Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Seventeenth Regular Meeting: Proposed Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items Being Considered; Observer Information, 75873-75878 [2015-30593]
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[FR Doc. 2015–29952 Filed 12–3–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2014–0018;
96300–1671–0000–R4]
Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES); Seventeenth
Regular Meeting: Proposed
Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda
Items Being Considered; Observer
Information
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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75873
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 seventeenth regular meeting
of the Conference of the Parties to CITES
(CoP17) is scheduled to be held in
Johannesburg, South Africa, September
24 to October 5, 2016. With this notice,
we describe proposed resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the
United States is considering submitting
for consideration at CoP17; invite your
comments and information on these
proposals; and provide information on
how non-governmental organizations
based in the United States can attend
CoP17 as observers.
DATES: We will consider all information
and comments you submit concerning
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items that the United States is
considering submitting for
consideration at CoP17, if we receive
them on or before February 2, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
pertaining to proposed resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items for
discussion at CoP17 by one of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
on Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2014–0018
(the docket number for this notice).
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–HQ–
IA–2014–0018; Division of Policy,
Performance, and Management
Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS BPHC;
Falls Church, VA 22041.
We will not consider comments sent
by email or fax, or to an address not
listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments and materials we receive in
response to this notice will be posted for
public inspection on https://
www.regulations.gov, or by
appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays, at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of
Management Authority, 5275 Leesburg
Pike, 2nd Floor, Falls Church, VA
22041; telephone 703–358–2095.
Requests for approval to attend CoP17
as an observer should be sent to the
Division of Management Authority, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275
Leesburg Pike, MS: IA, Falls Church, VA
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 233 / Friday, December 4, 2015 / Notices
22041; or via email at:
managementauthority@fws.gov; or via
fax at: 703–358–2298.
For the latest news and information
regarding U.S. preparations for CoP17,
please visit our Web site at https://
www.fws.gov/international/CITES/
CoP17/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information pertaining to resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items, contact:
Craig Hoover, Chief, Division of
Management Authority, at 703–358–
2162 (phone); 703–358–2298 (fax);
managementauthority@fws.gov (email).
For information pertaining to species
proposals contact: Rosemarie Gnam,
Chief, Division of Scientific Authority,
at 703–358–1708 (phone); 703–358–
2276 (fax); or scientificauthority@
fws.gov (email). If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD), call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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 regulate
international trade in certain animal and
plant species that are now, or
potentially may become, threatened
with extinction. These species are listed
in Appendices to CITES, which are
available on the CITES Secretariat’s Web
site at https://www.cites.org/eng/app/
appendices.php. Currently, 180
countries, including the United States,
and one regional economic integration
organization, the European Union, are
Parties to CITES. The Convention calls
for regular biennial meetings of the
Conference of the Parties, unless the
Conference of the Parties decides
otherwise. At these meetings, the Parties
review the implementation of CITES,
make provisions enabling the CITES
Secretariat to carry out its functions,
consider amendments to the lists of
species in Appendices I and II, consider
reports presented by the Secretariat, and
make recommendations for the
improved effectiveness of CITES. Any
Party to CITES may propose
amendments to Appendices I and II,
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
for consideration by all the Parties at the
meetings.
This is our fourth 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 to, and negotiating
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positions for, the seventeenth regular
meeting of the Conference of the Parties
to CITES (CoP17). We published our
first CoP17-related Federal Register
notice on June 27, 2014 (79 FR 36550),
in which we requested information and
recommendations on species proposals
for the United States to consider
submitting for consideration at CoP17.
In that notice, we also described the
U.S. approach to preparations for
CoP17. We published our second such
Federal Register notice on May 11, 2015
(80 FR 26948), in which we requested
information and recommendations on
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items for the United States to
consider submitting for consideration at
CoP17, and provided preliminary
information on how to request approved
observer status for non-governmental
organizations that wish to attend the
meeting. In our third CoP17-related
Federal Register notice, published on
August 26, 2015 (80 FR 51830), we
requested public comments and
information on species proposals that
the United States is considering
submitting for consideration at CoP17.
You may obtain additional information
on those Federal Register notices from
the following sources: For information
on proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items, contact the Division of
Management Authority at the address
provided above in the ADDRESSES
section; and for information on species
proposals, contact the Division of
Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike,
MS: IA, Falls Church, VA 22041. Our
regulations governing this public
process are found in title 50 of the Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) at § 23.87.
Recommendations for Resolutions,
Decisions, and Agenda Items for the
United States To Consider Submitting
for CoP17
In our Federal Register notice
published on May 11, 2015 (80 FR
26948), we requested information and
recommendations on potential
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
for the United States to submit for
consideration at CoP17. We received
information and recommendations from
the following organizations: American
Federation of Violin and Bow Makers;
American Society of Mammalogists;
Animal Welfare Institute; Campaign
Against Canned Hunting; Center for
International Environmental Law;
Chamber Music America;
Environmental Investigation Agency;
Free Morgan Foundation; Friends of
Animals; Global March for Elephants
and Rhinos; International
Environmental Law Project; League of
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American Orchestras; Maniago Safaris
Ltd.; National Association of Music
Merchants; Ornithological Council;
Society for the Preservation of Natural
History Collections; Species Survival
Network; Sustainable Fisheries
Association, Inc.; Wildlife Conservation
Society; and World Wildlife Fund. We
also received comments from one
individual. In addition, we received
comments from Global March for
Elephants and Rhinos and Sustainable
Fisheries Association, Inc. related to
proposals to amend the CITES
Appendices. Both of these comments
were outside the scope of this Federal
Register notice.
We considered all of the
recommendations of the above
individuals and organizations, as well
as the factors described in the U.S.
approach for CoP17 discussed in our
June 27, 2014, 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 CoP17.
We also compiled lists of resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items for
consideration at CoP17 that the United
States either is currently undecided
about submitting, is not considering
submitting at this time, or plans to
address in other ways. In compiling
these lists, we also considered potential
submissions that we identified
internally. 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 Standing
Committee, additional consultations
with range country governments and
subject matter experts, or comments we
receive during the public comment
period for this notice.
Please note that, under 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 a supplementary document
on our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/
international/CITES/CoP17/
and at https://www.regulations.gov, 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 supplementary
document are also available from the
Division of Management Authority at
the address in the ADDRESSES section.
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.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
A. What resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items is the United States likely
to submit for consideration at CoP17?
Wildlife trafficking: Proposal for a
document highlighting U.S. progress
and leadership on efforts to combat
wildlife trafficking.
B. On what resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items is the United States still
undecided, pending additional
information and consultations?
