Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Fifteenth Regular Meeting: Proposed Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items Being Considered; Taxa Being Considered for Amendments to the CITES Appendices; Observer Information, 33460-33464 [E9-16410]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 132 / Monday, July 13, 2009 / Notices
Protection Agency (CalEPA), regarding
the State’s role in the implementation of
the Settlement. The program established
to implement the Settlement is the
SJRRP, and the ‘‘Implementing
Agencies’’ responsible for the
management of the SJRRP include
Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), DWR, and
DFG. The Federal Implementing
agencies (Reclamation, USFWS and
NMFS) are authorized to implement the
Settlement under the SJRRA included in
Public Law 111–11.
A Program Environmental Impact
Statement/Environmental Impact Report
(PEIS/EIR) is currently being developed
for implementation of the SJRRP. If
applicable, the EIS/EIR for the Proposed
Action will supplement, tier from,
incorporate by reference, or adopt
relevant NEPA analyses from the PEIS/
EIR. The Record of Decision for the
PEIS/EIR is anticipated to be signed in
2010.
Public Disclosure
Before including your name, address,
phone number, e-mail 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.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Dated: July 2, 2009.
Anastasia T. Leigh,
Acting Regional Environmental Officer, MidPacific Region.
[FR Doc. E9–16462 Filed 7–10–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
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[FWS–R9–IA–2009–N0103; 96300–1671–
0000 FY09 R4]
Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES); Fifteenth Regular
Meeting: Proposed Resolutions,
Decisions, and Agenda Items Being
Considered; Taxa Being Considered
for Amendments to the CITES
Appendices; Observer Information
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 submit
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items for consideration at
meetings of the Conference of the
Parties to CITES. The United States may
also propose amendments to the CITES
Appendices for consideration at
meetings of the Conference of the
Parties. The fifteenth regular meeting of
the Conference of the Parties to CITES
(CoP15) is tentatively scheduled to be
held in Doha, Qatar, March 13–25, 2010.
With this notice, we describe
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items that the United States is
considering submitting for
consideration at CoP15; describe
proposed amendments to the CITES
Appendices (species proposals) that the
United States is considering submitting
for consideration at CoP15; invite your
comments and information on these
proposals; and provide information on
how nongovernmental organizations
based in the United States can attend
CoP15 as observers.
DATES: We will consider written
information and comments you submit
concerning potential species proposals,
and proposed resolutions, decisions,
and agenda items that the United States
is considering submitting for
consideration at CoP15, and other items
relating to CoP15, if we receive them by
September 11, 2009.
Comments pertaining to
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items should be sent to the
Division of Management Authority, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North
Fairfax Drive, Room 212, Arlington, VA
22203, or via e-mail at: CoP15@fws.gov,
or via fax at: 703–358–2298. Comments
pertaining to species proposals should
be sent to the Division of Scientific
Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room
110, Arlington, VA 22203, or via e-mail
at: scientificauthority@fws.gov, or via
fax at: 703–358–2276.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information pertaining to resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items contact:
Robert R. Gabel, Chief, Division of
Management Authority, phone 703–
358–2095, fax 703–358–2298, e-mail:
CoP15@fws.gov. For information
pertaining to species proposals contact:
Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of
Scientific Authority, phone 703–358–
1708, fax 703–358–2276, e-mail:
scientificauthority@fws.gov.
Background
The Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora, hereinafter referred to
as CITES or the 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. These species are listed
in Appendices to CITES, which are
available on the CITES Secretariat’s
website at https://www.cites.org/eng/
app/index.shtml. Currently, 175
countries, including the United States,
are Parties to CITES. The Convention
calls for biennial meetings of the
Conference of the Parties, which
reviews its implementation, makes
provisions enabling the CITES
Secretariat in Switzerland to carry out
its functions, considers amendments to
the lists of species in Appendices I and
II, considers reports presented by the
Secretariat, and makes
recommendations for the improved
effectiveness of CITES. Any country that
is a Party to CITES may propose for
these meetings amendments to
Appendices I and II, and resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items for
consideration by all the Parties.
This is our second in a series of
Federal Register notices that, together
with an announced public meeting,
provide you with an opportunity to
participate in the development of the
U.S. negotiating positions for the
fifteenth regular meeting of the
Conference of the Parties to CITES
(CoP15). We published our first CoP15related Federal Register notice on
September 29, 2008 (73 FR 56605), in
which we requested information and
recommendations on species proposals
and proposed resolutions, decisions,
and agenda items for the United States
to consider submitting for consideration
at CoP15. You may obtain information
on that Federal Register notice from the
following sources: for information on
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items, contact the Division of
Management Authority at the address
provided in ‘‘ADDRESSES’’ above; and for
information on species proposals,
contact the Division of Scientific
Authority at the address provided in
‘‘ADDRESSES’’ above. Our regulations
governing this public process are found
in 50 CFR 23.87.
CoP15 is tentatively scheduled to be
held in Doha, Qatar, March 13–25, 2010.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 132 / Monday, July 13, 2009 / Notices
I. Recommendations for Resolutions,
Decisions, and Agenda Items for the
United States To Consider Submitting
for CoP15
In our Federal Register notice
published on September 29, 2008 (73 FR
56605), we requested information and
recommendations on potential
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
for the United States to submit for
consideration at CoP15. We received
recommendations for resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items from the
following organizations: the Species
Survival Network (SSN); TRAFFIC; the
Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Society (WDCS); and the World Wide
Fund for Nature (WWF). We also
received a comment from one
individual.
