83_FR_49611 83 FR 49421 - Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Eighteenth Regular Meeting: Taxa Being Considered for Amendments to the CITES Appendices and Proposed Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items Being Considered; Observer Information

83 FR 49421 - Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Eighteenth Regular Meeting: Taxa Being Considered for Amendments to the CITES Appendices and Proposed Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items Being Considered; Observer Information

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 190 (October 1, 2018)

Page Range49421-49428
FR Document2018-21255

The United States, as a Party to the Convention on International 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 eighteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP18) is scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 23 to June 3, 2019. With this notice, we describe proposed amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals) as well as proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the United States might submit for consideration at CoP18; invite your comments and information on these proposals; and provide information on how U.S. nongovernmental organizations can attend CoP18 as observers.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 190 (Monday, October 1, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 190 (Monday, October 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49421-49428]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21255]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0079; FF09A30000-189-FXIA16710900000]


Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International 
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Eighteenth 
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 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 
eighteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES 
(CoP18) is scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 23 to June 
3, 2019. With this notice, we describe proposed amendments to the CITES 
Appendices (species proposals) as well as proposed resolutions, 
decisions, and agenda items that the United States might submit for 
consideration at CoP18; invite your comments and information on these 
proposals; and provide information on how U.S. nongovernmental 
organizations can attend CoP18 as observers.

DATES: 
    Meeting: The meeting is scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 
May 23 to June 3, 2019.
    Submitting Information and Comments: We will consider written 
information and comments we receive by November 30, 2018.
    Requesting Approval to Attend CoP18 as an Observer: We must receive 
your request no later than February 15, 2019 (see ADDRESSES).

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: Access the extended version of this 
notice, as well as comments and materials we receive in response to 
this notice, via either of the following methods:
     Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket 
No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0079.
     Hard copies: View documents by appointment between 8 a.m. 
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, at the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Divisions of Management and Scientific 
Authorities, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. To make 
an appointment, call 703-358-2095 or 703-358-1708.
    Submitting Information and Comments: You may submit comments 
pertaining to species proposals for consideration and to proposed 
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for discussion at CoP18 by one 
of the following methods:
     Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for and 
submit comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0079.
     Hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to Public 
Comments Processing; Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0079; U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service; MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3803. Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket No. 
FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0079.
    We will not consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an 
address not listed in ADDRESSES. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us. If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire comment--including any personal 
identifying information--will be posted on the website. If you submit a 
hardcopy comment that includes personal identifying information, you 
may request at the top of your document that we withhold this 
information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov.
    Requesting Approval to Attend CoP18 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; or via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information pertaining to species 
proposals, contact Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of Scientific 
Authority, at 703-358-1708 (phone); 703-358-2276 (fax); or 
[email protected] (email).
    For information pertaining to resolutions, decisions, and agenda 
items, contact Laura Noguchi, Branch Chief, Division of Management 
Authority, at 703-358-2028 (phone); 703-358-2298 (fax); or 
[email protected] (email).
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States (or we), as a Party to the 
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna 
and Flora (CITES, or the Convention), may propose amendments to the 
CITES Appendices for consideration at meetings of the Conference of the 
Parties. The eighteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the 
Parties to CITES (CoP18) is scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 
May 23 to June 3, 2019. With this notice, we describe proposed 
amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals) as well as 
proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the United 
States might submit for consideration at CoP18; invite your comments 
and information on these proposals; and provide information on how U.S. 
nongovernmental organizations can attend CoP18 as observers.

Background

    CITES is an international treaty designed to control and regulate 
international trade in certain animal and plant species that are 
affected by trade and are now, or potentially may become, threatened 
with extinction. These species are included in the Appendices to CITES, 
which are available on the CITES Secretariat's website at https://www.cites.org. Currently there are 183 Parties to CITES--182 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, unless the 
Conference decides otherwise. At these meetings, the Parties review the 
implementation of CITES, make provisions enabling the CITES Secretariat 
in Switzerland to carry out

[[Page 49422]]

its functions, consider amendments to the list of species 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. Our regulations governing this public process are 
found in 50 CFR 23.87.
    This is our third notice in a series of Federal Register notices 
that, together with an announced public meeting (time and place to be 
announced), provide you with an opportunity to participate in the 
development of the U.S. submissions and negotiating positions for the 
eighteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES 
(CoP18), which is scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 23 to 
June 3, 2019. We published our first CoP18-related Federal Register 
notice on January 23, 2018 (83 FR 3179); this notice requested 
information and recommendations on animal and plant species proposals 
for the United States to consider submitting for consideration at 
CoP18. On March 12, 2018 (83 FR 10736), we published our second notice, 
in which we requested information and recommendations on proposed 
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the United States to 
consider submitting for consideration at CoP18, and provided 
preliminary information on how to request approved observer status for 
nongovernmental organizations that wish to attend the meeting. Comments 
received on those two notices may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0079.