1. Trade in live elephants: Proposal
for a decision at CoP17 to review trade
in live elephants to ensure that such
trade is legal and conducted in
compliance with CITES.
2. Trade in elephant ivory: Domestic
ivory markets: Recommendation for the
United States to work with key elephant
range States and like-minded CITES
Party countries to advocate, support,
and propose a resolution to ban
domestic elephant ivory trade, and
support other countries’ independent
efforts to ban domestic elephant ivory
trade; recommendation for submission
of a working document encouraging the
closure of legal domestic elephant ivory
markets; recommendation for an
amendment to Resolution Conf. 10.10
(Rev. CoP16) or a new resolution
recommending that Parties close their
domestic elephant ivory markets; and
three recommendations that the United
States advocate for a complete ban on
global elephant ivory trade.
3. Trade in live rhinoceroses:
Recommendation that live rhinoceros
not be shipped outside of range
countries.
4. Trade in rhinoceros horn: Synthetic
products: Recommendation to submit a
discussion document outlining the
potential problems raised by the
introduction of synthetic wildlife
products, such as synthetic rhino horn,
and examining ways that CITES might
address these problems.
5. Trade in pangolins: Proposal for a
resolution urging Parties to adopt and
implement legislation and enforcement
controls, including increased
cooperation with other Parties, to
reduce illegal trade in pangolins and to
encourage the Secretariat and other
appropriate bodies to assist those Parties
lacking legislation.
6. Trade in sport-hunted trophies:
Proposal for: A draft decision directing
Parties that undertake voluntary wildlife
trade policy reviews examine the
probable impacts of lawful sport
hunting on the survivability of the
hunted species in the wild and provide
the Secretariat with the results so that
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these may be shared with the Parties; a
draft decision directing the Animals
Committee to form a working group to
examine the probable impacts of lawful
sport hunting on the survivability of the
hunted species in the wild and submit
its findings to the Secretariat; and a
draft decision directing the Secretariat
to compile information received on this
issue on its Web site, assist interested
Parties in examining the probable
impacts of lawful sport hunting on the
survivability of the hunted species in
the wild, organize a conference to
examine the findings of the Animals
Committee on the probable impacts of
lawful sport hunting on the
survivability of the hunted species in
the wild, and report at SC69 and CoP18.
7. Marine species: Interpretation of
CITES Article XIV, paragraphs 4 and 5:
Proposal for a draft resolution to clarify
the ambiguities that exist in Article XIV,
paragraphs 4 and 5, with respect to
implementation of the treaty for marine
species.
8. Marine species: CITES National
Legislation Project: Recommendation for
a request to the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) to engage with the
CITES National Legislation Project as it
pertains to marine species.
9. Marine species: Sharks and rays:
Proposal for submission of an agenda
item to ensure that the outcomes of the
working groups on sharks and rays and
the deliberations of the Animals
Committee and Standing Committee on
sharks and rays are discussed and to
ensure a discussion on capacitybuilding needs in the issuance of nondetriment findings for CITES-listed
sharks and rays.
10. Marine species: Fish maw trade:
Proposal for a decision at CoP17 to
further explore the fish maw (swim
bladder) trade to identify critical
intervention points to ensure that this
trade, which threatens two endangered
species, can be stopped.
11. Wildlife trafficking: Proposal to
submit an agenda item on the issue of
wildlife trafficking and the transport
industry to facilitate reporting to the
CoP on U.S. and other initiatives.
12. Traveling with musical
instruments: Recommendation that the
United States: Support establishing
more efficient and uniform procedures
for issuing documents for international
transport of musical instruments and
inspecting and clearing such
documents; and work with officials in
other countries to ensure that concepts
such as the musical instrument
certificate and personal effects
exemption for musical instruments
containing CITES-listed species are
adopted by all CITES Parties.
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13. National CITES legislation:
Proposal for an amendment to
Resolution Conf. 8.4 (Rev. CoP15), on
National laws for implementation of the
Convention, to provide clear guidelines
as to the criteria for inclusion in
Categories 1, 2, and 3 under the CITES
National Legislation Project; proposal to
ensure that Decisions 16.33–16.38, on
National laws for implementation of the
Convention, are updated to account for
changing dates and reference to CoP17;
proposal for an overhaul of the CITES
National Legislation Project to ensure
that Parties have adequate CITES
legislation and regulatory systems in
place; and proposal for a decision to
encourage the flow of dedicated funds
to the Secretariat to carry out its work
relative to the Project.
14. CoP Rules of Procedure: Secret
ballots: Proposal to amend Rule 25
(Methods of Voting) of the Rules of
Procedure of the Conference of the
Parties (CoP) to eliminate voting by
secret ballots except with respect to the
election of officers.
15. CoP Rules of Procedure:
Credentials and voting procedures for
regional economic integration
organizations: Proposal to amend the
Rules of Procedure of the CoP so that
they address two issues with respect to
the participation of regional economic
integration organizations at CoPs:
Credentials and voting.
16. Annual reporting on seized
specimens: Recommendation that the
United States support mandatory annual
reporting on illegal CITES trade, with
the penalty for failure to report such
trade similar to the penalty for failure to
submit annual report.
17. Validated reference material: The
United States is considering preparing
discussion documents on the
importance of providing validated
reference material of newly listed
species, especially timber species, so
that appropriate labs and inspections
authorities can develop forensic
identification techniques.
18. Trade in timber species utilized
for hongmu: Recommendation that the
United States prepare a discussion
document on the legal and illegal trade
in timber for the production of
traditional Chinese furniture and the
potential to address this issue in CITES.
19. Nationally established AppendixII export quotas: Recommendation that
the United States consider submitting a
document to CoP17 to examine the
current implementation, enforcement,
and benefits of the implementation of
Resolution Conf. 14.7 (Rev. CoP15),
management of nationally established
export quotas.
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20. CITES specimens accompanied by
court-ordered CITES documents:
Proposing a revision to CITES
Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP16)
recommending that: Exporting Parties
not export specimens of CITES-listed
species without evidence of legal origin
of specimens of the species and without
evidence of a non-detriment finding;
and importing Parties reject shipments
of specimens of CITES species
accompanied by export permits issued
under court order without the required
CITES findings.
21. Administrative hosting
arrangements: The United States is
currently chairing a working group of
the Standing Committee that is
reviewing the administrative hosting
arrangements between the United
Nations Environment Programme and
the CITES Secretariat and is considering
submitting a document to CoP17 on this
subject.
22. Youth participation: The United
States is considering submitting a draft
resolution exploring the opportunities
and emphasizing the importance of
youth participation in CITES fora.
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C. What resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items is the United States not
likely to submit for consideration at
CoP17, unless we receive significant
additional information?
