80_FR_79544 80 FR 79300 - Wild Bird Conservation Act; Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrots From Argentina's Sustainable-Use Management Plan

80 FR 79300 - Wild Bird Conservation Act; Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrots From Argentina's Sustainable-Use Management Plan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 244 (December 21, 2015)

Page Range79300-79301
FR Document2015-32054

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, or we), withdraw a 2003 proposed rule to approve a sustainable-use management plan developed by the Management Authority of Argentina for blue- fronted amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva), under the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992. We are taking this action because Argentina has withdrawn their application. As a result, we will no longer consider allowing importation of this species from Argentina under this plan.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 244 (Monday, December 21, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 79300-79301]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32054]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 23

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2015-0035; 96300-1671-0000-R4]
RIN 1018-AH89


Wild Bird Conservation Act; Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrots From 
Argentina's Sustainable-Use Management Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, or we), 
withdraw a 2003 proposed rule to approve a sustainable-use management 
plan developed by the Management Authority of Argentina for blue-
fronted amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva), under the Wild Bird 
Conservation Act of 1992. We are taking this action because Argentina 
has withdrawn their application. As a result, we will no longer 
consider allowing importation of this species from Argentina under this 
plan.

DATES: This document is withdrawn as of December 21, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Hoover, Chief, Division of 
Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: 
IA; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; telephone 703-358-
2095; facsimile 703-358-2298. If you use a telecommunications device 
for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) 
at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 
Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international treaty designed to regulate 
international trade in certain animal and plant species that are now, 
or may become, threatened with extinction. These species are listed in 
the Appendices to CITES, which are available on the CITES Secretariat's 
Web site at http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php. Currently 180 
countries and the European Union have ratified, accepted, approved, or 
acceded to CITES; these 181 entities are known as Parties. The U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service has been delegated authority to carry out 
U.S. responsibilities under CITES.
    The Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA) limits or prohibits 
import into the United States of exotic bird species to ensure that 
their wild populations are not harmed by international trade. It also 
encourages wild bird conservation programs in countries of origin by 
ensuring that all imports of such species are biologically sustainable 
and not detrimental to the survival of the species.

Previous Federal Actions

    On November 16, 1993, we published a final rule in the Federal 
Register (58 FR 60524) that implemented the prohibitions stipulated in 
the WBCA and provided permit requirements and procedures for some 
allowed exemptions. In that rule, we informed the public that imports 
of all CITES-listed birds (as defined in the rule) were prohibited, 
except for (a) species included in an approved list; (b) specimens for 
which an import permit has been issued; (c) species from countries that 
have approved sustainable-use management plans for those species; or 
(d) specimens from approved foreign captive-breeding facilities. 
Criteria for approval of sustainable-use management plans are in title 
50 of the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 15.32.
    Argentina petitioned the Service to allow the import into the 
United States of blue-fronted amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) removed 
from the wild in Argentina under an approved sustainable-use management 
plan. Consequently, on August 10, 2000, we published a notice of 
receipt of application for approval in the Federal Register (65 FR 
49007) that announced the receipt of a petition from the CITES 
Management Authority of Argentina, Direcci[oacute]n de Fauna and Flora 
Silvestre, for approval of a sustainable-use management plan for the 
blue-fronted amazon parrot in Argentina. On January 8, 2003, we 
published a notice in the Federal Register (68 FR 1066) announcing the 
availability of a draft environmental assessment of the addition of 
blue-fronted amazon parrots from a sustainable-use management plan in 
Argentina to the approved list of non-captive-bred birds under the 
WBCA.
    Later that year, on August 6, 2003, we published a proposed rule in 
the Federal Register (68 FR 46559) to approve a sustainable-use 
management plan developed by the CITES Management Authority of 
Argentina for blue-fronted amazon parrots under the WBCA. The proposed 
rule would add blue-fronted amazon parrots from Argentina's program to 
the approved list of non-captive-bred (wild-caught) species contained 
at 50 CFR 15.33(b).

[[Page 79301]]

The public comment period on the proposed rule was open for 60 days.
    On March 29, 2005, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
(70 FR 15798) reopening the comment period on the proposed rule for 30 
days to enter into the record Dr. Jorge Rabinovich's 2004 study, 
``Modeling the Sustainable Use of the Blue-Fronted Parrot (Amazona 
aestiva) in the Dry Chaco Region of Argentina,'' and to accept comments 
related to the relationship of this study to the proposed addition of 
blue-fronted amazon parrots from Argentina's program to the approved 
list of non-captive-bred (wild-caught) species under the WBCA. On May 
24, 2005, we published a notice in the Federal Register (70 FR 29711) 
reopening the comment period for an additional 45 days.

Reason for Withdrawal of Proposed Rule

    We reviewed the public comments received during the open comment 
periods for the notice and the proposed rule and new information that 
became available after the publication of the proposed rule. We also 
reevaluated information in our files, our proposed rule, and 
Argentina's request, in accordance with our approval criteria in 50 CFR 
15.32. As a result, we determined that it was unlikely that we would be 
able to make a positive finding for the sustainable-use management plan 
developed by Argentina for blue-fronted amazon parrots under the WBCA. 
Subsequently, Argentina determined that the best course of action would 
be to withdraw their application. Argentina withdrew its application by 
letter (undated) from the CITES Management Authority of Argentina 
(Ministry of the Environment of Sustainable Development), therefore, we 
are withdrawing our proposed rule of August 6, 2003 (68 FR 46559).

