38144 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 /Wednesday, July 15, 1998 / Proposed Rules

regulations pertaining to domesticated

species, certain captive-bred and

captive-born species. In addition, the

Service intends to review the current

user fee structure. The Service intends

for this review to lead to proposed

changes in the wildlife importation and

exportation regulations that would ease

the burden on importers and exporters

dealing in wildlife that involves no

conservation risk, and allow the Service

to focus its resources on areas of greater

concern. This review will assess

whether proposed changes in the

current method of assessing user fees

are warranted. Any proposed changes in

the regulation of domesticated species

and certain captive bred or captive-born

species, will be addressed in a separate

rule from any possible proposed

changes to the user fee structure.

DATES: Comments and other information

received on or before September 14,

1998, will be considered by the Service

in developing proposed amendments to

50 CFR part 14.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials

concerning this proposal should be sent

to the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, P.O. Box 3247, Arlington,

Virginia 22203–3247. Comments and

materials may be hand-delivered to the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of

Law Enforcement, 4401 N. Fairfax

Drive, Room 500, Arlington, Virginia,

between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday. Comments may

also be submitted via electronic mail (Email) to: r9lelwww@fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kevin R. Adams, Chief, Office of Law

Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, (703) 358–1949.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On June 21, 1996, the Service

published a final rule (61 FR 31868) that

defined ‘‘domesticated species’’ to

include a list of certain species that

would be exempt from the requirements

of 50 CFR part 14, subpart B. The

Service has experienced difficulty

determining which species qualify as

domesticated under the current

definition in 50 CFR 14.4. In addition,

the Service has received continual

requests for additions to the list. The

Service is considering creating a new

definition for ‘‘domesticated species’’

and reviewing the list to determine

whether species should be added or

deleted, or whether the list should be

clarified or eliminated.

The Service is interested in reviewing

its role in the regulation of international

trade of captive-bred and captive-born

wildlife parts and products where it can

be determined that no conservation risk

exists. Many species are regularly bred

or born in captivity for international

trade such as the Ostrich (Struthio

camelus) and American Bison (Bison

bison bison), but are not considered to

be domesticated animals and thus are

subject to all wildlife import and export

regulatory requirements. The Service

intends to review those species that are

routinely bred or born in captivity,

where the commodities in international

trade are primarily produced from

captive-bred or captive-born

populations in order to determine

whether a reduced level of regulatory

control and/or user fees is warranted.

Finally, in the June 21, 1996 (61 FR

31868) final rule amendments to 50 CFR

part 14, the Service also enacted new

user fee requirements. All commercial

importers and exporters of wildlife are

required to be licensed and pay

appropriate user fees for each shipment.

Since the implementation of the new

user fees, the Service has received

numerous complaints from small

businesses about the increased burden

on their operation. Although the Service

does not intend to change the license

requirement for commercial importers

and exporters, the Service is interested

in reviewing the user fees charged for

each shipment. The Service is exploring

different user fee structures including a

tiered system that would assess user

fees based on various factors including

quantity and value. The Service is

interested in receiving comments on the

current user fees including information

documenting specific economic,

paperwork, or other burdens that have

been imposed on small businesses.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 14

Animal welfare, Exports, Fish,

Imports, Labeling, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements,

Transportation, Wildlife.

Dated: June 23, 1998.

Donald J. Barry,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and

Wildlife and Parks.

[FR Doc. 98–18756 Filed 7–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[I.D. 070198A]

Western Pacific Fishery Management

Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Public meeting; availability of

documents.

SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery

Management Council (Council) will

hold its 97th meeting in Kailua Kona,

Hawaii. The Council will consider,

among other things, action on new

framework measures for the American

Samoa pelagic and NWHI lobster

fisheries. Documents for an American

Samoa pelagics closure and a

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI)

lobster fishery harvest limitation

program are available for comment.

DATES: The Council meeting will be

held on July 27–29, 1998. Comments on

the documents describing new

framework measures for the American

Samoa pelagic and NWHI lobster

fisheries should be received in the

Council office no later than July 27,

1998.