1. Trade in elephant specimens:
Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP16):
Proposal for: A comprehensive review
of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP16),
on Trade in elephant specimens; a
resolution or decision requiring Parties
to report on their progress in
implementing Resolution Conf. 10.10
(Rev. CoP16); and an amendment to
Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP16) or
a new resolution recommending that
Parties close their domestic elephant
ivory markets.
2. Trade in elephant ivory: Decisionmaking mechanism: Recommendation
that: The United States call for greater
transparency and wider consultation on
development of a decision-making
mechanism (DMM) for authorizing ivory
trade and request that the background
study, the terms of reference for the
study, and related documents be made
available on the CITES Web site for
public comment before being finalized
at SC66; the United States, as a member
of the DMM Working Group, call for a
suspension of the discussion on the
DMM and oppose any proposals for
international trade in elephant ivory or
downlisting of elephant populations;
and the United States advocate that
Decision 16.55, concerning a decisionmaking mechanism for a process of
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trade in elephant ivory, not be renewed
at CoP17.
3. Trade in elephant ivory: National
Ivory Action Plans: Recommendation
that the United States call for the
publication on the CITES Web site of
the National Ivory Action Plans of the
primary concern countries, and the
implementation reports by the primary
concern countries, secondary concern
countries, and the importance to watch
countries, along with the feedback by
the Secretariat on the content and
implementation of the Plans;
recommendation that the United States
call for revision of the National Ivory
Action Plans where appropriate to
include meaningful milestones with
timeframes for implementation, and
evidence to measure the impact through
specific indicators; recommendation
that the United States call for trade
suspensions for Tanzania until they can
demonstrate progress in effectively
addressing illegal trade in ivory;
recommendation that the United States
call for adoption of a moratorium on
domestic ivory trade in China, Hong
Kong, Thailand, and Japan, where
domestic ivory markets are perpetuating
illegal trade in ivory or licensed trade in
ivory has facilitated illegal trade and has
been used as a laundering mechanism
for the trade in illegal ivory;
recommendation that the United States
call for destruction of ivory stockpiles
following independent inventory and
audit and DNA analysis for
investigations; recommendation that the
United States urge China, Thailand, and
Viet Nam to detect, investigate, and
apprehend the criminal networks using
Laos as a hub for trafficking ivory and
other wildlife; and recommendation that
the United States call for Japan to be
moved higher up on the National Ivory
Action Plans list to ‘‘primary concern’’
and for Japan to adopt a National Ivory
Action Plan, including a commitment to
implement a domestic ivory trade ban.
4. Trade in elephant ivory: Stockpiles:
Proposal for the United States to submit
a document outlining the rationale for
destruction of elephant ivory stockpiles,
summarizing progress on the issue since
CoP16, and encouraging all Parties to
destroy their stockpiles.
5. Trade in rhinoceros horn:
Recommendation urging the United
States to oppose any proposals to
legalize trade in rhinoceros horn, both
domestically and internationally; and a
recommendation to ensure that Parties
are held accountable to the reporting
requirements adopted at CoP17 with
regard to actions to combat the illegal
killing of and trade in rhinoceros horn.
6. Trade in cheetahs: Proposal for a
document ensuring that the issue of
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illegal trade in cheetahs is on the agenda
for CoP17.
7. Trade in African lions: Lion
farming and trade in lion trophies:
Recommendation that the United States
submit a document proposing to end the
practice of lion farming in South Africa
and a document on the issue of lion
farming for trade in their body parts;
and a document proposing an end to the
export and import of lion trophies.
8. Trade in African lions: Protections:
Recommendation that the United States
support any proposals for improving
protection of African lions, including
their up-listing.
9. Trade in Asian big cats:
Recommendation that the United States:
Ensure that the issue of Asia big cats is
on the agenda for CoP17, primarily to
call for a number of actions in advance
of the CoP related to the illegal killing
and trade in tigers and other Asian big
cats; and consider calling for
compliance measures to be enacted
against Parties that fail to fulfill the
called-for measures.
10. Trade in bears: Recommendation
that the United States support proposals
for improving protection for bears,
including adopting measures to tackle
the escalating trade in bear specimens.
11. Great apes: Recommendation that
the United States ensure that the issue
of great apes is on the agenda for CoP17.
12. Saiga antelope: Recommendation
the United States ensure the issue of
saiga antelope is on the agenda.
13. Trade in sport-hunted trophies:
Proposal for the United States to ban the
import of trophies of CITES-listed
species.
14. Trade in hornbills and
sandalwood: Recommendation that the
United States urge source, transit, and
consumer countries to demonstrate
greater investment in proactive
intelligence-led initiatives to target
criminal networks and implement
demand reduction strategies for red
sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus)
and helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil).
15. Trade in freshwater turtles and
tortoises: Recommendation that the
United States ensure that the issue of
trade in tortoises and freshwater turtles
is on the agenda of CoP17.
16. Marine species: Harmonized Tariff
System (HTS) codes: Proposal for a draft
resolution recommending that the
Parties adopt a list of new 6-digit, 8digit, and 10-digit HTS codes related to
shark and cetacean species and
commodities; and that the Parties adopt
a CITES description code for ‘blubber’’
to use on CITES permits and in annual
reports.
17. Marine species: Breeding
cetaceans: Recommendation that the
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United States support establishing a
clear policy regarding the breeding of
rescued, wild cetaceans with their
captive-bred counterparts.
18. Trade in rosewood and ebony:
Recommendation that the United States
support: Madagascar in its efforts to
combat illegal harvest of and trade in
rosewood (Dalbergia spp.) and ebony
(Diospyros spp.); any proposal to
improve the protection of Dalbergia
cochinchinensis, Dalbergia oliveri, and
Pterocarpus macrocarpus through
proposals that may arise from regional
discussions; and any proposal to
strengthen existing CITES controls for
Dalbergia cochinchinensis.
19. Wildlife trafficking: Proposal that
the United States encourage a report
from the United Kingdom on the
London Conference on the Illegal
Wildlife Trade, and from Botswana on
the Kasane Conference on the Illegal
Trade.
20. Traveling with musical
instruments: Personal effects exemption:
Recommendation that the United States
support a personal effects exemption for
musical instruments containing CITESlisted species and the implementation of
an exemption for musical instruments
containing CITES-listed species
transported by cargo under a carnet.
21. Traveling with musical
instruments: Commercial travel and de
minimis exemption: Recommendation
that the United States support extending
the use of the musical instrument
certificate to commercial travel and
advocate for the adoption of a general de
minimis exemption from CITES
requirements for instruments containing
small amounts of CITES-listed species.
