105074 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R1–ES–2024–N066; 

FXES11130100000–234–FF01E00000] 

Endangered Species; Receipt of 

Recovery Permit Application 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit 

application; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, have received an 

application for a permit to conduct 

activities intended to enhance the 

propagation and survival of endangered 

species under the Endangered Species 

Act. We invite the public and local, 

State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to 

comment on this application. Before 

issuing the requested permit, we will 

take into consideration any information 

that we receive during the public 

comment period. 

DATES: We must receive your written 

comments on or before January 27, 

2025. 

ADDRESSES: Document availability and 

comment submission: Submit a request 

for a copy of the application and related 

documents and submit any comments 

by one of the following methods. All 

requests and comments should specify 

the applicant name and application 

number (e.g., Dana Ross, ES001705): 

• Email: permitsR1ES@fws.gov. 

• U.S. Mail: Carolyn Menke, Acting 

Regional Program Manager, Restoration 

and Endangered Species Classification, 

Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Pacific Regional 

Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, 

OR 97232–4181. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Karen Colson, Regional Recovery Permit 

Coordinator, Ecological Services, (503) 

231–6283 (telephone); permitsR1ES@

fws.gov (email). Individuals in the 

United States who are deaf, deafblind, 

hard of hearing, or have a speech 

disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 

TeleBraille) to access 

telecommunications relay services. 

Individuals outside the United States 

should use the relay services offered 

within their country to make 

international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite 

the public to comment on an 

application for a permit under section 

10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species 

Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The requested 

permit would allow the applicant to 

conduct activities intended to promote 

recovery of a species listed as 

endangered under the ESA. 

Background 

With some exceptions, the ESA 

prohibits activities that constitute take 

of listed species unless a Federal permit 

is issued that allows such activity. The 

ESA’s definition of ‘‘take’’ includes such 

activities as pursuing, harassing, 

trapping, capturing, or collecting, in 

addition to hunting, shooting, harming, 

wounding, or killing. 

A recovery permit issued by us under 

section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 

authorizes the permittee to conduct 

activities with endangered or threatened 

species for scientific purposes that 

promote recovery or for enhancement of 

propagation or survival of the species. 

These activities often include such 

prohibited actions as capture and 

collection. Our regulations 

implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for 

these permits are found in the Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 

17.22 for endangered wildlife species, 

50 CFR 17.32 for threatened wildlife 

species, 50 CFR 17.62 for endangered 

plant species, and 50 CFR 17.72 for 

threatened plant species. 

Permit Application Available for 

Review and Comment 

Proposed activities in the following 

permit request are for the recovery and 

enhancement of propagation or survival 

of the species in the wild. The ESA 

requires that we invite public comment 

before issuing the requested permit. 

Accordingly, we invite local, State, 

Tribal, and Federal agencies and the 

public to submit written data, views, or 

arguments with respect to this 

application. The comments and 

recommendations that will be most 

useful and likely to influence agency 

decisions are those supported by 

quantitative information or studies. 

Application No. Applicant, city, state Species Location Take activity Permit action 

PER12866103 ....... Lindsay Young, Honolulu, 

HI.

Fiji petrel (Pseudobulweria 

macgillivrayi).

Fiji Harass by capture, tagging and banding, and collection of blood and 

feather samples.

New. 

Public Availability of Comments 

Written comments we receive become 

part of the administrative record 

associated with this action. Before 

including your address, phone number, 

email address, or other personal 

identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—may 

be made publicly available at any time. 

While you can request in your comment 

that we withhold your personal 

identifying information from public 

review, we cannot guarantee that we 

will be able to do so. All submissions 

from organizations or businesses, and 

from individuals identifying themselves 

as representatives or officials of 

organizations or businesses, will be 

made available for public disclosure in 

their entirety. 

Next Steps 

If we decide to issue a permit to the 

applicant listed in this notice, we will 

publish a notice in the Federal Register. 

Authority 

We publish this notice under section 

10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

seq.). 

Carolyn Menke, 

Acting Regional Program Manager for 

Restoration and Endangered Species 

Classification, Pacific Region. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30716 Filed 12–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2024–0033; 

FXIA16710900000–245–FF09A10000] 

Conference of the Parties to the 

Convention on International Trade in 

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna 

and Flora (CITES); Twentieth Regular 

Meeting: Taxa Being Considered for 

Amendments to the CITES Appendices 

and 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 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 105075 

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. The twentieth 

regular meeting of the Conference of the 

Parties to CITES (CoP20) is scheduled to 

be held in Uzbekistan, November 24– 

December 5, 2025. With this notice, we 

respond to recommendations received 

from the public concerning proposed 

amendments to the CITES Appendices 

(species proposals) and proposed 

resolutions, decisions, and agenda items 

that the United States might submit for 

consideration at CoP20; invite your 

comments and information on these 

potential proposals and working 

documents; and provide information on 

how U.S. nongovernmental 

organizations can attend CoP20 as 

observers. 

DATES: 

Meeting: The meeting is scheduled to 

be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 

November 24–December 5, 2025. 

Submitting Information and 

Comments: We will consider written 

information and comments we receive 

by January 16, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: 

Comments: You may submit 

comments pertaining to species 

proposals for consideration at CoP20 by 

one of the following methods: 

(1) Electronically: Using the Federal 

eRulemaking Portal: https://

www.regulations.gov, search for and 

submit comments on FWS–HQ–IA– 

2024–0033, which is the docket number 

for this notice. 

(2) U.S. mail: Submit by U.S. mail to 

Public Comments Processing; Attn: 

Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2024–0033; 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: PRB 

(JAO/3W); 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls 

Church, VA 22041–3803. 

Requesting Approval To Attend 

CoP20 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 703–358–2276. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information pertaining to species 

proposals, contact Rosemarie Gnam, 

Head, Division of Scientific Authority, 

at 703–358–1708 (phone); 703–358– 

2276 (fax); or scientificauthority@

fws.gov (email). For information 

pertaining to resolutions, decisions, and 

agenda items, contact Naimah Aziz, 

Head, Division of Management 

Authority, at 703–358–2028 (phone); 

703–358–2298 (fax); or 

managementauthority@fws.gov (email). 

Individuals in the United States who 

are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or 

have a speech disability may dial 711 

(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 

telecommunications relay services. 

Individuals outside the United States 

should use the relay services offered 

within their country to make 

international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States. 

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://www.cites.org. See 

https://www.cites.org/eng/app/ 

appendices.php; 50 CFR 23.91(a) (How 

do I find out if a species is listed? The 

official CITES list includes species of 

wildlife and plants placed in Appendix 

I, II, and III in accordance with the 

provisions of Articles XV and XVI of the 

Treaty. This list is maintained by the 

CITES Secretariat (Secretariat) based on 

decisions of the Parties. You can access 

the official list from the CITES website 

(see § 23.7).); 50 CFR 23.7(f). 

Currently there are 184 Parties to 

CITES—183 countries, including the 

United States, and one regional 

economic integration organization, the 

European Union. The Convention calls 

for regular biennial meetings of the 

Conference of the Parties (CoP) unless 

the Conference decides otherwise. At 

these meetings, the Parties review the 

implementation of CITES, make 

provisions enabling the Secretariat in 

Switzerland to carry out its functions, 

consider amendments to the species 

included 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. The 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 

regulations governing this public 

process are found in title 50 of the Code 

of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 23.87. 

The Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), in part, implements 

CITES and incorporates its Appendices 

of CITES-listed species into U.S. law 

(see, e.g., 16 U.S.C. 1532(4), 1537a, 

1538(c), 1538(g), 1539(g), 1540(f)), and 

the Service has promulgated U.S. CITES 

implementing regulations (see 50 CFR 

part 23). The Secretary of the Interior is 

designated the U.S. Management 

Authority and U.S. Scientific Authority 

for CITES purposes, and the respective 

functions of each are carried out by the 

Service. 16 U.S.C. 1537a; 50 CFR 23.6. 

The ESA prohibits, inter alia, ‘‘any 

person subject to the jurisdiction of the 

United States to engage in any trade in 

any specimens contrary to the 

provisions of the Convention, or to 

possess any specimens traded contrary 

to the provisions of the Convention.’’ 16 

U.S.C. 1538(c); 16 U.S.C. 1532(4) (‘‘The 

term ‘‘Convention’’ means the 

Convention on International Trade in 

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 

Flora, signed on March 3, 1973, and the 

appendices thereto.’’). U.S. CITES 

implementing regulations explain the 

administration of CITES, the CITES 

listing process, the effective dates of 

CITES listings, and where to find 

official CITES documents and the CITES 

Appendices, as set forth in 50 CFR 23.7 

and 23.84–23.91. At least 150 days 

before any CoP is held, any Party may 

submit a proposed amendment to 

Appendix I or II (e.g., for a species to be 

included in, removed from, or 

transferred between the CITES 

Appendices). CITES Art. XV(1)(a); 50 

CFR 23.87(b)(2). The Secretariat then 

makes publicly available and provides 

all Parties a list of proposed 

amendments. CITES Art. XV(1)(a), 

(2)(c); 50 CFR 23.7(f)(5). Pursuant to 50 

CFR 23.7 and 23.86, as we receive 

information on the upcoming CoP, we 

notify the public through Federal 

Register notices or on our website. The 

CoP can adopt amendments to 

Appendices I and II by a two-thirds 

majority of those Parties in attendance. 

50 CFR 23.85(a); CITES Art. XV(1)(b). 

Appendix-I and -II species listings 

adopted at the CoP are effective 90 days 

after the last day of the CoP, unless 

otherwise specified in the proposal. 50 

CFR 23.91(b)(1); CITES Art. XV(1)(c); 72 

FR 48402 at 48439 and 48492–48494, 

August 23, 2007; 71 FR 20168 at 20205– 

20207, April 19, 2006. 

This is our second notice in a series 

of Federal Register notices that, together 

with an announced public meeting that 

we will hold approximately 2 to 3 

months prior to CoP20, provide you 

with an opportunity to participate in the 

development of the U.S. submissions 

and negotiating positions for CoP20. 

With this notice, we describe proposed 

amendments to the CITES Appendices 

(species proposals) and proposed 

resolutions, decisions, and agenda items 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
105076 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 

that the United States might submit for 

consideration at CoP20; invite your 

comments and information on these 

proposals and other documents; and 

provide information on how U.S. 

nongovernmental organizations can 

attend CoP20 as observers. 

We published our first CoP20-related 

Federal Register notice on March 22, 

2024 (89 FR 20489), in which we 

requested information and 

recommendations on animal and plant 

species proposals, and information and 

recommendations on proposed 

resolutions, decisions, and agenda items 

for the United States to consider 

submitting for consideration at CoP20, 

and provided preliminary information 

on how to request approved observer 

status for nongovernmental 

organizations that wish to attend the 

meeting. Comments received on our 

March 22, 2024, notice can be viewed at 

https://www.regulations.gov in Docket 

No. FWS–HQ–IA–2024–0033. 

Recommendations for Species 

Proposals for the United States To 

Consider Submitting for CoP20 

In response to our March 2024 notice, 

we received 46 comments with 

recommendations from 19 individuals 

and 25 organizations for possible 

proposals involving almost 3,500 animal 

taxa and 13 plant taxa for amendments 

to the CITES Appendices. The 

commenters include organizations such 

as the Association of Zoos and 

Aquariums, Animal Welfare Institute, 

California Native Plant Society, Center 

for Biological Diversity, Humane 

Society International, International 

Fund for Animal Welfare, IUCN 

(International Union for Conservation of 

Nature) Species Survival Commission 

Specialist Groups, International Wood 

Products Association, League of 

American Orchestras, Natural Resource 

Defense Council, Safari Club 

International, Species Survival Network, 

United Plant Savers, Wildlife 

Conservation Society, and World 

Wildlife Fund. Additionally, the United 

States may consider two animal species 

(United States is a range country) 

proposals that previously resulted from 

the Periodic Review process (Resolution 

Conf. 14.8 (Rev. CoP17)) by the Animals 

Committee, and where that Committee 

recommended that Mexico, as a range 

country for the species being reviewed, 

bring forward a proposal to amend the 

Appendices. 

