Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 74 / Thursday, April 17, 1997 / Notices 18793

implemented and the allocation of such

taxes. It recommends that the issuance

of labels on wildlife and its products be

subjected to the payment of such a tax.

While being supportive of

biodiversity conservation and the

sustainable use of wildlife, the United

States intends to oppose adoption of

this resolution. The United States

opposes the establishment of an

international tax on wildlife use. The

text of CITES neither obligates or

authorizes Parties to levy any tax,

whether direct or indirect, on the trade

in animal or plant species that are

included in the Appendices to the

Convention. Nor is there a mechanism

provided in CITES that would

administer any funds generated from a

tax on trade in a manner that would

ensure sustainable trade and habitat

conservation.

Because the text of the Convention

does not address the issue of taxation,

the United States must oppose the draft

resolution on Constitutional grounds.

The Congress of the United States,

which has exclusive jurisdiction over

the passage of any legislation that would

levy taxes on United States entities

engaged in international trade, has not

authorized such taxes to be imposed as

part of the implementation of CITES.

46. Development of an Information

Management Strategy [Doc. 10.82]

The development of an information

management strategy by the Secretariat

was an item of discussion at the 37th

meeting of the Standing Committee. The

Secretariat presented a document for

consideration by the Committee and

described its proposal which involved

the World Conservation Monitoring

Centre (WCMC). The United States

supported the Secretariat’s efforts to

develop a better communication system

between its offices and the Parties to

facilitate the distribution of

Notifications to the Parties and other

pertinent information. At the Standing

Committee meeting, the United States

requested that the Secretariat prepare a

list of Parties and their computer needs

to assist developing countries in

obtaining the necessary computer

equipment for an information

management system to be put in place.

No documents have yet been received

from the Secretariat. However, the

Secretariat has indicated that it will be

preparing a document for COP10 which

will include the financial implications

of putting this system into place.

47. Inclusion of Higher Taxa [Doc.

10.83]

This resolution, submitted by

Namibia, recommends that the listing of

higher taxa on the Appendices to the

Convention not be made without

considering negative consequences to

geographically distinct populations. It

also recommends the use of annotations

on the Appendices to the Convention so

that generalized indicators would be

presented according to the conservation

status and most appropriate

management program for each listed

species.

The United States proposes to oppose

this resolution, but hopes that some of

the issues raised can be addressed in the

Nomenclature Committee. The United

States believes that this resolution

presents a system which would lead to

a proliferation of confusing splitlistings, a provision which is only

occasionally appropriate for CITES

species. There is already adequate

flexibility in the Convention for Parties

to make decisions as to how they

manage populations of native species

listed on the Appendices. In addition

Conf. 9.24, Annex 3 (the new listing

criteria) already adequately addresses

the issues associated with split-listings,

and in general, discourages their use.

This subject was addressed at COP9

through this resolution, and the

submission of this newer resolution

does not allow for a fair amount of time

for the Parties to implement the terms

of 9.24. The subject should not be

reconsidered so soon, as the Parties

agreed at COP9 that reconsideration of

the listing criteria should not occur

until COP12, so that there is adequate

experience gained with the use of the

new listing criteria in 9.24.

48. Proposals Concerning Export Quotas

for Specimens of Appendix I or II

Species [Doc. 10.84]

No document has yet been received.

When relevant documentation is

received from the Secretariat, the United

States will evaluate it and formulate a

policy position.

XV. Consideration of Proposals for

Amendment of Appendices I and II

(This Item Consists of Four Subitems)

1. Proposals Submitted Pursuant to

Resolution on Ranching [Doc. 10.85]

2. Proposals Resulting from Reviews by

the Animals and Plants Committees

[Doc. 10.86]

3. Proposals Concerning Export Quotas

for Specimens of Appendix I or II

Species [Doc. 10.87]

4. Other Proposals [Doc. 10.88]

Proposal to amend the appendices

have been received, and tentative U.S.

negotiating positions on these proposals

are presented in a separate Federal

Register notice.

XVI. Conclusion of the Meeting

1. Determination of the Time and

Venue of the Next Regular Meeting of

the Conference of the Parties [Doc.

10.89]

No documents have been received

from the Secretariat regarding

candidates as host government for

COP11. The United States favors

holding COP11 in a country where all

Parties and observers will be admitted

without political difficulties. The

United States proposes to support the

holding of COPs on a biennial basis, or,

as in the case of COP10, after an interval

of approximately two and one half

years.

2. Closing remarks

Request for Information and

Comments

With this notice, the Service invites

information and comments on the

proposed negotiating position on COP10

agenda items. (Comments on

amendments to the Appendices of the

Convention should be based on the

Federal Register notice of the same date

as this notice). Information and

comments on this present notice should

be submitted to the Service no later than

May 9, 1997. Interested Parties can also

make verbal or submit written

comments to the Service at the Public

Meeting of April 25, 1997 (See Public

Meeting, above).

Authors: This notice was prepared by

Bruce J. Weissgold and Dr. Susan S.

Lieberman, Office of Management

Authority, United States Fish and

Wildlife Service.

Dated: April 11, 1997.

Jay L. Gerst,

Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service.