22. CITES and livelihoods:
Recommendation that the United States
ensure that the issue of CITES and
livelihoods is on the agenda for CoP17.
23. Enforcement matters:
Establishment of a CITES Enforcement
Working Group: Recommendation that
the United States call for a CITES
Enforcement Expert Working Group to
be convened on a regular basis.
24. Enforcement matters: Adoption of
indicators: Recommendation that the
United States support the adoption of
indicators of effective enforcement and
call for Parties to fully implement such
indicators.
25. Enforcement matters: tackling
illegal trade through social media
channels: Recommendation that the
United States call for measures to be
adopted for Parties to tackle illegal trade
in CITES species through social media
channels.
26. Enforcement matters: Amendment
to Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP16),
on Compliance and enforcement:
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Recommendation that the United States:
Propose amendments to Resolution
Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP16) to establish an
enforcement working group to explore
greater CITES emphasis on enforcement
efforts; and recommend that Parties
prohibit trade in animals and plants
illegally taken, possessed, transported,
or sold, similar to the U.S. Lacey Act.
27. CITES trade data reporting:
Proposal for a resolution that describes
in detail the need to accurately describe
in CITES annual reports both the type
of specimen being traded and the
quantity of specimens, and that
recommends that Parties issue permits
and report trade using two units of
measurement.
28. Purpose of Transaction codes on
CITES permits: Proposal that the United
States call for the consistent use of
CITES Purpose of Transaction codes so
that the same code is used on both
import and export CITES documents.
29. Legal owner information on CITES
permits: Proposal that the United States
call for the disclosure of the legal owner
of a specimen on the face of a CITES
document.
30. Guidelines for making legal
acquisition findings: Recommendation
that the United States submit a
document regarding the establishment
of clear guidelines for Parties to use in
making their CITES legal acquisition
findings.
31. CITES document validation for
scientific research: Recommendation
that the United States propose to revise,
suspend, or revoke the CITES document
validation requirement for the
movement of CITES-listed species for
scientific research.
32. Primarily commercial purposes:
Recommendation that the United States
call for establishing clear criteria and
guidelines to differentiate between
‘‘primarily commercial’’ purposes and
‘‘bona fide scientific research’’ purposes
when making permit decisions.
33. Bred in captivity:
Recommendation that the United States
propose revisions to Resolutions Conf.
5.10 (Rev. CoP15), Conf. 10.16 (Rev.),
and Conf. 12.10 (Rev. CoP15) to clarify
the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5 of
CITES Article VII for specimens bred in
captivity.
34. Laundering of wild-caught
specimens: Recommendation that the
United States submit the issue of
laundering of wild-caught animals as
captive-bred as a separate agenda item
at CoP17.
35. Interval between CoPs: Proposal
for an agenda item clarifying that CoPs
should be 2 years apart, and that CoP18
should be held no later than October
2018.
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36. Unlisted species:
Recommendation that the United States
propose a process to facilitate the
identification of unlisted species that
may benefit from listing in the CITES
Appendices.
Request for Information and Comments
We invite information and comments
concerning any of the proposed CoP17
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 posted for public inspection on
https://www.regulations.gov, and will be
available by appointment, from 8 a.m. to
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the
Division of Management Authority. Our
practice is to post all comments,
including names and addresses of
respondents, and to make comments,
including names and home addresses of
respondents, available for public review
during regular business hours.
There may be circumstances in which
we would withhold from public review
a respondent’s name and/or address, as
allowable by law. If you wish for us to
withhold your name and/or address,
you must state this prominently at the
beginning of your comment, but we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so. 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 CoP17 may request approval
directly from the CITES Secretariat.
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Persons wishing to be observers
representing U.S. national nongovernmental organizations at CoP17
must receive prior approval from our
Division of Management Authority.
Once we grant our approval, a U.S.
national non-governmental organization
is eligible to register with the Secretariat
and must do so at least 6 weeks prior
to the opening of CoP17 to participate
in CoP17 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. non-governmental
organization if it prefers.
Any organization that submits a
request to us for approval as an observer
should include evidence of their
technical qualifications in protection,
conservation, or management of wild
fauna or flora, for both the organization
and the individual representative(s).
The request should include copies of
the organization’s charter and any
bylaws, and a list of representatives it
intends to send to CoP17. Organizations
seeking approval for the first time
should detail their experience in the
protection, conservation, or
management of wild fauna or flora, as
well as their purposes for wishing to
participate in CoP17 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 at the address
provided in ADDRESSES above, or via
email at: managementauthority@
fws.gov; or via fax at: 703–358–2298.
Once we approve an organization as
an observer, we will inform them of the
appropriate page on the CITES Web site
where they may obtain instructions for
registration with the CITES Secretariat,
including a meeting registration form
and travel and hotel information. A list
of organizations approved for observer
status at CoP17 will be available upon
request from the Division of
Management Authority just prior to the
start of CoP17.
provisional agenda on our Web site at
https://www.fws.gov/international/
CITES/CoP17/.
The United States will submit any
proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items, as well as any species
proposals, for consideration at CoP17 to
the CITES Secretariat 150 days prior to
the start of the meeting (i.e., by April 27,
2016). We will consider all available
information and comments we receive
during the comment period for this
notice as we decide which proposed
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
warrant submission by the United States
for consideration by the Parties. With
respect to our notice published on
August 26, 2015 (80 FR 51830), we are
considering all available information
and comments we received during the
comment period for that notice as we
decide which species proposals warrant
submission by the United States for
consideration by the Parties.
Approximately 4 months prior to
CoP17, we will post on our Web site 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 CoP17.
Through an additional notice and
Web site posting in advance of CoP17,
we will inform you about preliminary
negotiating positions on resolutions,
decisions, agenda items, and
amendments to the Appendices
proposed by other Parties for
consideration at CoP17. We will also
publish an announcement of a public
meeting tentatively to be held
approximately 2 to 3 months prior to
CoP17, to receive public input on our
positions regarding issues on the agenda
for CoP17. The procedures for
developing U.S. documents and
negotiating positions for a meeting of
the Conference of the Parties to CITES
are outlined at 50 CFR 23.87. As noted
at 50 CFR 23.87(c), 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 meeting of the
Conference of the Parties and of U.S.
negotiating positions.
Author: The primary author of this
notice is Mark Bellis, Division of
Management Authority.
Future Actions
We expect the CITES Secretariat to
provide us with a provisional agenda for
CoP17 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 Web
site address. We will also provide the
Authority: The authority for this action is
the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[(LLMT926000–L1440000.BJ0000);
16XL1109AF; MO#4500087899]
Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey;
Montana
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of filing of plats of
survey.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) will file the plat of
survey of the lands described below in
the BLM Montana State Office, Billings,
Montana, on January 4, 2016.
