Harvest and Export of American Ginseng, 77177-77178 [E5-8014]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 249 / Thursday, December 29, 2005 / Notices
wildlife refuge. The purpose in
developing a comprehensive
conservation plan is to provide refuge
managers with a 15-year strategy for
achieving refuge purposes and
contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System,
consistent with sound principles of fish
and wildlife management, conservation,
legal mandates, and Service policies. In
addition to outlining broad management
direction on conserving wildlife and
their habitats, plans identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities
available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental
education and interpretation.
The purpose of this notice is to
achieve the following:
(1) Advise other agencies and the
public of our intentions, and
(2) Obtain suggestions and
information on the scope of issue to
include in the environmental document.
DATES: An open house style meeting
will be held during the scoping phase
and public draft phase of the
comprehensive conservation plan
development process. Special mailings,
newspaper articles, and other media
announcements will be used to inform
the public and state and local
government agencies of the dates and
opportunities for input throughout the
planning process.
ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for
more information regarding the Grand
Bay National Wildlife Refuge planning
process should be sent to: Mike Dawson,
Refuge Planner, Fish and Wildlife
Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway,
Suite B, Jackson, Mississippi 39213;
Telephone: 601/965–4903, ext. 20; Fax:
601/965–4010; Electronic mail:
mike_dawson@fws.gov To ensure
consideration, written comments must
be received no later than February 13,
2005. Our practice is to make
comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, available for
public review during regular business
hours. Individual respondents may
request that we withhold their home
addresses from the record, which we
will honor to the extent allowable by
law.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Grand Bay
National Wildlife Refuge was
established in 1992 under the
Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of
1986, to protect one of the largest
expanses of undisturbed pine savanna
habitats in the Gulf Coastal Plain region.
It consists of 9,831 acres within an
approved acquisition boundary of
17,741 acres. The refuge also manages
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18:56 Dec 28, 2005
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930 acres of Farm Service Agency tracts.
The largest portion of the refuge consists
of a mosaic of pine savannas,
interspersed with poorly drained
evergreen bays and pond cypress stands
graduating to estuarine salt marshes to
the south.
Recreation and education
opportunities on the refuge include
hunting photography , and wildlife
observation. Approximately 2,500
people visit the refuge annually.
The Service will conduct a
comprehensive conservation planning
process that will provide opportunity
for state and local governments,
agencies, organizations, and the public
to participate in issue scoping and
public comment. Comments received by
the planning team will be used as part
of the planning process.
Authority: This notice is published under
the authority of the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act of 1997, Public
Law 105–57.
Dated: October 27, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 05–24592 Filed 12–28–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–M
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Harvest and Export of American
Ginseng
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice: request for information
from the public; announcement of
public meetings.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce
public meetings on American ginseng
(Panax quinquefolius). These meetings
will help us gather information from the
public in preparation of our 2006
findings on the export of American
ginseng roots, for the issuance of
permits under the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES).
DATES: The meeting dates are:
1. January 31, 2006, 2:30 p.m. to 6
p.m., Moon Township (Pittsburgh), PA.
2. February 10, 2006, 8 a.m. to 12
noon, Asheville, NC.
3. February 15, 2006, 8 a.m. to 12
noon, Indianapolis, IN.
ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
1. Moon Township (Pittsburgh)—
DoubleTree Hotel, 8402 University
Blvd., Moon Township, PA 15108;
telephone number (412) 329–1400.
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Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
77177
2. Asheville—Holiday Inn, 1450
Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805;
telephone number (828) 298–5611.
3. Indianapolis—Hampton Inn,
Indianapolis Airport, 5601 Fortune
Circle West, Indianapolis, IN 46241;
telephone number (317) 244–1221.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information, or directions to
meetings contact Ms. Pat Ford, Division
of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive,
Room 750, Arlington, VA 22203; 703–
358–1708 (telephone), 703–358–2276
(fax), or patricia_ford@fws.gov (e-mail);
or Ms. Anne St. John, Division of
Management Authority, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive,
Room 700, Arlington, VA 22203; 703–
358–2095 (telephone), 703–358–2298
(fax), or anne_stjohn@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES, or Convention)
is an international treaty designed to
control and regulate international trade
in certain animal and plant species that
are now or potentially may be
threatened with extinction by
international trade. Currently, 169
countries, including the United States,
are Parties to CITES. The species for
which trade is controlled are listed in
Appendix I, II, or III of the Convention.
