Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 44 / Monday, March 7, 2022 / Notices 12719 

To the U.S. Treasury for transactions 

such as disbursements of funds and 

related adjustments; (13) The Internal Revenue Service 

Routine Use: 

To the IRS for reporting payments for 

goods and services and for reporting of 

discharge indebtedness; 

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING

AGENCIES: 

Disclosures under 5 U.S.C. 

552a(b)(12). Disclosures may be made 

from the system to consumer reporting 

agencies as defined in the Fair Credit 

Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(f) or the 

Federal Claims Collection Act of 1966, 

31 U.S.C. 3701(a)(3)). The disclosure is 

limited to information to establish the 

identity of the individual, including 

name, social security number, and 

address; the amount, status, history of 

the claim, and the agency or program 

under which the claim arose solely to 

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prepare a credit report. 

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF

RECORDS: 

Electronic files are stored on servers. 

Paper printouts or original input 

documents are stored in locked file 

cabinets at HUD or as imaged 

documents on magnetic media. 

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF

RECORDS: 

Records are retrieved by business 

partner name, tax ID number, schedule 

number, voucher number, and contract 

number. 

POLICIES AND PRACTICIES FOR RENTENTION AND

DISPOSAL OF RECORDS: 

General Records Schedule 1:1; 

Financial Management and Reporting 

Records. This schedule covers records 

created by Federal agencies in carrying 

out the work of financial management. 

Temporary. Destroy 6 years after final 

payment or cancellation, but longer 

retention is authorized if required for 

business use. 

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Access is restricted to authorized 

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mandated by the Federal Information 

Security Modernization Act (FISMA) 

(44 U.S.C. 3541, et seq.). Users must also 

sign a Rules of Behavior form certifying 

that they agree to comply with the 

requirements before they are granted 

access to the system. LOCCS resides on 

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(IaaS). The system is limited to those 

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Authorizing Officials authorize LOCCS 

access for users, and OCFO ensures the 

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quarterly for internal users. 

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES: 

Individuals seeking to determine 

whether this System of Records contains 

information on themselves should 

address written inquiries to the 

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Development, 451 7th Street SW, 

Washington, DC. For verification, 

individuals should provide full name, 

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In addition, the requester must provide 

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concerned are published in 24 CFR part 

16 or may be obtained from the system 

manager. 

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES: 

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whether information about themselves 

is contained in this system should 

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Development Chief Financial Officer, 

451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 

20410–0001. For verification, 

individuals should provide full name, 

office or organization where assigned, if 

applicable, and current address and 

telephone number. In addition, the 

requester must provide either a 

notarized statement or an unsworn 

declaration made under 28 U.S.C. 1746, 

in the following format: If executed outside the United States: 

‘‘I declare (or certify, verify, or state) 

under penalty of perjury under the laws 

of the United States of America that the 

foregoing is true and correct. Executed 

on (date). (Signature).’’ 

If executed within the United States, 

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Executed on (date). (Signature).’’ 

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM: 

None. 

HISTORY: 

[Docket No. FR–5763–N–03] 

LaDonne L. White, 

Chief, Privacy Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2022–04715 Filed 3–4–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2021–0008; 

FXIA16710900000–FF09A30000–223] 

Conference of the Parties to the 

Convention on International Trade in 

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna 

and Flora (CITES); Nineteenth 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 propose 

amendments to the CITES Appendices 

for consideration at meetings of the 

Conference of the Parties (Conference, 

or CoP). The nineteenth regular meeting 

of the Conference of the Parties to CITES 

(CoP19) is scheduled to be held in 

Panama City, Panama, November 14–25, 

2022. With this notice, we respond to 

suggestions received from the public 

concerning proposed resolutions, 

decisions, and agenda items that the 

United States might submit for 

consideration at CoP19; invite your 

comments and information on these 

issues; and provide information on how 

U.S. nongovernmental organizations can 

attend CoP19 as observers. 

DATES: 

Meeting: The meeting is scheduled to 

be held in Panama City, Panama, 

November 14–25, 2022. 

Submitting Information and 

Comments: We will consider all 

information and comments we receive 

on or before April 6, 2022. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
12720 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 44 / Monday, March 7, 2022 / Notices 

Requesting Approval to Attend CoP19 

as an Observer: We must receive your 

request no later than August 14, 2022 

(see ADDRESSES). 

ADDRESSES: 

Comments: You may submit 

comments by one of the following 

methods: 

(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. 

Requesting Approval to Attend CoP19 

as an Observer: Send your request via 

U.S. mail to the Division of Management 

Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: IA, 

Falls Church, VA 22041; via email to 

managementauthority@fws.gov; or via 

fax to 703–358–2298. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information pertaining to resolutions, 

decisions, and agenda items, contact 

Naimah Aziz, Branch Manager, Division 

of Management Authority, at 703–358– 

2028 (phone); 703–358–2298 (fax); or 

managementauthority@fws.gov (email). 

If you use a telecommunications device 

for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal 

Relay Service 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 control 

and regulate international trade in 

certain animal and plant species that are 

or may be affected by trade and are now, 

or potentially may become, threatened 

with extinction. Species are included in 

the Appendices to CITES, which are 

available on the CITES Secretariat’s 

website at https://cites.org/eng/app/ 

appendices.php. 

Currently there are 184 Parties to 

CITES—183 countries and 1 regional 

economic integration organization, the 

European Union. On January 4, 2022, 

Andorra became the 184th Party to 

CITES. The Convention calls for regular 

biennial meetings of the Conference of 

the Parties, unless the Conference 

decides otherwise. At these meetings, 

the Parties review the implementation 

of CITES, make provisions enabling the 

CITES Secretariat in Switzerland to 

carry out its functions, consider 

amendments to the list of species in 

Appendices I and II, consider reports 

presented by the Secretariat, and make 

recommendations for the improved 

effectiveness of CITES. Any country that 

is a Party to CITES may propose 

amendments to Appendices I and II, as 

well as resolutions, decisions, and 

agenda items for consideration by all the 

Parties. Our regulations governing this 

public process are found in 50 CFR 

23.87. 

This is our second notice in a series 

of Federal Register notices that, together 

with a public meeting that we will hold 

approximately 2 to 3 months prior to 

CoP19, provide you with an opportunity 

to participate in the development of the 

U.S. submissions and negotiating 

positions for the nineteenth regular 

meeting of the Conference of the Parties 

to CITES (CoP19), which is scheduled to 

be held in Panama City, Panama, 

November 14–25, 2022. With this 

notice, we describe proposed 

resolutions, decisions, and agenda items 

that the United States might submit for 

consideration at CoP19; invite your 

comments and information on these 

proposals; and provide information on 

how U.S. nongovernmental 

organizations can attend CoP19 as 

observers. 

We published our first CoP19-related 

Federal Register notice on March 2, 

2021 (86 FR 12199), in which we 

requested information and 

recommendations on animal and plant 

species proposals and proposed 

resolutions, decisions, and agenda items 

for the United States to consider 

submitting for consideration at CoP19. 

A notice describing what proposals to 

amend the Appendices the United 

States might submit for consideration at 

CoP19 will be published separately. 

Comments received on our March 2, 

2021, notice can be viewed at https://

www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 

FWS–HQ–IA–2021–0008. 

Recommendations for Resolutions, 

Decisions, and Agenda Items for the 

United States To Consider Submitting 

for CoP19 

In response to our first notice, we 

received information and 

recommendations for possible 

submissions to CoP19 from the 

following organizations: Action for 

Primates, Animal Welfare Institute, 

Center for Biological Diversity, Costa 

Farms, EMS Foundation (South Africa), 

Environmental Investigation Agency, 

Friends of Animals, International Fund 

for Animal Welfare, International Wood 

Products Association, International 

Union for Conservation of Nature 

(IUCN) Species Survival Commission 

(SSC) Pangolin Specialist Group, League 

of American Orchestras, Natural 

Resources Defense Council, Species 

Survival Network, Wildlife 

Conservation Society, and World 

Wildlife Fund. We also received 

comments from three individuals. 