[FR Doc. 97–9925 Filed 4–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO–350–1430–00; OMB Approval Number

1004–0011]

Information Collection Submitted to

the Office of Management and Budget

for Review Under the Paperwork

Reduction Act

The Bureau of Land Management

(BLM) has submitted the proposed

collection of information listed below to

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) for approval under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction

Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). On March
18794 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 74 / Thursday, April 17, 1997 / Notices

27, 1996, BLM published a notice in the

Federal Register (61 FR 13515)

requesting comment on this proposed

collection. The comment period ended

on May 28, 1996. BLM received no

comments from the public in response

to that notice. Copies of the proposed

collection of information and related

forms and explanatory material may be

obtained by contacting the BLM

clearance officer at the telephone

number listed below.

OMB is required to respond to this

request within 60 days but may respond

after 30 days. For maximum

consideration your comments and

suggestions on the requirements should

be made within 30 days directly to the

Office of Management and Budget,

Interior Department Desk Officer (1004–

0011), Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Washington, D.C.

20503, telephone (202) 395–7340. Please

provide a copy of your comments to the

BLM Clearance Officer (WO–630), 1849

C Street NW, Mail Stop 401 LS,

Washington, D.C. 20240.

Nature of Comments

We specifically request your

comments on the following:

1. Whether the collection of

information is necessary for the proper

functioning of the Bureau of Land

Management, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

2. The accuracy of BLM’s estimate of

the burden of collecting the information,

including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used;

3. The quality, utility, and clarity of

the information to be collected; and

4. How to minimize the burden of

collecting the information on those who

are to respond, including the use of

appropriate automated electronic,

mechanical, or other forms of

technology.

Title: Color-of-title Tax Levy and

Payment Record (43 CFR 2540). OMB

approval number: 1004–0011.

Abstract: The Bureau of Land

Management is proposing to renew the

approval of an information collection

for an existing rule at 43 CFR 2540. That

rule provides for the issuance of a land

patent (deed) to eligible individuals,

groups, or corporations who believe

they have a valid claim to public lands

under color-of-title. Respondents supply

identifying information to be used by

the agency to determine validity of a

color-of-title claim and aid in the

documentation of tax payments in

support of the color-of-title application

to public lands.

Bureau Form Number: 2540–3.

Frequency: Once.

Description of Respondents:

Individuals applying for a color-of-title

claim to public lands. Estimated

completion time: 1 hour.

Annual Responses: 9.

Annual Burden Hours: 9.

Collection Clearance Officer: Carole

Smith, 202–452–0367.

Dated: March 12, 1997.

Dr. Annetta L. Cheek,

Manager, Regulatory Affairs Group.

[FR Doc. 97–9904 Filed 4–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–84–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO–350–1430–01–24 1A; OMB Approval

Number 1004–0004]

Information Collection Submitted to

the Office of Management and Budget

for Review Under the Paperwork

Reduction Act

The Bureau of Land Management

(BLM) has submitted the proposed

collection of information listed below to

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) for approval under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction

Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) On March

28, 1996, BLM published a notice in the

Federal Register (61 FR 13866)

requesting comment on this proposed

collection. The comment period ended

on May 28, 1996. BLM received no

comments from the public in response

to that notice. Copies of the proposed

collection of information and related

forms and explanatory material may be

obtained by contacting the BLM

clearance officer at the telephone

number listed below. (202) 452–0367.

OMB is required to respond to this

request within 60 days but may respond

after 30 days. For maximum

consideration your comments and

suggestions on the requirement should

be made within 30 days directly to the

Office of Management and Budget,

Interior Department Desk Officer (1004–

0004), Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Washington, D.C.,

20503, telephone (202) 395–7340. Please

provide a copy of your comments to the

Bureau Clearance Officer (WO–630),

1849 C St., N.W., Mail Stop 401 LS,

Washington, D. C. 20240.

Nature of Comments

We specifically request your

comments on the following:

1. Whether the collection of

information is necessary for the proper

functioning of the Bureau of Land

Management, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

2. The accuracy of BLM’s estimate of

the burden of collecting the information,

including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used;

3. The quality, utility and clarity of

the information to be collected; and

4. How to minimize the burden of

collecting the information on those who

are to respond, including the use of

appropriate automated electronic,

mechanical, or other forms of

information technology.

Title: Desert-Land Entry (43 CFR

2520). OMB approval number: 1004–

0004.

Abstract: The Bureau of Land

Management is proposing to renew the

approval of an information collection

for an existing rule at 43 CFR 2520. That

rule provides guidelines and procedures

for individuals to make desert-land

entries to reclaim, irrigate, and cultivate

arid and semiarid public lands of the

Western United States under the Desert

Land Act as amended (43 U.S.C. 231,

321–323, 325, 327–329).

Bureau Form Number: 2520–1.

Frequency: Once.

Description of Respondents:

Respondents are individuals.

Estimated Completion Time: 11⁄2

hours.

Annual Responses: 9.

Annual Burden Hours: 131⁄2.

Collection Clearance Officer: Carole

Smith, (202) 452–0367.

Dated: February 3, 1997.

Dr. Annetta L. Cheek,

Chief, Regulatory Affairs Group.

[FR Doc. 97–9905 Filed 4–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–84–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO–350–1430–01–24 1A; OMB Approval

Number 1004–0012]

Information Collection Submitted to

the Office of Management and Budget

for Review Under the Paperwork

Reduction Act

The Bureau of Land Management

(BLM) has submitted the proposed

collection of information listed below to

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) for approval under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction

Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) On March

22, 1996, BLM published a notice in the

Federal Register (61 FR 11861)

requesting comment on this proposed

collection. The comment period ended

on May 21, 1996. BLM received no

comments from the public in response

to that notice. Copies of the proposed