Recommendations for Species Proposals for the United States To Consider 
Submitting for CoP18

    In response to our January 2018 notice, we received 17 
recommendations from 3 individuals and the following 14 organizations 
for possible proposals involving over 200 taxa (6 mammals, 23 birds, 78 
reptiles, 41+ sharks/rays, 5 bony fish, 64+ invertebrates, and 32 
plants): The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA); Ginseng Board 
of Wisconsin; Center for Biological Diversity (CBD); Robin des Bois; 
Humane Society International (HSI); Pew Charitable Trusts; Species 
Survival Network (SSN); Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); 
International Wood Products Association; League of American Orchestras; 
The Ornithological Council; Sustainable Fisheries Association, Inc. 
(SFA); Safari Club International (SCI); and Safari Club International 
Foundation (SCI Foundation). Additionally, the United States may submit 
one plant species proposal currently under periodic review by the 
Plants Committee and one animal species proposal that previously 
underwent periodic review by the Animals Committee.
    We have undertaken initial evaluations of the available trade and 
biological information on many of these taxa. Based on the 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 U.S. approach for CoP18 discussed in our 
January 23, 2018, Federal Register notice:
    (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 species proposals we have been developing on our own. Please 
note that we have only provided here a list of taxa and the proposed 
action. We have posted an extended version of this notice on our 
website, at http://www.fws.gov/international/publications-and-media/federal-register-notices.html, with text describing in more detail 
certain proposed action and explaining the rationale for the tentative 
U.S. position on these possible proposals. Copies of the extended 
version of the notice are also available from the Division of 
Scientific Authority at the above address or at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2017-0079.
    We welcome your comments, especially if you are able to provide any 
additional biological or trade information on these species.

A. What species proposals will the United States likely submit for 
consideration at CoP18?

    None.

B. On what species proposals is the United States still undecided, 
pending additional information and consultations?

    The United States is still undecided on whether to submit CoP18 
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. In addition one of the taxa in this section is 
undergoing review through the periodic review of the CITES Appendices 
by the Plants Committee (PC), in accordance with Resolution Conf. 14.8 
(Rev. CoP17), and one has undergone periodic review by the Animals 
Committee (AC) at AC25. 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. 
These taxa are at various stages in the periodic review process. This 
process includes an initial assessment that is put before the 
appropriate Committee (Plants or Animals) for discussion, which may 
result in an AC or PC recommendation that a taxon be uplisted 
(transferred from Appendix II to Appendix I); that a taxon be 
downlisted (transferred from Appendix I to Appendix II, or deleted from 
Appendix II); or that no change be made to the listing.
Plants
    1. Saw-toothed lewisia (Lewisia serrata)--Potential amendment to 
Appendix II-listing.
    2. Frankincense (Boswellia spp.)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    3. Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)--Amend current annotation to 
exclude sliced ginseng roots from CITES control.
Invertebrates
    4. Ornamental/parachute spider/tarantula species (Poecilotheria 
spp.)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    5. Two families of sea cucumbers (Holothuridae and Stichopodidae)--
Inclusion in Appendix II.
    6. Sea cucumbers found in U.S. native waters: Pepino de mar 
(Actinopyga agassizii), deepwater redfish (A.