DATES: Protests of the survey must be
filed before January 4, 2016 to be
considered.
SUMMARY:
Protests of the survey
should be sent to the Branch of
Cadastral Survey, Bureau of Land
Management, 5001 Southgate Drive,
Billings, Montana 59101–4669.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marvin Montoya, Cadastral Surveyor,
Branch of Cadastral Survey, Bureau of
Land Management, 5001 Southgate
Drive, Billings, Montana 59101–4669,
telephone (406) 896–5124 or (406) 896–
5003, HMontoya@blm.gov. Persons who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business
hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message
or question with the above individual.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These
surveys were executed at the request of
the Regional Land Surveyor, Region 6,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
were necessary to determine boundaries
of Federal lands.
The lands we surveyed are:
ADDRESSES:
Principal Meridian, Montana
T. 22 N., R. 43 E.
The plat, in 1 sheet, representing the
dependent resurvey of a portion of the
subdivisional lines, Township 22 North,
Range 43 East, of the Principal
Meridian, Montana, was accepted
September 25, 2015.
Principal Meridian, Montana
T. 23 N., R. 43 E.
The plat, in 3 sheets, representing the
dependent resurvey of a portion of the
south and east boundaries and a portion
of the subdivisional lines and the
subdivision of certain sections and the
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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 233 (Friday, December 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75873-75878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30593]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2014-0018; 96300-1671-0000-R4]
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES);
Seventeenth Regular Meeting: Proposed Resolutions, Decisions, and
Agenda Items Being Considered; 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 seventeenth regular meeting of the Conference of the
Parties to CITES (CoP17) is scheduled to be held in Johannesburg, South
Africa, September 24 to October 5, 2016. With this notice, we describe
proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the United
States is considering submitting for consideration at CoP17; invite
your comments and information on these proposals; and provide
information on how non-governmental organizations based in the United
States can attend CoP17 as observers.
DATES: We will consider all information and comments you submit
concerning proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the
United States is considering submitting for consideration at CoP17, if
we receive them on or before February 2, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments pertaining to proposed resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items for discussion at CoP17 by one of the
following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-
IA-2014-0018 (the docket number for this notice).
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: FWS-HQ-IA-2014-0018; Division of Policy, Performance, and
Management Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 5275 Leesburg
Pike, MS BPHC; Falls Church, VA 22041.
We will not consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an
address not listed in the ADDRESSES section. Comments and materials we
receive in response to this notice will be posted for public inspection
on https://www.regulations.gov, or by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, at the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 5275 Leesburg
Pike, 2nd Floor, Falls Church, VA 22041; telephone 703-358-2095.
Requests for approval to attend CoP17 as an observer should be sent
to the Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: IA, Falls Church, VA
[[Page 75874]]
22041; or via email at: managementauthority@fws.gov; or via fax at:
703-358-2298.
For the latest news and information regarding U.S. preparations for
CoP17, please visit our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/international/CITES/CoP17/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information pertaining to
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items, contact: Craig Hoover, Chief,
Division of Management Authority, at 703-358-2162 (phone); 703-358-2298
(fax); managementauthority@fws.gov (email). For information pertaining
to species proposals contact: Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of
Scientific Authority, at 703-358-1708 (phone); 703-358-2276 (fax); or
scientificauthority@fws.gov (email). If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 800-877-8339.
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 regulate international trade in
certain animal and plant species that are now, or potentially may
become, threatened with extinction. These species are listed in
Appendices to CITES, which are available on the CITES Secretariat's Web
site at https://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php. Currently, 180
countries, including the United States, and one regional economic
integration organization, the European Union, are Parties to CITES. The
Convention calls for regular biennial meetings of the Conference of the
Parties, unless the Conference of the Parties decides otherwise. At
these meetings, the Parties review the implementation of CITES, make
provisions enabling the CITES Secretariat to carry out its functions,
consider amendments to the lists of species in Appendices I and II,
consider reports presented by the Secretariat, and make recommendations
for the improved effectiveness of CITES. Any Party to CITES may propose
amendments to Appendices I and II, resolutions, decisions, and agenda
items for consideration by all the Parties at the meetings.
This is our fourth 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 to, and negotiating positions for,
the seventeenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to
CITES (CoP17). We published our first CoP17-related Federal Register
notice on June 27, 2014 (79 FR 36550), in which we requested
information and recommendations on species proposals for the United
States to consider submitting for consideration at CoP17. In that
notice, we also described the U.S. approach to preparations for CoP17.
We published our second such Federal Register notice on May 11, 2015
(80 FR 26948), in which we requested information and recommendations on
proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the United States
to consider submitting for consideration at CoP17, and provided
preliminary information on how to request approved observer status for
non-governmental organizations that wish to attend the meeting. In our
third CoP17-related Federal Register notice, published on August 26,
2015 (80 FR 51830), we requested public comments and information on
species proposals that the United States is considering submitting for
consideration at CoP17. You may obtain additional information on those
Federal Register notices from the following sources: For information on
proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items, contact the Division
of Management Authority at the address provided above in the ADDRESSES
section; and for information on species proposals, contact the Division
of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg
Pike, MS: IA, Falls Church, VA 22041. Our regulations governing this
public process are found in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) at Sec. 23.87.
Recommendations for Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items for the
United States To Consider Submitting for CoP17
In our Federal Register notice published on May 11, 2015 (80 FR
26948), we requested information and recommendations on potential
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the United States to
submit for consideration at CoP17. We received information and
recommendations from the following organizations: American Federation
of Violin and Bow Makers; American Society of Mammalogists; Animal
Welfare Institute; Campaign Against Canned Hunting; Center for
International Environmental Law; Chamber Music America; Environmental
Investigation Agency; Free Morgan Foundation; Friends of Animals;
Global March for Elephants and Rhinos; International Environmental Law
Project; League of American Orchestras; Maniago Safaris Ltd.; National
Association of Music Merchants; Ornithological Council; Society for the
Preservation of Natural History Collections; Species Survival Network;
Sustainable Fisheries Association, Inc.; Wildlife Conservation Society;
and World Wildlife Fund. We also received comments from one individual.
In addition, we received comments from Global March for Elephants and
Rhinos and Sustainable Fisheries Association, Inc. related to proposals
to amend the CITES Appendices. Both of these comments were outside the
scope of this Federal Register notice.
We considered all of the recommendations of the above individuals
and organizations, as well as the factors described in the U.S.
approach for CoP17 discussed in our June 27, 2014, 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 CoP17. We also compiled lists of resolutions, decisions,
and agenda items for consideration at CoP17 that the United States
either is currently undecided about submitting, is not considering
submitting at this time, or plans to address in other ways. In
compiling these lists, we also considered potential submissions that we
identified internally. 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 Standing Committee, additional
consultations with range country governments and subject matter
experts, or comments we receive during the public comment period for
this notice.
