42092 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 150 / Tuesday, August 5, 1997 / Proposed Rules

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

Comments and other information can

also be sent via electronic mail (E-mail)

to: r9omalcites@fws.gov.

Background

On Friday, June 6, 1997, the Service

published in the Federal Register (62

FR 31044) a proposed rule announcing

the Service’s intention to amend 50 CFR

part 14 subpart J to further implement

the requirements of the Lacey Act (18

U.S.C. 42 (c)). The Lacey Act prohibits

the importation into the United States of

all wild animals and birds under

inhumane or unhealthful conditions,

and requires that the United States

Government promulgate regulations

governing the importation of wildlife.

On June 17, 1992, the Service finalized

(57 FR 27094) the rules contained in 50

CFR part 14 subpart J, establishing rules

for the humane and healthful transport

of wild mammals and birds to the

United States.

To more fully implement the

amendments of the Lacey Act, which

requires the healthful and humane

transport of all classes of wild animals

and birds and the promulgation of

regulations necessary to that end, the

Service proposes to extend 50 CFR part

14 subpart J to include rules for the

healthful and humane transport of

reptiles and amphibians. Furthermore,

many reptiles and amphibians are

species included in the Appendices of

the Convention on International Trade

in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna

and Flora (CITES). The Parties to CITES

have adopted a resolution that calls for

all CITES-listed species to be packed

and shipped in accordance with the

International Air Transport Association

(IATA) Live Animals Regulations.

Therefore, the proposed rule would

place these internationally accepted

standards into the Code of Federal

Regulations for reptiles and amphibians.

For this, and other reasons discussed

in the June 6, 1997 Federal Register, the

Service is proposing amendments to 50

CFR Part 14 concerning humane and

healthful transport of reptiles and

amphibians into the United States.

Public Comments Solicited

On July 22, 1997 the Service received

a request from Underground Reptiles to

extend the comment period on this

proposed rule by 30 days ‘‘so that

various reptile and amphibian

importers, shippers, and hobbyists can

meet to review the proposal, gather data

regarding shipments and submit

meaningful comments.’’ On July 23,

1997, the Service received a similar

letter from Reptile Masters, Inc. Due to

the complexity of the proposed rule, the

need for data gathering by potential

commenters, and the expressed interest

of members of the public, the Service is

extending the comment period and

solicits comments from all interested

parties. All comments received by the

date specified above will be considered

in the Service’s final decision.

Authority

The authority for this action is the

Lacey Act, as amended (18 U.S.C. 42

(c)).

Dated: July 30, 1997.

Marshall P. Jones, Jr.

Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service.

[FR Doc. 97–20593 Filed 8–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018–AE29

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

and Plants; Notice to Extend the

Comment Period on the Proposal to

List the Klamath River Population

Segment of Bull Trout as an

Endangered Species and Columbia

River Population Segment of Bull Trout

as a Threatened Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of

comment period.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) gives notice that the

comment period announced in the June

13, 1997 proposed rule (62 FR 32268) to

list the Klamath River population

segment of bull trout as an endangered

species and Columbia River population

segment of bull trout as a threatened

species will be extended. The Service

received a number of requests for

additional time to complete the

compilation of information and

meaningfully participate in the process.

The Service finds the requests to be

reasonable and hereby extends the

comment period for 65 days.

DATES: The comment period is extended

until October 17, 1997. Any comments

and materials received by the closing

date will be considered in the final

determination.

ADDRESSES: Comments and material

concerning this proposal should be sent

to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Snake River Basin Field Office, 1387 S.

Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho

83709. All public comments and

material received will be available for

public inspection, by appointment,

during normal business hours at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Ruesink, Supervisor, Snake River

Basin Field Office (see ADDRESSES

section) (telephone 208/378–5243;

facsimile 208/378–5262).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On June 13, 1997, the Service

published a proposed rule pursuant to

the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (Act) to list the Klamath River

population segment of bull trout

(Salvelinus confluentus) from southcentral Oregon as endangered; and the

Columbia River population segment of

bull trout from the northwestern United

States and British Columbia, Canada, as

threatened. A special rule allowing take

of bull trout within the Columbia River

population segment in accordance with

applicable State fish and wildlife

conservation laws was included. A 60-

day comment period ending August 12,

1997, was provided in the proposed

rule. Five public hearings to gather

additional input were held between July

1 and July 17, 1997 in Portland, Oregon;

Spokane, Washington; Missoula,

Montana; Klamath Falls, Oregon; and

Boise, Idaho. Requests for a public

comment period time extension were

received from the Idaho Congressional

representatives, Governor of Idaho,

Governor of Oregon, and the

Intermountain Forest Industry

Association. Reasons given for these

requests included complexity of issues,

additional time to meaningfully

participate and data collection is

incomplete.