We have undertaken initial 

evaluations of the available trade and 

biological information on many of these 

taxa, but we recognize that many of the 

commenters provided little biological, 

trade, and other information with which 

to support their comments. Based on the 

limited information available, we made 

provisional evaluations of whether to 

proceed with the development of 

proposals for species to be included in, 

removed from, or transferred between 

the CITES Appendices. We made these 

evaluations by considering the best 

information available on the species; the 

presence, absence, and effectiveness of 

other mechanisms that may preclude 

the need for species’ inclusion in the 

CITES Appendices (e.g., range country 

actions or other international 

agreements); and availability of 

resources. We have also considered the 

following factors, as per the United 

States’ approach for CoP20 discussed in 

the March 22, 2024, Federal Register 

notice (89 FR 20489): 

(1) Does the proposed action address 

a serious wildlife or plant trade issue 

that the United States is experiencing as 

a range country for species in trade? 

(2) Does the proposed action address 

a serious wildlife or plant trade issue for 

species not native to the United States? 

(3) Does the proposed action provide 

additional conservation benefit for a 

species already covered by another 

international agreement? 

Based on our initial evaluations, we 

have assigned each taxon to one of three 

categories, which reflects the likelihood 

of our submitting a proposal. In sections 

A, B, and C, below, we have listed the 

current status of each species proposal 

recommended by the public, as well as 

some species proposals we have been 

developing internally or from the 

Periodic Review process. Please note 

that we have provided here only a list 

of taxa and the proposed action of 

likely, unlikely, or undecided on 

whether to submit a species proposal for 

consideration at CoP20. We have posted 

an extended table version of this notice 

on our website (at https://www.fws.gov/ 

program/international-affairs/federalregister-notices) with text describing in 

more detail certain proposed actions 

and explaining the rationale for the 

tentative U.S. position on these possible 

proposals. We also describe in this table 

the information that we are seeking for 

proposals where the United States is 

undecided on submission. Copies of the 

extended table version of the notice are 

also available from the Division of 

Scientific Authority at the above 

address or at https://

www.regulations.gov at Docket No. 

FWS–HQ–IA–2024–0033. 

We welcome your comments, 

especially if you are able to provide any 

additional biological or trade 

information on these species. Please 

note that, throughout this notice, an 

asterisk (*) indicates species that occur 

in the United States of America or its 

territories. 

A. What species proposals will the 

United States likely submit for 

consideration at CoP20? 

The two taxa in this section have 

undergone review through the Periodic 

Review of the Appendices by the 

Animals Committee (AC), most recently 

at its 33rd meeting (AC33; Geneva, July 

2024), in accordance with Resolution 

Conf. 14.8 (Rev. CoP17). This is a 

regular process under CITES to evaluate 

whether listings of taxa in CITES 

Appendices I and II continue to be 

appropriate, based on current biological 

and trade information. 

Mexico undertook the periodic review 

evaluation for these two taxa and 

submitted the results of their review for 

consideration at AC33 (https://cites.org/ 

sites/default/files/documents/E-AC33- 

45-03.pdf and https://cites.org/sites/ 

default/files/documents/E-AC33-45- 

04.pdf). The Animals Committee 

supported Mexico’s recommendation 

that the two seal taxa be transferred 

from Appendix I to Appendix II and 

invited Mexico to bring proposals to 

CoP20. Since the United States is a 

range country for these taxa, we invite 

comments on such proposals. 

1. * Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus 

townsendi)—Transfer from Appendix 

I to Appendix II (Periodic Review 

Process by Mexico) 

2. * Caribbean monk seal (Monachus 

tropicalis)—Transfer from Appendix I 

to Appendix II (Periodic Review 

Process by Mexico) 

B. On what species proposals is the 

United States undecided, pending 

additional information and 

consultations? 

The United States is still undecided 

on whether to submit CoP20 proposals 

for the following taxa. In most cases, we 

have not completed our consultations 

with relevant range countries. In other 

cases, we expect meetings to occur in 

the immediate future, at which 

participants will generate important 

recommendations, trade analyses, or 

biological information on the taxon in 

question that may be useful to our final 

decision making. 

Plants 

3. * White sage (Salvia apiana)—Add to 

Appendix II 

4. Apitong, keruing, yang, gurjan 

(Dipterocarpus spp. [65 species])— 

Add to Appendix II 

5. * American ginseng (Panax 

quinquefolius) Araliaceae (ginseng) 

family—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I, or alternately a proposal 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 105077 

to amend Annotation #3 or to submit 

a working document to address issues 

relating to trade in American ginseng 

Mammals 

6. Painted wooly bat (Kerivoula picta)— 

Add to Appendix II 

7. Sloths (Bradypus spp. and Choloepus 

spp.)—Add all non-CITES species to 

Appendix II 

Birds 

8. African hornbills (Ceratogymna and 

Bycanistes)—Add all species to 

Appendix II 

9. * Peregrine falcon (Falco 

peregrinus)—Transfer from Appendix 

I to Appendix II 

Reptiles 

10. Order Testudines or all Freshwater 

turtles [∼348 species, ∼139 not listed 

in CITES or listed as Appendix III]— 

Include all species in at least 

Appendix II [∼139 species]; transfer 

all IUCN-assessed threatened or 

endangered species from Appendix II 

to Appendix I (we are considering all 

native species not currently listed in 

Appendix II = 22 native species as 

well as 2 native species that are 

threatened or endangered species for 

Appendix I—see turtle species below) 

11. * Western pond turtle (Actinemys 

marmorata)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

12. * Southwestern pond turtle 

(Actinemys pallida)—Include all 

species not currently listed in 

Appendix II 

13. * Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) 

(including C. p. dorsalis)—Include all 

species not currently listed in 

Appendix II 

14. * Chicken turtle (Deirochelys 

reticularia)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

15. * Alabama red-bellied turtle 

(Pseudemys alabamensis)—Include 

all species not currently listed in 

Appendix II 

16. * Eastern river cooter (Pseudemys 

concinna)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

17. * Florida cooter (Pseudemys 

floridana)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

18. * Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys 

gorzugi)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

19. * Florida redbelly turtle (Pseudemys 

nelsoni)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

20. * Peninsula cooter (Pseudemys 

peninsularis)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

21. * Northern red-bellied turtle 

(Pseudemys rubriventris)—Include all 

species not currently listed in 

Appendix II 

22. * Texas river cooter (Pseudemys 

texana)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

23. * Big Bend slider (Trachemys 

gaigeae)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

24. *Red-eared slider (Trachemys 

scripta)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 23. 

25. * Cagle’s map turtle (Graptemys 

caglei)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

26. * Northern map turtle (Graptemys 

geographica)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 25. 

27. * Black-knobbed map turtle 

(Graptemys nigrinoda)—Include all 

species not currently listed in 

Appendix II 

28. * Ringed map turtle (Graptemys 

oculifera)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

29. * Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys 

ouachitensis)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

30. * False map turtle (Graptemys 

pseudogeographica)—Include all 

species not currently listed in 

Appendix II 

31. * Texas map turtle (Graptemys 

versa)—Include all species not 

currently listed in Appendix II 

32. * Yellow-blotched sawback 

(Graptemys flavimaculata)—Include 

all species not currently listed in 

Appendix II 

33. * Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

34. * Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea 

blandingii)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

35. Home’s hingeback tortoise (Kinixys 

homeana)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

36. * Rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp. [44 

species])—Add to Appendix II [44 

species] 

37. * Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus 

horridus)—Add to Appendix II 

38. * Western rattlesnake (Crotalus 

oreganus)—Add to Appendix II 

39. * Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus 

viridis)—Add to Appendix II 

40. Blue-spotted tree monitor (Varanus 

macraei)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

Amphibians 

41. Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius 

alvarius)—Add to Appendix II 

Sharks and Rays 

42. * Oceanic whitetip shark 

(Carcharhinus longimanus)—Transfer 

from Appendix II to Appendix I 

43. Gulper sharks or deepwater sharks 

(Centrophoridae family)—Add to 

Appendix II 

44. * Gulper shark (Centrophorus 

granulosus)—Add to Appendix I 

45. * Mosaic gulper shark (Centrophorus 

tessellatus)—Add to Appendix I or II 

46. * Little gulper shark (Centrophorus 

uyato)—Add to Appendix I or II 

47. * Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

Bony fishes 

48. Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon 

kauderni)—Add to Appendix II 

49. * American eel (Anguilla rostrata)— 

Add to Appendix II 

Invertebrates 

50. * Chocolate chip or four-sided or 

three-rowed sea cucumber 

(Isostichopus badionotus)—Add to 

Appendix II 

51. Brown sea cucumber (Isostichopus 

fuscus)—Transfer from Appendix III 

(Ecuador) to Appendix I 

52. * Stichopod sea cucumber 

(Isostichopus macroparentheses)— 

Add to Appendix II 

53. * Stichopod sea cucumber 

(Isostichopus maculatus)—Add to 

Appendix II 

54. Golden sandfish (Holothuria 

lessoni)—Add to Appendix II 

55. * Curryfish, Herrmann’s sea 

cucumber (Stichopus herrmanni)— 

Add to Appendix II (was suggested for 

Appendix I) 

56. * American horseshoe crab (Limulus 

polyphemus)—Add to Appendix I or 

II 

57. Red and pink coral (Corallium spp. 

[∼20+ spp.])—Add to Appendix II 

C. For which species is the United States 

unlikely to submit proposals for 

consideration at CoP20, unless we 

receive significant additional 

information? 

The United States does not intend to 

submit proposals for the following taxa 

unless we receive significant additional 

information indicating that a proposal is 

warranted. 

Plants 

58. * California lady’s slipper 

(Cypripedium californicum) 

Orchidaceae (orchid) family— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

59. * Mountain lady’s slipper 

(Cypripedium montanum) 

Orchidaceae (orchid) family— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

60. * Sparrow’s-egg lady’s slipper 

(Cypripedium passerinum) 

Orchidaceae (orchid) family— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

61. * Two-keeled hooded orchid 

(Galeandra bicarinata) Orchidaceae 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
105078 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 

(orchid) family—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

62. * American elm (Ulmus 

americana)—Add to Appendix I 

63. * Green ash (Fraxinus 

pennsylvanica) Oleaceae (olive) 

family—Add to Appendix I 

64. * Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) 

Pinaceae (pine) family—Add to 

Appendix I 

65. * Redbay (Persea borbonia) 

Lauraceae (laurels) family—Add to 

Appendix I 

66. * Swamp bay (Persea palustris) 

Lauraceae (laurels) family—Add to 

Appendix I 

67. * White ash (Fraxinus americana) 

Oleaceae (olive) family—Add to 

Appendix I 

Animals 

Mammals 

68. Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas)— 

Transfer from Appendix III to 

Appendix I 

69. Dwarf musk deer (Moschus 

berezovskii)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

70. Goitered gazelle (Gazella 

subgutturosa)—Add to Appendix I 

71. Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus 

amphibius)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

72. Hog deer (Axis porcinus)—Transfer 

from Appendix III to Appendix I 

73. Javan deer (Rusa timorensis)—Add 

to Appendix I 

74. Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

75. Mountain nyala (Tragelaphus 

buxtoni)—Add to Appendix I 

76. Musk deer (Moschus moschiferus)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

77. * Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

78. * Reindeer/caribou (Rangifer 

tarandus)—Add to Appendix I 

79. Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor)—Add 

to Appendix I 

80. * Sea otter (Enhydra lutris)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I (one subspecies, Enhydra 

lutris nereis, is listed in Appendix I) 