[[Page 49423]]

echinites), stonefish (A. lecanora), surf redfish (A. mauritiana), 
blackfish (A. miliaris), giant California sea cucumber (Apostichopus 
californicus), warty sea cucumber (A. parvimensis), furry sea cucumber 
(Astichopus multifidus), leopard fish (Bohadschia argus), brown 
sandfish (B. vitiensis), orange-footed sea cucumber (Cucumaria 
frondosa), teripang (Holothuria arenicola), lollyfish (H. atra), Zanga 
fleur (H. cinerascens), snakefish (H. coluber), Pinkfish (H. edulis), 
red snakefish (H. flavomaculata), Floridian (Holothuria floridana), 
Labuyo (H. fuscocinerea), white teatfish (H. fuscogilva), elephant 
trunkfish (H. fuscopunctata), tigertail (H. hilla), spotted sea 
cucumber (H. impatiens), golden sandfish (H. lessoni), white threadfish 
(H. leucospilota), Pepino de mar (H. mexicana), Bantunan (H. pardalis), 
no common name (H. pervicax), tubular (H. tubulosa), black teatfish (H. 
whitmaei), four-sided sea cucumber (Isostichopus badionotus), 
blackspotted sea cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei), greenfish 
(Stichopus chloronotus), curryfish (S. herrmanni), Selenka's sea 
cucumber (S. horrens), prickly redfish (Thelenota ananas), amber fish 
(T. anax), and lemonfish (T. rubralineata)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    7. Sea cucumbers not found in U.S. native waters: Deepwater 
blackfish (Actinopyga palauensis), burying blackfish (A. spinea), 
Japanese sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), brown-spotted sandfish 
(Bohadschia marmorata), Falalyjaka (B. subrubra), Japanese cucumaria 
(Cucumaria japonica), black teatfish (Holothuria nobilis), sandfish (H. 
scabra), brown sea cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus), Selenka's sea 
cucumber (Stichopus monotuberculatus), and Selenka's sea cucumber (S. 
naso)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
Fishes
    8. All guitarfish (31 species of guitarfish are found worldwide; 3 
of these species are found in U.S. waters and are categorized as 
undecided)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    9. Lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I.
    10. Dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus zosterae)--Transfer from Appendix 
II to Appendix I.
    11. Slender seahorse (Hippocampus reidi)--Transfer from Appendix II 
to Appendix I.
Reptiles
    12. Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    13. Blue-spotted tree monitor (Varanus macraei)--Transfer from 
Appendix II to Appendix I.
    14. Pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri)--Transfer from 
Appendix II to Appendix I.
Birds
    15. Straw-headed bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus)--Transfer from 
Appendix II to Appendix I.
    16. Neotropical tanager species: Golden tanager (Tangara arthus), 
opal-crowned tanager (Tangara callophrys), burnished-buff tanager 
(Tangara cayana), paradise tanager (Tangara chilensis), golden-eared 
tanager (Tangara chrysotis), blue-necked tanager (Tangara cyanicollis), 
blue-browed tanager (Tangara cyanotis), bay-headed tanager (Tangara 
gyrola), silver-throated tanager (Tangara icterocephala), golden-hooded 
tanager (Tangara larvata), turquoise tanager (Tangara mexicana), beryl-
spangled tanager (Tangara nigroviridis), flame-faced tanager (Tangara 
parzudakii), spotted tanager (Tangara punctata), green-and-gold tanager 
(Tangara schrankii), opal-rumped tanager (Tangara velia), and saffron-
crowned tanager (Tangara xanthocephala)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    17. Attwater's prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri)--
Remove from Appendix II.
Mammals
    18. Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I.
    19. Markhor (Capra falconeri)--Transfer from Appendix I to Appendix 
II.

