Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Nineteenth Regular Meeting: Species Proposals for Consideration and Request for Information and Recommendations on Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items for Consideration, 12199-12202 [2021-04295]
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12199
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 39 / Tuesday, March 2, 2021 / Notices
additional feature of RAD, allows
residents of RAD properties to request a
Housing Choice Voucher that they can
use to move to a housing unit in the
private market.
Congress requested an evaluation of
RAD to assess the impact of the
demonstration on the preservation and
improvement of public housing, the
amount of private sector leveraging, and
the effect on tenants. HUD contracted a
two-phase evaluation to address these
research areas. The Phase I results were
published in 2016 and the Phase II
results in 2019. The OMB Approval
Number for that evaluation was 2528–
0304 and expired on January 31st, 2020.
The Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations
Act provided funds to conduct a followInformation collection
Responses
per annum
study is the impact of RAD on the longterm preservation and financial viability
of converted affordable housing
properties. The third is the adequacy of
asset management for PBV and PBRA
conversions. The fourth study will
examine the organizational and
operational changes at PHAs that
participated in RAD. For the first three
studies, the evaluation includes webbased survey of all RAD PHAs, RAD
property owners/operators, and former
RAD residents who have exercised the
choice mobility option; and a sample
survey of RAD residents who have not
elected the choice mobility option. For
the fourth study, we plan to conduct
qualitative interviews with senior staff
at 25 RAD PHAs.
Burden
?hour per
response
Annual
burden
hours
Hourly
cost per
response
Number of
respondents
Frequency
of response
Annual
cost
400
1
400
0.75
300.00
$34.46
$10,338.00
Census of RAD PHA ...............................
Survey of RAD non-PHA Property Owners .........................................................
Survey of choice mobility residents .........
Survey of non-choice mobility residents ..
Interview of PHA staff on organizational
changes ................................................
228
708
231
1
1
1
228
708
231
0.33
0.33
0.33
75.24
233.64
76.23
34.46
28.62
28.62
2,592.77
6,686.78
2,181.70
250
1
250
1.5
375.00
34.46
12,922.50
Total ..................................................
1,817
N/A
1,817
N/A
1,060.11
N/A
34,721.75
Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
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up evaluation of the RAD program,
including its implementation and
outcomes, the choice mobility option,
the impact on tenants and related
protections, and the long-term
preservation of housing affordability.
This Federal Register Notice provides
an opportunity to comment on the
information collection for this new
phase of the RAD evaluation titled RAD
Choice Mobility and Long-Term
Affordability Evaluation. The current
information collection is designed to
support four studies included in the
evaluation. One is the study of the
implementation of the RAD choice
mobility option and its effects on
property outcomes, tenant outcomes,
and the voucher program. The second
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in Section A on
the following:
(1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond; including through
the use of appropriate automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
(5) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comment in response to these
questions.
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Anna P. Guido,
Department Reports Management Officer,
Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021–04253 Filed 3–1–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2021–0008;
FXIA16710900000–FF09A10000–212]
Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES); Nineteenth Regular
Meeting: Species Proposals for
Consideration and Request for
Information and Recommendations on
Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda
Items for Consideration
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
To implement the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES
or the Convention), the Parties to the
Convention meet periodically to review
what species in international trade
SUMMARY:
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should be regulated and other aspects of
CITES implementation. The nineteenth
regular meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (CoP19) is tentatively scheduled
to be held in Costa Rica, March 3–14,
2022. With this notice we are soliciting
recommendations for amending
Appendices I and II of CITES at CoP19
as well as recommendations for
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
for discussion at CoP19. We invite you
to provide us with information and
recommendations on animal and plant
species for which the United States
should consider submitting proposals to
amend Appendices I and II of CITES at
CoP19. Such proposals may concern the
addition of species to Appendix I or II,
the transfer of species from one
Appendix to another, or the removal of
species from Appendices. We also invite
you to provide us with information and
recommendations on resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the
United States might consider submitting
for discussion at CoP19. Finally, with
this notice, we also describe the U.S.
approach to preparations for CoP19.