We evaluated all of the 

recommendations submitted by the 

above organizations and individuals, as 

well as the factors described in the U.S. 

approach for CoP19, discussed in our 

March 2, 2021, Federal Register notice, 

in considering resolutions, decisions, 

and agenda items that the United States 

may submit for consideration by the 

Parties at CoP19. In compiling these 

lists, we also considered potential 

submissions that we identified 

internally. The United States may 

consider submitting documents on some 

of the issues for which we are currently 

undecided or not considering 

submitting at this time, depending on 

the outcome of discussions of these 

issues in the CITES Standing Committee 

at its 74th meeting (SC74; scheduled to 

be held March 7–11, 2022), additional 

consultations with range country 

governments and subject matter experts, 

or comments we receive during the 

public comment period for this notice. 

We welcome your comments and 

information regarding the resolutions, 

decisions, and agenda items discussed 

below. Please review the information 

under ADDRESSES on how to submit 

information and comments in response 

to this notice. 

A. What resolutions, decisions, and 

agenda items is the United States likely 

to submit for consideration at CoP19? 

Due to the significant number of 

issues that are subject to ongoing 

discussions in the Standing Committee, 

to date we have not identified any 

issues for which we are likely to submit 

a document to CoP19. As described 

below, we will make a final decision on 

whether to submit a document to CoP19 

for many issues described in this 

document pending the outcomes and 

discussions at SC74. 

B. On what resolutions, decisions, and 

agenda items is the United States still 

undecided, pending additional 

information and consultations? 

1. CITES and zoonoses: Since the 

COVID–19 pandemic, multiple 

nongovernmental organizations have 

called for CITES to address zoonotic 

disease risk arising from international 

wildlife trade. Suggestions have 


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included amending the Convention text, 

adding a ‘‘Protocol’’ to CITES 

identifying taxa to be regulated based on 

disease risk, and considering the 

submission of a draft resolution to 

improve the safety of wildlife trade, 

among other approaches. 

Studies indicate that the number of 

CITES-listed animal species with 

‘‘zoonotic potential’’ is significant. The 

United States believes that CITES has a 

role to play in reducing zoonotic disease 

emergence and spread and that any 

action by CITES should be part of a 

larger global effort to prevent zoonoses. 

The United States is actively 

participating in an ongoing 

intersessional working group of the 

Standing Committee on this issue, and 

we anticipate that the Standing 

Committee will submit a document for 

consideration at CoP19. Depending on 

the outcomes and discussion at SC74, 

we may submit a separate or 

complementary document to CoP19. We 

are committed to engaging with other 

Parties and non-Party stakeholders to 

develop the most effective approach and 

identify feasible solutions that will 

reduce the spread of zoonotic disease in 

international wildlife trade in a way that 

strengthens but does not overextend 

CITES, and makes wildlife trade 

healthier for people and animals. We 

believe that CITES provides 

opportunities for taking positive steps 

toward reducing zoonotic disease risk, 

and in a possible U.S. document we 

would consider approaches that, for 

example: Improve conditions for live 

animals during transport and pre-trade 

care; consider disease risk frameworks 

for identifying high-risk taxa in trade; 

and expand CITES collaboration with 

the World Organisation for Animal 

Health (OIE). 

2. CITES National Legislation Project 

(NLP): The Wildlife Conservation 

Society (WCS) seeks to ensure that the 

CITES National Legislation Project 

(NLP) is on the CoP19 agenda and 

recommends that the United States 

submit a document proposing 

amendments to Resolution Conf. 8.4 

(Rev. CoP15) on National laws for 

implementation of the Convention, to 

provide clear guidelines concerning the 

criteria for inclusion in Categories 1, 2, 

and 3 (including coverage of all CITES 

taxa, native and nonnative, and marine 

species). WCS also recommends that the 

United States provide support to the 

Secretariat to undertake an update to the 

CITES model law (and its translations), 

as well as to provide further guidance 

on fisheries legislation to facilitate 

CITES implementation. The 

Environmental Investigation Agency 

(EIA) recommends that the United 

States liaise with the Secretariat to share 

best practices from U.S. CITES 

implementing legislation that could be 

incorporated into the NLP guidance 

materials; support updates to the criteria 

for assessing legislation under the NLP; 

and call for the current categorizations 

under the NLP to be reviewed against 

any changes made in the NLP guidance 

materials. 

The United States believes that the 

effectiveness of CITES is significantly 

undermined when Parties do not have 

adequate measures in place for 

implementing the Convention, and we 

consider the NLP to be critically 

important in achieving effective CITES 

implementation. Although we recognize 

that the Secretariat has placed 

significant focus on assisting Parties to 

enact adequate CITES implementing 

legislation, we also acknowledge that 

there are still too many Parties without 

adequate measures in place to 

implement CITES. We note that the 

Secretariat will report on the NLP at 

CoP19, as required by Resolution Conf. 

8.4 (Rev. CoP15) on National laws for 

implementation of the Convention, and, 

therefore, this issue will be on the 

CoP19 agenda. We are evaluating the 

recommendations from WCS and EIA 

and are currently undecided, pending 

further consultations and the outcome 

of discussions at the 74th meeting of the 

Standing Committee (SC74), as to 

whether we will submit a document on 

this issue for consideration at CoP19. 

3. Elephants (Elephantidae): WCS 

recommends that the United States seek 

to ensure continued reporting on 

implementation of Resolution Conf. 

10.10 (Rev. CoP18) on Trade in elephant 

specimens, with a particular focus on 

the successful enforcement of new laws 

on domestic ivory trade; to work with 

other Parties, including the European 

Union, Japan, and others, to close their 

ivory markets as a matter of urgency; 

and ensure that the issue continues to 

be discussed at CoP19 as a separate 

agenda item. 

We agree that the enforcement of 

domestic laws concerning ivory trade 

and the closure of domestic markets are 

actions necessary to put an end to 

trafficking in elephant ivory. We also 

recognize that unregulated legal markets 

can provide cover for laundering of 

illegal ivory and have put in place a 

near-total ban on commercial trade in 

elephant ivory in the United States. We 

note that there is ongoing work by the 

Secretariat and the Standing Committee 

on all of the issues related to elephants 

that were raised by WCS in its 

comments and, therefore, are undecided 

about submitting a document on this 

issue for consideration at CoP19, 

pending the results of this work and the 

outcomes and discussions at SC74. 

4. Ivory stocks and stockpile 

management: WCS recommends that 

the United States submit a discussion 

document with draft decisions that call 

for continued review of the ivory 

stockpile management and disposal 

guidance by the Standing Committee, 

including its implementation and any 

issues encountered by Parties, and 

direct the Secretariat to identify and 

compile available templates or guidance 

on model legislation/regulation or 

standard operating procedures that have 

worked for Parties with large stockpiles 

of seized ivory. WCS also recommends 

that the United States submit, or cosponsor, a document that would amend 

Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP18) to 

encourage the destruction of ivory 

stockpiles. 

The United States is undecided on 

these issues, pending outcomes and 

recommendations from SC74. 

5. National Ivory Action Plans 

(NIAPs): WCS recommends that the 

United States submit a document with 

proposed amendments to Resolution 

Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP18) seeking 

increased independent evaluation of 

proposed and adopted NIAPs, including 

progress made against them in terms of 

effectively reducing elephant poaching 

and illegal trade in ivory, and to 

advocate through the Standing 

Committee for decisions to be taken in 

line with the best available evidence 

from the Elephant Trade Information 

System (ETIS) and other current 

sources. EIA, the International Fund for 

Animal Welfare, and WCS also urge the 

United States to encourage the 

Secretariat to contract third-party 

expertise to support transparency and 

help distribute the workload of the 

NIAP process and support proactive 

reporting of all seizure-related data to 

ETIS and all relevant data on elephant 

mortality and poaching to Monitoring 

the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE). 

The United States considers the 

NIAPs, including the concrete actions 

contained therein and the specific 

deadlines for completion, to be a 

positive step in actively addressing 

illegal ivory trade. Noting that there is 

ongoing work on NIAPs in the Standing 

Committee, we are currently undecided 

about submitting a document on NIAPs 

for consideration at CoP19 and will 

closely evaluate reports to SC74 in 

making our decision. 