C. For which species is the United States not likely to submit 
proposals for consideration at CoP18, 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
    1. Dalbergia and other wood products (especially for musical 
instruments)--Revision of Annotation #15.
Invertebrates
    2. Wallace's giant bee (Megachile pluto, synonym Chalicodoma 
pluto)--Inclusion in Appendix I.
Fishes
    3. Atlantic spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias)--Inclusion in 
Appendix I or Appendix II (as recommended by the commenter--we are 
unlikely to submit a proposal).
    4. All sharks and rays in international trade--Inclusion in 
Appendix II.
    5. Shortfin mako shark (Isurus paucus)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    6. All wedgefish--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    7. All guitarfish (31 species of guitarfish are found worldwide; 28 
of these species are not found in U.S. waters and are categorized as 
not likely to be submitted)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    8. American eel (Anguilla rostrata)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    9. Tiger-tail seahorse (Hippocampus comes)--Transfer from Appendix 
II to Appendix I.
Reptiles
    10. Shaw's Sea Snake (Hydrophis curtus)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    11. Eurasian viper species: Cyclades blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera 
schweizeri), mountain viper (Montivipera albizona), Anatolian meadow 
viper (Vipera anatolica), snub-nosed viper (Vipera latastei), Caucasus 
viper (Vipera kaznakovi), Black Sea viper (Vipera pontica), nose-horned 
viper (Vipera ammodytes), Orlov's viper (Vipera orlovi), magnificent 
viper (Vipera magnifica), asp viper (Vipera aspis), Darevsky's viper 
(Vipera darevskii), and Caucasus subalpine viper (Vipera dinniki)--
Inclusion in Appendix II or Appendix I.
    12. South African puff adder species: Albany adder (Bitis 
albanica), southern adder (Bitis armata), many-horned adder (Bitis 
cornuta), plain mountain adder (Bitis inornata), red adder (Bitis 
rubida), and Namaqua dwarf adder (Bitis schneideri)--Inclusion in 
Appendix II.
    13. American rattlesnake species (Crotalus spp.)--Inclusion in 
Appendix II.
    14. Neotropical wood turtle species: Painted wood turtle 
(Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima) and spot-legged wood turtle (R. 
punctularia)--Inclusion in Appendix II.
    15. North American map turtles (Graptemys spp.): Barbour's map 
turtle (G. barbouri), Cagle's map turtle (G. caglei), Escambia map 
turtle (G. ernsti), yellow-blotched map turtle (G. flavimaculata), 
northern map turtle (G. geographica), Pascagoula map turtle (G. 
gibbonsi), black-knobbed map turtle (G. nigrinoda), ringed map turtle 
(G. oculifera), Ouachita map turtle (G. ouachitensis), Pearl River map 
turtle (G. pearlensis), false map turtle (G. pseudogeographica), 
Alabama map turtle (G. pulchra), and Texas map turtle

[[Page 49424]]

(G. versa)--Transfer from Appendix III to Appendix II.
    16. Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)--Transfer 
from Appendix III to Appendix II.
Birds
    17. Four Indo-Pacific bird species: Loria's bird-of-paradise 
(Cnemophilus loriae), crested bird-of-paradise (C. macgregorii), 
yellow-breasted bird-of-paradise (Loboparadisea sericea), and 
Macgregor's bird-of-paradise (Macgregoria pulchra)--Removal from 
Appendix II.
    18. Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus)--Transfer from 
Appendix II to Appendix I.
Mammals
    19. Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)--Transfer from Appendix 
II to Appendix I.
    20. Narwhal (Monodon monoceros)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I.
    21. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)--Transfer from Appendix III to 
Appendix I; or Transfer Pacific walrus subspecies (O. r. divergens) 
from Appendix III to Appendix I and Transfer Atlantic (O. r. rosmarus) 
and Laptev (O. r. laptevi) walrus subspecies from Appendix III to 
Appendix II.
    22. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)--Transfer from Appendix II to 
Appendix I.

Recommendations for Resolutions, Decisions, and Agenda Items for the 
United States To Consider Submitting for CoP18