81. White-lipped peccary (Tayassu 

pecari)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

Birds 

82. * Aleutian cackling goose, Aleutian 

Canada goose, Aleutian goose (Branta 

canadensis leucopareia)—Remove 

from Appendix II [i.e., remove from 

CITES Appendices] 

83. Copsychus (genus) [Magpie-robins 

and shamas including Kittacinca spp.; 

10 species; 1 species, Copsychus 

malabaricus, listed in Appendix II]— 

Add to Appendix II [9 species] 

84. Great curassow (Crax rubra)— 

Transfer from Appendix III to 

Appendix I 

85. Long-tailed parakeet (Belocercus 

longicaudus)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

86. Ru ̈ppell’s vulture (Gyps rueppelli)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

87. Steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

88. White-backed vulture (Gyps 

africanus)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

Reptiles 

89. Agama lizard (Trapelus savignii)— 

Add to Appendix II 

90. Asian giant tortoise (Manouria 

emys)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

91. * Barbour’s map turtle (Graptemys 

barbouri)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

92. Black marsh turtle (Siebenrockiella 

crassicollis)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

93. Burmese python (Python 

bivittatus)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

94. * Diamondback terrapin 

(Malaclemys terrapin)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

95. Dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion 

thamnobates)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

96. Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard 

(Uromastyx aegyptia)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

97. King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

98. Leopard fringe-fingered lizard 

(Acanthodactylus pardalis)—Add to 

Appendix I 

99. Masked water snakes, puff-faced 

water snakes (Homalopsis spp. [5 

species])—Add to Appendix II [5 

species] 

100. * Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus 

catenatus)—Add to Appendix II 

101. * Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys 

gibbonsi)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

102. * Pearl River map turtle (Graptemys 

pearlensis)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

103. Pig nose turtle (Carettochelys 

insculpta)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

104. Senegal flapshell turtle 

(Cyclanorbis senegalensis)—Transfer 

from Appendix II to Appendix I 

105. Red-headed rat snake (Elaphe 

moellendorffi)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

106. White-bellied snapping turtle 

(Elseya branderhorsti)—Add to 

Appendix II 

Amphibians 

107. Harlequin frogs, stubfoot toads 

(Atelopus spp. ∼94+ species; 1 species 

already included in CITES Appendix 

I: Atelopus zetek)—Add to Appendix 

I 

108. Phantasmal poison frog 

(Epipedobates tricolor)—Transfer 

from Appendix II to Appendix I 

109. Clown tree frog/harlequin poison 

frog (Oophaga histrionica)—Transfer 

from Appendix II to Appendix I 

110. Lehmann’s poision frog (Oophaga 

lehmanni)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

111. * Pigeon Mountain salamander 

(Plethodon petraeus)—Add to 

Appendix I 

Sharks and Rays 

112. * Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna 

lewini)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

113. * Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna 

zygaena)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

114. * Silky shark (Carcharhinus 

falciformis)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

115. * Basking shark (Cetorhinus 

maximus)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

116. * Longfin mako (Isurus paucus)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

117. * Shortfin mako (Isurus 

oxyrinchus)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

118. * Common thresher (Alopias 

vulpinus)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

119. * Pelagic thresher shark (Alopias 

pelagicus)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

120. * Great White shark (Carcharodon 

carcharias)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

121. * Kitefin shark (Dalatias licha)— 

Add to Appendix I or III 

122. * Tope (Galeorhinus galeus)—Add 

to Appendix I or II 

123. * Porbeagle (Lamna nasu)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

124. * Spiny dogfish (Squalus 

acanthias)—Add to Appendix I 

125. * Atlantic nurse shark 

(Ginglymostoma cirratum)—Add to 

Appendix II 

126. Common smoothhound shark 

(Mustelus mustelus)—Add to 

Appendix I 

127. * Sand tiger shark (Carcharias 

taurus)—Add to Appendix I 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 105079 

128. * Atlantic devilray (Mobula 

hypostoma)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

129. * Sicklefin devilray (Mobula 

tarapacana)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

130. * Spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus 

ocellatus)—Add to Appendix I 

131. * Whitespotted eagle ray 

(Aetobatus narinari)—Add to 

Appendix II 

132. * Bullnose eagle ray (Myliobatis 

freminvillii)—Add to Appendix II 

133. * American cownose ray 

(Rhinoptera bonasus)—Add to 

Appendix II 

134. * Spiny butterfly ray (Gymnura 

altavela)—Add to Appendix II 

135. Porcupine ray (Urogymnus 

asperrimus)—Add to Appendix I 

136. Tiger River stingray (Potamotrygon 

tigrina)—Add to Appendix I 

137. Dasyatidae (stingrays from S. and 

SE Asia; ∼68 ssp)—Add to Appendix 

II 

138. * Winter skate (Leucoraja 

ocellata)—Add to Appendix I 

139. * Thorny skate (Amblyraja 

radiata)—Add to Appendix I 

Jawless Fish 

140. * Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus 

stoutii)—Add to Appendix I or II 

Bony Fishes 

141. Freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.)— 

Add to Appendix II 

142. European eel (Anguilla anguilla)— 

Add to Appendix I 

143. Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica)— 

Add to Appendix I 

144. Snowflake moray eel (Echidna 

nebulosa)—Add to Appendix II 

145. Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser 

baerii)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

146. Russian sturgeon (Acipenser 

gueldenstaedtii)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

147. Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

148. Sakhalin sturgeon (Acipenser 

schrenckii)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

149. Stellate sturgeon (Acipenser 

stellatus)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

150. Kaluga sturgeon (Huso dauricus)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

151. Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

152. White-seam betta (Betta 

albimarginata)—Add to Appendix I 

153. Spotfin betta (Betta macrostoma)— 

Add to Appendix I 

154. Sim’s betta (Betta simorum)—Add 

to Appendix I 

155. Black damselfish (Chrysiptera 

niger)—Add to Appendix I or II 

156. * Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus 

thynnus)—Add to Appendix I 

157. * Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus 

orientalis)—Add to Appendix I 

158. * Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)— 

Add to Appendix I 

159. * Brown-marbled grouper 

(Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)—Add to 

Appendix I 

160. * Camouflage grouper (Epinephelus 

polyphekadion)—Add to Appendix I 

161. * Nassau grouper (Epinephelus 

striatus; global and Gulf of Mexico)— 

Add to Appendix III 

162. * Red grouper (Epinephelus 

morio)—Add to Appendix I 

163. * Black grouper (Mycteroperca 

bonaci)—Add to Appendix I 

164. * Yellow-fin grouper [Gulf of 

Mexico] (Mycteroperca venenosa)— 

Add to Appendix I 

165. * Yellowmouth grouper 

(Mycteroperca interstitialis)—Add to 

Appendix I 

166. * Squaretail coral grouper 

(Plectropomus areolatus)—Add to 

Appendix I 

167. * Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)— 

Add to Appendix I 

168. * Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans)— 

Add to Appendix I 

169. Cubera snapper (Lutjanus 

cyanopterus)—Add to Appendix I 

170. * Red snapper (Lutjanus 

campechanus)—Add to Appendix I 

171. * Vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites 

aurorubens)—Add to Appendix I 

172. * Golden tilefish (Lopholatilus 

chamaeleonticeps)—Add to 

Appendix I 

173. * Hogfish (Lachnolaimus 

maximus)—Add to Appendix I 

174. * Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus 

undulatus)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

175. Naoko’s fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus 

naokoae)—Add to Appendix II 

176. * Mexican blindcat (Prietella 

phreatophila)—Add to Appendix I 

177. * Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)— 

Add to Appendix I 

178. Clown goby (Callogobius 

amikami)—Add to Appendix II 

179. * Peppermint goby (Coryphopterus 

lipernes)—Add to Appendix I 

180. * Glass goby (Coryphopterus 

hyalinus)—Add to Appendix II 

181. * Masked goby (Coryphopterus 

personatus)—Add to Appendix II 

182. Barber goby (Elacatinus figaro)— 

Add to Appendix II 

183. Broadstripe goby (Elacatinus 

prochilos)—Add to Appendix I or II 

184. Striped catfish (Pangasianodon 

hypophthalmus)—Add to Appendix I 

185. Phraya giant catfish (Pangasius 

sanitwongsei)—Add to Appendix I 

186. Mekong tiger perch (Datnioides 

undecimradiatus)—Add to Appendix 

I 

187. Harlequin sweetlips 

(Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides)— 

Add to Appendix II 

188. Boeseman’s rainbowfish 

(Melanotaenia boesemani)—Add to 

Appendix I 

189. Blackspotted croaker (Protonibea 

diacanthus)—Add to Appendix II 

190. Tiger-tail seahorse (Hippocampus 

comes)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

191. * Lined seahorse (Hippocampus 

erectus)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

192. * Thorny seahorse (Hippocampus 

histrix)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

193. * Giant seahorse (Hippocampus 

ingens)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

194. Great seahorse (Hippocampus 

kelloggi)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

195. * Spotted seahorse (Hippocampus 

kuda)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

196. * Long-snout seahorse 

(Hippocampus reidi)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I (individual 

request to add to Appendix II, but is 

already in Appendix II) 

197. Flat-faced seahorse (Hippocampus 

trimaculatus)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

Invertebrates 

198. Cardinal shrimp (Caridina 

dennerli)—Add to Appendix I 

199. Mangrove horseshoe crab 

(Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda)—Add 

to Appendix I or II 

200. Coastal horseshoe crab (Tachypleus 

gigas)—Add to Appendix I or II 

201. Tri-spine horseshoe crab 

(Tachypleus tridentatus)—Add to 

Appendix I or II 

202. * Blue coral (Heliopora coerulea)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

203. * Cactus coral (Pavona cactus)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

204. * Cactus coral (Pavona 

decussata)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

205. * Daisy coral (Alveopora allingi)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

206. * Disc coral (Turbinaria 

mesenterina)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

207. * Disc coral (Turbinaria peltata)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

208. * Disc coral (Turbinaria 

reniformis)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
105080 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 

209. * Galaxy coral (Galaxea astreata)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

210. * Montipora coral (Montipora 

angulata)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

211. * Montipora coral (Montipora 

calcarea)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

212. * Montipora Coral (Montipora 

caliculata)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

213. * Porites coral (Porites 

horizontalata)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

214. * Porites coral (Porites 

nigrescens)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

215. * Scleractinian coral (Psammocora 

stellata)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

216. * Staghorn coral (Acropora 

acuminata)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

217. * Staghorn coral (Acropora 

aspera)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

218. * Staghorn coral (Acropora 

horrida)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

219. * Staghorn coral (Acropora 

paniculata)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

220. * Staghorn coral (Acropora 

polystoma)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

221. Elegance coral (Catalaphyllia 

jardinei)—Transfer from Appendix II 

to Appendix I 

222. * Elephant skin coral (Pachyseris 

rugosa)—Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

223. * Large polyped stony corals 

(Euphyllia spp.)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

224. Lettuce coral (Pectinia lactuca)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

225. Long-tentacled plate coral 

(Heliofungia actiniformis)—Transfer 

from Appendix II to Appendix I 

226. Pearl bubble coral (Physogyra 

lichtensteini)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

227. Small polyped stony corals 

(Acropora suharsonoi)—Transfer from 

Appendix II to Appendix I 

228. * Deep-water redfish (Actinopyga 

echinites)—Add to Appendix II 

229. * Surf redfish (Actinopyga 

mauritiana)—Add to Appendix I or II 

230. Panning’s blackfish (Actinopyga 

palauensis)—Add to Appendix II 

231. Burrowing blackfish (Actinopyga 

spinea)—Add to Appendix II 

232. * Donkey dung sea cucumber 

(Holothuria mexicana)—Add to 

Appendix II 

233. Japanese spikey sea cucumber 

(Apostichopus japonicus)—Add to 

Appendix I 

234. * White teatfish (Holothuria 

fuscogilva)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

235. * Florida cone (Conus 

anabathrum)—Add to Appendix II 

236. * Freshwater pearl mussel 

(Margaritifera margaritifera)—Add to 

Appendix I or II 

237. * Hihiwai (Neritina granosa)—Add 

to Appendix I or II 

238. * Pink abalone (Haliotis 

corrugata)—Add to Appendix I or II 

239. * Green abalone (Haliotis fulgens)— 

Add to Appendix I or II 

240. * Pinto abalone (Haliotis 

kamtschatkana)—Add to Appendix I 

or II 

241. Giant armored trapdoor spider 

(Liphistius malayanus)—Add to 

Appendix I 

242. Indian tarantula (Thrigmopoeus 

insignis)—Add to Appendix I 

243. Tarantulas (Typhochlaena spp. [5 

species])—Add to Appendix I [5 

species] 