6. Cheetahs: WCS recommends that 

the United States submit a document 

with draft decisions that would: 

• Ensure that the illegal trade in 

cheetahs remains a high priority for 

Parties; 


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• request range, transit, and consumer 

States to enhance reporting on existing 

efforts to implement recommendations 

from the Standing Committee (SC66 and 

SC70); 

• request further review of these 

issues by the Big Cats Task Force (Task 

Force); and 

• ensure that the Standing Committee 

and the CoP keep this issue under 

review at every meeting and that efforts 

are prioritized, particularly in transit 

and consumer Parties. 

While cheetahs are a key issue for the 

United States, we are currently 

undecided on whether to submit a 

document to CoP19 on this issue. 

Cheetahs are included in the Joint 

CITES—Convention on the 

Conservation of Migratory Species of 

Wild Animals African Carnivores 

Initiative and will also be considered 

under the Task Force. While it is 

unlikely that there will be meaningful 

progress by the Task Force in advance 

of CoP19, we will continue to closely 

monitor these efforts to determine if it 

will be appropriate separately to submit 

a document to CoP19. 

7. Pangolins (Manis spp.), and 

domestic markets for frequently illegally 

traded specimens: WCS recommends 

that the United States submit a 

document on pangolins that includes 

draft decisions seeking to: 

• Build on the reports currently being 

drafted by consultants, feedback from 

the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist 

Group, and the advice of the Animals 

and Standing Committees; 

• build on the previous reports about 

domestic markets for specimens that are 

frequently traded illegally, to identify 

domestic legal or semilegal markets, or 

poor enforcement of technically illegal 

markets, that contribute to illegal 

hunting and trade in pangolins and 

pangolin products; 

• make recommendations for action 

on these domestic markets; and 

• require targeted cooperation via a 

Task Force or other reporting process 

through the Standing Committee that 

enables review of progress against these 

actions. 

The United States supports 

consideration of actions to address 

domestic markets that contribute to 

poaching and illegal trade, but we are 

undecided on whether we will submit 

such a document on pangolins and 

domestic markets, pending outcomes 

and recommendations from SC74. 

8. Sharks and rays (Elasmobranchii 

spp.): WCS urges the United States to 

take the lead in efforts to address the 

noncompliance with CITES with regard 

to the implementation and enforcement 

of the Convention for shark and ray 

species, including submission of a 

document to CoP19 with draft 

amendments to the Decisions 18.218– 

18.225 and draft amendments to 

Resolution Conf. 12.6 (Rev. CoP18) on 

Conservation and management of 

sharks. The Natural Resources Defense 

Council (NRDC) also suggests 

recommending ongoing reporting on the 

conservation of sharks and rays and 

continued focus on enhancing measures 

to identify and halt illegal trade in shark 

and ray specimens. The Species 

Survival Network (SSN) suggests that 

the United States seek continued close 

monitoring of sharks and rays under 

CITES to address issues, including 

resolving implementation challenges 

due to look-alike issues and considering 

Regional Fishery Bodies management 

measures and introduction from the sea 

provisions. 

The conservation and sustainable 

management of sharks and rays are key 

issues for the United States. The United 

States will continue to closely monitor 

this issue and make a decision pending 

outcomes and recommendations from 

SC74. 

9. Gender Action Plan for CITES: 

WWF recommends that the United 

States submit an agenda item for CoP19 

calling for a Gender Action Plan for 

CITES, which could be introduced 

through a draft resolution. WWF 

suggests that gender plays an important 

and unacknowledged role in wildlife 

trade, which differentially affects people 

of different groups. WWF points out that 

CITES enforcement (including 

rangering), decisionmaking, and 

implementation could benefit from 

efforts to promote gender equality. 

While the United States is currently 

undecided on how to address this 

recommendation, we believe it is 

especially important to consider gender 

issues in the context of CITES capacitybuilding (see item B. 30.). 

10. Elephants and appropriate and 

acceptable destinations: WWF 

recommends that the United States 

propose an amendment to Resolution 

Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP18) on Trade in 

elephant specimens, to reflect the 

position of the IUCN African Elephant 

Specialist Group that there is no 

conservation benefit to taking elephants 

from the wild to place them in zoos. The 

United States has actively engaged in 

the Animals Committee Working Group 

on ‘‘appropriate and acceptable 

destinations.’’ At the 31st meeting of the 

Animals Committee (AC31; virtual 

2021), the Committee agreed to put 

forward recommendations to SC74 that 

include nonbinding best-practice 

guidance on how to determine whether 

‘‘the trade would promote in situ 

conservation,’’ in line with the 

provisions of paragraph 2 b) of 

Resolution Conf. 11.20 (Rev. CoP18) on 

Definition of the term ‘appropriate and 

acceptable destinations.’ 

The United States is currently 

undecided on whether to submit an 

amendment on this issue to CoP19, and 

we will closely follow the discussions, 

outcomes, and recommendations arising 

from SC74 and make a decision 

following that meeting. 

11. Marine turtles: WWF suggests the 

development of a new resolution on 

marine turtles to include enhanced 

enforcement; forensic sampling of 

seized specimens; effective legislation; 

donor assistance; and cooperation with 

other multilateral environmental 

agreements. 

At CoP18, the Conference of the 

Parties adopted several decisions 

(Decisions 18.210–18.217 on Marine 

turtles (Cheloniidae spp. and 

Dermochelyidae spp.) that call for a 

large number of actions by the Parties, 

the Animals and Standing Committees, 

and the Secretariat. Activities called for 

include reviewing a study on the legal 

and illegal international trade in marine 

turtles; developing and/or updating 

management and action plans for the 

conservation of marine turtles; 

improving monitoring, detection, and 

law-enforcement activities for marine 

turtles; developing or updating, as 

appropriate, legislation that protects 

marine turtles; and working with 

relevant multilateral agreements to 

encourage communication and 

collaboration on the management and 

sustainable use of marine turtles. The 

United States has actively engaged in 

the intersessional work and will actively 

participate in the discussions on marine 

turtles at SC74. We are currently 

undecided on whether to support the 

development of a stand-alone resolution 

on marine turtles and will consider the 

outcomes of SC74 in making a decision. 

12. Asian big cats: The World Wildlife 

Fund (WWF) suggested that the United 

States seek to prioritize the 

implementation of Decisions 17.226, 

18.102, and 18.108 on Illegal trade in 

Asian big cats (Felidae spp.), with 

priority focus on Cambodia, China, 

Thailand, and Viet Nam, where 

significant concerns have been raised 

with regard to captive-breeding 

facilities. 

The United States is following this 

issue closely and has actively engaged 

in the discussions during this 

intersessional period. Pending the 

outcomes and recommendations from 

SC74, we will determine whether to 

submit a document on this issue to 

CoP19. 


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13. Totoaba and vaquita: WWF urged 

the United States to redouble efforts, in 

close collaboration with China and 

Mexico, to eliminate demand for totoaba 

and ensure strong compliance with 

Decisions 18.292 and 18.293. The 

Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), 

Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), NRDC, 

and EIA also suggested that the United 

States seek to ensure that Mexico’s 

failure to address the poaching and 

illegal trade in totoaba is addressed 

through CITES compliance procedures. 

The United States remains gravely 

concerned about the status of the 

vaquita and illegal trade in totoaba and 

led efforts at the 18th meeting of the 

Conference of the Parties (CoP18; 

Geneva 2019) to strengthen several draft 

decisions considered during CoP18 to 

combat the illegal harvest and trade of 

totoaba. We will make a decision 

pending outcomes and 

recommendations from SC74. 

14. Verification of legal acquisition: 

The International Wood Products 

Association (IWPA) recommends that 

the United States continue supporting 

work on the verification of legal 

acquisition of CITES specimens and the 

principle that legal acquisition findings 

are the primary responsibility of the 

CITES authorities of the exporting 

nation. IWPA commented that requiring 

an applicant to provide information on 

the entire chain of custody back to the 

origin of the specimen is unworkable for 

many manufactured goods. Further, 

IWPA does not consider that those 

applying for a CITES document should 

be required to provide that information, 

noting that information about chain of 

custody should not be determinative 

when obtaining that information is 

impossible or impractical and other 

verification tools exist. 

The United States affirms that CITES 

Management Authorities hold the 

responsibility for making legal 

acquisition findings and supports 

development of guidance to assist the 

Parties in the practical aspects of 

making those findings. The United 

States is undecided about further work 

on this issue, pending outcomes and 

recommendations from SC74. 