The Klamath River population

segment, comprised of seven bull trout

populations from south-central Oregon,

is threatened by habitat degradation,

irrigation diversions, and the presence

of non-native brook trout. The Columbia

River population segment, comprised of

386 bull trout populations in Idaho,

Montana, Oregon, and Washington with

additional populations in British

Columbia, is threatened by habitat

degradation, passage restrictions at

dams, and competition from non-native

lake and brook trout. Included in the

proposal to list these population

segments is a special rule allowing for

take of bull trout within the Columbia

River population segment in accordance

with applicable State fish and wildlife

conservation laws and regulations.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 150 / Tuesday, August 5, 1997 / Proposed Rules 42093

Pursuant to a court order, the proposed

rule is based only on the 1994

administrative record. All available

information, including current data, will

be considered prior to taking final

action on the listing proposal. If, after

consideration of all available data, this

proposal is made final, it would extend

protection of the Act to these two bull

trout population segments. Written comments may now be

submitted until October 17, 1997, to the

Service Office in the ADDRESSES section.

Author: The primary author of this

notice is Steve Duke (see ADDRESSES

section).

Authority

The authority for this action is the

Endangered Species Act, as amended

(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)

Dated: July 28, 1997.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97–20540 Filed 8–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 23

Proposed Revision of Regulations

Implementing the Endangered Species

Convention (Convention on

International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wild Fauna and Flora;

CITES)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to propose

rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This document requests

suggestions and recommendations from

the public for revisions to certain

Federal regulations which implement

the Convention on International Trade

in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna

and Flora (CITES) in the United States;

50 CFR part 23 subparts A, B, C, and D.

These regulations, which the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service (Service) plans to

update and modify, include provisions

concerned with the import, export, reexport, and introduction from the sea of

CITES-listed wildlife and plants to and

from the United States, as well as those

regulations which cover public

participation in the development of U.S.

negotiating positions for meetings of the

CITES Conference of the Parties (COP).

DATES: Comments and other information

received through September 30, 1997,

will be considered by the Service in

developing proposed amendments to 50

CFR part 23.

ADDRESSES: Comments and other

information should be sent to Kenneth

Stansell, Chief, Office of Management

Authority, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room

430, Arlington, VA 22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bruce J. Weissgold or Susan S.

Lieberman, Office of Management

Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service: telephone 703/358–2093; fax

703/358–2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

Comments and other information can

also be sent via electronic mail (E-mail)

to: r9omalcites@fws.gov.

Background

The Service is planning to revise

regulations covering the implementation

of CITES in the United States (50 CFR

part 23) in order to provide the public

with a more transparent and open

explanation of Service procedures with

regard to the implementation of CITES

wildlife and plant international trade

control provisions. The Service is

considering revising and reorganizing

subparts A , B, C, and D of 50 CFR part

23. These regulations were last revised

in 1977 and 1980 (depending on which

subpart is considered); and since that

time, the Service has developed and

modified procedures to adjust to the

changing circumstances and conditions

necessary for effective CITES

implementation in the United States.

At each of the ten CITES COPs

convened since the treaty went into

force in 1975, including COP10 which

was held in Harare, Zimbabwe in June

1997, interpretive resolutions to the

Convention have been adopted by the

Parties. The Service has determined that

some of these interpretive CITES

resolutions, as they relate directly to

implementation and enforcement of the

Convention, need to be implemented

through the promulgation of regulations.

In addition, the Service has developed

procedures through the statutory

authority granted by Congress in the

Endangered Species Act but has not yet

updated Part 23 to incorporate those

procedures. The proposed revision of 50

CFR part 23 will address those

procedures and interpretive resolutions.

Furthermore, it is the intent of the

Service to find ways to improve and

enhance the opportunities which the

public has to participate in the

development of policy positions for

meetings of the CITES Conference of the

Parties (COP). The Service intends to

continue to fully consider public input

on the development of U.S. policy

positions, and invites comments as to

how the Service can most effectively

receive information from the public on

CITES COP policy position formulation.

The Service will consider all comments

regarding revisions to subparts A, B, C,

and D of 50 CFR part 23, as well as

comments on specific procedures

related to these regulations. The Service

is not requesting comments which are

unrelated to 50 CFR part 23 revisions,

such as CITES species listing positions,

policy positions related to the CITES

Conference of the Parties (COP), or any

other wildlife trade issue which is not

directly related to 50 CFR part 23

revisions.

Interested organizations and

individuals are invited to comment on

the planned revision of 50 CFR part 23

and on public participation in the

development of Service policy positions

for CITES COPs. The Service will

consider all comments received during

the comment period in drafting a

proposed rule.

Author: This notice was prepared by Bruce

J. Weissgold, Office of Management

Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

under the authority of the Endangered

Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C.

1531 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 23

Endangered and threatened species,

Exports, Imports, Treaties.

Dated: July 23, 1997.

John G. Rogers,

Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service.

[FR Doc. 97–20594 Filed 8–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[Docket No. 970527125–7125–01; I.D.

032797B]

RIN 0648–AJ95

Magnuson Act Provisions;

Appointment of Regional Fishery

Management Council Members;

Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of

comment period.

SUMMARY: At the request of a tribal

representative, NMFS is extending the

public comment period on a proposed

rule to amend the regulations governing

the nomination and appointment of