Author

    The primary author of this document is Clifton A. Horton, Division 
of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: December 9, 2015.
Stephen Guertin,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32054 Filed 12-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P



                                               79300                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 244 / Monday, December 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                               other maritime facilities, grounds,                     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            into the United States of exotic bird
                                               equipment, and other facilities, including but                                                                species to ensure that their wild
                                               not limited to, roof replacement, foundation            Fish and Wildlife Service                             populations are not harmed by
                                               repair, ADA access ramp and door                                                                              international trade. It also encourages
                                               improvements, weatherization and energy                 50 CFR Part 23                                        wild bird conservation programs in
                                               efficiency related improvements, HVAC                                                                         countries of origin by ensuring that all
                                                                                                       [Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2015–0035;
                                               renovations, painting, floor system                                                                           imports of such species are biologically
                                                                                                       96300–1671–0000–R4]
                                               replacement, repaving parking lots and                                                                        sustainable and not detrimental to the
                                               ground maintenance, that do not result in a             RIN 1018–AH89                                         survival of the species.
                                               change in the functional use of the real
                                               property.                                               Wild Bird Conservation Act; Blue-                     Previous Federal Actions
                                                  B2. Engineering studies and investigations           Fronted Amazon Parrots From                              On November 16, 1993, we published
                                               that do not permanently change the                      Argentina’s Sustainable-Use                           a final rule in the Federal Register (58
                                               environment.                                            Management Plan                                       FR 60524) that implemented the
                                                  B3. Construction or lease of new
                                                                                                       AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,                  prohibitions stipulated in the WBCA
                                               infrastructure including, but not limited to,                                                                 and provided permit requirements and
                                                                                                       Interior.
                                               health care facilities, community buildings,                                                                  procedures for some allowed
                                               housing, and bulk fuel storage and power                ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.
                                                                                                                                                             exemptions. In that rule, we informed
                                               generation plants, where such lease or                  SUMMARY:   We, the U.S. Fish and                      the public that imports of all CITES-
                                               construction:                                           Wildlife Service (Service, or we),                    listed birds (as defined in the rule) were
                                                  (a) Is at the site of existing infrastructure        withdraw a 2003 proposed rule to                      prohibited, except for (a) species
                                               and capacity is not substantially increased; or                                                               included in an approved list; (b)
                                                                                                       approve a sustainable-use management
                                                  (b) Is for infrastructure of less than 12,000                                                              specimens for which an import permit
                                                                                                       plan developed by the Management
                                               square feet of useable space when less than                                                                   has been issued; (c) species from
                                                                                                       Authority of Argentina for blue-fronted
                                               two aces of surface land area are involved at                                                                 countries that have approved
                                                                                                       amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva),
                                               a new site.                                                                                                   sustainable-use management plans for
                                                                                                       under the Wild Bird Conservation Act of
                                                  B4. Construction or modification of electric                                                               those species; or (d) specimens from
                                                                                                       1992. We are taking this action because
                                               power stations or interconnection facilities                                                                  approved foreign captive-breeding
                                                                                                       Argentina has withdrawn their
                                               (including, but not limited to, switching                                                                     facilities. Criteria for approval of
                                               stations and support facilities).
                                                                                                       application. As a result, we will no
                                                                                                       longer consider allowing importation of               sustainable-use management plans are
                                                  B5. Construction of electric powerlines                                                                    in title 50 of the Code of Federal
                                               approximately ten miles in length or less, or           this species from Argentina under this
                                                                                                       plan.                                                 Regulations at 50 CFR 15.32.
                                               approximately 20 miles in length or less                                                                         Argentina petitioned the Service to
                                               within previously disturbed or developed                DATES: This document is withdrawn as
                                                                                                                                                             allow the import into the United States
                                               powerline or pipeline rights-of-way.                    of December 21, 2015.                                 of blue-fronted amazon parrots
                                                  B6. Upgrading or rebuilding approximately            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      (Amazona aestiva) removed from the
                                               twenty miles in length or less of existing              Craig Hoover, Chief, Division of                      wild in Argentina under an approved
                                               electric powerlines, which may involve                  Management Authority, U.S. Fish and                   sustainable-use management plan.
                                               minor relocations of small segments or the              Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: IA;                Consequently, on August 10, 2000, we
                                               powerlines.                                             5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA                  published a notice of receipt of
                                                  B7. Demolition, disposal, or improvements            22041–3803; telephone 703–358–2095;                   application for approval in the Federal
                                               involving buildings or structures when done             facsimile 703–358–2298. If you use a                  Register (65 FR 49007) that announced
                                               in accordance with applicable regulations,              telecommunications device for the deaf                the receipt of a petition from the CITES
                                               including those regulations applying to                 (TDD), call the Federal Information                   Management Authority of Argentina,
                                               removal of asbestos, polychlorinated                    Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339.                 Dirección de Fauna and Flora Silvestre,
                                               biphenyls (PCBs), and other hazardous                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            for approval of a sustainable-use
                                               materials.                                                                                                    management plan for the blue-fronted
                                                  B8. Project or program actions for which             Background                                            amazon parrot in Argentina. On January
                                               applicable environmental documentation has                 The Convention on International                    8, 2003, we published a notice in the
                                               been prepared previously, by either the                 Trade in Endangered Species of Wild                   Federal Register (68 FR 1066)
                                               Commission or another federal agency, and               Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an                         announcing the availability of a draft
                                               environmental circumstances have not                    international treaty designed to regulate             environmental assessment of the
                                               subsequently changed.                                   international trade in certain animal and             addition of blue-fronted amazon parrots
                                                 Dated: December 10, 2015.                             plant species that are now, or may                    from a sustainable-use management
                                               Joel Neimeyer,                                          become, threatened with extinction.                   plan in Argentina to the approved list of
                                               Federal Co-Chair.                                       These species are listed in the                       non-captive-bred birds under the
                                                                                                       Appendices to CITES, which are                        WBCA.
                                               [FR Doc. 2015–31701 Filed 12–18–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                       available on the CITES Secretariat’s Web                 Later that year, on August 6, 2003, we
                                               BILLING CODE P
                                                                                                       site at http://www.cites.org/eng/app/                 published a proposed rule in the
                                                                                                       appendices.php. Currently 180                         Federal Register (68 FR 46559) to
                                                                                                       countries and the European Union have                 approve a sustainable-use management
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                       ratified, accepted, approved, or acceded              plan developed by the CITES
                                                                                                       to CITES; these 181 entities are known                Management Authority of Argentina for
                                                                                                       as Parties. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife                blue-fronted amazon parrots under the
                                                                                                       Service has been delegated authority to               WBCA. The proposed rule would add
                                                                                                       carry out U.S. responsibilities under                 blue-fronted amazon parrots from
                                                                                                       CITES.                                                Argentina’s program to the approved list
                                                                                                          The Wild Bird Conservation Act of                  of non-captive-bred (wild-caught)
                                                                                                       1992 (WBCA) limits or prohibits import                species contained at 50 CFR 15.33(b).