244. Tarantula family (Theraphosidae) 

[all ∼1,080 unlisted spp.]—Add to 

Appendix II 

245. Mexican orange beauty tarantula 

(Brachypelma baumgarteni)— 

Transfer from Appendix II to 

Appendix I 

246. Mexican fireleg tarantula 

(Brachypelma boehmei)—Transfer 

from Appendix II to Appendix I 

247. Mexican redknee tarantula 

(Brachypelma hamorii)—Transfer 

from Appendix II to Appendix I 

248. Mexican blackvelvet tarantula 

(Brachypelma <TLILTOCATL> 

schroederi)—Transfer from Appendix 

II to Appendix I 

249. Wallace’s giant bee (Megachile 

pluto, synonym Chalicodoma pluto)— 

Add to Appendix I 

Recommendations for Resolutions, 

Decisions, and Agenda Items for the 

United States To Consider Submitting 

for CoP20 

In response to the request in our first 

notice concerning possible CoP20 

submissions of resolutions, decisions, 

and agenda items, we received 

information and recommendations from 

the following organizations: Animal 

Welfare Institute, Association of Zoos & 

Aquariums, Center for Biological 

Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, 

Environmental Investigation Agency, 

Humane Society International, 

International Fund for Animal Welfare, 

International Wood Products 

Association, Jamma International, 

League of American Orchestras, Natural 

Resources Defense Council, Panthera, 

Safari Club International, Species 

Survival Network, Wildlife 

Conservation Society, and World 

Wildlife Fund. We also received 

comments from two individuals. 

We evaluated the recommendations 

submitted by the above organizations 

and individuals, as well as the factors 

described in the U.S. approach for 

CoP20, discussed in our March 22, 

2024, Federal Register notice (89 FR 

20489), in considering resolutions, 

decisions, and agenda items that the 

United States may submit for 

consideration by the Parties at CoP20. 

We also considered potential 

submissions that we identified 

internally or based on discussions with 

other CITES Parties. 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 78th meeting (SC78; scheduled to 

be held February 3–8, 2025), 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 CoP20? 

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 CoP20. As described in 

this notice, we will make a final 

decision on whether to submit a 

document to CoP20 for many issues 

described in this document pending the 

outcomes and discussions at SC78. 

B. On what resolutions, decisions, and 

agenda items is the United States still 

undecided, pending additional 

information and consultations? 

1. Asian big cats: The World Wildlife 

Fund (WWF) notes that Resolution 

Conf. 12.5 (Rev. CoP19) on Conservation 

of and trade in tigers and other 

Appendix-I Asian big cat species 

instructs the Secretariat to report to the 

Standing Committee and the Conference 

of the Parties on the status of Asian big 

cats in the wild, their conservation, and 

trade controls, using information 

provided by the range countries and 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 105081 

other relevant countries. However, 

noting that the Secretariat rarely 

receives many responses from Asian big 

cat range countries, WWF recommends 

that the United States support the 

production of an independently 

produced report for each meeting of the 

CoP, similar to the process directed in 

Resolution Conf. 9.14 (Rev. CoP17) on 

Conservation of and trade in African 

and Asian rhinoceroses for 

rhinoceroses. While the United States 

shares the concerns over the lack of 

information to help inform the 

preparation of robust reports, we are 

also cognizant of the ongoing financial 

and administrative challenges on the 

Secretariat and the Parties. Therefore, 

the United States is currently undecided 

on whether to propose amendments to 

Resolution Conf. 12.5 (Rev. CoP19) 

along the lines of WWF’s suggestion. We 

will continue to review this 

recommendation to determine a path 

forward on this issue before CoP20. 

2. Compliance matters: Noting the 

increase in the workload of the Standing 

Committee to identify, investigate, and 

resolve potential instances of noncompliance with the Convention, the 

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) 

proposes that the compliance 

framework for the Convention be 

reviewed holistically. WCS notes that 

this effort could build on the outcomes 

from existing processes, including 

review of the National Ivory Action Plan 

(NIAP) process, recent country-wide 

reviews under the Review of Significant 

Trade (RST) process, etc., and suggests 

that the United States either propose 

amendments to Resolution Conf. 18.2 on 

Establishment of committees, to direct 

the establishment of a Compliance and 

Enforcement Committee of CoP or 

submit a discussion document that 

consolidates, standardizes, and 

strengthens approaches to identifying 

and addressing non-compliance with 

the Convention. Noting ongoing 

resource and capacity constraints, we 

are unlikely to propose the 

establishment of a new committee of the 

CoP. However, based on additional 

discussions internally and with likeminded Parties, we may consider 

submitting a discussion document to 

examine options for improving and 

strengthening approaches to identify 

and address compliance matters. 

3. Prioritization of sharks and rays in 

the review of significant trade (RST) 

process: The International Fund for 

Animal Welfare (IFAW), WCS, and 

Humane Society International (HSI) 

request that the United States prioritize 

shark and ray species for all discussions 

related to the RST and Article XIII 

compliance processes, to ensure CITES 

listings are being implemented 

effectively and in line with CITES 

obligations. Additionally, IFAW, WCS, 

and HSI recommend the United States 

consider submitting draft amendments 

to Resolution Conf. 12.8 (Rev. CoP18) on 

Review of Significant Trade in 

specimens of Appendix-II species to 

increase the flexibility of the Animals 

Committee and the Plants Committee to 

select a number of taxon/country or 

taxon/multiple country or geographic 

area combinations of greatest concern, 

as appropriate. 

The United States regards the RST 

process in CITES as an extremely 

important and essential tool to ensure 

that trade in Appendix-II species is 

biologically sustainable in the short and 

long term. The ability to select an 

appropriate number of species/country 

combinations of greatest concern 

already exists within the Resolution, 

and the RST process is flexible to 

address the conservation concerns 

raised. We understand the concerns 

notably for migratory and marine 

species such as sharks that would allow 

for the selection of taxa at a broader 

level, especially at geographic levels, 

and the concerns specifically expressed 

at the 32nd meeting of the Animals 

Committee (AC32; Geneva, June 2023). 

Any apparent constraints noted at 

recent meetings were unrelated to the 

structure of the Resolution and were 

instead largely a function of the time 

and resource constraints of the scientific 

committees and the Secretariat, in 

particular with the added workload 

during this intersessional period from 

work that was delayed during the 

Covid–19 pandemic. We have actively 

engaged in the RST review process at 

Animals, Plants, and Standing 

Committee meetings and support efforts 

to build the capacity of CITES Parties. 

We are concerned about the continued 

threats to sharks and rays. Therefore, we 

are considering options to complement 

the RST process that have conservation 

benefits to these species. We remain 

undecided on how best to accomplish 

such objectives and seek input on 

possible solutions. 

4. Trade in deepwater sharks and 

stingrays: IFAW, WCS, and HSI 

recommend that the United States 

consider developing a proposal to 

include internationally traded 

deepwater sharks in the Appendices. In 

addition, IFAW, WCS, and HSI express 

concerns about the wider trades of 

stingray leather (particularly the family 

Dasyatidae), and shark and ray meat, 

and recommend the United States 

consider submitting any information it 

may have on such trade to the relevant 

CITES committees and consider if 

additional species should be included 

in Appendix II. Please refer to the 

Recommendations for Species Proposals 

for the United States To Consider 

Submitting for CoP20 section of this 

notice on possible species proposals for 

information on what the United States 

is likely, undecided, or unlikely to 

propose at CoP20. 

5. Mismatch of trade in CITES-listed 

shark species: IFAW, WCS, and HSI 

encourage the United States to make 

mismatch of the trade in products of 

CITES-listed sharks a priority at CoP20, 

ensuring that firm steps are taken to 

address the issue of underreporting of 

CITES-listed sharks and rays in trade. 

The Standing Committee at SC78 is 

expected to discuss numerous ongoing 

CITES compliance issues, including 

those regarding CITES-listed sharks. The 

United States takes CITES compliance 

issues seriously. The mismatch of the 

trade in products of CITES-listed sharks 

recorded in the CITES Trade Database 

remains a concern to the United States. 

We will closely monitor the outcomes 

and recommendations from SC78 and 

determine whether it will be 

appropriate to submit a document to 

CoP20 on this matter. 

6. Confiscation of live animals: IFAW 

recommends that the United States 

consider amendments to Resolution 

Conf. 17.8 (Rev. CoP19) on Disposal of 

illegally traded and conÉscated 

specimens of CITES-listed species, and 

its annexes, revising terms such as 

‘‘disposal’’ and ‘‘euthanasia’’ to more 

accurately reflect the task required of 

Parties. They note that disposal 

generally refers to non-sentient beings 

and humane killing would be a more 

accurate alternative to euthanasia. They 

also suggest updating Resolution Conf. 

17.8 (Rev. CoP19) to align it with the 

IUCN Guidelines for the management of 

confiscated, live organisms, and call for 

adding guidance to the Resolution on 

immediate handling of confiscated live 

animals to assist enforcers in decision 

making, and how to repatriate healthy 

animals to their country of origin to 

contribute to conservation of the wild 

populations. 

While the United States appreciates 

the recommendation to review the terms 

‘‘disposal’’ and ‘‘euthanasia’’ to ensure 

they accurately reflect the task required 

of Parties, we believe that the current 

terms are adequate. ‘‘Management’’ is a 

term typically used when describing 

stockpiles (parts and products, and not 

live specimens). Similarly, disposal 

refers to specifying a destination for the 

specimens. Regarding the 

recommendation to update Resolution 

Conf. 17.8 (Rev. CoP19), we are 

undecided at this time, including 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
105082 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 

regarding the suggestion to better align 

it with the IUCN Guidelines and 

otherwise, pending the outcome of 

discussions related to Decision 19.174 

on Disposal of confiscated specimens at 

SC78. 

7. National Ivory Action Plans (NIAP) 

process: IFAW encourages the United 

States to ensure that CoP20 delivers 

outcomes regarding Decisions 19.68 to 

19.70 on Review of the National Ivory 

Action Plans Process, which direct the 

Secretariat, subject to external funding, 

to contract a consultant to review the 

NIAP process in order to improve its 

ability to enable action on the ground 

and provide capacity support for 

countries that have been identified as 

sources of significant concern in the 

global ivory trade. 

The United States continues to 

support the NIAP process and is an 

active participant in the Standing 

Committee’s intersessional working 

group that is currently considering the 

relationship between the Elephant 

Trade Information System, which 

informs NIAP decisions, and the CITES 

Annual Illegal Trade Report. We are 

concerned with the lack of progress 

toward implementing the NIAP review 

recommendations and will consider 

ways to advance these initiatives at 

CoP20. 