We considered all of the
recommendations of the above
individual and organizations, as well as
the factors described in the U.S.
approach for CoP15 discussed in our
September 29, 2008, Federal Register
notice, when compiling a list of
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
that the United States is likely to submit
for consideration by the Parties at
CoP15; and lists of resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items for
consideration at CoP15 that the United
States either is currently undecided
about submitting, is not considering
submitting at this time, or plans to
address in other ways. The United
States may consider submitting
documents for some of the issues for
which it is currently undecided or not
considering submitting at this time,
depending on the outcome of
discussions of these issues in the CITES
Animals, Plants, and Standing
Committees, or additional consultations
with range country governments and
subject matter experts.
Please note that, in sections A, B, and
C below, we have listed those
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
that the United States is likely to
submit, currently undecided about
submitting, or currently planning not to
submit. We have posted an extended
version of this notice on our website at
https://www.fws.gov/international/
newspubs/fedregnot.html, with text
describing in more detail each of these
issues and explaining the rationale for
the tentative U.S. position on each
issue. Copies of the extended version of
the notice are also available from the
Division of Management Authority at
the above address.
We welcome your comments and
information regarding the resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the
United States is likely to submit,
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currently undecided about submitting,
or currently planning not to submit.
A. What resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items is the United States likely
to submit for consideration at CoP15?
1. A document that continues to
support a strong stance on tiger
conservation and efforts to address
illegal trade in tiger and other Asian big
cat parts and derivatives in both range
and consumer countries.
2. A discussion document addressing
inconsistent implementation of
Appendix-III timber listings annotated
to include only the national populations
of the listing countries, and possibly
including a proposal to amend
Resolution Conf. 9.25 (Rev. CoP14), by
deleting Recommendation a) iv),
regarding the inclusion of
geographically separate populations of
timber species in Appendix III, and
adding language to direct the CITES
Secretariat to consult with countries
who request such listings to ensure that
the listings will achieve the level of
control and cooperation with other
range countries intended.
3. A discussion document addressing
difficulties encountered associated with
the reporting of scientific names for
CITES-listed coral specimens, including
proposed changes to Resolution Conf.
12.3 (Rev. CoP14) to indicate that
taxonomic names of corals on CITES
permits and certificates should comply
with the list in CITES Notification to the
Parties No. 2003/020, and a draft
decision directing the Animals
Committee to update the list in
Notification No. 2003/020.
B. On what resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items is the United States still
undecided, pending additional
information and consultations?
1. A discussion document on how
CITES might incorporate impacts of
climate change in future deliberations,
or how Parties could incorporate
climate change resilience into their nondetriment findings.
2. A discussion document on the
conservation issues associated with and
management of the snake trade in Asia.
3. A discussion document raising
possible problems with the current
guidelines to register and monitor
operations that breed Appendix-I
animal species for commercial purposes
provided in Resolution Conf. 12.10
(Rev. CoP14), and possibly including a
proposal to amend this resolution.
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C. What resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items is the United States not
likely to submit for consideration at
CoP15, unless we receive significant
additional information?
1. A resolution that details the need
to accurately and adequately describe
on CITES permits and in CITES annual
reports both the types of specimens in
trade and the quantities of specimens in
trade.
2. A document expressing
disappointment in the lack of progress
that has been made to date in the
development and implementation of
regional management plans for the
African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus).
3. A document related to the
establishment of ‘‘zero export quotas’’
for those species subject to a Standing
Committee recommendation to suspend
trade.
4. A document emphasizing the
importance of sound science in the
making of CITES non-detriment findings
for the import of specimens included in
Appendix I, and export of specimens of
species included in Appendices I and II.
II. Recommendations for Species
Proposals for the United States To
Consider Submitting for CoP15
In our Federal Register notice of
September 29, 2008 (73 FR 56605), we
requested information and
recommendations on potential species
proposals for the United States to
consider submitting for consideration at
CoP15. We received recommendations
from the following organizations for
possible proposals involving 46 taxa (5
families, 7 genera, and 34 individual
species) and 5 general animal groups
(furbearers, ungulates, freshwater
turtles, sharks, and other fish): the
Animal Welfare Institute; Defenders of
Wildlife; the Humane Society of the
United States (HSUS); Humane Society
International (HSI); the International
Union for Conservation of Nature
Species Survival Commission (IUCN/
SSC) Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle
Specialist Group; the Mid-Atlantic
Turtle and Tortoise Society; the Ocean
Conservancy; the Pew Institute for
Ocean Conservation Science; Sea Web;
SSN; TRAFFIC; WDCS; and WWF. We
have undertaken initial assessments of
the available trade and biological
information on all of these taxa. Based
on these assessments, we made
provisional determinations of whether
to proceed with the development of
proposals to list or delist species, or
transfer them from one Appendix to
another. We made these determinations
by considering the quality of biological
and trade information available on the
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species; the presence, absence, and
effectiveness of other mechanisms that
may preclude the need for a CITES
listing (e.g., range country actions or
other international agreements); and
availability of resources. Furthermore,
our assignment of a taxon to one of
these categories, which reflects the
likelihood of our submitting a proposal,
included consideration of the following
factors, which reflect the U.S. approach
for CoP15 discussed in our September
29, 2008, Federal Register notice:
(1) Is it a native U.S. species that is
or may be significantly affected by trade,
or if it is a currently listed U.S. species,
does the listing accurately reflect the
biological and trade status of the
species?
(2) Is it a native U.S. species that is
not at this time significantly impacted
by trade within the United States, but is
being significantly impacted elsewhere
in its range?
(3) Is it a foreign species, not native
to the United States, but which is or
may be significantly affected by trade,
and the United States is a significant
component of the trade (i.e., as an
importing country)?
(4) Is it a species for which the United
States is neither a range country nor a
country significantly involved in trade,
but for which trade is a serious threat to
the continued existence of the species,
other mechanisms are lacking or
ineffective for bringing trade under
control, and action is urgently needed?
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.