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                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 244 / Monday, December 21, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                                79301

                                               The public comment period on the                        Reason for Withdrawal of Proposed                     Argentina (Ministry of the Environment
                                               proposed rule was open for 60 days.                     Rule                                                  of Sustainable Development), therefore,
                                                 On March 29, 2005, we published a                       We reviewed the public comments                     we are withdrawing our proposed rule
                                               notice in the Federal Register (70 FR                   received during the open comment                      of August 6, 2003 (68 FR 46559).
                                               15798) reopening the comment period                     periods for the notice and the proposed               Author
                                               on the proposed rule for 30 days to enter               rule and new information that became
                                               into the record Dr. Jorge Rabinovich’s                  available after the publication of the                   The primary author of this document
                                               2004 study, ‘‘Modeling the Sustainable                  proposed rule. We also reevaluated                    is Clifton A. Horton, Division of
                                               Use of the Blue-Fronted Parrot                          information in our files, our proposed                Management Authority, U.S. Fish and
                                               (Amazona aestiva) in the Dry Chaco                      rule, and Argentina’s request, in                     Wildlife Service (see FOR FURTHER
                                                                                                       accordance with our approval criteria in              INFORMATION CONTACT).
                                               Region of Argentina,’’ and to accept
                                                                                                       50 CFR 15.32. As a result, we
                                               comments related to the relationship of                                                                       Authority
                                                                                                       determined that it was unlikely that we
                                               this study to the proposed addition of                  would be able to make a positive finding
                                               blue-fronted amazon parrots from                                                                                The authority for this action is the
                                                                                                       for the sustainable-use management                    Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
                                               Argentina’s program to the approved list                plan developed by Argentina for blue-
                                               of non-captive-bred (wild-caught)                                                                             amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
                                                                                                       fronted amazon parrots under the
                                               species under the WBCA. On May 24,                      WBCA. Subsequently, Argentina                           Dated: December 9, 2015.
                                               2005, we published a notice in the                      determined that the best course of                    Stephen Guertin,
                                               Federal Register (70 FR 29711)                          action would be to withdraw their                     Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                                               reopening the comment period for an                     application. Argentina withdrew its                   Service.
                                               additional 45 days.                                     application by letter (undated) from the              [FR Doc. 2015–32054 Filed 12–18–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                       CITES Management Authority of                         BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




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Document Created: 2015-12-19 02:57:15
Document Modified: 2015-12-19 02:57:15
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule; withdrawal.
DatesThis document is withdrawn as of December 21, 2015.
ContactCraig Hoover, Chief, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: IA; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; telephone 703-358- 2095; facsimile 703-358-2298. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.
FR Citation80 FR 79300 
RIN Number1018-AH89

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