)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
236. * Star coral (Astreopora cucullata)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I
237. Brown sandfish (Holothuria spinifera)--Add to Appendix II
238. Golden sandfish (Holothuria scabra)--Add to Appendix II
239. * White teatfish (Holothuria fuscogilva)--Add to Appendix II
240. * American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus)--Add to Appendix I 
or II
241. * Black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii)--Add to Appendix I
242. * Florida cone (Conus anabathrum)--Add to Appendix II
243. Wallace's giant bee (Megachile pluto, synonym Chalicodoma pluto)--
Add to Appendix I

Request for Information and Comments

    We invite information and comments concerning any of the possible 
CoP19 species proposals discussed above. Please note that we are 
unlikely to submit any suggested species proposals to amend the CITES 
Appendices that contained no information (or minimal information) for 
consideration other than species name and Appendix suggestion. We have 
limited resources with which to analyze and prepare potential species 
proposals for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to CITES 
and are unable to prioritize consideration of these recommendations for 
preparation of U.S. proposals to CoP19 where no information (or minimal 
information) has been presented demonstrating the CITES criteria are 
met for the suggested species proposal. We may still consider these 
possible proposals if we receive information demonstrating the CITES 
criteria in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) are met.
    We note that in our request for information in our first Federal 
Register notice for CoP19 (86 FR 12199-12202, March 2, 2021), we 
encouraged the submission of information on possible species proposals, 
including if these species are subject to international trade that is, 
or may become, detrimental to the survival of the species. We outlined 
the information that should be submitted, and we included information 
on the CITES criteria for inclusion of species in Appendices I and II 
and the format for proposals to amend the Appendices (in Resolution 
Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) https://cites.org/sites/default/files/document/E-Res-09-24-R17.pdf). We also asked that commenters submit convincing 
information describing: (1) The status of the species, especially trend 
information; (2) conservation and management programs for the species, 
including the effectiveness of enforcement efforts; and (3) the level 
of international trade as well as domestic trade in the species, 
especially trend information.
    You must submit your information and comments to us no later than 
the date specified in DATES, above, to ensure that we consider them. We 
will not consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an address not 
listed in ADDRESSES. Comments and materials received will be posted for 
public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov (see ADDRESSES). We 
will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov. This generally 
means that we will post any personal information you provide us. If you 
submit a comment via https://www.regulations.gov, your entire comment--
including any personal identifying information--will be posted on the 
website. 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. We will post all 
hardcopy comments on https://www.regulations.gov. We will make all 
comments and materials submitted by organizations or

[[Page 24584]]

businesses, and by individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety.

Future Actions

    We expect the CITES Secretariat to provide us with a provisional 
agenda for CoP19 within the next several months. Once we receive the 
provisional agenda, we will publish it in a Federal Register notice and 
provide the Secretariat's website address. We will also provide the 
provisional agenda on our website, at https://www.fws.gov/program/cites/conference-parties-cites.
    The United States must submit any proposals to amend Appendix I or 
II for discussion at CoP19, to the CITES Secretariat 150 days (i.e., by 
June 17, 2022) prior to the start of the meeting. In order to meet this 
deadline and to prepare for CoP19, we have developed a tentative U.S. 
schedule. We will consider all available information and comments we 
receive during the comment period for this Federal Register notice as 
we decide which species proposal items warrant submission by the United 
States for consideration by the Parties. Approximately 4 months prior 
to CoP19, we will post on our website an announcement of the species 
proposals, draft resolutions, draft decisions, and agenda items 
submitted by the United States to the CITES Secretariat for 
consideration at CoP19.
    Through a series of additional notices and website postings in 
advance of CoP19, we will inform you about preliminary negotiating 
positions on resolutions, decisions, and amendments to the Appendices 
proposed by other Parties for consideration at CoP19. We will also 
publish an announcement of a public meeting to be held approximately 2 
to 3 months prior to CoP19, to receive public input on our positions 
regarding CoP19 issues. The procedures for developing U.S. documents 
and negotiating positions for a meeting of the Conference of the 
Parties to CITES are outlined in 50 CFR 23.87. As noted in paragraph 
(c) of that section, we may modify or suspend the procedures outlined 
there if they would interfere with the timely or appropriate 
development of documents for submission to the CoP and of U.S. 
negotiating positions.

Authors

    The primary author of this notice is Thomas E.J. Leuteritz, Ph.D., 
Branch Chief, Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.

Authority

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

Martha Williams,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-08871 Filed 4-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P