15. Pangolins: The IUCN SSC 

Pangolin Specialist Group requested 

that the United States submit agenda 

items addressing: 

• Incentives, encouragement, and 

support to pangolin range countries to 

implement Resolution Conf. 17.10 on 

Conservation of and trade in pangolins; 

• Ensuring ongoing focus on 

population monitoring, understanding 

harvest levels and supply chains, and 

capacity-building of frontline law 

enforcement to accurately identify 

different pangolin species and their 

parts and derivatives in trade; 

• Taxonomic proposals that 

streamline the listing of pangolin 

species in the Appendices following 

Decision 18.315 on Nomenclature of 

Manidae spp.; and 

• Calls for financial support to 

convene experts and range states to 

share knowledge related to ecology and 

monitoring; identify in situ and ex situ 

priorities for conservation action; 

research pangolin harvest and trade 

chains; deliver training related to 

identification; and implement activities 

from pangolin conservation action 

plans. 

EIA requests that the United States: 

• Support decisions for urgent action 

by pangolin range, transit, and 

consumer States to address the illegal 

trade in pangolins; 

• support demand-reduction efforts, 

including closure of domestic markets; 

• propose amendments to Resolution 

Conf. 17.10 on Conservation of and 

trade in pangolins that encourage 

Parties to eliminate demand in pangolin 

specimens; and 

• direct the Secretariat to report on 

the conservation and management of 

pangolins to each meeting of the 

Standing Committee and CoP. 

The United States is undecided on 

submitting any of these proposals or 

suggestions, pending outcomes and 

recommendations from the Standing 

Committee. 

16. Sea cucumbers: CBD recommends 

that the United States submit a draft 

decision calling for a second global 

workshop on the status, conservation, 

and management of sea cucumbers. 

We remain concerned with the 

increases in sea cucumber harvest 

globally and their biological 

vulnerability. We, therefore, seek further 

information from the public on the 

current trade and status of sea 

cucumbers, particularly species native 

to the United States, Puerto Rico, and 

U.S. territories in the Caribbean and the 

Pacific. We also seek input on the needs 

and objectives and goals of such a 

workshop. We are currently undecided 

on this issue and will consider further 

information and the outcomes and 

recommendations from SC74 in 

determining how best to address it at 

CoP19. 

17. Resolution Conf. 17.8 on Disposal 

of illegally traded and confiscated 

specimens of CITES-listed species: 

Friends of Animals (FOA) recommends 

that the United States propose 

amendments to Resolution Conf. 17.8 to 

ensure consistency with the intent and 

requirements of CITES. 

We are undecided on our actions 

concerning this issue pending outcomes 

and recommendations from SC74. 

18. Animal meat markets: FOA 

recommends that the United States 

submit a document supporting the 

intent and the application of World 

Health Organization, OIE, United 

Nations Environment Programme 

guidance on ‘‘Reducing public health 

risks associated with the sale of live 

wild animals of mammalian species in 

traditional food markets.’’ 

Pending outcomes and 

recommendations from the Standing 

Committee through its zoonotic disease 

working group, the United States will 

consider this issue and other guidance 

documents related to reducing disease 

risk in the wildlife trade (related to item 

B. 1. above). The United States is 

particularly interested in considering 

options to expand the partnership 

between CITES and OIE. 

19. Application of Article XIII: EIA is 

concerned that CITES compliance issues 

are not being taken seriously and urges 

the United States to treat the issue of 

noncompliance as an urgent priority. 

Specifically, EIA urges the United States 

to support a decision by the Conference 

of the Parties at CoP19 to implement 

compliance procedures in relation to 

Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 

Nigeria, and Viet Nam, due to persistent 

noncompliance over a significant period 

of time and insufficient progress in 

addressing their role in illegal wildlife 

trade. EIA recommends that the United 

States ensure complementarity between 

the Article XIII and NIAP proceedings 

in relation to Nigeria and requests that 

in the future a single progress report 

under Article XIII proceedings be 

submitted, which also includes NIAP 

progress. 

The Standing Committee at its 74th 

meeting will discuss the numerous 

ongoing CITES compliance issues, 

including those highlighted by EIA. The 

United States takes CITES compliance 

issues seriously. We will closely 

monitor the outcomes and 

recommendations from SC74 and 

determine whether it will be necessary 

to submit a document to CoP19 on this 

matter. 

20. Domestic ivory markets: EIA 

recommends that the United States call 

on the Conference of the Parties to 

direct Japan to close its domestic ivory 

market in line with Resolution Conf. 

10.10 (Rev. CoP18) on Trade in elephant 

specimens, and to set concrete, shortterm deadlines for market closure. 

The United States supports the 

recommendation in Resolution Conf. 

10.10 (Rev. CoP18) that all Parties and 

non-Parties in whose jurisdiction there 


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is a legal domestic market for ivory that 

is contributing to poaching or illegal 

trade take all necessary legislative, 

regulatory, and enforcement measures to 

close their domestic markets for 

commercial trade in raw and worked 

ivory as a matter of urgency. This issue 

will be on the agenda for SC74, and, 

pending the outcomes of that meeting, 

we will determine whether we should 

submit a document on the issue to 

CoP19. 

21. Forensic analysis of large-scale 

ivory seizures: EIA requests that the 

United States propose a draft decision 

directing the Secretariat to publish and 

maintain a list of countries that have 

made large-scale ivory seizures and 

whether the Parties have conducted 

forensic analysis and shared the results 

of that analysis. They also ask that we 

support calling for technical and 

financial support for conducting 

forensic analysis of large-scale ivory 

seizures. 

We are undecided on this suggestion 

pending additional internal consultation 

with the FWS Office of Law 

Enforcement (FWS/OLE) and 

specifically the FWS/OLE Forensics 

Lab. 

22. Captive Asian big cat facilities of 

concern: Decision 18.108 on Illegal 

trade in Asian big cats (Felidae spp.) 

directs the Secretariat, subject to 

external funding, to undertake a mission 

to those Parties in whose territories 

facilities keeping Asian big cats in 

captivity have been identified that may 

be of concern, with the purpose of 

gaining a better understanding of the 

operations and activities undertaken by 

those facilities. Noting that seven Parties 

have been identified as having such 

facilities, EIA believes that the 

Secretariat should be encouraged to 

consult with nongovernmental 

organizations, intergovernmental 

organizations, and relevant experts in 

preparing terms of reference both for the 

missions and for interim online 

consultations in the event the in-person 

missions cannot be conducted during 

this intersessional period. EIA urges the 

United States to offer technical and 

financial assistance to the Secretariat to 

develop the terms of reference and 

facilitate the CITES missions/interim 

consultations called for in the relevant 

decisions. 

The United States has worked 

extensively with the Secretariat and 

others on this issue. In-person missions 

have not been able to take place during 

the current intersessional period to date 

due to the COVID–19 pandemic, and we 

will work with the Secretariat and 

others to determine if they can be 

undertaken prior to CoP19 or if this 

work should be carried over to the next 

intersessional period. Several issues 

related to Asian big cats will be on the 

agenda for SC74, and we will actively 

participate in the discussions there. 

23. Asian big cat trade: EIA urges the 

United States to take action on Asian big 

cat trade, including promoting the 

creation of a centralized database of 

images of seized tiger skins and skins of 

tigers observed for sale in physical and 

digital markets and supporting 

consideration of time-bound, countryspecific measures for Parties failing to 

comply with Asian big cat-related 

Resolutions and Decisions. To 

accomplish the latter, EIA recommends 

that the United States urge the 

Secretariat to issue a notification to 

relevant Parties requesting them to 

report on action taken to address 

noncompliance with CoP18 decisions 

and Resolution Conf. 12.5 (Rev. CoP18) 

on Conservation of and trade in tigers 

and other Appendix-I Asian big cat 

species, in time for the Secretariat to 

prepare a report for SC74, and for the 

Standing Committee to consider further 

time-bound, country-specific measures. 

While EIA’s recommendation does 

not specifically concern a CoP19 

submission, the United States remains 

very concerned about the Asian big cat 

trade and continues to follow this issue. 