Please note that we have only provided
here a list of taxa and the proposed
action. We have posted an extended
version of this notice on our website at
https://www.fws.gov/international/
newspubs/fedregnot.html, with text
describing in more detail each proposed
action and explaining the rationale for
the tentative U.S. position on each
possible proposal. Copies of the
extended version of the notice are also
available from the Division of
Management Authority at the above
address.
We welcome your comments,
especially if you are able to provide any
additional biological or trade
information on these species. For each
species, more detailed information is on
file in the Division of Scientific
Authority.
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A. What species proposals is the United
States likely to submit for consideration
at CoP15?
The United States is likely to develop
and submit proposals for the following
taxa. For some of the species below,
particularly those not native to the
United States, additional consultations
with range countries and subject matter
experts are proceeding, and final
decisions are pending, based on the
outcomes of those consultations and any
additional information received.
Plants
1. Flasked seedlings – Amendment of
the annotation for Appendix-I orchid
species to make it consistent with the
language in Resolution Conf. 11.11 (Rev.
CoP14) pertaining to flasked seedlings
Corals
2. Red and pink coral (Corallium spp.
and Paracorallium spp.) – Inclusion in
Appendix II
Mammals
3. Bobcat (Lynx rufus) – Removal from
Appendix II
B. On what species proposals is the
United States still undecided, pending
additional information and
consultations?
The United States is still undecided
on whether to submit proposals for
CoP15 for the following taxa. In some
cases, we have not completed our
consultations with relevant range
countries. In other cases, we expect
meetings to occur in the immediate
future at which participants will
generate important recommendations,
trade analyses, or biological information
on the taxon in question.
Plants
1. Cedars (Cedrela spp.) – Inclusion in
Appendix II
2. Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera) –
Removal from Appendix II
Mollusks
9. Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.)
– Inclusion in Appendix II
10. Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias)
– Inclusion in Appendix II
11. Requiem sharks (Carcharinidae) Inclusion in Appendix II
12. Devil and manta rays (Mobulidae)
– Inclusion in Appendix II
13. Freshwater stingrays
(Potamotrygonidae) – Inclusion in
Appendix II
14. American eel (Anguilla rostrata) –
Inclusion in Appendix II
15. Northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus
thynnus) – Inclusion in Appendix I
Reptiles
16. Common snapping turtle
(Chelydra serpentina) – Inclusion in
Appendix III (Note: The IUCN/SSC
Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle
Specialist Group recommended that the
United States propose inclusion of the
common snapping turtle in Appendix III
at CoP15, although inclusion of a
species in Appendix III is a unilateral
decision and does not require a proposal
to be brought forward to the CoP)
17. Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) –
Inclusion in Appendix II
18. Diamondback terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin) – Inclusion in
Appendix II
19. Florida soft-shell turtle (Apalone
ferox) – Inclusion in Appendix II
20. Smooth soft-shell turtle (Apalone
mutica) – Inclusion in Appendix II
21. Spiny soft-shell turtle (Apalone
spinifera) – Inclusion in Appendix II
22. Giant leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus
giganteus) – Transfer from Appendix II
to Appendix I
Mammals
23. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) –
Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix
I
24. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) –
Inclusion in Appendix II
25. Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) –
Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix
I
Fish
C. What species proposals is the United
States not likely to submit for
consideration at CoP15, unless we
receive significant additional
information?
4. Tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) –
Inclusion in Appendix II
5. Shortfin mako shark (Isurus
oxyrhinchus) – Inclusion in Appendix II
6. Longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus)
– Inclusion in Appendix II
7. Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) –
Inclusion in Appendix II
8. Freshwater sawfish (Pristis
microdon) – Transfer from Appendix II
to Appendix I
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. Information currently
available for each of the taxa listed
below does not support a defensible
listing proposal. In addition to the taxa
listed below, please note that the
Animal Welfare Institute provided us
with a tentative list of taxonomic groups
3. Nautilids (Allonautilus spp. and
Nautilus spp.) – Inclusion in Appendix
II
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of animal species for which it was
recommending that the United States
consider amendments to the
Appendices. These groups of species
included ‘‘native and non-native species
including freshwater turtles, sharks,
furbearers, fish, and ungulates.’’ We do
not have the resources to evaluate such
a broad request in the timeframes
necessary for decision making for
CoP15. Therefore, the United States
does not intend to submit any proposals
to the CoP as a result of this
recommendation.
Fish
1. Gulper sharks (Centrophoridae) –
Inclusion in Appendix II
2. Guitarfishes and shovelnose rays
(Rhinobatidae) – Inclusion in Appendix
II
3. Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) –
Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix
I
Amphibians
4. Blue-sided frog (Agalychnis annae)
– Inclusion in Appendix II
5. Morelet’s tree frog (Agalychnis
moreletii) – Inclusion in Appendix II
6. Rancho Grande harlequin frog
(Atelopus cruciger) – Inclusion in
Appendix II
7. Helmeted water toad (Caudiverbera
caudiverbera) – Inclusion in Appendix
II
8. Santa Fe frog (Leptodactylus
laticeps) – Inclusion in Appendix II
9. Giant Asian river frog (Limnonectes
blythii) – Inclusion in Appendix II
10. Fanged river frog (Limnonectes
macrodon) – Inclusion in Appendix II
11. Giant Philippine frog
(Limnonectes magnus) – Inclusion in
Appendix II
12. Albanian water frog (Rana
shqiperica) – Inclusion in Appendix II
13. Rain frog (Scaphiophryne
boribory) – Inclusion in Appendix II
14. Alto Verapaz salamander
(Bolitoglossa dofleini) – Inclusion in
Appendix II
15. Kaiser’s spotted newt (Neurergus
kaiseri) – Inclusion in Appendix I or II
16. Kurdistan newt (Neurergus
microspilotus) – Inclusion in Appendix
II
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Reptiles
17. Alligator snapping turtle
(Macrochelys temminckii) – Inclusion in
Appendix II
18. Map turtles (Graptemys spp.) –
Inclusion in Appendix II
In addition to the taxa listed above,
Defenders of Wildlife and SSN
suggested that more research be done on
Limnonectes spp. frogs and the Laos
wart newt (Paramesotriton laoensis). We
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need additional biological and trade
information for both taxa to determine
whether they meet the listing criteria in
CITES Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev.