Please note that, under 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 a supplementary document on our
Web site at https://www.fws.gov/international/CITES/CoP17/ and
at https://www.regulations.gov, 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 supplementary document are also
available from the Division of Management Authority at the address in
the ADDRESSES section.
We welcome your comments and information regarding the resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the United States is likely to submit,
[[Page 75875]]
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 CoP17?
Wildlife trafficking: Proposal for a document highlighting U.S.
progress and leadership on efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.
B. On what resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United
States still undecided, pending additional information and
consultations?
1. Trade in live elephants: Proposal for a decision at CoP17 to
review trade in live elephants to ensure that such trade is legal and
conducted in compliance with CITES.
2. Trade in elephant ivory: Domestic ivory markets: Recommendation
for the United States to work with key elephant range States and like-
minded CITES Party countries to advocate, support, and propose a
resolution to ban domestic elephant ivory trade, and support other
countries' independent efforts to ban domestic elephant ivory trade;
recommendation for submission of a working document encouraging the
closure of legal domestic elephant ivory markets; recommendation for an
amendment to Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP16) or a new resolution
recommending that Parties close their domestic elephant ivory markets;
and three recommendations that the United States advocate for a
complete ban on global elephant ivory trade.
3. Trade in live rhinoceroses: Recommendation that live rhinoceros
not be shipped outside of range countries.
4. Trade in rhinoceros horn: Synthetic products: Recommendation to
submit a discussion document outlining the potential problems raised by
the introduction of synthetic wildlife products, such as synthetic
rhino horn, and examining ways that CITES might address these problems.
5. Trade in pangolins: Proposal for a resolution urging Parties to
adopt and implement legislation and enforcement controls, including
increased cooperation with other Parties, to reduce illegal trade in
pangolins and to encourage the Secretariat and other appropriate bodies
to assist those Parties lacking legislation.
6. Trade in sport-hunted trophies: Proposal for: A draft decision
directing Parties that undertake voluntary wildlife trade policy
reviews examine the probable impacts of lawful sport hunting on the
survivability of the hunted species in the wild and provide the
Secretariat with the results so that these may be shared with the
Parties; a draft decision directing the Animals Committee to form a
working group to examine the probable impacts of lawful sport hunting
on the survivability of the hunted species in the wild and submit its
findings to the Secretariat; and a draft decision directing the
Secretariat to compile information received on this issue on its Web
site, assist interested Parties in examining the probable impacts of
lawful sport hunting on the survivability of the hunted species in the
wild, organize a conference to examine the findings of the Animals
Committee on the probable impacts of lawful sport hunting on the
survivability of the hunted species in the wild, and report at SC69 and
CoP18.
7. Marine species: Interpretation of CITES Article XIV, paragraphs
4 and 5: Proposal for a draft resolution to clarify the ambiguities
that exist in Article XIV, paragraphs 4 and 5, with respect to
implementation of the treaty for marine species.
8. Marine species: CITES National Legislation Project:
Recommendation for a request to the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) to engage with the CITES National Legislation Project as it
pertains to marine species.
9. Marine species: Sharks and rays: Proposal for submission of an
agenda item to ensure that the outcomes of the working groups on sharks
and rays and the deliberations of the Animals Committee and Standing
Committee on sharks and rays are discussed and to ensure a discussion
on capacity-building needs in the issuance of non-detriment findings
for CITES-listed sharks and rays.
10. Marine species: Fish maw trade: Proposal for a decision at
CoP17 to further explore the fish maw (swim bladder) trade to identify
critical intervention points to ensure that this trade, which threatens
two endangered species, can be stopped.
11. Wildlife trafficking: Proposal to submit an agenda item on the
issue of wildlife trafficking and the transport industry to facilitate
reporting to the CoP on U.S. and other initiatives.
12. Traveling with musical instruments: Recommendation that the
United States: Support establishing more efficient and uniform
procedures for issuing documents for international transport of musical
instruments and inspecting and clearing such documents; and work with
officials in other countries to ensure that concepts such as the
musical instrument certificate and personal effects exemption for
musical instruments containing CITES-listed species are adopted by all
CITES Parties.
13. National CITES legislation: Proposal for an amendment to
Resolution Conf. 8.4 (Rev. CoP15), on National laws for implementation
of the Convention, to provide clear guidelines as to the criteria for
inclusion in Categories 1, 2, and 3 under the CITES National
Legislation Project; proposal to ensure that Decisions 16.33-16.38, on
National laws for implementation of the Convention, are updated to
account for changing dates and reference to CoP17; proposal for an
overhaul of the CITES National Legislation Project to ensure that
Parties have adequate CITES legislation and regulatory systems in
place; and proposal for a decision to encourage the flow of dedicated
funds to the Secretariat to carry out its work relative to the Project.
14. CoP Rules of Procedure: Secret ballots: Proposal to amend Rule
25 (Methods of Voting) of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference of
the Parties (CoP) to eliminate voting by secret ballots except with
respect to the election of officers.
15. CoP Rules of Procedure: Credentials and voting procedures for
regional economic integration organizations: Proposal to amend the
Rules of Procedure of the CoP so that they address two issues with
respect to the participation of regional economic integration
organizations at CoPs: Credentials and voting.
16. Annual reporting on seized specimens: Recommendation that the
United States support mandatory annual reporting on illegal CITES
trade, with the penalty for failure to report such trade similar to the
penalty for failure to submit annual report.
17. Validated reference material: The United States is considering
preparing discussion documents on the importance of providing validated
reference material of newly listed species, especially timber species,
so that appropriate labs and inspections authorities can develop
forensic identification techniques.
18. Trade in timber species utilized for hongmu: Recommendation
that the United States prepare a discussion document on the legal and
illegal trade in timber for the production of traditional Chinese
furniture and the potential to address this issue in CITES.
19. Nationally established Appendix-II export quotas:
Recommendation that the United States consider submitting a document to
CoP17 to examine the current implementation, enforcement, and benefits
of the implementation of Resolution Conf. 14.7 (Rev. CoP15), management
of nationally established export quotas.
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20. CITES specimens accompanied by court-ordered CITES documents:
Proposing a revision to CITES Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP16)
recommending that: Exporting Parties not export specimens of CITES-
listed species without evidence of legal origin of specimens of the
species and without evidence of a non-detriment finding; and importing
Parties reject shipments of specimens of CITES species accompanied by
export permits issued under court order without the required CITES
findings.