We will consider all information
and comments we receive on or before
May 3, 2021.
DATES:
You may submit comments
by one of the following methods:
ADDRESSES:
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(1) Electronically: Using the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov, search for FWS–
HQ–IA–2021–0008, which is the docket
number for this notice.
(2) U.S. mail: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: FWS–HQ–IA–2021–
0008; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Headquarters, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–
3803.
We will not accept email or faxes.
Comments and materials we receive, as
well as supporting documentation, will
be available for public inspection on
https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information pertaining to species
proposals, contact Rosemarie Gnam,
Chief, Division of Scientific Authority,
703–358–1708 (phone); 703–358–2276
(fax); or scientificauthority@fws.gov
(email). For information pertaining to
resolutions, decisions, and agenda
items, contact Pamela Scruggs, Chief,
Division of Management Authority, at
703–358–2493 (phone); or
managementauthority@fws.gov (email).
If you use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal
Relay Service (FRS) at 800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
consideration by all the Parties at the
meeting.
This is our first in a series of Federal
Register notices that, together with at
least one public meeting (time and
location to be announced), provide you
with an opportunity to provide input
into the development of the U.S.
submissions to, and negotiating
positions for, CoP19. We intend to
announce tentative species proposals
and tentative documents related to
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
that the United States is considering
submitting for CoP19, and solicit further
information and comments on them,
when we publish our next CoP19related Federal Register notice. Our
regulations guiding this public process
can be found in title 50 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) at § 23.87.
Background
Priorities for U.S. submissions to
CoP19 continue to be consistent with
the overall objective of U.S.
participation in the Convention: To
maximize the effectiveness of the
Convention in the conservation and
sustainable use of species subject to
international trade. With this in mind,
we plan to consider the following
factors in determining what issues to
submit for inclusion in the agenda at
CoP19:
(1) Does the proposed action address
a serious wildlife or plant trade issue
that the United States is experiencing as
a range country for species in trade?
Since our primary responsibility is the
conservation of our domestic wildlife
resources, we will give native species
the highest priority. We will place
particular emphasis on terrestrial and
freshwater species with the majority of
their range in the United States and its
territories that are or may be traded in
significant numbers; marine species that
occur in U.S. waters or for which the
United States is a major trader; and
threatened and endangered species for
which we and other Federal and State
agencies already have statutory
responsibility for protection and
recovery. We also consider CITES
listings as a proactive measure to
monitor and manage trade in native
species to preclude the need for the
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 aimed at ensuring
that international trade in listed animal
and plant species does not threaten their
survival. Species are included in the
Appendices to CITES, which are
available on the CITES Secretariat’s
website at https://www.cites.org/eng/
disc/species.php.
Currently there are 183 Parties to
CITES, 182 countries, including the
United States, and one regional
economic integration organization, the
European Union. The Convention calls
for regular meetings of the Conference of
the Parties, and the Conference of the
Parties has decided that these meetings
should be held every 2–3 years. At the
meetings, the Parties review the
implementation of CITES, make
decisions regarding the financing and
function of the CITES Secretariat in
Switzerland to enable it to carry out its
functions, consider amendments to
Appendices I and II, consider reports
presented by the Secretariat, and adopt
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
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Announcement of the Nineteenth
Meeting of the Conference of the Parties
We hereby notify all interested
entities of the convening of CoP19,
which is tentatively scheduled to be
held in Costa Rica on March 3–14, 2022,
at a location to be determined.
U.S. Approach for CoP19
What are the priorities for U.S.
submissions to CoP19?
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application of stricter measures, such as
listing under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.), or inclusion in CITES Appendix
I.
(2) Does the proposed action address
a serious wildlife or plant trade issue for
species not native to the United States?