We will consider the outcomes and 

recommendations from the Standing 

Committee at SC74 in determining 

whether to submit a document on this 

matter to CoP19. 

24. Rhinoceroses: Noting the 

worsening rhinoceros-poaching crisis in 

Botswana, EIA urges the United States 

to support decisions at CoP19 directing 

Botswana to strengthen its 

implementation of Resolution Conf. 9.14 

(Rev. CoP17) on Conservation of and 

trade in African and Asian 

rhinoceroses, in particular on the 

provisions relating to anti-poaching and 

law-enforcement actions, including by 

pursuing the initiation of joint 

investigations and operations aimed at 

addressing members of organized crime 

networks, and to report to SC77. 

The United States is currently 

undecided on whether to submit a 

document on this issue to CoP19, and 

we will closely follow the discussions, 

outcomes, and recommendations arising 

from SC74 and make a decision 

following that meeting. 

25. Decision 18.116 on Rhinoceroses 

(Rhinocerotidae spp.): Noting particular 

concern with regard to Parties where 

legal domestic markets for rhinoceros 

parts and derivatives exist and the 

opportunities those markets provide for 

laundering illegal rhinoceros horn, and 

challenges to law-enforcement and 

demand-reduction efforts, EIA 

recommends that the United States 

support renewing Decision 18.116, 

concerning illegal markets for 

rhinoceros horn, until CoP20 and 

amending it to call on affected Parties to 

report to the Secretariat in advance of 

SC77 on any actions taken, and 

directing the Standing Committee to 

consider the matter. 

The United States strongly supports 

considering actions under CITES to 

address domestic markets that are 

contributing to poaching or illegal trade. 

We are currently undecided on the 

recommendation made by EIA and will 

consider the outcomes and discussions 

from SC74 in determining how best to 

address this issue at CoP19. 

26. Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. 

CoP16) on Quotas for leopard hunting 

trophies and skins for personal use: SSN 

suggests that the United States support 

draft decisions or amendments to 

Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP16), 

aimed at strengthening the scientific 

oversight of annual leopard quotas and 

reducing overexploitation of the species, 

and requests Malawi, Ethiopia, and 

Kenya to remove or revise their quotas 

under this resolution. The discussion of 

this resolution and the current quotas 

for leopards from most range countries 

were reviewed by the Animals 

Committee at the 30th meeting of the 

Animals Committee (AC30; Geneva 

2018), which made recommendations 

that were discussed extensively at 

CoP18, and decisions were taken. At 

CoP18, export quotas were approved for 

Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, 

United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, 

and Zimbabwe. Quotas for Kenya and 

Malawi should have been removed at 

those Parties’ requests, but in what 

appears to have been an oversight that 

issue was not formally agreed to at 

CoP18 (see Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. 

CoP16)). At AC31, the Animals 

Committee agreed to inform the 

Standing Committee that it considers 

the quotas for leopards for Botswana 

and the Central African Republic, as 

mentioned in Resolution Conf. 10.14 

(Rev. CoP16), to be set at levels that are 

not detrimental to the survival of the 

species in the wild. The Committee also 

agreed to inform the Standing 

Committee that, for Ethiopia, it 

considers the proposed reduction of the 

quota for leopards in Resolution Conf. 

10.14 (Rev. CoP16) to 20 trophies to be 

set at levels that are not detrimental to 

the survival of the species in the wild. 

The United States is currently 

undecided on whether to submit a 

document on this issue to CoP19, and 

we will closely follow the discussions, 

outcomes, and recommendations arising 


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from SC74 and make a decision 

following that meeting. 

27. Transparency and oversight of 

CITES processes: AWI encourages the 

United States to submit a working 

document seeking greater transparency 

in the activities and operations of the 

Secretariat. AWI is particularly 

concerned about transparency in the 

context of the Review of Significant 

Trade (RST) process where 

correspondence between the Secretariat 

and Parties in the Review, while shared 

with Committee members (i.e., Animals, 

Plants, and Standing), is not made 

available to other Parties and observers. 

We recognize the sensitivity of the 

information shared by Parties in 

response to questions rising during the 

RST and appreciate Parties’ willingness 

to be honest in their communications 

during the review. We believe that the 

Secretariat’s process of sharing 

responses with the Committees, in 

accordance with Resolution Conf. 12.6 

(Rev. CoP18) on Review of Significant 

Trade in specimens of Appendix-II 

species, is appropriate, and, therefore, 

the United States is unlikely to submit 

a document specific to this issue. 

Although we are unlikely to submit a 

document to CoP19 specifically calling 

for changes to the RST process, we 

strongly support the need for ensuring 

transparency in the Secretariat’s 

activities and operations, including in 

its implementation of CITES decisions. 

We believe that this is particularly the 

case with regard to the selection of 

consultants and development of terms 

of reference, which we believe are 

crucial for delivering meaningful 

outputs that respond to the expectations 

of the Conference of the Parties when 

they adopt such decisions. 

Consequently, although we are currently 

undecided, we may submit a discussion 

document to CoP19 on this issue. 

28. Reservations: A number of issues 

related to reservations have arisen 

following recent meetings of the 

Conference of the Parties, including the 

scope of specific reservations to 

amendments to Appendices I and II 

allowed under Article XV of the 

Convention and whether reservations 

can cover actions such as changes to an 

annotation to a listing and changes to 

taxonomy or nomenclature and the 

effect of specific reservations in special 

cases such as transferring taxa in splitlistings. 

The Secretariat has indicated its 

intention to prepare a document for 

SC74 addressing this issue. This is also 

an important issue for the United States 

that we are discussing internally. We are 

closely following the Secretariat’s work 

and will determine whether to submit a 

U.S. document to CoP19 on 

reservations, including the potential for 

amendments to Resolution Conf. 4.25 

(Rev. CoP18) on Reservations, pending 

the outcome of discussions at SC74. 

29. Personal and household effects: 

Based on internal discussions, the 

United States is considering proposing 

an amendment to Resolution Conf. 13.7 

(Rev. CoP17) on Control of trade in 

personal and household effects to 

designate a weight, volume, or number 

of specimens of certain species to be 

included in the list in paragraph b) iv) 

for which the Parties have agreed that 

CITES documents are not required 

unless the specimens being carried as a 

personal or household effect exceeds the 

weight, volume, or number specified. 

Items for which we are considering 

submitting such a proposal include 

American ginseng packaged and ready 

for retail trade, and finished musical 

instruments, finished musical 

instrument parts, and finished musical 

instrument accessories. We solicit 

information on what may be appropriate 

quantities if we decide to submit such 

a proposal. 

30. Capacity-building/combating 

wildlife trafficking: At CoP18, the 

United States introduced the idea of a 

conceptual framework and resourcetracking tool for CITES capacitybuilding efforts (Document CoP18 Doc. 

21.3). The proposed capacity-building 

framework sought to clarify how 

capacity-building advances 

conservation and implements CITES 

and aimed to coordinate and direct 

investments based on a Party’s capacitybuilding needs. Although the 

Conference of the Parties at CoP18 did 

not adopt the draft resolution proposed 

by the United States, there was broad 

support for developing a CITES 

capacity-building framework and it 

adopted several decisions in support of 

the development of an integrated 

capacity-building framework to improve 

implementation of the Convention. The 

Standing Committee established a 

working group to develop 

recommendations on consolidating and 

integrating various compliance and 

capacity-building processes and how to 

proceed in terms of developing a 

capacity-building framework. 

We are members of the Standing 

Committee’s working group, and, 

depending on the outcomes of 

discussions at SC74, we will decide 

whether to submit a discussion 

document to CoP19 on this topic. Our 

primary goal, which we would promote 

in any discussion document we would 

submit to CoP19, would be to ensure 

capacity-building activities are Partydriven and coordinated. 

31. Stocks and stockpiles: Based on 

internal discussions, the United States 

is considering submitting a discussion 

document on the management of 

stockpiled specimens, including 

pangolin scales, tiger specimens, 

rhinoceros horn, saiga horn, elephant 

ivory, timber, etc., and potentially 

recommending the development of a 

declaration system for stockpiles of 

dead specimens when an amendment is 

adopted to transfer a species from 

Appendix II to Appendix I. 