Appendix I includes species threatened
with extinction that are or may be
affected by international trade.
Commercial trade in Appendix-I species
is prohibited. Appendix II includes
species that, although not necessarily
threatened with extinction at the
present time, may become so unless
their trade is strictly controlled through
a system of export permits. Appendix II
also includes species that CITES must
regulate so that trade in other listed
species may be brought under effective
control (i.e., because of similarity of
appearance between listed species and
other species). Appendix III comprises
species subject to regulation within the
jurisdiction of any CITES Party country
that has requested the cooperation of the
other Parties in regulating international
trade in the species.
American ginseng (Panax
quinquefolius) was listed in Appendix II
of CITES on July 1, 1975. The Division
of Scientific Authority and the Division
of Management Authority of the Service
regulate the export of American ginseng,
including whole plants, whole roots,
and root parts. To meet CITES
requirements for export of American
ginseng from the United States, the
E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM
29DEN1
wwhite on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
77178
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 249 / Thursday, December 29, 2005 / Notices
Division of Scientific Authority must
determine that the export will not be
detrimental to the survival of the
species, and the Division of
Management Authority must be satisfied
that the American ginseng roots to be
exported were legally acquired.
Since the inclusion of American
ginseng in CITES Appendix II, the
Divisions of Scientific Authority and
Management Authority have issued
findings on a State by State basis. To
determine whether or not to approve
exports of American ginseng, the
Division of Scientific Authority has
annually reviewed available information
from various sources (other Federal
agencies, State regulatory agencies,
industry and associations,
nongovernmental organizations, and
academic researchers) on the biology
and trade status of the species. After a
thorough review, the Division of
Scientific Authority makes a nondetriment finding and the Division of
Management Authority makes a legal
acquisition finding on the export of
American ginseng to be harvested
during the year in question. From 1999
through 2004, the Division of Scientific
Authority included in its non-detriment
finding for the export of wild (including
wild-simulated and woodsgrown)
American ginseng roots an age-based
restriction (i.e., plants must be at least
5 years old). In 2005, the Division of
Scientific Authority included in its nondetriment findings for the export of wild
American ginseng roots an age-based
restriction that plants must be at least 10
years old, and for the export of wildsimulated and woodsgrown American
ginseng roots that plants must be at least
5 years old.
States with harvest programs for wild
and/or artificially propagated American
ginseng are: Alabama, Arkansas,
Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia,
and Wisconsin.
The Divisions of Scientific Authority
and Management Authority will host an
American ginseng workshop from
January 31 through February 2, 2006, in
Moon Township, Pennsylvania, with
representatives of State and Federal
agencies that regulate the species, to
discuss the status and management of
American ginseng and the CITES export
program for the species. This workshop
will provide an important opportunity
for representatives of the States and
Federal agencies to discuss and consider
improvements to the CITES export
program for this species. Except for
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:56 Dec 28, 2005
Jkt 208001
sessions on January 31 at this location,
and the two public meetings on other
dates in other locations (see Public
Meetings), this meeting will be closed to
the public.
Information from the 2006 U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service’s American
ginseng workshop will be available in
April 2006 upon request from the
Division of Scientific Authority or the
Division of Management Authority (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT); a
copy of the workshop report will also be
available from our Web site at: https://
www.fws.gov/international/animals/
ginindx/.html.
Public Meetings
At the January 31, 2006, Moon
Township (Pittsburgh) meeting, we
invite the public to listen to academic
and federal researchers present their
current research on American ginseng
from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.;
representatives of the American ginseng
industry and other stakeholders will
speak from 1:30 to 2:30. This will be the
only meeting and location at which the
public can hear these presentations.
After the morning’s presentations, from
2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., we will hold an
open public meeting (a listening
session) to hear from people involved or
interested in American ginseng harvest
and trade. We are particularly interested
in obtaining any current information on
the status of American ginseng in the
wild, or other pertinent information that
would contribute to improve the CITES
export program for this species. We will
discuss the Federal regulatory
framework for the export of American
ginseng and how these regulations
control the international trade of this
species. We will also discuss the
different CITES definitions as they are
applied to American ginseng grown
under different production systems and
how these systems affect the export of
American ginseng roots.