    In our Federal Register notice published on March 12, 2018 (83 FR 
10736), we requested information and recommendations on potential 
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the United States to 
submit for consideration at CoP18. We received information and 
recommendations from the following organizations: American Federation 
of Musicians of the United States and Canada; American Federation of 
Violin and Bow Makers; Animal Welfare Clinic at Michigan State 
University College of Law; Animal Welfare Institute; Center for 
Biological Diversity; C.F. Martin & Co., Inc.; Chamber Music America; 
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation; Forest Based Solutions; Ginseng 
Board of Wisconsin; Humane Society International; International 
Association of Violin and Bow Makers; International Wood Products 
Association; League of American Orchestras; National Association of 
Music Merchants; Natural Resources Defense Council; OPERA America; 
Organization of Professional Aviculturists; Performing Arts Alliance; 
Paul Reed Smith Guitars; Species Survival Network; Taylor Guitars; 
Theatre Communications Group; The Recording Academy; WildCat 
Conservation Legal Aid Society; Wildlife Conservation Society; and 
World Animal Protection. We also received comments from one individual. 
In addition, we received comments from Center for Biological Diversity 
and Organization of Professional Aviculturists related to proposals to 
amend the CITES Appendices and from 16 of the above commenters related 
to expanding the number of designated U.S. ports for CITES exports. 
These comments were outside the scope of this action.
    We considered all of the recommendations of the above individual 
and organizations, as well as the factors described in the U.S. 
approach for CoP18 discussed in our January 23, 2018, Federal Register 
notice, when compiling a list of resolutions, decisions, and agenda 
items that the United States is likely to submit for consideration by 
the Parties at CoP18. We also compiled lists of resolutions, decisions, 
and agenda items for consideration at CoP18 that the United States 
either is currently undecided about submitting, is not considering 
submitting at this time, or plans to address in other ways. In 
compiling these lists, we also considered potential submissions that we 
identified internally. The United States may consider submitting 
documents for some of the issues for which it is currently undecided or 
not considering submitting at this time, depending on the outcome of 
discussions of these issues in the CITES Standing Committee, additional 
consultations with range country governments and subject matter 
experts, or comments we receive during the public comment period for 
this notice.
    Please note that, under A, B, and C below, we have listed those 
resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the United States is 
likely to submit, currently undecided about submitting, or currently 
planning not to submit. We have posted a supplementary document on our 
website at http://www.fws.gov/international/CITES/CoP18/index.html and 
at http://www.regulations.gov, with text describing in more detail each 
of these issues and explaining the rationale for the tentative U.S. 
position on each issue. Copies of the supplementary document are also 
available from the Division of Management Authority at the address in 
ADDRESSES.
    We welcome your comments and information regarding the resolutions, 
decisions, and agenda items that the United States is likely to submit, 
currently undecided about submitting, or currently planning not to 
submit.

A. What resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United States 
likely to submit for consideration at CoP18?

    Strategy for CITES capacity-building efforts: The United States is 
considering submission of a document calling on the CITES parties to 
develop a framework for CITES capacity building that facilitates Party 
and donor coordination, transparency, and accountability across an 
array of needs and investments. This may include suggestion of a 
framework and a method to identify and track outstanding needs as well 
as recommendations for measuring progress toward shared goals to start 
the discussion.
    Elephant conservation: The United States is considering submission 
of a document that will address the conservation of Asian and African 
elephants either through a new resolution or decisions or amendment of 
existing resolutions or decisions.

B. On what resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United 
States still undecided, pending additional information and 
consultations?

    1. Pangolin and Appendix-I specimens acquired prior to Appendix-I 
uplisting: Recommendation that the United States continue its work to 
combat trafficking of pangolins by ensuring that stockpiles of scales 
and live animals are not traded on the basis of fraudulent CITES 
exceptions or unsupported legal theories.
    2. Elephant: Recommendation that the United States support efforts 
to reduce the illegal and legal ivory trade to put an end to the 
ongoing poaching of elephants and to ensure that adequate safeguards 
are in place to protect wild elephants; recommendation that if the 
United States submits a document on the issue of appropriate and 
acceptable destinations that it first consult with range states and 
relevant experts and take into account the view of the majority of the 
African elephant range states that wild elephants should only be 
destined to in situ conservation projects.
    3. National ivory action plans (NIAPs): Recommendation that the 
United States present options for further strengthening progress with 
Parties' implementation of their NIAPs processes--possibly through 
submission of draft text amending Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17), 
on Trade in elephant specimens.

[[Page 49425]]