As a major importer of wildlife, plants,
and their products, the United States
has taken responsibility, by working in
close consultation with range countries,
for addressing cases of potential overexploitation of foreign species in the
wild. In some cases, the United States
may not be a range country or a
significant trading country for a species,
but we will work closely with other
countries to conserve species being
threatened by unsustainable
exploitation for international trade. We
will consider CITES listings for species
not native to the United States if they
will assist in addressing cases of known
or potential over-exploitation of foreign
species in the wild, and in preventing
illegal, unregulated trade, especially if
the United States is a major importer.
These species will be prioritized based
on the extent of trade and status of the
species, and also the role the species
play in the ecosystem, with emphasis on
those species for which a CITES listing
would provide the greatest conservation
benefits to the species, associated
species, and their habitats.
(3) Does the proposed action provide
additional conservation benefit for a
species already covered by another
international agreement? The United
States will consider the inclusion of
such a species under CITES when it
would enhance the conservation of the
species by ensuring that international
trade is effectively regulated and not
detrimental to the survival of the
species.
Request for Information and
Recommendations for Amending
Appendices I or II
Through this notice, we solicit
information and recommendations that
will help us identify species that the
United States could propose for
addition to, removal from, or
reclassification in the CITES
Appendices, or to identify issues
warranting attention by the CITES
specialists on zoological and botanical
nomenclature. This request is not
limited to species occurring in the
United States. We encourage the
submission of information on any
species for possible inclusion in,
transfer between, or removal from the
Appendices, including if these species
are subject to international trade that is,
or may become, detrimental to the
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survival of the species. We also
encourage you to keep in mind the U.S.
approach to CoP19, described above in
this notice, when considering what
proposals to amend the Appendices the
United States should submit.
We ask that you submit convincing
information describing: (1) The status of
the species, especially trend
information; (2) conservation and
management programs for the species,
including the effectiveness of
enforcement efforts; and (3) the level of
international as well as domestic trade
in the species, especially trend
information. You may also provide any
other relevant information, and we
appreciate receiving a list of references.
Although we are not requesting
complete proposals, they are always
welcome.
The term ‘‘species’’ is defined in
CITES as ‘‘any species, subspecies, or
geographically separate population
thereof.’’ Each species for which trade is
controlled under CITES is included in
one of three Appendices, either as a
separate listing or incorporated within
the listing of a higher taxon. The basic
standards for inclusion of species in the
Appendices are contained in Article II
of CITES (text of the Convention is on
the CITES Secretariat’s website at https://
www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.php).
Appendix I includes species threatened
with extinction that are or may be
affected by trade. Appendix II includes
species that, although not necessarily
now threatened with extinction, may
become so unless trade in them is
strictly controlled. Appendix II also
includes species that must be subject to
regulation in order that trade in other
CITES-listed species may be brought
under effective control. Such ‘‘look
alike’’ inclusions usually are necessary
because of the difficulty inspectors have
at ports of entry or exit in distinguishing
one species from other species. Because
Appendix III includes species that have
been included in the Appendix
unilaterally by a Party, we are not
seeking input on possible U.S.
Appendix-III listings with this notice,
and we will not consider or respond to
comments received concerning
Appendix-III listings.
CITES specifies that international
trade in any readily recognizable parts
or derivatives of animals included in
Appendices I or II, or plants included in
Appendix I, is subject to the same
conditions that apply to trade in the
whole organisms. With certain standard
exclusions formally approved by the
Parties, the same applies to the readily
recognizable parts and derivatives of
most plant species included in
Appendix II. Parts and derivatives often
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not included (i.e., not regulated) for
Appendix-II plants are: seeds, spores,
pollen (including pollinia), and
seedlings or tissue cultures obtained in
vitro and transported in sterile
containers. You may refer to the CITES
Appendices on the Secretariat’s website
at https://www.cites.org/eng/app/
index.php for further exceptions and
limitations.
In 1994, the CITES Parties adopted
criteria for inclusion of species in
Appendices I and II (in Resolution Conf.
9.24 (Rev. CoP17) https://cites.org/sites/
default/files/document/E-Res-09-24R17.pdf). These criteria apply to all
proposals to amend the CITES
Appendices and are available from the
CITES Secretariat’s website at https://
www.cites.org/eng/res/index.php or
upon request from the Division of
Scientific Authority at the address
provided above in ADDRESSES.
Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) also
provides a format for proposals to
amend the Appendices. This
information is also available upon
request from the Division of Scientific
Authority or via mail (at the address
provided above in ADDRESSES).
What information should be submitted?
In any recommendations you submit
for possible proposals to amend the
Appendices, please include as much of
the following information as possible in
your submission:
(1) Scientific name and common
name;
(2) Population size estimates
(including references if available);
(3) Population trend information;
(4) Threats to the species (other than
trade);
(5) The level or trend of international
trade (as specific as possible, but
without a request for new searches of
our records);
(6) The level or trend in total take
from the wild (as specific as reasonable);
and
(7) A short summary statement clearly
presenting the rationale for inclusion in,
or removal or transfer from, one of the
Appendices, including which of the
criteria in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev.
CoP17) are met.
If you wish to submit more complete
proposals for us to consider, please
consult Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev.
CoP17) (https://cites.org/sites/default/
files/document/E-Res-09-24-R17.pdf) for
the format for proposals and a detailed
explanation of each of the categories.
Proposals to transfer a species from
Appendix I to Appendix II, or to remove
a species from Appendix II, must also be
in accordance with the precautionary
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12201
measures described in Annex 4 of
Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17).
What will we do with information we
receive?
The information that you submit will
help us decide if we should submit, or
co-sponsor with one or more other
Parties, a proposal to amend the CITES
Appendices. However, there may be
species that qualify for inclusion in the
CITES Appendices for which we decide
not to submit a proposal to CoP19. Our
decision will be based on a number of
factors, including the priorities we
outlined above in the U.S. approach to
CoP19. We will consult range countries
for foreign species, and for species
whose range the United States shares
with other countries.
One important function of the CITES
Scientific Authority of each Party
country is monitoring the international
trade in plant and animal species, and
ongoing scientific assessments of the
impact of that trade on species. For
native U.S. species included in
Appendices I and II, we monitor trade
export permits authorized so that we
can prevent over-utilization and restrict
exports if necessary. We also work
closely with the States to ensure that
species are appropriately listed in the
CITES Appendices. For these reasons,
we actively seek information about U.S.
and foreign species subject to
international trade.
Request for Information and
Recommendations on Resolutions,
Decisions, and Agenda Items
Although we have not yet received
formal notice of the provisional agenda
for CoP19, we invite your input on
possible agenda items that the United
States could recommend for inclusion,
or on possible resolutions and decisions
of the Conference of the Parties that the
United States could submit for
consideration. Copies of the agenda and
the results of the last meeting of the
Conference of the Parties (CoP18), as
well as copies of all Resolutions and
Decisions of the Conference of the
Parties currently in effect, are available
on the CITES Secretariat’s website
(https://www.cites.org/) or from the
Division of Management Authority at
the address provided above in
ADDRESSES.
Future Actions
As stated above, CoP19 is tentatively
scheduled to be held in Costa Rica, in
2022. The United States must submit all
proposals to amend Appendix I or II,
and draft resolutions, decisions, or
agenda items for discussion at CoP19, to
the CITES Secretariat 150 days prior to
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the start of the meeting (tentatively
October 4, 2021). In order to meet this
deadline and to prepare for CoP19, we
plan to keep the public informed about
the CoP through a series of additional
Federal Register notices and website
postings in advance of CoP19. We will
announce the tentative species
proposals and proposed resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the
United States is considering submitting
for CoP19 and solicit further
information and comments on them. We
will post on our website an
announcement of the species proposals,
draft resolutions, draft decisions, and
agenda items submitted by the United
States to the CITES Secretariat for
consideration at CoP19. Finally, we will
inform you about preliminary
negotiating positions on resolutions,
decisions, and amendments to the
Appendices proposed by other Parties
for consideration at CoP19, and about
how to obtain observer status from us.