32. Compliance: The United States is 

concerned that compliance 

considerations in CITES are becoming 

increasingly weakened and that Parties 

are not being held accountable for 

failing to effectively implement the 

provisions of the Convention. We are 

currently evaluating how these concerns 

might best be addressed and may submit 

a document on this issue for 

consideration at CoP19. Issues we are 

considering include timeframes for 

taking action, whether our concerns 

could be addressed in the context of a 

capacity-building framework, and 

avenues for ensuring that Scientific 

Authorities are empowered to do their 

work and that repeated failures to make 

scientifically robust non-detriment 

findings, when required, are 

appropriately addressed. 

33. E-permitting: The United States is 

actively engaged in discussions on 

potential proposals regarding the 

issuance of electronic CITES permits. 

These are currently being debated in the 

Standing Committee’s working group on 

electronic systems and information 

technologies. The working group will 

submit its recommendations to SC74. In 

general, the United States supports 

solutions that would ensure that any 

electronic CITES permit is authentic 

and meets all CITES permitting 

requirements by verifiably providing an 

electronic equivalent of an original 

paper CITES document presented with 

its shipment at the time of trade. 

Importantly, CITES documents prevent 

more than one authorized shipment 

from moving under a single-use 

document or unauthorized use of a 

multiple-use document, are presented at 

the time of trade, are able to be certified 

or validated at the time of export or 

reexport and canceled by the importing 

Party at the time of import or 

introduction from the sea, and enable 

any Party to readily verify whether the 

permit is valid and whether it has been 

used or canceled. An electronic 

equivalent must serve these same 

functions as well. Pending the outcome 

of discussions and recommendations 

arising from SC74, we may submit a 


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separate document on this issue to 

CoP19. 

34. Programming funding for CITES 

Decisions subject to external funding: 

Implementation of many of the CITES 

decisions adopted by the Conference of 

the Parties is subject to the availability 

of external funding. That funding is 

generally provided by Parties, but also 

on occasion by nongovernmental 

organizations. Recognizing that Parties 

have the latitude to direct their funding 

in accordance with their national 

priorities, we believe that there may be 

benefit in exploring mechanisms for 

ensuring that external funding is 

programmed consistent with the 

priorities identified by the Standing, 

Animals, and Plants Committees in their 

working programmes. Based on those 

internal discussions and discussions 

with other key funding Parties, we may 

submit a discussion document to CoP19 

calling for the development of such a 

process. 

35. 50th anniversary of CITES: The 

United States is considering submitting 

a document proposing activities to mark 

the 50th anniversary of CITES on March 

3, 2023, as well as the 50th anniversary 

of its entry into force on July 1, 2025. 

We would seek to propose activities or 

events to celebrate the significant 

milestones of CITES over the last 50 

years, and we welcome comments or 

suggestions regarding this issue. 

C. What resolutions, decisions, and 

agenda items is the United States not 

likely to submit for consideration at 

CoP19, unless we receive significant 

additional information? 

1. Rhinoceros horn: Citing the toll 

rhinoceros poaching has taken on 

rangers and rural communities, an 

individual recommends that the United 

States reconsider the ban on trade in 

rhinoceros horn and take action at 

CoP19 to address the issue. The United 

States has consistently opposed 

proposals to amend CITES listings to 

open a commercial trade in rhinoceros 

horn at previous meetings of the 

Conference of the Parties in view of the 

ongoing high levels of rhinoceros 

poaching and illegal trade in rhinoceros 

horn for high prices on the black 

market. The concept that a limited legal 

trade would provide a conservation 

benefit to rhinoceroses or that it could 

be sustainable within the context of the 

illegal trade is not supported. 

Information available to date does not 

provide satisfactory evidence that 

permitting trade would not fuel demand 

for rhinoceros horn or that effective 

control measures could be implemented 

to ensure that commercial trade would 

originate only from legal sources, and 

no proposal submitted to date has met 

the precautionary measures set out in 

Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) on 

Criteria for amendment of Appendices I 

and II. 

The United States believes that a 

proposal to harvest rhinoceros horn for 

international trade is premature and 

runs the risk of exacerbating the ongoing 

poaching crisis, rather than resolving it. 

Accordingly, the United States is 

unlikely to submit a document on this 

issue but will carefully consider any 

proposals or discussion documents 

submitted for CoP19 on trade in 

rhinoceros horn and will develop its 

position based on internal discussions 

and public consultation. 

2. Marine turtles: An individual 

suggests that, recognizing the public 

health risks of consuming marine turtle 

meat and derivatives, the United States 

should seek to prohibit take and 

consumption of all marine turtles and 

the development of a registration system 

of entities involved in take or sale of 

marine turtles and a traceability scheme, 

and call for the implementation of 

public awareness campaigns. 

The United States is unlikely to 

submit a document on this issue. We 

note that marine turtles are protected 

under the U.S. Endangered Species Act 

and are included in Appendix I, which 

prohibits international trade in the 

taxon for primarily commercial 

purposes. 

3. Wildlife trade ban: EMS 

Foundation (South Africa) urges the 

United States to seek a prohibition of all 

wildlife trade. 

The United States is unlikely to 

submit a document seeking a 

prohibition of all wildlife trade because 

we recognize and support the purpose 

of CITES in regulating trade in listed 

species to ensure it is legal, does not 

threaten the survival of species in the 

wild, and that any use of wildlife and 

plants in trade is sustainable. 

4. Sharks and RFMOs: WWF suggests 

that the United States submit a 

discussion document to raise the profile 

of failures of Regional Fishery 

Management Organizations (RFMOs) to 

effectively manage Appendix-II shark 

species and refer the issue to the 

Animals Committee and the Standing 

Committee. 

The United States actively 

participates as a member of CITES and 

RFMOs toward ensuring the 

sustainability of sharks and is unlikely 

to submit a document on this issue to 

CoP19. 

5. Electronic permitting: IWPA and 

the League of American Orchestras 

request that the United States continue 

supporting development and 

implementation of robust electronicpermitting systems. 

The United States supports 

development and implementation of 

robust electronic-permitting systems 

through its participation in the ongoing 

Standing Committee’s working group on 

electronic systems and information 

technologies. We are actively engaged in 

the Standing Committee discussions on 

the development of proposed 

amendments to relevant resolutions or 

decisions regarding electronic systems 

through that process, which will be 

presented to the Standing Committee at 

SC74. Therefore, we are unlikely to 

submit a document on this issue to 

CoP19. 

6. Permit delays and industry 

outreach: IWPA encourages the United 

States to work closely with other Parties 

to find solutions that preserve the level 

of trade in species that is not 

detrimental to the survival of species in 

question and raises concern that listing 

all species in a genus (as in Dalbergia 

and Cedrela listings), including those 

that are not threatened, places 

unworkable administrative burdens on 

exporting nations. 

The United States has an ongoing 

commitment to working with permit 

stakeholders to understand CITES 

requirements, and the United States is 

unlikely to submit a document on this 

topic to CoP19. 

7. Efficiency of permitting process: 

Costa Farms, LLC, recommends that the 

United States engage the Parties in a 

discussion of CITES certificates and 

processes, particularly with respect to 

improving the efficiency of issuing 

CITES documents. They recommend 

creation of a certification program; 

extension of the validity period of 

certificates for artificially propagated 

plants from 6 months to 1 year; 

changing from paper certificates with 

ink signatures to a digital format; and 

automation of certificates using 

templates that allow commercial 

operations to print documents in-house. 

The United States is unlikely to 

submit a document on these ideas. 

Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP18) on 

Permits and certificates establishes the 

use of simplified procedures to issue 

permits and certificates, including a 

process for issuance of partially 

completed certificate for artificially 

propagated plants that remain valid for 

a period of 3 years. The United States 

implements this provision by allowing 

submission and authorization of master 

files for certificate for artificially 

propagated plants that are valid for 3 

years. As described above, the United 

States supports development and 

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permitting systems through its 

participation in the ongoing Standing 

Committee’s working group on 

electronic systems and information 

technologies. Proposed amendments or 

decisions regarding electronic systems 

will be developed through that process 

and presented to the Standing 

Committee at SC74 and then CoP19. 