CoP14).
Request for Information and Comments
We invite any information and
comments concerning any of the
possible CoP15 species proposals and
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items discussed above. You
must submit your information and
comments to us no later than the date
specified in ‘‘DATES’’ above, to ensure
that we consider them. Comments and
materials received will be available for
public inspection, by appointment, from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, at either the Division of
Management Authority or the Division
of Scientific Authority. Our practice is
to make comments, including names
and home addresses of respondents,
available for public review during
regular business hours. Individual
respondents may request that we
withhold their home addresses from the
administrative record, which we will
honor to the extent allowable by law.
There also may be circumstances in
which we would withhold from the
administrative record a respondent’s
identity, as allowable by law. If you
wish to withhold your name and/or
address, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your
comment. We will make all comments
and materials submitted by
organizations or businesses, and by
individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety.
Observers
Article XI, paragraph 7 of CITES states
the following:
‘‘Any body or agency technically
qualified in protection, conservation or
management of wild fauna and flora, in
the following categories, which has
informed the Secretariat of its desire to
be represented at meetings of the
Conference by observers, shall be
admitted unless at least one-third of the
Parties present object:
(a) international agencies or bodies,
either governmental or nongovernmental, and national
governmental agencies and bodies; and
(b) national non-governmental
agencies or bodies which have been
approved for this purpose by the State
in which they are located.
Once admitted, these observers shall
have the right to participate but not to
vote.’’
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Persons wishing to be observers
representing international
nongovernmental organizations (which
must have offices in more than one
country) at CoP15 may request approval
directly from the CITES Secretariat.
Persons wishing to be observers
representing U.S. national
nongovernmental organizations at
CoP15 must receive prior approval from
our Division of Management Authority.
Once we grant our approval, a U.S.
national nongovernmental organization
is eligible to register with the Secretariat
and must do so at least 6 weeks prior
to the opening of CoP15 to participate
in CoP15 as an observer. Individuals
who are not affiliated with an
organization may not register as
observers. An international
nongovernmental organization with at
least one office in the United States may
register as a U.S. nongovernmental
organization if it prefers.
A request submitted to us for approval
as an observer should include evidence
of technical qualifications in protection,
conservation, or management of wild
fauna and/or flora, on the part of both
the organization and the individual
representative(s). The request should
also include copies of the organization’s
charter and/or bylaws, and a list of
representatives it intends to send to
CoP15. Organizations seeking approval
for the first time should detail their
experience in the protection,
conservation, or management of wild
fauna and/or flora, as well as their
purposes for wishing to participate in
CoP15 as an observer. An organization
that we have previously approved as an
observer at a meeting of the Conference
of the Parties within the past 5 years
must submit a request, but does not
need to provide as much detailed
information concerning its
qualifications as an organization seeking
approval for the first time. These
requests should be sent to the Division
of Management Authority (see
‘‘ADDRESSES,’’ above).
Once we approve an organization as
an observer, we will send the
organization instructions for registration
with the CITES Secretariat in
Switzerland, including a meeting
registration form and travel and hotel
information. A list of organizations
approved for observer status at CoP15
will be available upon request from the
Division of Management Authority just
prior to the start of CoP15.
Future Actions
We expect the CITES Secretariat to
provide us with a provisional agenda for
CoP15 within the next several months.
Once we receive the provisional agenda,
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we will publish it in a Federal Register
notice and provide the Secretariat’s
website URL. We will also provide the
provisional agenda on our website at
https://www.fws.gov/international.
The United States will submit any
species proposals, and proposed
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
for consideration at CoP15 to the CITES
Secretariat 150 days prior to the start of
the meeting (i.e., tentatively by mid–
October , 2009). We will consider all
available information and comments,
including those received in writing
during the comment period, as we
decide which species proposals, and
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items warrant submission by the
United States for consideration by the
Parties. Approximately 4 months prior
to CoP15, we will post on our website
an announcement of the species
proposals, and proposed resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items submitted
by the United States to the CITES
Secretariat for consideration at CoP15.
Through an additional notice and
website posting in advance of CoP15,
we will inform you about preliminary
negotiating positions on resolutions,
decisions, and amendments to the
Appendices proposed by other Parties
for consideration at CoP15. We will also
publish an announcement of a public
meeting tentatively to be held
approximately 2 months prior to CoP15,
to receive public input on our positions
regarding items submitted by other
Parties.
Author
The primary authors of this notice are
Mark Albert, Division of Management
Authority; and Pamela Hall, Division of
Scientific Authority; under the authority
of the U.S. Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.).
Dated: June 29, 2009
Marvin Moriarty
Acting Deputy Director
[FR Doc. E9–16410 Filed 7–10– 09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–S
written comments concerning the
significance of these properties under
the National Register criteria for
evaluation may be forwarded by United
States Postal Service, to the National
Register of Historic Places, National
Park Service, 1849 C St., NW., 2280,
Washington, DC 20240; by all other
carriers, National Register of Historic
Places, National Park Service, 1201 Eye
St., NW., 8th floor, Washington, DC
20005; or by fax, 202–371–6447. Written
or faxed comments should be submitted
by July 28, 2009.
J. Paul Loether,
Chief, National Register of Historic Places/
National Historic Landmarks Program.
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Jkt 217001
BILLING CODE P
National Park Service
Belcher-Nixon Building, 1728 29th St.