8. Expiration of permits in transit: In 

Section XII (Regarding permits and 

certificates for timber species included 

in Appendices II and III with the 

annotation ‘Logs, sawn wood and 

veneer sheets’) of Resolution Conf. 12.3 

(Rev. CoP19) on Permits and 

certificates, inter alia, the Parties 

recognize that there are certain 

circumstances where it may be 

appropriate to extend the period of 

validity of an export permit or re-export 

certificate beyond the normal maximum 

of 6 months after the date of issuance for 

timber shipments. The International 

Wood Products Association (IWPA) 

urges the United States to work with 

other Parties to update the language to 

reflect current processes and ensure that 

shipments of properly permitted timber 

species included in Appendices II and 

III are not refused entry due to the 

realities of international supply chains 

that rely on ocean shipping. The United 

States is undecided on whether to 

submit a discussion document to CoP20 

proposing to update this guidance and 

will make a final decision based on 

further review of available information, 

internal discussions, and discussions 

with other Parties. 

9. Trade in wood pellets: In joint 

comments submitted by the Natural 

Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the 

Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), 

and Defenders of Wildlife (Defenders), 

they urge the United States to consider 

submitting a draft decision, resolution, 

or agenda item seeking to examine 

international trade in wood pellets and 

the tree species used in their 

production. NRDC, CBD, and Defenders 

assert that the southeastern United 

States is the primary source for trees 

converted to wood pellets and then 

exported to Europe and elsewhere as 

renewable bioenergy. We are currently 

undecided on whether to submit a 

document on this issue but will evaluate 

available information and undertake 

additional internal discussions to 

determine if the United States will 

submit a discussion document or 

agenda item on this issue. 

10. Identification of corals: CBD 

expresses concerns regarding the 

ongoing challenges with documenting 

live coral and coral rock trade, 

including identification challenges. CBD 

urges the United States to propose 

continued consideration of this issue, 

including a potential CITES workshop 

to develop additional identification 

resources and reconsideration of 

Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP19) on 

Permits and certificates. As a major 

importer of live corals, the United States 

remains committed to ensuring trade in 

Appendix-II stony corals is legal and 

biologically sustainable. The United 

States supports further examination of 

issues surrounding trade of live stony 

corals. We are currently undecided on 

whether to submit a document on this 

issue and will consider it further 

pending outcomes and 

recommendations from the SC78. 

11. Trade suspension against Mexico 

and advocacy for the vaquita (Phocoena 

sinus): Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), 

CBD, Environmental Investigation 

Agency (EIA), and NRDC request that 

the United States submit draft decision 

text for consideration at CoP20 to 

recommend a trade suspension against 

Mexico for its ongoing failure to: (1) 

stop the illegal trade in totoaba (Totoaba 

macdonaldi); (2) implement its 

Compliance Action Plan on totoaba; or 

(3) take other measures as directed by 

the Parties. The United States remains 

gravely concerned about the status of 

the vaquita and illegal trade in totoaba. 

The United States led efforts at the 19th 

meeting of the Conference of the Parties 

(CoP19; Panama, November 2022) to 

strengthen several draft decisions 

considered during CoP19 to combat the 

illegal harvest and trade of totoaba. The 

Standing Committee will discuss this 

issue at its next meeting. In light of the 

above, the United States is currently 

undecided on whether to submit a 

document on the issue to CoP20. We 

will make a decision on submitting a 

totoaba-related document to CoP20 

pending outcomes and 

recommendations from SC78. 

12. Law Enforcement Management 

Information System (LEMIS) database: 

AWI encourages the United States to 

submit an information document for 

consideration at CoP20 that provides an 

overview of the Service’s Law 

Enforcement Management Information 

System (LEMIS), to encourage other 

Parties to consider implementing 

similar databases. AWI also suggests 

that the United States consider hosting 

a side event at CoP20 to discuss LEMIS. 

The United States is a longtime active 

participant in the Standing Committee’s 

intersessional working group on 

Electronic Systems and Information 

Technologies. This working group is the 

main conduit for developing standards 

and best practices for electronic permit 

issuance and enforcement and data 

reporting. Additionally, staff from the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of 

Law Enforcement, engage in technical 

assistance activities with other Parties 

interested in developing their own 

LEMIS-like processes for collecting legal 

and illegal CITES trade data, as well as 

data on legal and illegal trade in nonCITES species consistent with stricter 

domestic measures such as the U.S. 

Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act. 

Each Party has a unique set of 

circumstances regarding regulations and 

governance, and there is no one-sizefits-all approach to data system 

development. That said, it is possible 

for interested Parties to learn from the 

U.S. experience as well as the 

experiences of other Parties that are also 

developing their own data systems. The 

United States will consider whether a 

CoP20 information document on LEMIS 

or side event at CoP20 would be useful 

for other Parties. In addition, we will 

explore the possibility of coordinating 

with other Parties to present a more 

comprehensive view of the options 

available for creating systems similar to 

LEMIS in collecting and reporting data. 

13. Transparency in the Secretariat’s 

activities: The Species Survival Network 

(SSN) observes that the Secretariat 

regularly notes its increasing workload 

while also routinely proposing new 

analyses, reports, and other work. To 

address this issue, SSN believes it is 

important for Parties to have an 

opportunity to assess the proposed new 

work against existing work and financial 

and personnel needs. SSN encourages 

the United States to propose 

mechanisms to ensure greater 

transparency in the Secretariat’s 

activities, operations, and priorities, 

including submitting a draft decision 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 105083 

requiring the adoption of terms of 

reference by the relevant committee 

prior to hiring consultants. SSN also 

encourages the United States to submit 

a draft decision directing the Secretariat 

to report to each meeting on all 

outstanding commitments from existing 

Decisions and all new work it proposes 

to undertake, along with estimated 

budget and staff resources required. 

The United States acknowledges the 

importance of transparency and 

comprehensive decision making to the 

CITES processes. Although we are 

currently undecided on submitting a 

document to CoP20 specifically calling 

for the proposed changes, 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 development of 

terms of reference and selection of 

consultants to carry out the mandates of 

Decisions, which we believe are crucial 

for delivering meaningful outputs that 

respond to the expectations of the CoP. 

Consequently, although we are currently 

undecided, we may submit a discussion 

document to CoP20 on this issue. 

14. Disposal of confiscated 

specimens: SSN provides a list of what 

it considers unresolved issues with 

Resolution Conf. 17.8 (Rev. CoP19) on 

Disposal of illegally traded and 

confiscated specimens of CITES-listed 

species and its annexes; and requests 

that the United States consider 

submitting a working document to 

CoP20 to address those issues. 

Specifically, SSN requests that the 

United States submit amendments to the 

preambular language in Resolution 

Conf. 17.8 (Rev. CoP19) along with 

changes to the Annexes to the 

Resolution to address the need to 

prevent confiscated CITES-listed 

specimens, both living and dead 

specimens or their parts that have been 

confiscated and returned to their 

country of origin, from reentering trade; 

review the language used in the 

Resolution that considers the 

advantages of euthanasia of a 

confiscated specimen to ensure it is not 

used as a default option, since it is 

inconsistent with Article VIII of the 

Convention; review and revise the 

language pertaining to the placement of 

confiscated live animals in research 

laboratories, as it is inconsistent with 

Article VIII.4 and .5 of the Convention, 

since such facilities are not established 

to ‘‘look after the welfare of live 

animals, particularly those that have 

been confiscated’’; make appropriate 

revisions to the decision tree analysis; 

and point to the need for greater 

guidance at the point of confiscation, 

consideration of the disposal by experts, 

and the development of a program to 

help with placing animals in the most 

appropriate facility regardless of its 

location within or outside the country of 

import. 

With regard to the recommendation to 

revise Resolution Conf. 17.8 (Rev. 

CoP19), we are undecided at this time, 

pending the outcome of discussions 

under Decision 19.174 on Disposal of 

confiscated specimens at SC78. We 

continue to believe amendments to 

question 7 of the decision tree analysis 

in the Resolution are necessary to 

ensure there are no grounds for concern 

that any transfer of Appendix-I species 

will stimulate further illegal or irregular 

trade or benefit those involved in the 

illegal or irregular transaction that gave 

rise to confiscation. We will carefully 

consider the outcomes at SC78 prior to 

determining whether to submit a 

document for consideration at CoP20. 

We are unlikely to review language on 

the advantages and disadvantages of 

euthanasia because we believe it is 

consistent with Article VIII of the 

Convention. We make determinations 

about the disposal of confiscated 

specimens on a case-by-case basis, 

consistent with the Resolution and U.S. 

regulations. The most important factor 

to consider in the disposal of 

confiscated live specimens is the 

welfare of the wildlife or plants. For live 

specimens, generally, the disposal 

options are maintenance in captivity, 

return to the wild, or euthanasia. In the 

absence of other options, euthanasia 

may be the most humane or appropriate 

option. Although under Article VIII 

returning confiscated live specimens to 

the country of export is one available 

option, it is often not possible. Return 

to the wild of confiscated specimens can 

carry risks for existing wild populations, 

such as introduction of disease, and can 

result in the death of the specimens 

released due to starvation, disease, or 

predation. Before considering return to 

the wild, a country must decide if that 

action would make a significant 

contribution to the conservation of the 

species or might be harmful to the 

conservation of the species in the wild. 

In many countries, including the United 

States, some confiscated specimens are 

donated to sanctuaries, zoos, aquariums, 

or botanical gardens. This option may 

not be available when a seizure involves 

a large number of common species, as 

placement of specimens of lower 

conservation value in limited space may 

benefit those individuals but may not 

support conservation efforts as a whole. 

We are undecided on whether 

additional guidance is needed in the 

Resolution for placement of confiscated 

live specimens in research laboratories 

and would welcome additional 

information on this matter. 

15. Implementation of Introduction 

from the sea provisions: SSN strongly 

encourages the United States to take 

action to ensure that CITES continues to 

monitor and, where needed, actively 

enhance implementation of provisions 

relating to Introduction from the Sea 

(IFS). With new marine species 

included in the Appendices at each 

meeting of the CoP since the 14th 

meeting of the Conference of the Parties 

(CoP14, The Hague, June 2007), 

applying the practical guidance 

included in Resolution Conf. 14.6 (Rev. 

CoP16) on Introduction from the sea is 

becoming increasingly important for the 

conservation of these species and to 

ensure effective implementation of the 

Convention. Ensuring clear and 

consistent guidance on implementation 

of IFS in accordance with the provisions 

of the Convention remains a key issue 

for the United States, and several 

current Decisions are intended to 

address challenges regarding 

implementation of IFS. We are 

undecided on submitting a document on 

this issue. We will closely monitor the 

outcomes and recommendations from 

SC78 and determine whether it will be 

necessary to submit a document to 

CoP20 on this matter. 

16. Implementation of CITES listings 

for sharks and rays: SSN encourages the 

United States to consider what actions 

could be taken at CoP20 to improve 

implementation of CITES listings for 

sharks and rays. SSN urges the United 

States to consider submitting proposals 

to include deepwater shark species in 

Appendix II and proposals to transfer 

species that are critically endangered 

but for which trade is continuing (e.g., 

oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus 

longimanus) shark) to Appendix I, and 

to be flexible for biologically vulnerable 

species that fall outside of the range 

specified in the aquatic footnote when 

considering any new listing proposals 

for sharks, rays, and other relevant 

aquatic species. Please refer to the 

Recommendations for Species Proposals 

for the United States To Consider 

Submitting for CoP20 section of this 

notice on possible species proposals for 

information on what the United States 

is likely, undecided, or unlikely to 

propose at CoP20. 

17. International trade in swim 

bladders: The United States is 

concerned about the increasing demand 

in international trade for swim bladders 

of teleost fish in the family Sciaenidae. 