We will also publish an announcement
of a public meeting tentatively to be
held approximately 4 months prior to
CoP19, which will provide an
opportunity to receive public input on
our positions regarding CoP19 issues.
The procedures for developing U.S.
documents and negotiating positions for
a meeting of the Conference of the
Parties to CITES are outlined in 50 CFR
23.87. As noted, we may modify or
suspend the procedures outlined there if
they would interfere with the timely or
appropriate development of documents
for submission to the CoP and of U.S.
negotiating positions.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, please be aware that your
entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available. If you
submit a hardcopy comment that
includes personal identifying
information, you may request at the top
of your document that we withhold this
information from public review;
however, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
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Author
The primary authors of this notice are
Thomas Leuteritz, Division of Scientific
Authority, and Anne St. John, Division
of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
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Authority
The authority for this action is the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Martha Williams,
Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Exercising
the Delegated Authority of the Director, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–04295 Filed 3–1–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
[GX20DJ73GY140.00; OMB Control Number
1028–NEW]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Local & Indigenous
Knowledge of Permafrost Dynamics
Across the Yukon River Basin
U.S. Geological Survey,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are
proposing a new information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before May 3,
2021.
SUMMARY:
Send your comments on
this information collection request (ICR)
by mail to U.S. Geological Survey,
Information Collections Officer, 12201
Sunrise Valley Drive MS 159, Reston,
VA 20192; or by email to gs-info_
collections@usgs.gov. Please reference
OMB Control Number 1028–xxxx in the
subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Nicole Herman-Mercer
by email at nhmercer@usgs.gov or by
telephone at 303–236–5031.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the
general public and other Federal
agencies with an opportunity to
comment on new, proposed, revised,
and continuing collections of
information. This helps us assess the
impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. It also helps the
public understand our information
collection requirements and provide the
requested data in the desired format.
We are soliciting comments on the
proposed ICR that is described below.
We are especially interested in public
comment addressing the following
ADDRESSES:
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issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to
the proper functions of the USGS; (2)
will this information be processed and
used in a timely manner; (3) is the
estimate of burden accurate; (4) how
might the USGS enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (5) how might the
USGS minimize the burden of this
collection on the respondents, including
through the use of information
technology.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or
summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before
including your address, phone number,
email 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.
Abstract: We will collect narrative
information regarding knowledge and
observations of permafrost dynamics in
communities in the Yukon River Basin
in Alaska. Narrative information will be
collected via semi-structured interviews
with active land users in specific
communities as well as relevant city,
tribal council, and village corporation
staff. Questions will focus on
observations of landscape change and
infrastructure damage indicative of
permafrost thaw. This information will
allow for a greater understanding of
permafrost dynamics in the region as
well as the impacts thaw has on
communities. This information will be
used to inform future permafrost
monitoring efforts in the region and
provided to communities for adaptation
planning.
Title of Collection: Local & Indigenous
Knowledge of Permafrost Dynamics
across the Yukon River Basin.
OMB Control Number: 1028–NEW.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: New.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 150.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 150.
Estimated Completion Time per
Response: 60 minutes.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 150.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: One time.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12199-12202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04295]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0008; FXIA16710900000-FF09A10000-212]
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Nineteenth
Regular Meeting: Species Proposals for Consideration and Request for
Information and Recommendations on Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda
Items for Consideration
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: To implement the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or the Convention),
the Parties to the Convention meet periodically to review what species
in international trade should be regulated and other aspects of CITES
implementation. The nineteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (CoP19) is tentatively scheduled to be held in Costa Rica,
March 3-14, 2022. With this notice we are soliciting recommendations
for amending Appendices I and II of CITES at CoP19 as well as
recommendations for resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for
discussion at CoP19. We invite you to provide us with information and
recommendations on animal and plant species for which the United States
should consider submitting proposals to amend Appendices I and II of
CITES at CoP19. Such proposals may concern the addition of species to
Appendix I or II, the transfer of species from one Appendix to another,
or the removal of species from Appendices. We also invite you to
provide us with information and recommendations on resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the United States might consider
submitting for discussion at CoP19. Finally, with this notice, we also
describe the U.S. approach to preparations for CoP19.