Ensley, Birmingham, 09000603
Downtown Ensley Historic District, 17th-21st
Sts. Ensley & Avenues C–H, Birmingham,
09000604
Lee County
Darden, Dr. J.W., House, 1323 Auburn St.,
Opelika, 09000605
Monroe County
Monroeville Downtown Historic District,
Parts of N. and S. Alabama Aves., E. and
W. Claiborne St., N. and S. Mount Pleasant
Aves., Pineville Rd., Monroeville,
09000606
Winston County
Feldman’s Department Store, 800 20th St.,
Haleyville, 09000607
ARIZONA
Cochise County
Schilling Ranch Historic District, (Cattle
Ranching in Arizona in the Modern Era,
1945–1970) 6396 N. Schilling Ranch Rd.,
Corral, 09000608
Maricopa County
Bennitt Mansion, 126 E. County Club Dr.,
Phoenix, 09000609
IOWA
Guthrie County
Garst, Roswell and Elizabeth, Farmstead
Historic District, 1390 IA 141, Coon
Rapids, 09000610
Essex County
18:36 Jul 10, 2009
[FR Doc. E9–16421 Filed 7–10–09; 8:45 am]
Jefferson County
National Park Service
VerDate Nov<24>2008
Salem Independent city
Valley Railroad Bridge, 1002 Newman Dr.,
Salem, 09000617
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
MASSACHUSETTS
Nominations for the following
properties being considered for listing
or related actions in the National
Register were received by the National
Park Service before July 4, 2009.
Pursuant to § 60.13 of 36 CFR Part 60
Goochland County
First Union School (Rosenwald Schools in
Virginia MPS), 1522 Old Mill Rd., Crozier,
09000614
ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Register of Historic Places;
Notification of Pending Nominations
and Related Actions
Fauquier County
Orlean Historic District, Area including parts
of John Barnton Payne and Leeds Manor
Rds., Orlean, 09000615
Woodside, 9525 Maidstone Rd., Delaplane,
09000616
Samuel Brown School, 200 Lynn St.,
Peabody, 09000611
Suffolk County
Evergreen Cemetery, 2060 Commonwealth
Ave., Boston, 09000612
VIRGINIA
Bedford County
Liberty Hall, 12000 E. Lynchburg Salem
Turnpike, Forest, 09000613
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
National Register of Historic Places;
Weekly Listing of Historic Properties
Pursuant to (36 CFR 60.13(b, c)) and
(36 CFR 63.5), this notice, through
publication of the information included
herein, is to apprise the public as well
as governmental agencies, associations
and all other organizations and
individuals interested in historic
preservation, of the properties added to,
or determined eligible for listing in, the
National Register of Historic Places from
May 18, to May 22, 2009.
For further information, please
contact Edson Beall via: United States
Postal Service mail, at the National
Register of Historic Places, 2280,
National Park Service, 1849 C St., NW.,
Washington, DC 20240; in person (by
appointment), 1201 Eye St., NW., 8th
floor, Washington, DC 20005; by fax,
202–371–2229; by phone, 202–354–
2255; or by e-mail,
Edson_Beall@nps.gov.
Dated: July 7, 2009.
J. Paul Loether,
Chief, National Register of Historic Places/
National Historic Landmarks Program.
KEY: State, County, Property Name,
Address/Boundary, City, Vicinity, Reference
Number, Action, Date, Multiple Name
ARIZONA
Maricopa County
McCullough-Price House, 300 S. Chandler
Village Dr., Chandler, 09000311, LISTED,
5/20/09
ARKANSAS
Phillips County
Battery D (Boundary Increase), Address
Restricted, Helena-West Helena, 09000317,
LISTED, 5/20/09
Poinsett County
Highway A–7, Ditch No. 6 Bridge, E. Davis
St. over Ditch No. 6 SE. of Steel Bridge Rd.,
E:\FR\FM\13JYN1.SGM
13JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 132 (Monday, July 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33460-33464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16410]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R9-IA-2009-N0103; 96300-1671-0000 FY09 R4]
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Fifteenth
Regular Meeting: Proposed Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items
Being Considered; Taxa Being Considered for Amendments to the CITES
Appendices; Observer Information
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States, as a Party to the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES), may submit proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
for consideration at meetings of the Conference of the Parties to
CITES. The United States may also propose amendments to the CITES
Appendices for consideration at meetings of the Conference of the
Parties. The fifteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties
to CITES (CoP15) is tentatively scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar,
March 13-25, 2010.
With this notice, we describe proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items that the United States is considering submitting for
consideration at CoP15; describe proposed amendments to the CITES
Appendices (species proposals) that the United States is considering
submitting for consideration at CoP15; invite your comments and
information on these proposals; and provide information on how
nongovernmental organizations based in the United States can attend
CoP15 as observers.
DATES: We will consider written information and comments you submit
concerning potential species proposals, and proposed resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the United States is considering
submitting for consideration at CoP15, and other items relating to
CoP15, if we receive them by September 11, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments pertaining to proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items should be sent to the Division of Management Authority,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 212,
Arlington, VA 22203, or via e-mail at: CoP15@fws.gov, or via fax at:
703-358-2298. Comments pertaining to species proposals should be sent
to the Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 110, Arlington, VA 22203, or
via e-mail at: scientificauthority@fws.gov, or via fax at: 703-358-
2276.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information pertaining to
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items contact: Robert R. Gabel,
Chief, Division of Management Authority, phone 703-358-2095, fax 703-
358-2298, e-mail: CoP15@fws.gov. For information pertaining to species
proposals contact: Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of Scientific
Authority, phone 703-358-1708, fax 703-358-2276, e-mail:
scientificauthority@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora, hereinafter referred to as CITES or the 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. These species are listed in
Appendices to CITES, which are available on the CITES Secretariat's
website at https://www.cites.org/eng/app/index.shtml. Currently, 175
countries, including the United States, are Parties to CITES. The
Convention calls for biennial meetings of the Conference of the
Parties, which reviews its implementation, makes provisions enabling
the CITES Secretariat in Switzerland to carry out its functions,
considers amendments to the lists of species in Appendices I and II,
considers reports presented by the Secretariat, and makes
recommendations for the improved effectiveness of CITES. Any country
that is a Party to CITES may propose for these meetings amendments to
Appendices I and II, and resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for
consideration by all the Parties.