21. Administrative hosting arrangements: The United States is
currently chairing a working group of the Standing Committee that is
reviewing the administrative hosting arrangements between the United
Nations Environment Programme and the CITES Secretariat and is
considering submitting a document to CoP17 on this subject.
22. Youth participation: The United States is considering
submitting a draft resolution exploring the opportunities and
emphasizing the importance of youth participation in CITES fora.
C. What resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United States
not likely to submit for consideration at CoP17, unless we receive
significant additional information?
1. Trade in elephant specimens: Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev.
CoP16): Proposal for: A comprehensive review of Resolution Conf. 10.10
(Rev. CoP16), on Trade in elephant specimens; a resolution or decision
requiring Parties to report on their progress in implementing
Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP16); and an amendment to Resolution
Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP16) or a new resolution recommending that Parties
close their domestic elephant ivory markets.
2. Trade in elephant ivory: Decision-making mechanism:
Recommendation that: The United States call for greater transparency
and wider consultation on development of a decision-making mechanism
(DMM) for authorizing ivory trade and request that the background
study, the terms of reference for the study, and related documents be
made available on the CITES Web site for public comment before being
finalized at SC66; the United States, as a member of the DMM Working
Group, call for a suspension of the discussion on the DMM and oppose
any proposals for international trade in elephant ivory or downlisting
of elephant populations; and the United States advocate that Decision
16.55, concerning a decision-making mechanism for a process of trade in
elephant ivory, not be renewed at CoP17.
3. Trade in elephant ivory: National Ivory Action Plans:
Recommendation that the United States call for the publication on the
CITES Web site of the National Ivory Action Plans of the primary
concern countries, and the implementation reports by the primary
concern countries, secondary concern countries, and the importance to
watch countries, along with the feedback by the Secretariat on the
content and implementation of the Plans; recommendation that the United
States call for revision of the National Ivory Action Plans where
appropriate to include meaningful milestones with timeframes for
implementation, and evidence to measure the impact through specific
indicators; recommendation that the United States call for trade
suspensions for Tanzania until they can demonstrate progress in
effectively addressing illegal trade in ivory; recommendation that the
United States call for adoption of a moratorium on domestic ivory trade
in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Japan, where domestic ivory markets
are perpetuating illegal trade in ivory or licensed trade in ivory has
facilitated illegal trade and has been used as a laundering mechanism
for the trade in illegal ivory; recommendation that the United States
call for destruction of ivory stockpiles following independent
inventory and audit and DNA analysis for investigations; recommendation
that the United States urge China, Thailand, and Viet Nam to detect,
investigate, and apprehend the criminal networks using Laos as a hub
for trafficking ivory and other wildlife; and recommendation that the
United States call for Japan to be moved higher up on the National
Ivory Action Plans list to ``primary concern'' and for Japan to adopt a
National Ivory Action Plan, including a commitment to implement a
domestic ivory trade ban.
4. Trade in elephant ivory: Stockpiles: Proposal for the United
States to submit a document outlining the rationale for destruction of
elephant ivory stockpiles, summarizing progress on the issue since
CoP16, and encouraging all Parties to destroy their stockpiles.
5. Trade in rhinoceros horn: Recommendation urging the United
States to oppose any proposals to legalize trade in rhinoceros horn,
both domestically and internationally; and a recommendation to ensure
that Parties are held accountable to the reporting requirements adopted
at CoP17 with regard to actions to combat the illegal killing of and
trade in rhinoceros horn.
6. Trade in cheetahs: Proposal for a document ensuring that the
issue of illegal trade in cheetahs is on the agenda for CoP17.
7. Trade in African lions: Lion farming and trade in lion trophies:
Recommendation that the United States submit a document proposing to
end the practice of lion farming in South Africa and a document on the
issue of lion farming for trade in their body parts; and a document
proposing an end to the export and import of lion trophies.
8. Trade in African lions: Protections: Recommendation that the
United States support any proposals for improving protection of African
lions, including their up-listing.
9. Trade in Asian big cats: Recommendation that the United States:
Ensure that the issue of Asia big cats is on the agenda for CoP17,
primarily to call for a number of actions in advance of the CoP related
to the illegal killing and trade in tigers and other Asian big cats;
and consider calling for compliance measures to be enacted against
Parties that fail to fulfill the called-for measures.
10. Trade in bears: Recommendation that the United States support
proposals for improving protection for bears, including adopting
measures to tackle the escalating trade in bear specimens.
11. Great apes: Recommendation that the United States ensure that
the issue of great apes is on the agenda for CoP17.
12. Saiga antelope: Recommendation the United States ensure the
issue of saiga antelope is on the agenda.
13. Trade in sport-hunted trophies: Proposal for the United States
to ban the import of trophies of CITES-listed species.
14. Trade in hornbills and sandalwood: Recommendation that the
United States urge source, transit, and consumer countries to
demonstrate greater investment in proactive intelligence-led
initiatives to target criminal networks and implement demand reduction
strategies for red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus) and helmeted
hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil).
15. Trade in freshwater turtles and tortoises: Recommendation that
the United States ensure that the issue of trade in tortoises and
freshwater turtles is on the agenda of CoP17.
16. Marine species: Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) codes: Proposal
for a draft resolution recommending that the Parties adopt a list of
new 6-digit, 8-digit, and 10-digit HTS codes related to shark and
cetacean species and commodities; and that the Parties adopt a CITES
description code for `blubber'' to use on CITES permits and in annual
reports.
17. Marine species: Breeding cetaceans: Recommendation that the
[[Page 75877]]
United States support establishing a clear policy regarding the
breeding of rescued, wild cetaceans with their captive-bred
counterparts.
18. Trade in rosewood and ebony: Recommendation that the United
States support: Madagascar in its efforts to combat illegal harvest of
and trade in rosewood (Dalbergia spp.) and ebony (Diospyros spp.); any
proposal to improve the protection of Dalbergia cochinchinensis,
Dalbergia oliveri, and Pterocarpus macrocarpus through proposals that
may arise from regional discussions; and any proposal to strengthen
existing CITES controls for Dalbergia cochinchinensis.
19. Wildlife trafficking: Proposal that the United States encourage
a report from the United Kingdom on the London Conference on the
Illegal Wildlife Trade, and from Botswana on the Kasane Conference on
the Illegal Trade.
20. Traveling with musical instruments: Personal effects exemption:
Recommendation that the United States support a personal effects
exemption for musical instruments containing CITES-listed species and
the implementation of an exemption for musical instruments containing
CITES-listed species transported by cargo under a carnet.