    4. Grey parrot: Recommendation that the United States propose that 
the considerations given to the evaluation of applications to register 
facilities that breed African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) for 
commercial purposes in Decision 17.258 be extended until the 20th 
meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20).
    5. Eel: Recommendation that the United States submit a draft 
resolution on conservation of Anguilla species.
    6. CITES National Legislation Project: Recommendation that the 
United States submit or co-sponsor and develop a draft resolution to 
amend Resolution Conf. 8.4 (Rev. CoP15), National laws for 
implementation of the Convention, to provide clear guidelines as to the 
criteria for inclusion in Categories 1, 2, and 3 (including coverage of 
all CITES taxa, including marine species). Recommendation that the 
United States submit a document on this issue, or otherwise to ensure 
that it is on the agenda of the CoP; further, recommendation that the 
United States raise this issue at the July 2018 meeting of the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Committee on 
Fisheries, as it will not meet again prior to CoP18.
    7. Appendix-I specimens acquired prior to Appendix-I uplisting and 
Resolution Conf. 13.6 (Rev. CoP16), Implementation of Article VII, 
paragraph 2, concerning ``pre-Convention'' specimens, interpretation 
issues: Recommendation that the United States submit a document 
clarifying this issue, and reject the Secretariat's views in SC69 Doc. 
57. Recommendation that the United States ensure that the document to 
be prepared by the Secretariat is balanced and legally accurate; that 
the United States not rely only on the potential document from the 
Secretariat, but to also submit its own document on the issue for 
consideration by CoP18, and also ensure that the issue is discussed as 
a standalone agenda item so that the issue obtains the full discussion 
and understanding of the CITES Parties.
    8. Marine ornamental fishes: Recommendation that the United States 
consider submitting an agenda item for discussion at CoP18 on trade in 
marine ornamental fishes.
    9. International travel with musical instruments: Recommendation 
that the United States seek outcomes at CoP18 that will advance CITES 
policies related to international travel with musical instruments 
containing protected species material. Recommendation that since the 
United States initiated the creation of the Musical Instrument 
Certificate, it should lead an effort towards improvements in this area 
by proactively submitting a proposal to fully implement a ``personal 
effects'' exemption for those instruments containing protected species 
that are carried in personal accompanying baggage. Recommendation that 
the United States advance consideration of permit exemptions for 
musical instruments transported by cargo under a carnet.
    10. Trade and commerce in wood species: Recommendation that any 
revision to Annotation #15, and annotations more broadly, account for 
and prevent potential unintended consequences for trade, allow 
appropriate timeframes for implementation, and can be supported through 
harmonized interpretations across CITES Parties.

C. What resolutions, decisions, and agenda items is the United States 
not likely to submit for consideration at CoP18, unless we receive 
significant additional information?

    1. Totoaba and vaquita: Recommendation that the United States 
propose and champion the imposition of sanctions against Mexico 
pursuant to Article VIII of CITES and CITES Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. 
CoP17), on Compliance and enforcement, and Resolution Conf. 14.3, on 
CITES compliance procedures, since, according to the commenters, the 
vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus) is on the brink of extinction and the 
ongoing failure of the government of Mexico to enact and enforce rules 
and policies to fully protect the vaquita and its habitat and to 
address the blatant illegal fishing for totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi). 
Recommendation that the United States propose that CITES recommend that 
all Parties cease all wildlife trade with Mexico until it creates a 
management strategy and plan concerning totoaba and vaquita that meets 
or exceeds the standards presented by the commenters.
    2. Trade in biosynthetic plant and wildlife material: 
Recommendation that the United States, given the U.S. significant 
investments in demand reduction and enforcement, to continue its work 
with regard to biosynthetic products of or made from CITES-listed 
species.
    3. Sharks and rays: Recommendation that the United States ensure 
that the outcomes of the shark working groups and deliberations of the 
Standing and Animals Committees are on the agenda of CoP18, as a 
separate agenda item. The Standing Committee has agreed to discuss 
several issues, including the following, which the commenter recommends 
that the United States ensure are highlighted in CoP discussions: Chain 
of custody issues, marking and traceability issues, the making of legal 
acquisition findings, catch documentation and product certification 
schemes, and the role of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. 
Recommendation that the United States ensure a discussion at the CoP on 
capacity building needs in the issuance of non-detriment findings for 
sharks and rays on the CITES Appendices.
    4. Elephants--domestic ivory markets: Recommendation that the 
United States report on implementation of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. 
CoP17) on Trade in elephant specimens, with a particular focus on the 
successful enforcement of new laws on domestic ivory trade, work with 
other Parties to close their ivory markets as a matter of urgency, and 
ensure that the issue is discussed at CoP18. According to the 
commenter, paragraph 3 of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) can be 
misconstrued to mean that some Parties with open domestic ivory markets 
are not obligated to take further action to close their markets if they 
believe they are not contributing significantly to illegal trade and 
the commenter believes that all such markets contribute to poaching of 
elephants and illegal ivory trade, facilitate laundering, foster demand 
for ivory, and undermine the conservation efforts of elephant range 
States. Therefore, recommendation that the United States work with 
other Parties to amend paragraph 3 accordingly.
    5. Leopard quotas: Recommendation that the United States track the 
information being provided on existing leopard quotas. Based upon this 
information and other available information, recommendation that the 
United States ensure that reasonable quotas are set that are not 
detrimental to the survival of the species. Recommendation that the 
United States submit a document for consideration at CoP18 that 
recommends that there be full scientific justification for leopard 
quotas approved by the CITES Conference of the Parties in Resolution 
Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP16), Quotas for leopard hunting trophies and skins 
for personal use. This document should propose a new procedure for 
establishment and review of such quotas, including that any Party 
wishing to retain their leopard quota provide scientific justification 
for continuing the quota at each meeting of the Conference of the 
Parties to CITES; and all matters related to establishment, continuance 
or increase of leopard quotas be approved by a two-thirds majority vote 
of the Parties.