8. Addressing CITES’ weaknesses 

identified by IPBES: CBD suggests that 

the United States address the issues 

identified in the 2019 report of the 

Intergovernmental Science-Policy 

Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem 

Services (IPBES): ‘‘Global assessment 

report on biodiversity and ecosystem 

services of the Intergovernmental 

Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity 

and Ecosystem Services,’’ including 

compliance, the need for science-based 

quotas, enforcement, funding, 

combating corruption, and demand 

reduction. 

While we believe that these are all 

important issues that are central to 

effective implementation of CITES, they 

are being addressed through ongoing 

efforts and discussions, and, therefore, 

we are unlikely to submit a document 

to CoP19 on this issue. 

9. Synthetic specimens: CBD urges the 

United States to ensure that the CITES 

Parties consider that synthetic products 

of or made from CITES-listed species are 

included under the provisions of the 

Convention. 

Recognizing the ongoing 

intersessional work on this issue, in 

which the United States is actively 

involved, we are unlikely to submit a 

separate document for CoP19 on 

synthetic specimens. The longstanding 

U.S. position is that specimens of 

CITES-listed species produced from 

biotechnology should be regulated 

under CITES as readily recognizable, if 

they meet the existing criteria under 

Resolution Conf. 9.6 (Rev. CoP16) on 

Trade in readily recognizable parts and 

derivatives. However, we are generally 

supportive of amendments to the 

resolution to make that explicit. 

10. Travel with instruments 

containing CITES species: The League of 

American Orchestras recommends that 

the United States propose an exemption 

from CITES requirements of 

noncommercial movement of musical 

instruments containing CITES-listed 

species. 

We are unlikely to submit such a 

proposal as we cannot propose or 

support the adoption of a new 

exemption from CITES requirements 

that does not exist in the Convention. 

We will consider other avenues for 

addressing the concerns of musicians 

and other musical instrument 

stakeholders in the context of possible 

amendments to Resolution Conf. 13.7 

(Rev. CoP17) on Control of trade in 

personal and household effects. 

11. Application of a precautionary 

approach: EIA reminds the United 

States of the importance of applying the 

precautionary approach in framing 

policy and negotiation positions under 

CITES. 

Although the United States is 

currently not planning to submit an 

agenda item to CoP19 specifically on the 

precautionary approach, we routinely 

apply the precautionary approach where 

appropriate in our implementation of 

CITES. 

12. Domestic trade: EIA recommends 

that the United States recognize that 

there is a mandate to address domestic 

trade in CITES under certain 

circumstances. 

Although the United States supports 

consideration of actions to address 

domestic markets that contribute to 

poaching or illegal trade, we are 

unlikely to submit a document to CoP19 

specifically addressing this issue. 

However, we will closely follow any 

discussions on this issue at SC74 and 

any recommendations arising from that 

meeting. 

13. Annual illegal trade reports: EIA 

recommends that the United States 

propose amendments to relevant 

resolutions to make failure to submit 

those reports subject to noncompliance 

proceedings; ensure transparency and 

accountability in relation to illegal trade 

reports; and strengthen law-enforcement 

responses to illegal trade in CITES 

species. 

The United States is a strong 

supporter of the CITES Illegal Trade 

Report, and all Parties are urged to 

submit annual illegal trade reports in 

accordance with the recommendations 

of the Conference of the Parties. 

However, at this time, the United States 

does not support initiating compliance 

measures against non-reporting Parties 

given that the CITES annual illegal trade 

report was developed recently and was 

not intended to be subject to compliance 

measures. Therefore, we are unlikely to 

submit a document on this issue to 

CoP19. 

14. Elephants: EIA suggests that the 

United States support maintenance of 

the ban on international ivory trade, 

including by rejecting any down-listing 

proposals for African elephants. 

The United States remains concerned 

about the status of elephants in the wild 

and the trafficking of ivory. Although 

we are unlikely to submit a document 

on this issue, we will carefully consider 

any proposals or discussion documents 

submitted to CoP19 on trade in elephant 

ivory, particularly from range countries, 

and will develop our position based on 

internal discussions and public 

consultation on species proposals to 

amend the Appendices submitted by 

other Parties. 

15. Rhinoceros-horn trade ban: EIA 

suggests that the United States oppose 

any proposals that would allow 

international trade in rhinoceros horn, 

including through the exploitation of 

CITES exemptions for specimens bred 

in captivity. 

The United States is unlikely to 

submit a document on this issue but 

will carefully consider any proposals or 

discussion documents submitted to 

CoP19 on trade in rhinoceros horn, 

particularly from range states, and we 

will develop our position based on 

internal discussions and public 

consultation on species proposals to 

amend the Appendices that are 

submitted by other Parties. 

16. Funding for future meetings of the 

Conference of the Parties: Concerned 

with the increasing size and cost of 

meetings of the Conference of the 

Parties, SSN recommends that the 

United States submit draft decisions to 

CoP19 directing the Secretariat and the 

Standing Committee to explore funding 

mechanisms with the aim of 

guaranteeing that future meetings of the 

Conference of the Parties will not have 

to be postponed or withdrawn for 

financial reasons. 

The United States shares SSN’s 

concerns with regard to the need to 

address the increasing size and cost of 

CITES meetings and will continue to 

work through the Standing Committee’s 

Finance and Budget Subcommittee and 

the Conference of the Parties to address 

these issues. Currently, we do not 

intend to submit draft decisions on this 

matter to CoP19. 

17. Trade in Macaca fascicularis 

(Long-tailed macaque): SSN suggests the 

United States submit a discussion 

document on trade in long-tailed 

macaques, which includes draft 

decisions recommending that trading 

Parties agree to commit to greater 

oversight of the burgeoning trade in this 

species. Action for Primates suggests 

that the United States explore steps 

CITES could take to investigate possible 

trade violations related to trade in this 

species and consider enforcement 

actions, where appropriate. 

Although the United States is unlikely 

to submit a document, we continue to 

follow the discussion of the trade in this 

species by the Animals Committee, 

including through both the Review of 

Significant Trade and review of captivebred and ranched specimens. 


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18. International trade in frogs for 

consumption: SSN recommends that the 

United States submit a discussion 

document related to international trade 

in frogs for consumption, to ensure that 

this trade does not threaten species in 

the wild. 

We recognize trade in this taxon is 

significant, but we believe this 

document should be submitted by range 

States. Therefore, the United States does 

not currently plan to submit a document 

related to this issue to CoP19. 

19. Introduction from the Sea: SSN 

suggests that the United States take 

action to ensure that CITES continues to 

monitor and, where needed, actively 

enhance implementation of the 

provisions of introduction from the sea. 

These issues are already considered in 

the context of Resolution Conf. 14.6 

(Rev. CoP16) on Introduction from the 

Sea, and, therefore, we are unlikely to 

submit a document on this issue to 

CoP19. 

20. Reemphasizing the need for CITES 

and improving its implementation: In 

the lead-up to the 50th anniversary of 

the agreement of the Convention text, 

AWI recommends that the United States 

submit a draft resolution reemphasizing 

the need for CITES and improving its 

implementation. AWI suggests that such 

a draft resolution could address a 

number of issues, including promoting 

capacity-building, urging the use of best 

available science in CITES 

decisionmaking; embracing the 

precautionary principle; calling for 

greater transparency and accountability; 

and strengthening national CITES 

implementing laws. 

We strongly agree with all of the 

concepts raised in AWI’s comment but 

note that these concepts are already 

reflected in existing resolutions. As a 

result, we are unlikely to submit a 

document on this issue to CoP19. 

21. Candidate-species listing tool: 

AWI recommends that the United States 

submit a document that proposes a 

formal process whereby, between CoPs, 

species that may warrant CITES 

protections can be identified and 

research undertaken to assess the merits 

of including them in the Appendices. 

The United States acknowledges the 

responsibility of each Party to monitor 

trade and status of species not included 

in the Appendices, particularly native 

species, to determine if significant 

levels of international trade may affect 

a species’ conservation status such that 

it should be considered for inclusion in 

the Appendices. Organizations that 

collect and monitor trade levels in 

species that are not regulated under 

CITES are encouraged to provide that 

information to the Parties for their 

consideration. We also recognize the 

role of Parties in submitting proposals to 

a CoP, given limited resources and 

existing mechanisms. Therefore, the 

United States is unlikely to propose a 

candidate-species listing tool to CoP19. 