DATES: We will consider all information and comments we receive on or
before May 3, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
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(1) Electronically: Using the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov, search for FWS-HQ-IA-2021-0008, which is the
docket number for this notice.
(2) U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-IA-2021-
0008; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PRB (JAO/3W),
5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
We will not accept email or faxes. Comments and materials we
receive, as well as supporting documentation, will be available for
public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information pertaining to species
proposals, contact Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of Scientific
Authority, 703-358-1708 (phone); 703-358-2276 (fax); or
[email protected] (email). For information pertaining to
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items, contact Pamela Scruggs,
Chief, Division of Management Authority, at 703-358-2493 (phone); or
[email protected] (email). If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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 aimed at ensuring that international trade in
listed animal and plant species does not threaten their survival.
Species are included in the Appendices to CITES, which are available on
the CITES Secretariat's website at https://www.cites.org/eng/disc/species.php.
Currently there are 183 Parties to CITES, 182 countries, including
the United States, and one regional economic integration organization,
the European Union. The Convention calls for regular meetings of the
Conference of the Parties, and the Conference of the Parties has
decided that these meetings should be held every 2-3 years. At the
meetings, the Parties review the implementation of CITES, make
decisions regarding the financing and function of the CITES Secretariat
in Switzerland to enable it to carry out its functions, consider
amendments to Appendices I and II, consider reports presented by the
Secretariat, and adopt 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 meeting.
This is our first in a series of Federal Register notices that,
together with at least one public meeting (time and location to be
announced), provide you with an opportunity to provide input into the
development of the U.S. submissions to, and negotiating positions for,
CoP19. We intend to announce tentative species proposals and tentative
documents related to resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the
United States is considering submitting for CoP19, and solicit further
information and comments on them, when we publish our next CoP19-
related Federal Register notice. Our regulations guiding this public
process can be found in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) at Sec. 23.87.
Announcement of the Nineteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties
We hereby notify all interested entities of the convening of CoP19,
which is tentatively scheduled to be held in Costa Rica on March 3-14,
2022, at a location to be determined.
U.S. Approach for CoP19
What are the priorities for U.S. submissions to CoP19?
Priorities for U.S. submissions to CoP19 continue to be consistent
with the overall objective of U.S. participation in the Convention: To
maximize the effectiveness of the Convention in the conservation and
sustainable use of species subject to international trade. With this in
mind, we plan to consider the following factors in determining what
issues to submit for inclusion in the agenda at CoP19:
(1) Does the proposed action address a serious wildlife or plant
trade issue that the United States is experiencing as a range country
for species in trade? Since our primary responsibility is the
conservation of our domestic wildlife resources, we will give native
species the highest priority. We will place particular emphasis on
terrestrial and freshwater species with the majority of their range in
the United States and its territories that are or may be traded in
significant numbers; marine species that occur in U.S. waters or for
which the United States is a major trader; and threatened and
endangered species for which we and other Federal and State agencies
already have statutory responsibility for protection and recovery. We
also consider CITES listings as a proactive measure to monitor and
manage trade in native species to preclude the need for the application
of stricter measures, such as listing under the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), or inclusion in CITES
Appendix I.
(2) Does the proposed action address a serious wildlife or plant
trade issue for species not native to the United States? As a major
importer of wildlife, plants, and their products, the United States has
taken responsibility, by working in close consultation with range
countries, for addressing cases of potential over-exploitation of
foreign species in the wild. In some cases, the United States may not
be a range country or a significant trading country for a species, but
we will work closely with other countries to conserve species being
threatened by unsustainable exploitation for international trade. We
will consider CITES listings for species not native to the United
States if they will assist in addressing cases of known or potential
over-exploitation of foreign species in the wild, and in preventing
illegal, unregulated trade, especially if the United States is a major
importer. These species will be prioritized based on the extent of
trade and status of the species, and also the role the species play in
the ecosystem, with emphasis on those species for which a CITES listing
would provide the greatest conservation benefits to the species,
associated species, and their habitats.