ADDRESSES: The Council’s 97th meeting

will be held at the King Kamehameha

Hotel, Kailua Kona, Hawaii; telephone:

808–329–2911. Copies of the meeting

agenda and documents describing new

framework measures for the American

Samoa pelagic and NWHI lobster

fisheries are available from the Western

Pacific Fishery Management Council,

1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu,

HI 96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director;

telephone 808–522–8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Times and Dates

The Council’s Standing Committees

will meet on July 27, as follows:

Enforcement from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.,

Crustaceans from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00

a.m., VMS from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.,

Pelagics and Bottomfish (concurrent)

from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,

Indigenous Fishing Rights and

Ecosystem & Habitat (concurrent) from

1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Precious

Corals and Executive/Budget &

Programing (concurrent) from 3:00 p.m.

to 5:00 p.m. The full Council will meet
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 /Wednesday, July 15, 1998 / Proposed Rules 38145

on July 28 and 29, 1998, from 8:30 a.m.

to 5:00 p.m., each day.

Agenda

The Council is one of eight regional

fishery management councils authorized

by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act

(Magnuson-Stevens Act). The full

Council will meet to address the agenda

items below. The order in which agenda

items will be addressed may change.

The Council will meet as late as

necessary to complete its scheduled

business.

Although other issues not contained

in this agenda may come before the

Council for discussion, in accordance

with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, those

issues may not be the subject of formal

action during this meeting. Action will

be restricted to those issues specifically

identified in this notice.

8:30 a.m. Tuesday, 28 July 1998

A. Call to order, opening remarks,

introductions;

1. Approval of agenda and 95th and

96th Council Minutes;

B. Reports from the Islands: American

Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, and

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana

Islands (CNMI);

C. Enforcement;

1. Reports from the U.S. Coast Guard,

National Marine Fisheries Service Office

of Enforcement, and NOAA General

Counsel Southwest Region;

2. Cooperative agreement for Guam

and CNMI;

3. Standing Committee

recommendations;

4. Public comment;

D. Vessel Monitoring System (VMS);

1. Report on NMFS Industry Advisory

Panel and National VMS Policy;

2. Report on the Hawaii VMS

program;

3. Standing Committee

recommendations;

E. Pelagics;

1. Second quarter report for longline

fisheries in Hawaii and American

Samoa in 1998;

2. Final action on an area closure

framework measure for the American

Samoa pelagic fishery (see summary of

document E.2);

3. Reports on the 3rd Multilateral

High-level Conference;

4. Protected species interactions:

Albatross and turtles;

5. Issues concerning shark finning in

the Western Pacific Region;

6. Report on universal minimum size

limit for swordfish in the United States;

7. Pelagic longline and charter

interactions in Hawaii;

8. Report on Secretariat of the Pacific

Community meetings;

9. Scientific and Statistical Committee

(SSC) and Standing Committee

recommendations;

10. Public comment/hearing;

F. Crustaceans;

1. Annual allocation of bank-specific

harvest guidelines including 1998 bankspecific guidelines and discussion of a

framework regulatory measure

governing future bank-specific

guidelines (see summary of document

F.1);

2. SSC, and Standing Committee

recommendations;

3. Public comment/hearing;

8:30 a.m. Wednesday, 29 July 1998

G. Reports from Fishery Agencies and

Organizations, including: Department of

Commerce National Marine Fisheries

Service Southwest Region, Southwest

Fisheries Science Center, and NOAA

General Counsel; and Department of the

Interior Fish and Wildlife Service;

H. Precious corals;

1. Consistency between state and

Federal regulations;

2. Plan Team, SSC and Standing

Committee recommendations;

3. Public comments;

I. Bottomfish;

1. The 1997 annual report for

American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii and

CNMI, including recommendations;

2. Management of Main Hawaiian

Islands onaga, ehu, and hapupuu

including: Status of genetic research on

stock range and related studies, NMFS

research activities (Hawaii, Guam, and

CNMI), and implementation of

Department of Land and Natural

Resources’ (DLNR) management plan

and Federal management alternatives;

3. Final Council action on amendment

to establish a Mau Zone limited access

program. Copy of the draft amendment

is available for comment from the

Council office (see ADDRESSES);

4. SSC and Standing Committee

recommendations;

5. Public hearing;

J. Native rights and indigenous fishing

issues;

1. Review of marine conservation

plans from American Samoa, Guam, and

CNMI;

2. Status of the CNMI turtle

conservation workshop;

3. Status of the community

development program;

4. Report on NMFS vessel financing

program and status of the drift gillnet

vessel in Guam;

5. Advisory Panel appointments;

6. Standing Committee

recommendations;

7. Public hearing;

K. Ecosystems and habitat;

1. Coral reef ecosystems;

2. Status of EIS on Farallon de

Mendinilla, CNMI;

3. Current ecosystem and habitat

issues;

4. SSC and Standing Committee

recommendations;