This is our second in a series of Federal Register notices that,
together with an announced public meeting, provide you with an
opportunity to participate in the development of the U.S. negotiating
positions for the fifteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the
Parties to CITES (CoP15). We published our first CoP15-related Federal
Register notice on September 29, 2008 (73 FR 56605), in which we
requested information and recommendations on species proposals and
proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the United States
to consider submitting for consideration at CoP15. You may obtain
information on that Federal Register notice from the following sources:
for information on proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items,
contact the Division of Management Authority at the address provided in
``ADDRESSES'' above; and for information on species proposals, contact
the Division of Scientific Authority at the address provided in
``ADDRESSES'' above. Our regulations governing this public process are
found in 50 CFR 23.87.
CoP15 is tentatively scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, March 13-
25, 2010.
[[Page 33461]]
I. Recommendations for Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items for the
United States To Consider Submitting for CoP15
In our Federal Register notice published on September 29, 2008 (73
FR 56605), we requested information and recommendations on potential
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the United States to
submit for consideration at CoP15. We received recommendations for
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items from the following
organizations: the Species Survival Network (SSN); TRAFFIC; the Whale
and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS); and the World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF). We also received a comment from one individual.
We considered all of the recommendations of the above individual
and organizations, as well as the factors described in the U.S.
approach for CoP15 discussed in our September 29, 2008, Federal
Register notice, when compiling a list of resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items that the United States is likely to submit for
consideration by the Parties at CoP15; and lists of resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items for consideration at CoP15 that the United
States either is currently undecided about submitting, is not
considering submitting at this time, or plans to address in other ways.
The United States may consider submitting documents for some of the
issues for which it is currently undecided or not considering
submitting at this time, depending on the outcome of discussions of
these issues in the CITES Animals, Plants, and Standing Committees, or
additional consultations with range country governments and subject
matter experts.
Please note that, in sections A, B, and C below, we have listed
those resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the United States
is likely to submit, currently undecided about submitting, or currently
planning not to submit. We have posted an extended version of this
notice on our website at https://www.fws.gov/international/newspubs/fedregnot.html, with text describing in more detail each of these
issues and explaining the rationale for the tentative U.S. position on
each issue. Copies of the extended version of the notice are also
available from the Division of Management Authority at the above
address.
We welcome your comments and information regarding the resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the United States is likely to submit,
currently undecided about submitting, or currently planning not to
submit.
A. What resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United States
likely to submit for consideration at CoP15?
1. A document that continues to support a strong stance on tiger
conservation and efforts to address illegal trade in tiger and other
Asian big cat parts and derivatives in both range and consumer
countries.
2. A discussion document addressing inconsistent implementation of
Appendix-III timber listings annotated to include only the national
populations of the listing countries, and possibly including a proposal
to amend Resolution Conf. 9.25 (Rev. CoP14), by deleting Recommendation
a) iv), regarding the inclusion of geographically separate populations
of timber species in Appendix III, and adding language to direct the
CITES Secretariat to consult with countries who request such listings
to ensure that the listings will achieve the level of control and
cooperation with other range countries intended.
3. A discussion document addressing difficulties encountered
associated with the reporting of scientific names for CITES-listed
coral specimens, including proposed changes to Resolution Conf. 12.3
(Rev. CoP14) to indicate that taxonomic names of corals on CITES
permits and certificates should comply with the list in CITES
Notification to the Parties No. 2003/020, and a draft decision
directing the Animals Committee to update the list in Notification No.
2003/020.
B. On what resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United
States still undecided, pending additional information and
consultations?
1. A discussion document on how CITES might incorporate impacts of
climate change in future deliberations, or how Parties could
incorporate climate change resilience into their non-detriment
findings.
2. A discussion document on the conservation issues associated with
and management of the snake trade in Asia.
3. A discussion document raising possible problems with the current
guidelines to register and monitor operations that breed Appendix-I
animal species for commercial purposes provided in Resolution Conf.
12.10 (Rev. CoP14), and possibly including a proposal to amend this
resolution.
C. What resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United States
not likely to submit for consideration at CoP15, unless we receive
significant additional information?
1. A resolution that details the need to accurately and adequately
describe on CITES permits and in CITES annual reports both the types of
specimens in trade and the quantities of specimens in trade.
2. A document expressing disappointment in the lack of progress
that has been made to date in the development and implementation of
regional management plans for the African grey parrot (Psittacus
erithacus).
3. A document related to the establishment of ``zero export
quotas'' for those species subject to a Standing Committee
recommendation to suspend trade.
4. A document emphasizing the importance of sound science in the
making of CITES non-detriment findings for the import of specimens
included in Appendix I, and export of specimens of species included in
Appendices I and II.
