        DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
        Fish and Wildlife Service
        50 CFR Part 16
        [Docket No. FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015; FXFR13350900000-145-FF09F14000]
        RIN 1018-AV68
        Injurious Wildlife Species; Listing the Reticulated Python, Three Anaconda Species, and the Boa Constrictor as Injurious Reptiles

          AGENCY:
          Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

          ACTION:
          Proposed rule; Reopening of Comment Period.

          SUMMARY:

          We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on the proposed rule published on March 12, 2010, which proposed to amend our regulations to add nine species of large constrictor snakes as injurious species under the Lacey Act. Because four of the nine species were added to the regulations in 2012, this reopening notice is restricted to the five remaining species: the reticulated python (Broghammerus reticulatus or Python reticulatus), DeSchauensee's anaconda (Eunectes deschauenseei), green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), Beni anaconda (Eunectes beniensis), and boa constrictor (Boa constrictor). If you have previously submitted comments on the proposed rule, please do not resubmit them because we have already incorporated them in the public record and will fully consider them in our final decision on these five species.

          DATES:
          We will consider comments received or postmarked on or before July 24, 2014. Any comments that are received after the closing date may not be considered in the final decision on this action.

          ADDRESSES:
          You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
          • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter the docket number for the proposed rule, which is FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015. Click on “Comment Now!” to submit a comment. Please ensure that you have found the correct rulemaking before submitting your comment.
          • U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.

          We will not accept email or faxes. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see Public Comments below for more information). Information regarding this notice is available in alternative formats upon request.

          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
          Bob Progulske, Everglades Program Supervisor, South Florida Ecological Services Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960; telephone 772-469-4299. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

        On March 12, 2010, we published a proposed rule (75 FR 11808) to list Python molurus (which includes Burmese and Indian pythons), reticulated python, Northern African python (Python sebae), Southern African python (Python natalensis), boa constrictor, yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), DeSchauensee's anaconda, green anaconda, and Beni anaconda as injurious reptiles under the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42). This proposed rule established a 60-day comment period, ending May 11, 2010, and announced the availability of the draft economic analysis and the draft environmental assessment of the proposed rule. At the request of the public, we reopened the comment period for an additional 30 days on July 1, 2010 (75 FR 38069). On January 23, 2012, the Service published a final rule (77 FR 3330) that added Python molurus (which includes Burmese python and Indian python), Northern African python, Southern African python, and yellow anaconda to the list of injurious wildlife, while the other five species in the proposed rule remained under consideration. The Service has decided to reopen the public comment period on the same proposed rule, but only for the five remaining species.

        The proposed rule, draft economic analysis, initial regulatory flexibility analysis, and draft environmental assessment are available for review at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015, or on the South Florida Ecological Services Office Web site at http://www.fws.gov/verobeach/index.cfm?method=activityhighlights&id=11, or at the South Florida Ecological Services Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
        Public Comments

        The Service has chosen to reopen the comment period because approximately 4 years have elapsed since the public was able to comment on the Service's proposed action for these five species. We intend that any subsequent final action resulting from the proposed rule will be based on the best information available to the Service and be as accurate and complete as possible. Therefore, we request comments or information from other concerned government agencies, the scientific community, industry, or other interested parties concerning the proposed rule. We will consider information and recommendations from all interested parties. For the complete list of subjects on which we seek comments for the five species, please refer to the March 12, 2010, proposed rule (75 FR 11808), available online at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015 or from the South Florida Ecological Services Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

        Before providing your comments, we recommend that you review the final rule listing the Burmese python, Northern and Southern African pythons, and yellow anaconda (77 FR 3330; January 23, 2012), particularly the section Comments Received on the Proposed Rule. This section extensively covers our responses to the public comments that we received during the first two comment periods (although focused on the four species listed in that final rule) and may address your issues. Also, the final economic analysis, final environmental assessment, and final regulatory flexibility analysis associated with that final rule can provide additional insight if you intend to submit new comments on the draft economic analysis, draft environmental assessment, and initial regulatory flexibility analysis.

        You may submit your comments and supporting materials concerning the proposed rule, the draft economic analysis, the initial regulatory flexibility analysis, and the draft environmental assessment by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We will not accept comments sent by email or fax or to an address not listed in ADDRESSES.
        If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire submission—including any personal identifying information—will be posted on the Web site. 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 ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy submissions on http://www.regulations.gov. Please include sufficient information with your comments to allow us to verify any scientific or commercial information you include.
        We are seeking new information from the public only for the boa constrictor, reticulated python, DeSchauensee's anaconda, green anaconda, and Beni anaconda; comments on other species will not be considered. The new information (information that has become available after the close of the previous comment period on August 2, 2010) may relate to any aspect of the proposed rule and the associated draft economic analysis, initial regulatory flexibility analysis, and draft environmental assessment. Such information includes, but is not limited to, the biology of the five species, existing regulations that apply to the five species, the economic effect on wholesale and retail sales, and any other information relevant to the proposed rule and associated documents. Specific questions can be found in the proposed rule (75 FR 11808; March 12, 2010). We may revise the rule or supporting documents to incorporate or address information we receive during this reopened public comment period.

        Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing the proposed rule, will be available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R9-FHC-2008-0015, or by appointment, during normal business hours at the South Florida Ecological Services Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
        In preparing the final rule, we will consider all comments and any additional information that we receive during this reopened comment period on the proposed rule. As we did previously, we are evaluating each of the five species of constrictor snakes individually. Accordingly, the final decision may differ from the March 2010 proposal.

          Authority:
          The authority for this action is the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42).

          Dated: May 21, 2014
          Rachel Jacobson,
           Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

      [FR Doc. 2014-14712 Filed 6-23-14; 8:45 am]
      BILLING CODE 4310-55-P


        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
        50 CFR Part 600
        [I.D. 020403A]
        Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs)

          AGENCY:
          National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

          ACTION:
          Notification of a proposal for EFPs to conduct experimental fishing; request for comments.

          SUMMARY:

          The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that an EFP application from the Maine Department of Marine Resources (Maine DMR) contains all the required information and warrants further consideration.  The Regional Administrator has also made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and does not detrimentally affect the well being of any stock of fish likely to be taken during the experiment.  Therefore, NMFS announces that the Regional Administrator proposes to issue an EFP that would allow one vessel to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the NE United States.  The EFP would allow for an exemption from the NE multispecies small mesh northern shrimp fishery exemption area time restrictions.  The exempted fishing activity would support research to test a dual panel single Nordmore grate system for commercial northern shrimp, Pandalus borealis, in the Gulf of Maine.  The system is intended to separate small shrimp and fish from market-sized shrimp in trawl nets by separating the catch using a Nordmore grate with two sets of bar spacings.   Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.

          DATES:
          Comments on this document must be received on or before  March 13, 2003.

          ADDRESSES:
          Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.  Mark the outside of the envelope “Comments on Maine Department of Marine Resources Northern Shrimp dual panel single Nordmore grate EFP Proposal.”  Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.

          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
          Jason Blackburn, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9326.

        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
        The application for an EFP was submitted by the Maine DMR for research being funded by the Northeast Consortium.  The applicant is requesting an exemption for one commercial vessel from the NE multispecies small mesh northern shrimp fishery exemption area time restrictions at 50 CFR 648.80(a)(5)(iii) for 26 days of at-sea gear testing.The objective of the research is to test a dual panel single Nordmore grate system for the purposes of separating small shrimp and most fish from market-sized shrimp in trawl nets by separating the catch using a Nordmore grate with two sets of bar spacings.  The experimental design consists of a trouser trawl net utilizing a Nordmore grate with two panels.  The upper panel, which the catch in the net will encounter first, has small bar spacing that will let small shrimp and small fish pass through and escape the net, as the codend is tied to the grate below this panel.  Anything larger will slide down the bars to the next panel, where the bar spacing is the normal 1-inch.  The market sized shrimp and like sized bycatch will pass through these bars and flow back into the codend.  Anything larger will slide down the bars and escape through the exit hole in the bottom of the net.The sea trials would be conducted off the coast of Maine, in the Gulf of Maine Small Mesh Northern Shrimp Exemption Area, during April and May 2003, outside of the fishing season for northern shrimp (January 15 to February 27, 2003).  This is the time of year when the various size classes of shrimp are located in the same areas of the Gulf of Maine.
        No shrimp or fish will be landed during this study.  It is estimated that the total catch of northern shrimp will be 21,632 lb (9,812 kg), with an estimated bycatch of 1,730 lb (785 kg) of whiting, 108 lb (49 kg) of herring, 108 lb (49 kg) of alewife, and a minimal amount of other species.  A scientist would be aboard the vessel during all experimental sea trials.
        This experimental work is important because it could lead to the development of gear that could improve the size selection of the shrimp nets for northern shrimp and reduce the inadvertent bycatch of fish species.  The successful development of a dual panel single Nordmore grate device could provide the fishing industry with a highly selective device that functions similarly to a double Nordmore grate system, while being less cumbersome to rig and handle on deck.
        Based on the results of this EFP, this action could lead to future rulemaking.

          Authority:
          16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

          Dated:  February 19, 2003.
          Richard W. Surdi,
          Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

      [FR Doc. 03-4439 Filed 2-25-03; 8:45 am]
      BILLING CODE 3510-22-S