21. Traveling with musical instruments: Commercial travel and de
minimis exemption: Recommendation that the United States support
extending the use of the musical instrument certificate to commercial
travel and advocate for the adoption of a general de minimis exemption
from CITES requirements for instruments containing small amounts of
CITES-listed species.
22. CITES and livelihoods: Recommendation that the United States
ensure that the issue of CITES and livelihoods is on the agenda for
CoP17.
23. Enforcement matters: Establishment of a CITES Enforcement
Working Group: Recommendation that the United States call for a CITES
Enforcement Expert Working Group to be convened on a regular basis.
24. Enforcement matters: Adoption of indicators: Recommendation
that the United States support the adoption of indicators of effective
enforcement and call for Parties to fully implement such indicators.
25. Enforcement matters: tackling illegal trade through social
media channels: Recommendation that the United States call for measures
to be adopted for Parties to tackle illegal trade in CITES species
through social media channels.
26. Enforcement matters: Amendment to Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev.
CoP16), on Compliance and enforcement: Recommendation that the United
States: Propose amendments to Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP16) to
establish an enforcement working group to explore greater CITES
emphasis on enforcement efforts; and recommend that Parties prohibit
trade in animals and plants illegally taken, possessed, transported, or
sold, similar to the U.S. Lacey Act.
27. CITES trade data reporting: Proposal for a resolution that
describes in detail the need to accurately describe in CITES annual
reports both the type of specimen being traded and the quantity of
specimens, and that recommends that Parties issue permits and report
trade using two units of measurement.
28. Purpose of Transaction codes on CITES permits: Proposal that
the United States call for the consistent use of CITES Purpose of
Transaction codes so that the same code is used on both import and
export CITES documents.
29. Legal owner information on CITES permits: Proposal that the
United States call for the disclosure of the legal owner of a specimen
on the face of a CITES document.
30. Guidelines for making legal acquisition findings:
Recommendation that the United States submit a document regarding the
establishment of clear guidelines for Parties to use in making their
CITES legal acquisition findings.
31. CITES document validation for scientific research:
Recommendation that the United States propose to revise, suspend, or
revoke the CITES document validation requirement for the movement of
CITES-listed species for scientific research.
32. Primarily commercial purposes: Recommendation that the United
States call for establishing clear criteria and guidelines to
differentiate between ``primarily commercial'' purposes and ``bona fide
scientific research'' purposes when making permit decisions.
33. Bred in captivity: Recommendation that the United States
propose revisions to Resolutions Conf. 5.10 (Rev. CoP15), Conf. 10.16
(Rev.), and Conf. 12.10 (Rev. CoP15) to clarify the provisions of
paragraphs 4 and 5 of CITES Article VII for specimens bred in
captivity.
34. Laundering of wild-caught specimens: Recommendation that the
United States submit the issue of laundering of wild-caught animals as
captive-bred as a separate agenda item at CoP17.
35. Interval between CoPs: Proposal for an agenda item clarifying
that CoPs should be 2 years apart, and that CoP18 should be held no
later than October 2018.
36. Unlisted species: Recommendation that the United States propose
a process to facilitate the identification of unlisted species that may
benefit from listing in the CITES Appendices.
Request for Information and Comments
We invite information and comments concerning any of the proposed
CoP17 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 posted for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov, and will be available by appointment, from 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Division of Management
Authority. Our practice is to post all comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, and to make comments, including names and
home addresses of respondents, available for public review during
regular business hours.
There may be circumstances in which we would withhold from public
review a respondent's name and/or address, as allowable by law. If you
wish for us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your comment, but we cannot guarantee
that we will be able to do so. 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 non-
governmental organizations (which must have offices in more than one
country) at CoP17 may request approval directly from the CITES
Secretariat.
[[Page 75878]]
Persons wishing to be observers representing U.S. national non-
governmental organizations at CoP17 must receive prior approval from
our Division of Management Authority. Once we grant our approval, a
U.S. national non-governmental organization is eligible to register
with the Secretariat and must do so at least 6 weeks prior to the
opening of CoP17 to participate in CoP17 as an observer. Individuals
who are not affiliated with an organization may not register as
observers. An international non-governmental organization with at least
one office in the United States may register as a U.S. non-governmental
organization if it prefers.
Any organization that submits a request to us for approval as an
observer should include evidence of their technical qualifications in
protection, conservation, or management of wild fauna or flora, for
both the organization and the individual representative(s). The request
should include copies of the organization's charter and any bylaws, and
a list of representatives it intends to send to CoP17. Organizations
seeking approval for the first time should detail their experience in
the protection, conservation, or management of wild fauna or flora, as
well as their purposes for wishing to participate in CoP17 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 at the address provided in
ADDRESSES above, or via email at: managementauthority@fws.gov; or via
fax at: 703-358-2298.
Once we approve an organization as an observer, we will inform them
of the appropriate page on the CITES Web site where they may obtain
instructions for registration with the CITES Secretariat, including a
meeting registration form and travel and hotel information. A list of
organizations approved for observer status at CoP17 will be available
upon request from the Division of Management Authority just prior to
the start of CoP17.
Future Actions
We expect the CITES Secretariat to provide us with a provisional
agenda for CoP17 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 Web site address. We will also provide the
provisional agenda on our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/international/CITES/CoP17/.
The United States will submit any proposed resolutions, decisions,
and agenda items, as well as any species proposals, for consideration
at CoP17 to the CITES Secretariat 150 days prior to the start of the
meeting (i.e., by April 27, 2016). We will consider all available
information and comments we receive during the comment period for this
notice as we decide which proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda
items warrant submission by the United States for consideration by the
Parties. With respect to our notice published on August 26, 2015 (80 FR
51830), we are considering all available information and comments we
received during the comment period for that notice as we decide which
species proposals warrant submission by the United States for
consideration by the Parties. Approximately 4 months prior to CoP17, we
will post on our Web site 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 CoP17.
Through an additional notice and Web site posting in advance of
CoP17, we will inform you about preliminary negotiating positions on
resolutions, decisions, agenda items, and amendments to the Appendices
proposed by other Parties for consideration at CoP17. We will also
publish an announcement of a public meeting tentatively to be held
approximately 2 to 3 months prior to CoP17, to receive public input on
our positions regarding issues on the agenda for CoP17. The procedures
for developing U.S. documents and negotiating positions for a meeting
of the Conference of the Parties to CITES are outlined at 50 CFR 23.87.
As noted at 50 CFR 23.87(c), 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 meeting of the
Conference of the Parties and of U.S. negotiating positions.
Author: The primary author of this notice is Mark Bellis, Division
of Management Authority.
Authority: The authority for this action is the U.S. Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: November 25, 2015.
Robert Dreher,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-30593 Filed 12-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P