II. Recommendations for Species Proposals for the United States To
Consider Submitting for CoP15
In our Federal Register notice of September 29, 2008 (73 FR 56605),
we requested information and recommendations on potential species
proposals for the United States to consider submitting for
consideration at CoP15. We received recommendations from the following
organizations for possible proposals involving 46 taxa (5 families, 7
genera, and 34 individual species) and 5 general animal groups
(furbearers, ungulates, freshwater turtles, sharks, and other fish):
the Animal Welfare Institute; Defenders of Wildlife; the Humane Society
of the United States (HSUS); Humane Society International (HSI); the
International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival
Commission (IUCN/SSC) Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group;
the Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society; the Ocean Conservancy;
the Pew Institute for Ocean Conservation Science; Sea Web; SSN;
TRAFFIC; WDCS; and WWF. We have undertaken initial assessments of the
available trade and biological information on all of these taxa. Based
on these assessments, we made provisional determinations of whether to
proceed with the development of proposals to list or delist species, or
transfer them from one Appendix to another. We made these
determinations by considering the quality of biological and trade
information available on the
[[Page 33462]]
species; the presence, absence, and effectiveness of other mechanisms
that may preclude the need for a CITES listing (e.g., range country
actions or other international agreements); and availability of
resources. Furthermore, our assignment of a taxon to one of these
categories, which reflects the likelihood of our submitting a proposal,
included consideration of the following factors, which reflect the U.S.
approach for CoP15 discussed in our September 29, 2008, Federal
Register notice:
(1) Is it a native U.S. species that is or may be significantly
affected by trade, or if it is a currently listed U.S. species, does
the listing accurately reflect the biological and trade status of the
species?
(2) Is it a native U.S. species that is not at this time
significantly impacted by trade within the United States, but is being
significantly impacted elsewhere in its range?
(3) Is it a foreign species, not native to the United States, but
which is or may be significantly affected by trade, and the United
States is a significant component of the trade (i.e., as an importing
country)?
(4) Is it a species for which the United States is neither a range
country nor a country significantly involved in trade, but for which
trade is a serious threat to the continued existence of the species,
other mechanisms are lacking or ineffective for bringing trade under
control, and action is urgently needed?
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. Please note that we have
only provided here a list of taxa and the proposed action. We have
posted an extended version of this notice on our website at https://www.fws.gov/international/newspubs/fedregnot.html, with text describing
in more detail each proposed action and explaining the rationale for
the tentative U.S. position on each possible proposal. Copies of the
extended version of the notice are also available from the Division of
Management Authority at the above address.
We welcome your comments, especially if you are able to provide any
additional biological or trade information on these species. For each
species, more detailed information is on file in the Division of
Scientific Authority.
A. What species proposals is the United States likely to submit for
consideration at CoP15?
The United States is likely to develop and submit proposals for the
following taxa. For some of the species below, particularly those not
native to the United States, additional consultations with range
countries and subject matter experts are proceeding, and final
decisions are pending, based on the outcomes of those consultations and
any additional information received.
Plants
1. Flasked seedlings - Amendment of the annotation for Appendix-I
orchid species to make it consistent with the language in Resolution
Conf. 11.11 (Rev. CoP14) pertaining to flasked seedlings
Corals
2. Red and pink coral (Corallium spp. and Paracorallium spp.) -
Inclusion in Appendix II
Mammals
3. Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Removal from Appendix II
B. On what species proposals is the United States still undecided,
pending additional information and consultations?
The United States is still undecided on whether to submit proposals
for CoP15 for the following taxa. In some cases, we have not completed
our consultations with relevant range countries. In other cases, we
expect meetings to occur in the immediate future at which participants
will generate important recommendations, trade analyses, or biological
information on the taxon in question.
Plants
1. Cedars (Cedrela spp.) - Inclusion in Appendix II
2. Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera) - Removal from Appendix II
Mollusks
3. Nautilids (Allonautilus spp. and Nautilus spp.) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
Fish
4. Tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) - Inclusion in Appendix II
5. Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrhinchus) - Inclusion in Appendix
II
6. Longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus) - Inclusion in Appendix II
7. Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) - Inclusion in Appendix II
8. Freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon) - Transfer from Appendix
II to Appendix I
9. Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.) - Inclusion in Appendix II
10. Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) - Inclusion in Appendix II
11. Requiem sharks (Carcharinidae) - Inclusion in Appendix II
12. Devil and manta rays (Mobulidae) - Inclusion in Appendix II
13. Freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae) - Inclusion in Appendix
II
14. American eel (Anguilla rostrata) - Inclusion in Appendix II
15. Northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) - Inclusion in Appendix
I
Reptiles
16. Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) - Inclusion in
Appendix III (Note: The IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle
Specialist Group recommended that the United States propose inclusion
of the common snapping turtle in Appendix III at CoP15, although
inclusion of a species in Appendix III is a unilateral decision and
does not require a proposal to be brought forward to the CoP)
17. Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) - Inclusion in Appendix II
18. Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
19. Florida soft-shell turtle (Apalone ferox) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
20. Smooth soft-shell turtle (Apalone mutica) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
21. Spiny soft-shell turtle (Apalone spinifera) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
22. Giant leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus giganteus) - Transfer from
Appendix II to Appendix I
Mammals
23. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) - Transfer from Appendix II to
Appendix I
24. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) - Inclusion in Appendix II
25. Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) - Transfer from Appendix II to
Appendix I
C. What species proposals is the United States not likely to submit for
consideration at CoP15, unless we receive significant additional
information?
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. Information currently
available for each of the taxa listed below does not support a
defensible listing proposal. In addition to the taxa listed below,
please note that the Animal Welfare Institute provided us with a
tentative list of taxonomic groups
[[Page 33463]]
of animal species for which it was recommending that the United States
consider amendments to the Appendices. These groups of species included
``native and non-native species including freshwater turtles, sharks,
furbearers, fish, and ungulates.'' We do not have the resources to
evaluate such a broad request in the timeframes necessary for decision
making for CoP15. Therefore, the United States does not intend to
submit any proposals to the CoP as a result of this recommendation.