The increased harvest may be putting 

these species at risk of overexploitation 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
105084 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 

and is contributing to high rates of 

bycatch and associated mortality of 

small marine mammals, sharks and rays, 

and marine turtles. The United States is 

considering submitting a document to 

CoP20 to raise awareness of this issue 

calling for appropriate actions to help 

ensure that the international trade in 

these species does not jeopardize their 

survival in the wild and put protected 

species that are incidentally caught in 

target fisheries at further risk of 

extinction. However, we require further 

consultations with Parties, and 

additional fish trade or biological 

information/data regarding international 

trade, before making a decision 

regarding this submission. 

18. Personal and household effects: 

Based on internal discussions and 

discussions with other range, transit, 

and consumer countries, the United 

States may consider proposing or cosponsoring an amendment to Resolution 

Conf. 13.7 (Rev. CoP17) on Control of 

trade in personal and household effects 

to amend the weight, volume, or 

number of specimens of certain species 

to be included in the list in paragraph 

3. 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. Based on these additional 

considerations, we may consider 

submitting an amendment to the weight, 

volume, or number with regard to 

agarwood-producing species that are 

currently included in the Resolution. 

We solicit information on what may be 

appropriate quantities if we decide to 

submit or co-sponsor such a proposal. 

C. What resolutions, decisions, and 

agenda items is the United States not 

likely to submit for consideration at 

CoP20, unless we receive significant 

additional information? 

1. CITES enforcement: Noting 

concerns regarding low penalties for 

violations and other enforcement 

concerns, an individual recommends 

that the United States increase funding 

and support to build the capacity of 

Parties to implement CITES. We 

recognize the importance of effective 

implementation of the provisions of the 

Convention, including compliance and 

enforcement. The United States has long 

been a leader in supporting CITES 

capacity-building and continues to be 

actively involved in such support, and 

we are unlikely to submit a document 

on this issue to CoP20. 

2. Reservations under the Convention: 

A commenter believes that the ability of 

a Party to take a reservation under 

CITES weakens the spirit of the 

Convention and suggests that the United 

States seek to amend the Convention 

text to phase out the ability of Parties to 

enter reservations or create a 

requirement that reserving Parties 

provide data demonstrating that trade in 

the reserving species is non-detrimental. 

The Articles of the Convention are not 

open for amendment at regular meetings 

of the Conference of the Parties, and 

therefore the United States will not seek 

to amend the Convention text at CoP20. 

Additionally, as noted in the 

Convention text, CITES is not subject to 

general reservations and Parties have 

the ability to enter specific reservations 

to amendments to the Appendices in 

accordance with the provisions of 

Articles XV, XVI, and XXIII. In 

Resolution Conf. 4.25 (Rev. CoP19) on 

Reservations, the Parties have agreed to 

specific guidance on the application of 

reservations, including a call for Parties 

that have entered a reservation to 

maintain and communicate information 

on trade in the species concerned in 

their CITES Annual Reports. The United 

States has never taken a reservation 

under CITES, and we strongly 

encourage other Parties to follow our 

consistent practice in CITES to ensure 

effective international cooperation in 

the conservation of species included in 

the Appendices. Nevertheless, there are 

avenues to address specific concerns, 

and therefore we are unlikely to pursue 

amending the current guidance at 

CoP20. 

Additionally, as noted in the 

Convention text, CITES is not subject to 

general reservations and Parties have 

the ability to enter specific reservations 

to amendments to the Appendices in 

accordance with the provisions of 

Articles XV, XVI, and XXIII. In 

Resolution Conf. 4.25 (Rev. CoP19) on 

Reservations, the Parties have agreed to 

specific guidance on the application of 

reservations, including a call for Parties 

that have entered a reservation to 

maintain and communicate information 

on trade in the species concerned in 

their CITES Annual Reports. The United 

States has never taken a reservation 

under CITES, and we strongly 

encourage other Parties to follow our 

consistent practice in CITES to ensure 

effective international cooperation in 

the conservation of species included in 

the Appendices. Nevertheless, there are 

avenues to address specific concerns, 

and therefore we are unlikely to pursue 

amending the current guidance at 

CoP20. 

3. Streamlining processes under 

CITES: The Association of Zoos & 

Aquariums (AZA) recommends that any 

resolutions, decisions, or agenda items 

that the United States submits for 

consideration at CoP20 focus on 

streamlining processes to decrease 

burdens on Parties and the wait time for 

permit processing, such as for activities 

that pose little or no risk to wild 

populations. The United States has a 

long history of working in CITES to 

streamline processes and enhance 

strategies for effective implementation 

of the Convention, and we will continue 

to do so. Additionally, the Parties are 

engaged in ongoing discussions on 

facilitating the efficient international 

movement of wildlife samples for 

diagnostic purposes and/or conservation 

purposes and the non-commercial 

movement of musical instruments for 

purposes of performance, display, or 

competition. In light of the above, the 

United States is unlikely to submit a 

document on the issue to CoP20. 

4. CITES implementation: AZA 

recommends that the United States 

develop implementation plans for any 

new CITES listings or increased 

regulatory controls and share these 

plans before CoP20 so that the decisions 

taken at CoP20 include assurances of 

effective implementation, and that the 

Service include associated funding 

requirements in its FY 2026 budget 

request. The Service, as the U.S. CITES 

Management and Scientific Authority, 

will continue to work with the relevant 

U.S. Government entities and 

stakeholders, as appropriate, to ensure 

effective implementation and 

enforcement of new listings and 

associated regulatory controls to 

facilitate legal, traceable, and 

biologically sustainable trade in CITESlisted species. 

5. Illicit financial flows: WWF 

believes that a resolution on illicit 

financial flows arising from trade in 

contravention of CITES would 

complement and reinforce Resolution 

Conf. 17.6 (Rev. CoP19) on Prohibiting, 

preventing, detecting and countering 

corruption, which facilitates activities 

conducted in violation of the 

Convention. These issues are already 

considered in the context of existing 

Resolutions including Resolution Conf. 

11.3 (Rev. CoP19) on Compliance and 

enforcement and Resolution Conf. 17.6 

(Rev. CoP19). Therefore, we are unlikely 

to propose a new resolution on this 

issue to CoP20; however, we will 

continue to look for opportunities to 

ensure effective implementation of these 

Resolutions. 

6. Traceability: WWF recommends 

that the United States introduce an 

agenda topic on the adoption of a 

resolution on traceability. WWF thinks 

that the current definition and guidance 

as adopted by CITES is not sufficient 

and more species need traceability 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 105085 

systems. WWF believes that there is a 

need for a stronger emphasis on the use 

of traceability for products from CITESlisted species that would best be served 

through the adoption of a resolution on 

traceability. WWF cites studies that 

have looked at the use of traceability for 

CITES-listed species and increasingly 

specific taxonomic groups included in 

the Appendices, such as sharks and 

rays, which have been identified 

through the Standing and Animals 

Committees’ processes as potential 

candidates that could benefit from use 

of traceability. 

The United States appreciates WWF’s 

recommendation to introduce a draft 

resolution on traceability. At the 17th 

meeting of the Conference of the Parties 

(CoP17; Johannesburg, September/ 

October 2016), the Parties adopted a 

working definition for traceability and 

guidance on its application, which is 

available to Parties on the CITES 

website with links to the associated 

documents. The 70th meeting of the 

Standing Committee (SC70; Sochi, 

October 2018) and the 18th meeting of 

the Conference of the Parties (CoP18; 

Geneva, August 2019) considered 

whether a resolution on traceability 

should be drafted and decided it was 

not warranted at that time. We continue 

to support those conclusions and are not 

convinced that a resolution is needed at 

this time. Therefore, we are unlikely to 

submit one to CoP20 unless additional 

information becomes available that 

warrants reassessing this issue. 

7. Immortal cell lines, genome 

libraries, and trace DNA samples: Citing 

the importance of immortal cell lines, 

genome libraries, and trace DNA for 

conservation genetics and wildlife 

forensics, and the length of time and 

cost associated with obtaining CITES 

documents, two individuals recommend 

that the United States submit a proposal 

to CoP20 to amend Resolution Conf. 9.6 

(Rev. CoP19) on Trade in readily 

recognizable parts and derivatives, to 

exclude them from CITES requirements. 

With regard to immortal cell lines and 

genome libraries, the individuals 

contend that they do not have ‘‘any 

template of the organism from which 

they are derived . . . and are considered 

as synthetic DNA, eligible for exclusion 

under CITES.’’ With regard to trace 

DNA, the individuals argue that 

amounts of 50 micrograms or less have 

no anticipated financial value and, 

therefore, should be excluded from 

CITES requirements. 

We note that the Parties in Resolution 

Conf. 9.6 (Rev. CoP19) have agreed that 

‘‘the term ‘readily recognizable part or 

derivative,’ as used in the Convention, 

is interpreted to include any specimen 

that appears from an accompanying 

document, the packaging or a mark or 

label, or from any other circumstances, 

to be a part or derivative of an animal 

or plant of a species included in the 

Appendices.’’ As defined by the 

commenters, immortal cells, genome 

libraries, and trace DNA all meet the 

current CITES definition of a readily 

recognizable part or derivative. 

We note that the potential financial 

value of specimens of CITES-listed 

species is not the determining factor for 

regulating international trade in the 

species. Also, recognizing that the trade 

in many biological samples, because of 

their special nature or because of the 

special purpose of such trade, requires 

expedited processing of permits and 

certificates to allow for the timely 

movement of shipments, the Parties 

have adopted simplified procedures to 

issue permits and certificates for such 

samples, subject to certain requirements 

(see Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP19) 

on Permits and certificates). 

Additionally, the Parties are engaged in 

ongoing discussions to examine the 

development of additional mechanisms 

to facilitate the efficient international 

movement of wildlife samples for 

diagnostic and/or conservation 

purposes. In light of the above, the 

United States is unlikely to submit a 

proposed amendment to Resolution 

Conf. 9.6 (Rev. CoP19) to CoP20. 

8. Elephant taxonomy: IFAW 

recommends that the United States 

consider the taxonomy of the African 

elephant and that any change to the 

current listing for the African elephant 

in the Appendices should list them as 

Loxodonta spp. and that such a change 

would not alter the scope of the current 

species listing. As IFAW notes, this 

issue is the subject of current 

intersessional discussions by the 

Animals Committee and the Standing 

Committee. At AC33, the Animals 

Committee accepted the new taxonomy 

for African elephants and referred use of 

Loxodonta spp. for consideration at 

SC78. We support the conclusions of the 

Animals Committee and will develop 

positions consistent with that approach 

for SC78 and CoP20, and therefore, we 

are unlikely to submit a document to 

CoP20 on this issue. 

9. Recognizing the role of rangers in 

CITES implementation: IFAW 

recommends that the United States 

submit a standalone resolution, or 

amendments to Resolution Conf. 10.4 

(Rev. CoP14) on Cooperation and 

synergy with the Convention on 

Biological Diversity or Resolution Conf. 

11.3 (Rev. CoP19) on Compliance and 

enforcement to recognize the 

fundamental importance of rangers to 

CITES implementation. 

The United States recognizes the 

importance of enforcement officers, 

including rangers, in the effective 

implementation and enforcement of 

CITES. However, we are unlikely to 

submit a document on this subject to 

CoP20. We will continue to seek 

opportunities to support the 

recognition, protection, and support of 

rangers and other enforcement officers. 