The two open public meetings that
follow the January meeting, on February
10 and February 15, 2006 (in Asheville
and Indianapolis, respectively—see
DATES and ADDRESSES), will also be open
public meetings to hear from people
involved or interested in American
ginseng harvest and trade.
You may get directions to the meeting
locations from the Division of Scientific
Authority or the Division of
Management Authority (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or
ADDRESSES). Persons planning to attend
the January 31, 2006 meeting who
require interpretation for the hearing
impaired must notify the Division of
Scientific Authority by January 23,
2006; for the other two meetings, please
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
notify the Division of Scientific
Authority as soon as possible (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Author
The primary author of this notice is
Patricia Ford, the Division of Scientific
Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
Dated: December 20, 2005.
Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E5–8014 Filed 12–28–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Public Comment About
Congressionally Mandated Study of
Energy Rights-of-Way on Tribal Lands
Office of Indian Energy and
Economic Development, Interior.
AGENCY:
Notice of request for public
comment.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Section 1813 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–58)
requires the Department of the Interior
(DOI) and Department of Energy to
provide Congress with a study regarding
energy rights-of-way on tribal lands. The
study is due to Congress by August 7,
2006. The Departments are interested in
receiving comments from the public
about how to proceed with
implementing section 1813.
Comments are due on or before
January 20, 2006.
DATES:
Send written comments by
regular mail to Attention: Section 1813
ROW Study, Office of Indian Energy and
Economic Development, 1849 C St.,
NW., Mail Stop 2749–MIB, Washington,
DC, 20240 or by e-mail to IEED@bia.edu.
ADDRESSES:
Mr.
Darryl Francois, Office of Indian Energy
and Economic Development, 1849 C St.,
NW., Mail Stop 2749–MIB, Washington,
DC, 20240. He can also be reached by
telephone at (202) 219–0740 or by
electronic mail at
darryl.francois@mms.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Section
1813 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(Pub. L. 109–58) requires the Secretaries
of the Department of the Interior and the
Department of Energy (Departments) to
conduct a study of energy related rightsof-way on tribal lands. The Act requires
that the study address four subjects:
1. An analysis of historical rates of
compensation;
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM
29DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 249 (Thursday, December 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77177-77178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-8014]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Harvest and Export of American Ginseng
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice: request for information from the public; announcement
of public meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce
public meetings on American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). These
meetings will help us gather information from the public in preparation
of our 2006 findings on the export of American ginseng roots, for the
issuance of permits under the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
DATES: The meeting dates are:
1. January 31, 2006, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Moon Township
(Pittsburgh), PA.
2. February 10, 2006, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Asheville, NC.
3. February 15, 2006, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Indianapolis, IN.
ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
1. Moon Township (Pittsburgh)--DoubleTree Hotel, 8402 University
Blvd., Moon Township, PA 15108; telephone number (412) 329-1400.
2. Asheville--Holiday Inn, 1450 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805;
telephone number (828) 298-5611.
3. Indianapolis--Hampton Inn, Indianapolis Airport, 5601 Fortune
Circle West, Indianapolis, IN 46241; telephone number (317) 244-1221.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, or directions
to meetings contact Ms. Pat Ford, Division of Scientific Authority,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 750,
Arlington, VA 22203; 703-358-1708 (telephone), 703-358-2276 (fax), or
patricia_ford@fws.gov (e-mail); or Ms. Anne St. John, Division of
Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, Room 700, Arlington, VA 22203; 703-358-2095 (telephone), 703-
358-2298 (fax), or anne_stjohn@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES, or Convention) is an international treaty
designed to control and regulate international trade in certain animal
and plant species that are now or potentially may be threatened with
extinction by international trade. Currently, 169 countries, including
the United States, are Parties to CITES. The species for which trade is
controlled are listed in Appendix I, II, or III of the Convention.
Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction that are or may
be affected by international trade. Commercial trade in Appendix-I
species is prohibited. Appendix II includes species that, although not
necessarily threatened with extinction at the present time, may become
so unless their trade is strictly controlled through a system of export
permits. Appendix II also includes species that CITES must regulate so
that trade in other listed species may be brought under effective
control (i.e., because of similarity of appearance between listed
species and other species). Appendix III comprises species subject to
regulation within the jurisdiction of any CITES Party country that has
requested the cooperation of the other Parties in regulating
international trade in the species.
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) was listed in Appendix II of
CITES on July 1, 1975. The Division of Scientific Authority and the
Division of Management Authority of the Service regulate the export of
American ginseng, including whole plants, whole roots, and root parts.
To meet CITES requirements for export of American ginseng from the
United States, the
[[Page 77178]]
Division of Scientific Authority must determine that the export will
not be detrimental to the survival of the species, and the Division of
Management Authority must be satisfied that the American ginseng roots
to be exported were legally acquired.
Since the inclusion of American ginseng in CITES Appendix II, the
Divisions of Scientific Authority and Management Authority have issued
findings on a State by State basis. To determine whether or not to
approve exports of American ginseng, the Division of Scientific
Authority has annually reviewed available information from various
sources (other Federal agencies, State regulatory agencies, industry
and associations, nongovernmental organizations, and academic
researchers) on the biology and trade status of the species. After a
thorough review, the Division of Scientific Authority makes a non-
detriment finding and the Division of Management Authority makes a
legal acquisition finding on the export of American ginseng to be
harvested during the year in question. From 1999 through 2004, the
Division of Scientific Authority included in its non-detriment finding
for the export of wild (including wild-simulated and woodsgrown)
American ginseng roots an age-based restriction (i.e., plants must be
at least 5 years old). In 2005, the Division of Scientific Authority
included in its non-detriment findings for the export of wild American
ginseng roots an age-based restriction that plants must be at least 10
years old, and for the export of wild-simulated and woodsgrown American
ginseng roots that plants must be at least 5 years old.
States with harvest programs for wild and/or artificially
propagated American ginseng are: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West
Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The Divisions of Scientific Authority and Management Authority will
host an American ginseng workshop from January 31 through February 2,
2006, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, with representatives of State and
Federal agencies that regulate the species, to discuss the status and
management of American ginseng and the CITES export program for the
species. This workshop will provide an important opportunity for
representatives of the States and Federal agencies to discuss and
consider improvements to the CITES export program for this species.
Except for sessions on January 31 at this location, and the two public
meetings on other dates in other locations (see Public Meetings), this
meeting will be closed to the public.
Information from the 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's American
ginseng workshop will be available in April 2006 upon request from the
Division of Scientific Authority or the Division of Management
Authority (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT); a copy of the workshop
report will also be available from our Web site at: https://www.fws.gov/
international/animals/ginindx/.html.
Public Meetings
At the January 31, 2006, Moon Township (Pittsburgh) meeting, we
invite the public to listen to academic and federal researchers present
their current research on American ginseng from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.;
representatives of the American ginseng industry and other stakeholders
will speak from 1:30 to 2:30. This will be the only meeting and
location at which the public can hear these presentations. After the
morning's presentations, from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., we will hold an open
public meeting (a listening session) to hear from people involved or
interested in American ginseng harvest and trade. We are particularly
interested in obtaining any current information on the status of
American ginseng in the wild, or other pertinent information that would
contribute to improve the CITES export program for this species. We
will discuss the Federal regulatory framework for the export of
American ginseng and how these regulations control the international
trade of this species. We will also discuss the different CITES
definitions as they are applied to American ginseng grown under
different production systems and how these systems affect the export of
American ginseng roots.
The two open public meetings that follow the January meeting, on
February 10 and February 15, 2006 (in Asheville and Indianapolis,
respectively--see DATES and ADDRESSES), will also be open public
meetings to hear from people involved or interested in American ginseng
harvest and trade.
You may get directions to the meeting locations from the Division
of Scientific Authority or the Division of Management Authority (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or ADDRESSES). Persons planning to
attend the January 31, 2006 meeting who require interpretation for the
hearing impaired must notify the Division of Scientific Authority by
January 23, 2006; for the other two meetings, please notify the
Division of Scientific Authority as soon as possible (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
Author
The primary author of this notice is Patricia Ford, the Division of
Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Dated: December 20, 2005.
Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E5-8014 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P