Fish
1. Gulper sharks (Centrophoridae) - Inclusion in Appendix II
2. Guitarfishes and shovelnose rays (Rhinobatidae) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
3. Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) - Transfer from Appendix II to
Appendix I
Amphibians
4. Blue-sided frog (Agalychnis annae) - Inclusion in Appendix II
5. Morelet's tree frog (Agalychnis moreletii) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
6. Rancho Grande harlequin frog (Atelopus cruciger) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
7. Helmeted water toad (Caudiverbera caudiverbera) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
8. Santa Fe frog (Leptodactylus laticeps) - Inclusion in Appendix
II
9. Giant Asian river frog (Limnonectes blythii) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
10. Fanged river frog (Limnonectes macrodon) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
11. Giant Philippine frog (Limnonectes magnus) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
12. Albanian water frog (Rana shqiperica) - Inclusion in Appendix
II
13. Rain frog (Scaphiophryne boribory) - Inclusion in Appendix II
14. Alto Verapaz salamander (Bolitoglossa dofleini) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
15. Kaiser's spotted newt (Neurergus kaiseri) - Inclusion in
Appendix I or II
16. Kurdistan newt (Neurergus microspilotus) - Inclusion in
Appendix II
Reptiles
17. Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) - Inclusion
in Appendix II
18. Map turtles (Graptemys spp.) - Inclusion in Appendix II
In addition to the taxa listed above, Defenders of Wildlife and SSN
suggested that more research be done on Limnonectes spp. frogs and the
Laos wart newt (Paramesotriton laoensis). We need additional biological
and trade information for both taxa to determine whether they meet the
listing criteria in CITES Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP14).
Request for Information and Comments
We invite any information and comments concerning any of the
possible CoP15 species proposals and proposed resolutions, decisions,
and agenda items discussed above. You must submit your information and
comments to us no later than the date specified in ``DATES'' above, to
ensure that we consider them. Comments and materials received will be
available for public inspection, by appointment, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, at either the Division of Management Authority
or the Division of Scientific Authority. Our practice is to make
comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available
for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents
may request that we withhold their home addresses from the
administrative record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by
law. There also may be circumstances in which we would withhold from
the administrative record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law.
If you wish to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make all comments
and materials submitted by organizations or businesses, and by
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their
entirety.
Observers
Article XI, paragraph 7 of CITES states the following:
``Any body or agency technically qualified in protection,
conservation or management of wild fauna and flora, in the following
categories, which has informed the Secretariat of its desire to be
represented at meetings of the Conference by observers, shall be
admitted unless at least one-third of the Parties present object:
(a) international agencies or bodies, either governmental or non-
governmental, and national governmental agencies and bodies; and
(b) national non-governmental agencies or bodies which have been
approved for this purpose by the State in which they are located.
Once admitted, these observers shall have the right to participate
but not to vote.''
Persons wishing to be observers representing international
nongovernmental organizations (which must have offices in more than one
country) at CoP15 may request approval directly from the CITES
Secretariat. Persons wishing to be observers representing U.S. national
nongovernmental organizations at CoP15 must receive prior approval from
our Division of Management Authority. Once we grant our approval, a
U.S. national nongovernmental organization is eligible to register with
the Secretariat and must do so at least 6 weeks prior to the opening of
CoP15 to participate in CoP15 as an observer. Individuals who are not
affiliated with an organization may not register as observers. An
international nongovernmental organization with at least one office in
the United States may register as a U.S. nongovernmental organization
if it prefers.
A request submitted to us for approval as an observer should
include evidence of technical qualifications in protection,
conservation, or management of wild fauna and/or flora, on the part of
both the organization and the individual representative(s). The request
should also include copies of the organization's charter and/or bylaws,
and a list of representatives it intends to send to CoP15.
Organizations seeking approval for the first time should detail their
experience in the protection, conservation, or management of wild fauna
and/or flora, as well as their purposes for wishing to participate in
CoP15 as an observer. An organization that we have previously approved
as an observer at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties within the
past 5 years must submit a request, but does not need to provide as
much detailed information concerning its qualifications as an
organization seeking approval for the first time. These requests should
be sent to the Division of Management Authority (see ``ADDRESSES,''
above).
Once we approve an organization as an observer, we will send the
organization instructions for registration with the CITES Secretariat
in Switzerland, including a meeting registration form and travel and
hotel information. A list of organizations approved for observer status
at CoP15 will be available upon request from the Division of Management
Authority just prior to the start of CoP15.
Future Actions
We expect the CITES Secretariat to provide us with a provisional
agenda for CoP15 within the next several months. Once we receive the
provisional agenda,
[[Page 33464]]
we will publish it in a Federal Register notice and provide the
Secretariat's website URL. We will also provide the provisional agenda
on our website at https://www.fws.gov/international.
The United States will submit any species proposals, and proposed
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for consideration at CoP15 to
the CITES Secretariat 150 days prior to the start of the meeting (i.e.,
tentatively by mid-October , 2009). We will consider all available
information and comments, including those received in writing during
the comment period, as we decide which species proposals, and proposed
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items warrant submission by the
United States for consideration by the Parties. Approximately 4 months
prior to CoP15, we will post on our website an announcement of the
species proposals, and proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda
items submitted by the United States to the CITES Secretariat for
consideration at CoP15.
Through an additional notice and website posting in advance of
CoP15, we will inform you about preliminary negotiating positions on
resolutions, decisions, and amendments to the Appendices proposed by
other Parties for consideration at CoP15. We will also publish an
announcement of a public meeting tentatively to be held approximately 2
months prior to CoP15, to receive public input on our positions
regarding items submitted by other Parties.
Author
The primary authors of this notice are Mark Albert, Division of
Management Authority; and Pamela Hall, Division of Scientific
Authority; under the authority of the U.S. Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: June 29, 2009
Marvin Moriarty
Acting Deputy Director
[FR Doc. E9-16410 Filed 7-10- 09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-S