5. Public comment;

L. Program planning;

1. Final Council action on the

comprehensive Sustainable Fisheries

Act (SFA) amendment for all FMPs

regarding bycatch, fishing sectors,

fishing communities, overfishing and

designation of essential fish

habitat(EFH) (including potential

fishing and non-fishing threats to EFH

and conservation and enhancement

measures to mitigate impacts to EFH),

and environmental impact of SFA

provisions. Copy of the draft

amendment is available for comment

from the Council office (see ADDRESSES);

2. Advisory Panel and Plan Team

final comments and SSC and Standing

Committee recommendations;

3. Report on WPacFIN;

4. Revision of Council milestones;

5. Public comment/hearing;

M. Administrative matters;

1. Administrative reports;

2. Reports on meetings, workshops,

and proposed 98th Council Meeting in

November 1998, in Honolulu, Hawaii;

3. Standing Committee

recommendations;

4. Public comment; and

N. Other business.

Summary of Documents for Public

Comment

American Samoa Pelagics Closure

Proposal (E.2)

1. The Council will be taking final

action on an area closure framework

measure for the American Samoa

pelagic fishery.

2. Action is being taken under

framework procedures for new measures

in the Pelagics Fisheries Management

Plan.

3. At its May 1998 meeting, the

Council agreed to proceed with this

management measure, adopted the

initial preferred alternative, and asked

that this be included on the agenda for

the 97th Council meeting in July 1998

for final Council action. The Council

also directed Council staff to prepare a

detailed document describing the

preferred management alternative and

the rejected alternatives which would be

available for public comment prior to

the July Council meeting.

4. Fishermen in American Samoa who

are members of the Council’s advisory

panels have expressed concern about

the long-term sustainability of the local

small-boat pelagics fishery. In
38146 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 /Wednesday, July 15, 1998 / Proposed Rules

particular, there is concern that large

longline vessels will seek new fishing

opportunities in the exclusive economic

zone (EEZ) around American Samoa as

fisheries in other areas of the U.S. EEZ

become increasingly restricted. In the

late 1980s, a rapid influx of large vessels

in the Hawaii longline fishery, resulted

in extensive gear conflicts. In addition,

there is concern that the large vessels

supplying fish to American Samoa’s

tuna canneries already fish in the EEZ

occasionally. A widely held perception

among small-scale trollers and

longliners is that these larger vessels

intercept fish migrating to local waters

and reduce the supply of tuna and other

pelagic species available for capture by

artisanal and recreational fishermen.

The Council was asked at the 92nd

meeting, in April 1997, to assist in

forming a fishermen’s working group to

consider various management options to

ensure the long-term sustainability of

the small-boat fishery. Various meetings

of the working group and other

fishermen were convened by the

Council and the American Samoa

Department of Marine and Wildlife

Resources between June and October

1997. The consensus among fishermen

was that the most effective management

action would be to close an area around

the islands of American Samoa to

pelagic fishing vessels longer than 50 ft

(15.2 m).

At its April 1998 meeting, the Council

recommended as its initial preferred

alternative a prohibition against all U.S.

fishing vessels (e.g. longliners, purse

seiners, trollers and pole-and-line bait

boats) greater than 50 ft (15.2 m) in

length fishing for pelagic management

unit species within an area

approximately 100 nautical miles from

the islands of American Samoa. Those

longline vessels larger than 50 ft (15.2

m) that had acquired a permit and had

landed a pelagic management unit

species in American Samoa prior to

November 14, 1997, would still be

eligible to fish within the closed area.

5. A document describing the issue,

alternative actions, preferred Council

action, and anticipated impacts is

available for public comment (see

ADDRESSES).

NWHI Annual Bank-Specific Harvest

Guidelines (F.1)

1. The Council will be discussing and

may be taking initial action to establish

a process for setting annual bankspecific harvest guidelines for the 1999

NWHI lobster season and beyond.

2. Action is being taken under the

framework procedure for new measures

in the Crustacean Fisheries Management

Plan.

3. At its April 1998 meeting, the

Council requested the development of

options governing the process by which

the NMFS Regional Administrator, in

consultation with the Council, allocates

the annual harvest guideline among

banks or areas to prevent overfishing

and achieve optimum yield.

4. A background document

summarizing this issue, the need for

framework management measure, and

alternative actions is available for public

comment (see ADDRESSES).

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to

Kitty M. Simonds, 808–522–8220

(voice) or 808–522–8226 (fax), at least 5

days prior to the meeting date.

Dated: July 10, 1998.

Gary C. Matlock,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98–18889 Filed 7–10–98; 4:02 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F