(3) Does the proposed action provide additional conservation
benefit for a species already covered by another international
agreement? The United States will consider the inclusion of such a
species under CITES when it would enhance the conservation of the
species by ensuring that international trade is effectively regulated
and not detrimental to the survival of the species.
Request for Information and Recommendations for Amending Appendices I
or II
Through this notice, we solicit information and recommendations
that will help us identify species that the United States could propose
for addition to, removal from, or reclassification in the CITES
Appendices, or to identify issues warranting attention by the CITES
specialists on zoological and botanical nomenclature. This request is
not limited to species occurring in the United States. We encourage the
submission of information on any species for possible inclusion in,
transfer between, or removal from the Appendices, including if these
species are subject to international trade that is, or may become,
detrimental to the
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survival of the species. We also encourage you to keep in mind the U.S.
approach to CoP19, described above in this notice, when considering
what proposals to amend the Appendices the United States should submit.
We ask that you submit convincing information describing: (1) The
status of the species, especially trend information; (2) conservation
and management programs for the species, including the effectiveness of
enforcement efforts; and (3) the level of international as well as
domestic trade in the species, especially trend information. You may
also provide any other relevant information, and we appreciate
receiving a list of references. Although we are not requesting complete
proposals, they are always welcome.
The term ``species'' is defined in CITES as ``any species,
subspecies, or geographically separate population thereof.'' Each
species for which trade is controlled under CITES is included in one of
three Appendices, either as a separate listing or incorporated within
the listing of a higher taxon. The basic standards for inclusion of
species in the Appendices are contained in Article II of CITES (text of
the Convention is on the CITES Secretariat's website at https://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.php). Appendix I includes species
threatened with extinction that are or may be affected by trade.
Appendix II includes species that, although not necessarily now
threatened with extinction, may become so unless trade in them is
strictly controlled. Appendix II also includes species that must be
subject to regulation in order that trade in other CITES-listed species
may be brought under effective control. Such ``look alike'' inclusions
usually are necessary because of the difficulty inspectors have at
ports of entry or exit in distinguishing one species from other
species. Because Appendix III includes species that have been included
in the Appendix unilaterally by a Party, we are not seeking input on
possible U.S. Appendix-III listings with this notice, and we will not
consider or respond to comments received concerning Appendix-III
listings.
CITES specifies that international trade in any readily
recognizable parts or derivatives of animals included in Appendices I
or II, or plants included in Appendix I, is subject to the same
conditions that apply to trade in the whole organisms. With certain
standard exclusions formally approved by the Parties, the same applies
to the readily recognizable parts and derivatives of most plant species
included in Appendix II. Parts and derivatives often not included
(i.e., not regulated) for Appendix-II plants are: seeds, spores, pollen
(including pollinia), and seedlings or tissue cultures obtained in
vitro and transported in sterile containers. You may refer to the CITES
Appendices on the Secretariat's website at https://www.cites.org/eng/app/index.php for further exceptions and limitations.
In 1994, the CITES Parties adopted criteria for inclusion of
species in Appendices I and II (in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17)
https://cites.org/sites/default/files/document/E-Res-09-24-R17.pdf).
These criteria apply to all proposals to amend the CITES Appendices and
are available from the CITES Secretariat's website at https://www.cites.org/eng/res/index.php or upon request from the Division of
Scientific Authority at the address provided above in ADDRESSES.
Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) also provides a format for proposals
to amend the Appendices. This information is also available upon
request from the Division of Scientific Authority or via mail (at the
address provided above in ADDRESSES).
What information should be submitted?
In any recommendations you submit for possible proposals to amend
the Appendices, please include as much of the following information as
possible in your submission:
(1) Scientific name and common name;
(2) Population size estimates (including references if available);
(3) Population trend information;
(4) Threats to the species (other than trade);
(5) The level or trend of international trade (as specific as
possible, but without a request for new searches of our records);
(6) The level or trend in total take from the wild (as specific as
reasonable); and
(7) A short summary statement clearly presenting the rationale for
inclusion in, or removal or transfer from, one of the Appendices,
including which of the criteria in Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17)
are met.