10. Annotations for CITES-listed tree 

species: The League of American 

Orchestras (LAO) reiterates its 

longstanding concerns that the 

imposition of CITES requirements on 

the transboundary movement of musical 

instruments (for performance and 

resale) has hindered trade and cultural 

activity with little associated 

conservation value. As the discussions 

proceed, particularly in the Standing 

Committee, LAO emphasizes the need 

for the CITES controls to apply where 

they have the greatest conservation 

value. The United States has been 

involved in, and led, the annotationsrelated discussions in CITES and will 

continue to be actively involved in such 

discussions, including in stressing the 

need to apply the guidance adopted by 

the Parties in Resolution Conf. 11.21 

(Rev. CoP19) on Use of annotations in 

Appendices I and II, including that the 

conservation impact of excluding 

certain specimens from CITES 

provisions and the enforceability of the 

annotation should be considered, that 

controls should concentrate on those 

commodities that first appear in 

international trade as exports from range 

States, and that controls should include 

those commodities that dominate the 

trade from the wild. Given the ongoing 

discussions, we do not see a need to 

submit a discussion document on this 

matter to CoP20. 

11. Travel with instruments 

containing CITES-listed species: LAO, 

on behalf of multiple musical 

instrument stakeholders, requests that 

Parties consider recommendations for 

efficiencies for transportation and 

commerce of musical instruments 

containing CITES-listed species from 

the Standing Committee’s working 

group on rapid movement of wildlife 

diagnostic samples and of musical 

instruments. They also request that 

Parties undertake consideration of 

permit exemptions for musical 

instruments transported by cargo under 

an ATA carnet. The United States is a 

member of the working group on rapid 

movement of wildlife diagnostic 

samples and of musical instruments and 

is actively engaged in discussions to 

consider additional efficiencies, in 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
105086 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 

accordance with the requirements of the 

Convention, for non-commercial 

movement of musical instruments 

containing CITES-listed species. We are 

unlikely to submit a recommendation 

for permit exemptions for musical 

instruments as we cannot propose or 

support the adoption of a new 

exemption from CITES requirements 

that does not exist under the 

Convention. We will continue to work 

with the Parties, musicians, and other 

stakeholders in an effort to ensure that 

Parties utilize the existing efficiencies. 

12. Engagement of Indigenous Peoples 

as well as local communities: Jamma 

International, on behalf of the 

Community Leaders Network and 

Resource Africa, expresses its support 

for a proposal to establish a technical 

advisory body to continue the work of 

the Standing Committee’s intersessional 

working groups on livelihoods and 

engagement of Indigenous Peoples. 

They wish for a technical advisory body 

to discuss opportunities, including 

formation of an informal Indigenous 

Peoples as well as local communities 

caucus; funding sources to cover range 

country costs of national-level 

consultation with Indigenous Peoples as 

well as local communities; improved 

registration processes or recognition of a 

separate Indigenous Peoples as well as 

local communities observer category for 

CITES meetings; and other international 

level engagement mechanisms. They 

urge the United States to support 

continuation of the working group at 

SC78 and through CoP20. 

The United States is a member of the 

intersessional working group and will 

continue to actively engage in its work. 

We acknowledge that achieving the 

conservation aim of CITES can result in 

important positive benefits to 

Indigenous Peoples as well as local 

communities, while on the other hand 

illegal trade and unsustainable use that 

CITES is designed to prevent can have 

serious negative consequences for 

Indigenous Peoples as well as local 

communities. The United States 

believes that effective engagement of 

Indigenous Peoples as well as local 

communities in CITES decision making 

is critical to the successful 

implementation of CITES decisions. 

However, we believe that Parties should 

engage Indigenous Peoples as well as 

local communities in their national 

processes via the consultative processes 

already provided in existing CITES 

Resolutions, with the addition of 

supportive, non-binding guidance that 

is being developed through current 

CITES Decisions. We maintain that it is 

up to Parties as to whether and how 

their national Indigenous Peoples as 

well as local communities would be 

included in international meetings, 

including as delegation members of 

those Parties, consistent with Resolution 

Conf. 16.6 (Rev. CoP18) on CITES and 

livelihoods. 

Considering the workload and 

financial impact to Parties and the 

Secretariat, we do not support the 

establishment of another permanent 

committee. We will continue to engage 

in discussions in the working group but 

do not support a separate Indigenous 

Peoples as well as local communities 

registration category within the CITES 

process, as it is not in line with text of 

the Convention and would put 

additional burdens on the Secretariat. 

We are open to other ideas to engage 

Indigenous Peoples as well as local 

communities in CITES, and we have 

expressed that perspective in the 

intersessional working group. 

13. Emergency listing mechanism: 

CBD recommends that the United States 

submit a working document proposing 

amendments to the CoP Rules of 

Procedure or a draft resolution to 

consider proposals to amend Appendix 

I or Appendix II on an emergency basis 

outside of meetings of the CoP. Article 

XV of the Convention provides for a 

postal procedure to consider proposed 

amendments to Appendix I or II 

between meetings of the CoP. In 

accordance with Article XVI, any Party 

may at any time include in Appendix III 

a species that it identifies as being 

subject to regulation within its 

jurisdiction for the purpose of 

preventing or restricting exploitation, 

and as needing the cooperation of other 

Parties in the control of trade (see also 

Resolution Conf. 9.25 (Rev.CoP18 on 

Implementation of the Convention for 

species in Appendix III)). Considering 

the mechanisms in the Convention, the 

United States is unlikely to submit to 

CoP20 proposed amendments to the CoP 

Rules of Procedure or a draft resolution 

on this issue. 

14. Marine ornamental fishes: Given 

the high volume of specimens and 

species in international trade and the 

risk that trade presents to some species, 

CBD recommends that the United States 

propose a draft decision to continue the 

discussions on trade in marine 

ornamental fishes during the next 

intersessional period. The United States 

has long played a leadership role in 

considering international trade in 

marine ornamental fishes and continues 

to be actively involved in the 

discussions. We support the 

recommendations of the workshop on 

marine ornamental fishes that took 

place in May 2024, as well as the 

outcomes from AC33. We note that the 

Animals Committee agreed to propose 

draft decisions to CoP20 to continue the 

work during the next intersessional 

period, including encouraging Parties to 

develop methods or analytical tools to 

support prioritization of marine 

ornamental fishes that may warrant 

further research or other considerations. 

Given this information, the United 

States is unlikely to submit a document 

on this issue to CoP20. 

15. Sea cucumbers: CBD recommends 

that the United States propose a draft 

decision on sea cucumber trade that 

would call for convening a second 

global workshop to consider the status, 

conservation, and management of sea 

cucumbers globally. We are unlikely to 

submit a draft decision calling for 

additional work, subject to external 

funding, for which we do not currently 

envision having funding to support. 

Therefore, we are unlikely to submit a 

draft decision on this issue. 

Nevertheless, consistent with our efforts 

to ensure that international trade in sea 

cucumbers is legal and biologically 

sustainable, we are considering several 

species of sea cucumbers found in the 

Caribbean to assess their conservation 

status and determine whether 

international trade could pose a threat 

to their survival in the wild and 

therefore warrant potential inclusion in 

the Appendices. 

16. Compliance matters: CBD 

recommends that the United States seek 

to improve CITES compliance 

mechanisms by making clear that 

Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) can 

and should be used in the process to 

provide technical knowledge and ensure 

transparency and accountability. The 

United States notes that the CITES 

compliance procedures outlined in 

Resolution Conf. 14.3 (Rev. CoP19) on 

CITES compliance procedures already 

provide an avenue for undertaking 

necessary consultations, including with 

outside experts as appropriate, and 

accountability and transparency are key 

parts of the existing processes. 

Therefore, the United States is unlikely 

to take action related to this 

recommendation. 

17. Global trade in swim bladders: 

AWI encourages the United States to 

submit a draft resolution on the global 

trade in swim bladders of croaker 

species (Sciaenidae spp.) for 

consideration at CoP20. The United 

States is unlikely to submit a draft 

resolution on the global trade in croaker 

swim bladders to CoP20, as most 

croaker species are not included in the 

Appendices. It would be more 

appropriate and effective for species 

conservation, where the CITES listing 

criteria are met, to propose species of 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 105087 

concern for inclusion in the Appendices 

to ensure international trade is legal, 

traceable, and biologically sustainable. 

As noted in the previous section, based 

on internal discussions, the United 

States is considering submitting a 

document to CoP20 to raise awareness 

regarding the international trade in 

swim bladders and calling for 

appropriate actions to help ensure that 

the international trade in the species 

does not jeopardize their survival in the 

wild and put protected species that are 

incidentally caught in target fisheries at 

further risk of extinction. 

18. Confiscations and welfare: With 

reference to Resolution Conf. 17.8 (Rev. 

CoP19) on Disposal of confiscated 

specimens of CITES-listed species, AWI 

encourages the United States to: (1) 

consider submitting a working 

document to CoP20 directing the 

Secretariat, subject to the availability of 

external funding, to prepare a report 

examining how animal welfare issues 

are currently addressed under the 

Convention and its implementation, and 

to identify how CITES could integrate 

additional welfare considerations into 

its implementation; (2) submit revisions 

to Resolution Conf. 17.8 (Rev. CoP19) to 

ensure that the Resolution text is 

consistent with the intent of the 

Convention, and to incorporate an 

animal welfare ethic into the treatment 

of any seized/confiscated specimens; 

and (3) join other Parties in opposing 

ex-situ trade in live, wild-caught 

African and Asian elephants with 

limited exceptions. 

With regard to the recommendation to 

update Resolution Conf. 17.8 (Rev. 

CoP19), we are unlikely to recommend 

them at this time but will make a final 

decision based on additional 

discussions and pending the outcome of 

discussions at SC78. Consistent with the 

guidance in Resolution Conf. 17.8 (Rev. 

CoP19), the most important factor we 

consider in the disposal of confiscated 

living specimens is the welfare of the 

wildlife or plants, and we make such 

determinations on a case-by-case basis, 

consistent with the Resolution and our 

regulations. Additional work on 

transport of live specimens is already 

taking place under several Decisions, 

including to ensure that Parties have the 

resources and guidance necessary to 

implement and enforce the 

Convention’s requirements (Articles III, 

IV, V, and VII) that ‘‘any living 

specimens are so prepared and 

shipped’’ and ‘‘transported and cared 

for as to minimize the risk of injury, 

damage to health or cruel treatment’’ 

and further requirements (Article VIII) 

that ‘‘all living specimens, during any 

period of transit, holding or shipment, 

are properly cared for so as to minimize 

the risk of injury, damage to health or 

cruel treatment.’’ Therefore, we are 

unlikely to submit a document directed 

at the suggested revisions. We are also 

unlikely to submit a document on trade 

in live elephants, as current Decisions 

and ongoing discussions are already 

considering these issues. 

19. Compliance measures: AWI 

encourages the United States to make 

clear that the compliance procedures set 

out in Article XIII are not only triggered 

when the provisions of the Convention 

are violated but also when a species 

included in Appendix I or II is being 

affected adversely by trade. AWI argues 

that such overly limited interpretations 

will substantively weaken the impact of 

CITES. AWI also encourages the United 

States to advocate for compliance 

processes to be applied equally to 

transit and consumer countries, in 

addition to range countries. We agree 

regarding the importance of ensuring 

compliance with CITES requirements 

and believe that sufficient mechanisms 

already exist to consider and take 

appropriate actions when trade is 

determined to be adversely affecting 

species included in Appendix I or II and 

when transit and consumer States fail to 

comply with the provisions of the 

Convention. Therefore, we are unlikely 

to submit a discussion document or 

agenda item to CoP20 on these issues. 

20. Potential submissions and 

implementation costs: Safari Club 

International (SCI) encourages the 

United States to submit no new 

resolutions, decisions, agenda items, or 

species proposals for consideration at 

CoP20 without careful consideration for 

costs and how effective each proposal 

would be at achieving the desired 

outcomes. We remain cognizant of 

workload and resource issues and strive 

to use existing measures, where 

applicable. The United States will 

carefully consider each resolution, 

decision, or agenda item, including 

whether they could be effectively 

implemented. Additionally, the United 

States works closely with States, Native 

American Tribes, and other national 

stakeholders, to ensure that species are 

appropriately included in the 

Appendices. We also consult range 

countries for foreign species, and for 

species whose range the United States 

shares with one or more other countries. 