22. Taxa-specific assessments and/or 

workshops: AWI recommends that the 

United States submit a working 

document that seeks the preparation of 

comprehensive assessments and/or the 

planning of workshops to identify and 

prioritize the genera or species within 

particular taxa that most warrant 

inclusion in the Appendices. 

While the United States, in 

collaboration with State wildlife 

agencies and the Association of Fish & 

Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), has 

conducted taxa-specific assessments 

and workshops for some U.S. native 

species, it has done so to monitor the 

status and trade of native species. We 

have found those workshops to be 

informative and possibly a ‘best 

practice,’ but we are cognizant that each 

Party determines how best to monitor 

the status of and trade in its native 

species. We also recognize the role of 

Parties in submitting proposals to a CoP, 

given limited resources and existing 

mechanisms. Therefore, the United 

States is unlikely to submit a document 

on this issue to CoP19. 

23. Law Enforcement Management 

Information System (LEMIS) database: 

AWI recommends that the United States 

consider hosting a side event at CoP19 

to explain the origins, maintenance, and 

benefits of the LEMIS database in order 

to encourage other Parties to develop 

and implement similar databases in 

their countries. 

Currently, our position is that we are 

unlikely to submit a request to host such 

an event at CoP19. However, if other 

Parties express an interest in this issue, 

we will consider hosting a workshop on 

this topic. We will further consider this 

suggestion pending additional internal 

consultation in FWS/OLE. 

24. Paperless CITES meetings: AWI 

recommends that the United States 

submit a working document to reinitiate 

discussions for reducing the 

environmental footprint of CITES 

meetings, including by striving to 

conduct paperless meetings, reducing or 

eliminating the use of plastic products, 

considering alternative meeting 

arrangements (e.g., hybrid meetings, 

including hybrid meetings using hub 

cities), and ensuring availability of 

vegan and vegetarian food items and 

meals. 

We note that the organization of 

CITES meetings is an ongoing 

discussion in the Standing Committee, 

and, therefore, we are unlikely to submit 

a document on this issue to CoP19. 

25. Holding a virtual CoP19: A 

member of the public urges the United 

States to suggest that in-person meetings 

of the Conference of the Parties be 

cancelled and held virtually instead. 

The United States believes that inperson meetings foster important 

collaboration and cooperation among 

Parties and stakeholders, and we 

support holding in-person meetings 

when possible, based on safety and 

logistical considerations. Therefore, we 

are unlikely to seek that CoP19 be held 

virtually, unless it cannot be held safely 

in person. 

Request for Information and Comments 

We invite information and comments 

concerning any of the possible CoP19 

species proposals, 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. 

Observers 

Article XI, paragraph 7, of CITES 

states that ‘‘Any body or agency 

technically qualified in protection, 

conservation or management of wild 

fauna and flora, in the following 

categories, which has informed the 

Secretariat of its desire to be represented 

at meetings of the Conference by 

observers, shall be admitted unless at 

least one-third of the Parties present 

object: 

(a) International agencies or bodies, 

either governmental or nongovernmental, and national 

governmental agencies and bodies; and 

(b) national non-governmental 

agencies or bodies which have been 

approved for this purpose by the State 

in which they are located. Once 

admitted, these observers shall have the 

right to participate but not to vote.’’ 

Persons wishing to be observers 

representing international 

nongovernmental organizations (which 

must have offices in more than one 

country) at CoP19 may request approval 

directly from the CITES Secretariat. 

Persons wishing to be observers 

representing U.S. national 

nongovernmental organizations at 

CoP19 must receive prior approval from 

the U.S. Division of Management 

Authority (ADDRESSES). Once we grant 

our approval, a U.S. national 

nongovernmental organization is 

eligible to register with the Secretariat 

and must do so at least 6 weeks prior 

to the opening of CoP19 to participate 

in the meeting as an observer. 

Individuals who are not affiliated with 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 44 / Monday, March 7, 2022 / Notices 12729 

an organization may not register as 

observers. An international 

nongovernmental organization with at 

least one office in the United States may 

register as a U.S. nongovernmental 

organization if it prefers. 

An organization seeking approval 

from our office to attend CoP19 as an 

observer must include in their request 

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 must also include copies of 

the organization’s charter and any 

bylaws, and a list of representatives it 

intends to send to CoP19. 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 CoP19 as an observer. An 

organization we have approved within 

the past 5 years as an observer to a 

meeting of the Conference of the Parties 

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; via email 

to managementauthority@fws.gov; or via 

fax to 703–358–2298. 

Once we approve an organization as 

an observer, we will direct them to the 

location on the CITES website where 

they can obtain instructions for 

registering with the CITES Secretariat 

and also obtain logistical information 

about the meeting. A list of 

organizations approved for observer 

status at CoP19 will be available upon 

request from the Division of 

Management Authority immediately 

prior to the start of CoP19. 

Future Actions 

The CITES Secretariat will prepare a 

provisional agenda for CoP19 following 

the submission of documents for the 

meeting. We will publish the CoP19 

provisional agenda in the Federal 

Register and on our website, at https:// 

www.fws.gov/international. 

The United States must submit any 

draft resolutions, decisions, or agenda 

items for discussion at CoP19 to the 

CITES Secretariat 150 days prior to the 

start of the meeting (i.e., by June 17, 

2022). To meet this deadline and 

prepare for CoP19, we have developed 

a tentative U.S. schedule. We will 

consider all available information and 

comments we receive during the 

comment period for this Federal 

Register notice as we decide which 

proposed resolutions, decisions, and 

agenda items the United States will 

submit for consideration by the Parties. 

Approximately 4 months prior to 

CoP19, we will post on our website an 

announcement of the draft resolutions, 

draft decisions, and agenda items 

submitted by the United States for 

consideration at CoP19. 

Through a series of additional notices 

and website postings in advance of 

CoP19, we will inform you about 

preliminary negotiating positions on 

resolutions, decisions, and amendments 

to the Appendices proposed by other 

Parties for consideration at CoP19. We 

will also publish an announcement of a 

public meeting to be held approximately 

2 to 3 months prior to CoP19, to receive 

public input on our tentative negotiating 

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 in paragraph (c) of that 

section, 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. 

Authors 

The primary authors of this notice are 

Anne St. John and Dara Satterfield, 

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.). 

Signing Authority 

The Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, approved this document and 

authorized the undersigned to sign and 

submit the document to the Office of the 

Federal Register for publication 

electronically as an official document of 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Martha Williams, Principal Deputy 

Director Exercising the Delegated 

Authority of the Director, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, approved this 

document on March 2, 2022, for 

publication. 

Madonna Baucum, 

Regulations and Policy Chief, Division of 

Policy, Economics, Risk Management, and 

Analytics, Joint Administrative Operations, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–04716 Filed 3–4–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

[NPS–WASO–NRNHL–DTS#–33457; 

PPWOCRADI0, PCU00RP14.R50000] 

National Register of Historic Places; 

Notification of Pending Nominations 

and Related Actions 

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The National Park Service is 

soliciting electronic comments on the 

significance of properties nominated 

before February 19, 2022, for listing or 

related actions in the National Register 

of Historic Places. 

DATES: Comments should be submitted 

electronically by March 22, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: Comments are encouraged 

to be submitted electronically to 

National_Register_Submissions@

nps.gov with the subject line ‘‘Public 

Comment on <property or proposed 

district name, (County) State>.’’ If you 

have no access to email you may send 

them via U.S. Postal Service and all 

other carriers to the National Register of 

Historic Places, National Park Service, 

1849 C Street NW, MS 7228, 

Washington, DC 20240. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sherry A. Frear, Chief, National Register 

of Historic Places/National Historic 

Landmarks Program, 1849 C Street NW, 

MS 7228, Washington, DC 20240, 

sherry_frear@nps.gov, 202–913–3763. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

properties listed in this notice are being 

considered for listing or related actions 

in the National Register of Historic 

Places. Nominations for their 

consideration were received by the 

National Park Service before February 

19, 2022. Pursuant to Section 60.13 of 

36 CFR part 60, comments are being 

accepted concerning the significance of 

the nominated properties under the 

National Register criteria for evaluation. 

Before including your address, phone 

number, email address, or other 

personal identifying information in your 


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