If you wish to submit more complete proposals for us to consider,
please consult Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) (https://cites.org/sites/default/files/document/E-Res-09-24-R17.pdf) for the format for
proposals and a detailed explanation of each of the categories.
Proposals to transfer a species from Appendix I to Appendix II, or to
remove a species from Appendix II, must also be in accordance with the
precautionary measures described in Annex 4 of Resolution Conf. 9.24
(Rev. CoP17).
What will we do with information we receive?
The information that you submit will help us decide if we should
submit, or co-sponsor with one or more other Parties, a proposal to
amend the CITES Appendices. However, there may be species that qualify
for inclusion in the CITES Appendices for which we decide not to submit
a proposal to CoP19. Our decision will be based on a number of factors,
including the priorities we outlined above in the U.S. approach to
CoP19. We will consult range countries for foreign species, and for
species whose range the United States shares with other countries.
One important function of the CITES Scientific Authority of each
Party country is monitoring the international trade in plant and animal
species, and ongoing scientific assessments of the impact of that trade
on species. For native U.S. species included in Appendices I and II, we
monitor trade export permits authorized so that we can prevent over-
utilization and restrict exports if necessary. We also work closely
with the States to ensure that species are appropriately listed in the
CITES Appendices. For these reasons, we actively seek information about
U.S. and foreign species subject to international trade.
Request for Information and Recommendations on Resolutions, Decisions,
and Agenda Items
Although we have not yet received formal notice of the provisional
agenda for CoP19, we invite your input on possible agenda items that
the United States could recommend for inclusion, or on possible
resolutions and decisions of the Conference of the Parties that the
United States could submit for consideration. Copies of the agenda and
the results of the last meeting of the Conference of the Parties
(CoP18), as well as copies of all Resolutions and Decisions of the
Conference of the Parties currently in effect, are available on the
CITES Secretariat's website (https://www.cites.org/) or from the
Division of Management Authority at the address provided above in
ADDRESSES.
Future Actions
As stated above, CoP19 is tentatively scheduled to be held in Costa
Rica, in 2022. The United States must submit all proposals to amend
Appendix I or II, and draft resolutions, decisions, or agenda items for
discussion at CoP19, to the CITES Secretariat 150 days prior to
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the start of the meeting (tentatively October 4, 2021). In order to
meet this deadline and to prepare for CoP19, we plan to keep the public
informed about the CoP through a series of additional Federal Register
notices and website postings in advance of CoP19. We will announce the
tentative species proposals and proposed resolutions, decisions, and
agenda items that the United States is considering submitting for CoP19
and solicit further information and comments on them. We will post on
our website an announcement of the species proposals, draft
resolutions, draft decisions, and agenda items submitted by the United
States to the CITES Secretariat for consideration at CoP19. Finally, we
will inform you about preliminary negotiating positions on resolutions,
decisions, and amendments to the Appendices proposed by other Parties
for consideration at CoP19, and about how to obtain observer status
from us. We will also publish an announcement of a public meeting
tentatively to be held approximately 4 months prior to CoP19, which
will provide an opportunity to receive public input on our positions
regarding CoP19 issues. The procedures for developing U.S. documents
and negotiating positions for a meeting of the Conference of the
Parties to CITES are outlined in 50 CFR 23.87. As noted, we may modify
or suspend the procedures outlined there if they would interfere with
the timely or appropriate development of documents for submission to
the CoP and of U.S. negotiating positions.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, please be aware
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available. If you submit a hardcopy
comment that includes personal identifying information, you may request
at the top of your document that we withhold this information from
public review; however, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do
so.
Author
The primary authors of this notice are Thomas Leuteritz, Division
of Scientific Authority, and Anne St. John, Division of Management
Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Martha Williams,
Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Exercising the Delegated Authority of
the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-04295 Filed 3-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