The United States also remains 

concerned regarding the funding and 

prioritization of core CITES work and 

will continue to work through the 

Standing Committee’s Finance and 

Budget Subcommittee and the CoP to 

address these issues. Currently, we do 

not intend to submit draft decisions on 

this matter to CoP20. 

21. Funding for CITES 

implementation and enforcement: 

Noting the proliferation of new work 

streams under CITES while 

longstanding and operational work 

remains incomplete, SSN encourages 

the United States to ensure that 

programmatic work subject to external 

funding is prioritized in line with the 

core mandate of CITES rather than to 

reflect national or organizational 

interests. SSN also suggests that the 

United States consider proposing a 

process to ensure that the status of 

current priorities is evaluated and 

regularly shared, especially prior to a 

meeting of the Conference of the Parties, 

to enable Parties to assess the relative 

financial costs of the adoption of new 

work streams and/or the continuation of 

others. The United States remains 

concerned regarding the funding and 

prioritization of core CITES work and 

will determine, based on further 

internal discussions, additional 

opportunities to influence such 

discussions. 

22. Funding for meetings of the CoP: 

Noting the importance of ensuring that 

meetings of the CoP are held in different 

regions and the financial constraints 

with being able to do that, SSN urges 

the United States to submit a draft 

decision to CoP20 directing the 

Secretariat and the Standing 

Committee’s Finance and Budget 

Subcommittee to explore funding 

mechanisms with the aim of 

guaranteeing that future CoPs will not 

have to be postponed or withdrawn for 

financial reasons. The United States 

shares SSN’s concerns and is actively 

engaged in discussions with the 

Secretariat and in the work of the 

Subcommittee to consider funding for 

CoPs and other key CITES activities. 

Because these considerations are 

already included in the ongoing 

discussions, the United States is 

unlikely to submit the suggested draft 

decisions. 

23. Leopards: SSN requests the United 

States to consider further review of, or 

amendments to, Resolution Conf. 10.14 

(Rev. CoP19) on Quotas for leopard 

hunting trophies and skins for personal 

use, aimed at strengthening the 

scientific oversight of annual leopard 

quotas and reducing overexploitation of 

the species. Panthera also recommends 

review of Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. 

CoP19) and suggested that amendments 

may be needed to ensure that exports 

and imports of specimens will not be 

detrimental to the survival of the 

species, in particular amendments 

requiring the Animals Committee to 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
105088 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 

review the approach of leopard trophy 

hunting quotas established by the CoP 

and non-detriment finding reports, as 

well as reducing the mandated interval 

for review of quotas as called for in 

Resolution Conf. 9.21 (Rev. CoP18) on 

Interpretation and application of quotas 

for species included in Appendix I. 

Each of the current quotas for 

leopards from range countries were 

reviewed by the Animals Committee at 

its 30th or 31st meeting (AC30: Geneva 

2018; AC31: online 2021). Decisions 

were taken and each of the export 

quotas were approved at either CoP18 

(Geneva 2019) or CoP19 (Panama 2022). 

At AC33, the Animals Committee agreed 

to propose draft decisions for 

consideration at CoP20 that concern 

consolidating and sharing information 

related to the management and 

monitoring of leopard and hunting 

quotas that assist Parties in making nondetriment findings for trade in leopard 

hunting trophies in accordance with 

Resolution Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP19). 

Therefore, we are unlikely to propose 

amendments to Resolution Conf. 10.14 

(Rev. CoP19) to CoP20. 

24. Trade and conservation in Old 

World porcupines: SSN recommends 

that the United States submit a working 

document on the trade and conservation 

of Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) 

with accompanying draft decisions 

instructing the Secretariat to 

commission a study on the scale and 

scope of the trade in the species, current 

knowledge on status of the species, 

management by range countries, status 

of captive-sourced production, and also 

including recommendations regarding 

the conservation and management of the 

species, including through possible 

actions under CITES. In light of existing 

workloads and priorities, the United 

States is unlikely to submit a document 

on this issue. However, we will 

carefully consider any proposals or 

discussion documents submitted to 

CoP20 on trade in these species, and we 

will develop our position based on 

available information, internal 

discussions, and public input. 

25. International trade in frogs for 

consumption: SSN urges the United 

States to submit a working document to 

CoP20 calling for a study on the 

international trade in frogs, including 

frogs’ legs, for human consumption, in 

order to identify actions that CITES 

might take to ensure that this trade is 

not detrimental to the survival of wild 

populations of frogs. During the current 

intersessional period, the Secretariat, 

the Parties, and the Animals Committee 

have undertaken work in accordance 

with Decisions 19.197 to 19.199 on 

Conservation of amphibians (Amphibia 

spp.). In response to the work 

undertaken to date on this issue, 

including in consideration of the 

outcomes from the CITES Online 

workshops on conservation of 

amphibians (Amphibia spp.) 

(November/December 2023), the 

Animals Committee at AC33 agreed to 

submit draft decisions to CoP20 to 

undertake additional work on the 

conservation of and trade in amphibians 

during the next intersessional period. 

Therefore, the United States is unlikely 

to submit a document to CoP20 on this 

issue. 

Request for Information and Comments 

We invite information and comments 

concerning any of the possible CoP20 

species proposals, resolutions, 

decisions, and agenda items discussed 

above. Please note that we are unlikely 

to submit any suggested species 

proposals to amend the Appendices that 

contained no information (or minimal 

information) for consideration other 

than species name and Appendix 

suggestion. We have limited resources 

with which to analyze and prepare 

potential species proposals for 

consideration by the Conference of the 

Parties to CITES and are unable to 

prioritize consideration of these 

recommendations for preparation of 

U.S. proposals to CoP20 where no 

information (or minimal information) 

has been presented demonstrating the 

CITES criteria are met for the suggested 

species proposal. We may still consider 

these possible proposals if we receive 

information demonstrating the CITES 

criteria in Resolution Conf. 9.24 are met. 

We note that in our request for 

information in our first Federal Register 

notice for CoP20 (89 FR 20489; March 

22, 2024), we encouraged the 

submission of information on possible 

species proposals, including if these 

species are subject to international trade 

that is, or may become, detrimental to 

the survival of the species. We outlined 

the information that should be 

submitted, and we included information 

on the CITES criteria for inclusion of 

species in Appendices I and II and the 

format for proposals to amend the 

Appendices (in Resolution Conf. 9.24 

(Rev. CoP17) https://cites.org/sites/ 

default/files/document/E-Res-09-24- 

R17.pdf). We also asked that 

commenters submit convincing 

information describing: (1) The status of 

the species, especially trend 

information; (2) conservation and 

management programs for the species, 

including the effectiveness of 

enforcement efforts; and (3) the level of 

international trade as well as domestic 

trade in the species, especially trend 

information. 

Public Availability of Comments 

You must submit your information 

and comments to us no later than the 

date specified in DATES, above, to 

ensure that we consider them. We will 

not consider comments sent by email or 

fax, or to an address not listed in 

ADDRESSES. 

Comments and materials received will 

be posted for public inspection on 

https://www.regulations.gov (see 

ADDRESSES). Our practice is to post all 

comments, including names and 

addresses of respondents, and to make 

comments, including names and home 

addresses of respondents, available for 

public review. There may be 

circumstances in which we would 

withhold from public review a 

respondent’s name and/or address, as 

allowable by law. If you wish for us to 

withhold your name and/or address, 

you must state this prominently at the 

beginning of your comment, but we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. We will make all comments and 

materials submitted by organizations or 

businesses, and by individuals 

identifying themselves as 

representatives or officials of 

organizations or businesses, available 

for public inspection in their entirety. 

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 CoP20 may request approval 

directly from the Secretariat. Persons 

wishing to be observers representing 

U.S. national nongovernmental 

organizations at CoP20 must receive 

prior approval from the U.S. Division of 

Management Authority (ADDRESSES). 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices 105089 

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 CoP20 to participate 

in the meeting as an observer. 

Individuals who are not affiliated with 

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 CoP20 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 CoP20. 

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 CoP20 as an 

observer. An organization that 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. 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 703–358–2276. 

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 Secretariat and 

obtain logistical information about the 

meeting. A list of organizations 

approved for observer status at CoP20 

will be available upon request from the 

Division of Management Authority 

immediately prior to the start of CoP20. 

Future Actions 

The Secretariat will prepare a 

provisional agenda for CoP20 following 

the submission of documents for the 

meeting. We will publish the CoP20 

provisional agenda in the Federal 

Register and on our website at https:// 

www.fws.gov/international-affairs/cites/ 

cop20. 

The United States must submit any 

proposals to amend Appendix I or II and 

any draft resolutions, decisions, or 

agenda items for discussion at CoP20 to 

the Secretariat at least 150 days (i.e., by 

June 27, 2025) prior to the start of the 

meeting. In order to meet this deadline 

and to prepare for CoP20, 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 

species proposal items warrant 

submission by the United States for 

consideration by the Parties. 

Approximately 4 months prior to 

CoP20, we will post on our website an 

announcement of the species proposals, 

draft resolutions, draft decisions, and 

agenda items submitted by the United 

States to the Secretariat for 

consideration at CoP20. 

Through additional notices and 

website postings in advance of CoP20, 

we will inform you about preliminary 

negotiating positions on resolutions, 

decisions, and proposals to amend the 

Appendices proposed by other Parties 

for consideration at CoP20. We will also 

publish an announcement of a public 

meeting to be held approximately 2 to 

3 months prior to CoP20, to receive 

public input on our positions regarding 

CoP20 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. 

Authors 

The primary authors of this notice are 

Thomas E.J. Leuteritz, Ph.D., Branch 

Chief, Division of Scientific Authority, 

and Anne St. John, Biologist, Division of 

Management Authority, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service. 

Authority 

The authority for this action is the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

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

Martha Williams, 

Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30698 Filed 12–23–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Geological Survey 

[GX25AC0000EXP00] 

Public Meetings of the Advisory 

Committee for Science Quality and 

Integrity 

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, 

Department of the Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of public meetings. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA) of 1972, the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) is publishing this notice 

to announce that a meeting of the 

Advisory Committee on Scientific 

Quality and Integrity will take place and 

is open to members of the public. 

DATES: The following meetings will be 

held as a webinar: 

• January: Monday, January 13, 2025, 

from 12 p.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time; 

Tuesday, January 14, 2025, from 12 

p.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time 

• October: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 

from 12 p.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time; 

Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 12 

p.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time, Thursday, 

October 9, 2025, from 12 p.m.–4 p.m. 

Eastern Time 

The following meeting will be held in 

person: 

• June: Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 9 

a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time; 

Wednesday, June 18, 2025, from 9 

a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern Time 

ADDRESSES: The January 13–14, 2025, 

and October 7–9, 2025, meetings will be 

held online and via teleconference. The 

June 17–18, 2025, meetings will be held 

at the USGS National Center, 12201 

Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia, 

20192. The meetings are open to the 

public. Members of the public may 

attend any of the meetings, whether in 

person on virtually. Registration 

instructions for both the online and inperson meetings will be posted at 

https://www.usgs.gov/office-of-sciencequality-and-integrity/federal-advisorycommittee-science-quality-and-integrity. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Maggie Hardy, Designated Federal 

Officer, by email at mhardy@usgs.gov or 

by telephone at 928–556–7235. 

Comments may be sent by email to: GSFACSQSI@usgs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

meeting is being held under the 

provisions of the FACA of 1972 (5 

U.S.C. Ch. 10), the Government in the 

Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b, as 

amended), and 41 CFR part 102–3. 

Purpose of the Meeting: The Advisory 

Committee advises the Department of 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1