[[Page 49426]]

    6. Registration of operations that breed Appendix-I avian species 
in captivity for commercial purposes: Recommendation that the United 
States reevaluate the process for the registration of operations that 
breed Appendix-I avian species in captivity for commercial purposes. 
Recommendation that Decision 17.258 be applied to all animal species 
for the evaluation of applications to register facilities that breed 
Appendix-I animal species for commercial purposes; all Appendix-I 
species that were legally imported under Appendix II, prior to their 
inclusion on Appendix I, should be afforded the opportunity to become 
registered, taking into consideration the CITES trade data as a means 
of establishing whether imports from a species/country combination will 
qualify. Recommendation that the United States propose that Decision 
17.258 be amended and adopted into Resolution Conf. 12.10 (Rev CoP15), 
on Registration of operations that breed Appendix-I animal species in 
captivity for commercial purposes.
    7. Specimens of Appendix-I listed species bred in non-range States 
with large prolific captive populations, i.e. Psittacus erithacus, 
Cyanoramphusnovaezealandiae, Psephotus dissimilis and chrysopterygius 
(and several others), be treated as an Appendix-II species for the 
purposes of trade:
    Recommendation that special consideration be given to range States 
with economically important captive populations.
    8. Laundering: Recommendation that, in a case where a Management 
Authority suspects that a facility may be laundering illegal specimens 
and there is insufficient recordkeeping to prove paternity, an 
available, established, and proven scientific method should be used to 
determine parentage of suspect specimens.
    9. Criteria: Recommendation that the United States propose that 
additional criteria be established for future amendments to the CITES 
Appendices for commercially important animal species with prolific 
captive populations that limit the disruptive and detrimental impact of 
such an action on the livelihoods of indigenous communities and bona 
fide breeding operations.
    10. Bear bile and bear gall bladder: Recommendation that the United 
States propose amendments to Resolution Conf. 10.8 (Rev. CoP14), on 
Conservation of and trade in bears, or decisions that strategically 
address the threat of trade in bear bile products and demand for 
illegally sourced bear bile products.
    11. Disposal of confiscated specimens: Recommendation that the 
United States prepare draft decisions that would direct the Secretariat 
to request information from Parties on the scope of this problem and 
potential solutions and report to the Animals, Plants, and Standing 
Committees, and direct the Committees to prepare recommendations, 
including providing financial assistance so that Parties can either 
destroy such specimens or dispose of them in a manner consistent with 
Resolution Conf. 17.8, Disposal of illegally trade and confiscated 
specimens of CITES-listed species, and submit these recommendations to 
the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties.
    12. Species not yet listed in the CITES appendices: Recommendation 
that the United States submit a working document regarding unlisted 
species, providing guidance to Parties in ensuring that ``the 
Appendices correctly reflect the conservation needs of species.''
    13. Tortoises and freshwater turtles: Recommendation that U.S. 
conservation efforts related to these species continue. Recommendation 
that the United States ensure that this issue is on the agenda at CITES 
CoP18 in order to further examine what steps might be necessary to 
protect these taxa from the threats of illegal and/or unsustainable 
trade.
    14. Asian big cats: Recommendation that the United States propose a 
Resolution at CoP18 to more effectively address tiger farming and the 
trade in captive-bred Asian big cats and their parts. Recommendation 
that the United States recommend: Parties impose sanctions against any 
Party who does not comply with Decision 17.226; Parties gain public 
participation to reduce illegal sales, including educating and 
empowering citizens in range countries to conserve tigers; Parties 
impose appropriate sentences and penalties to meaningfully deter trade 
of tigers or tiger parts, including by imposing sanctions on Parties 
that create loopholes for the purpose of circumventing their treaty 
obligations.
    15. Captive-bred and ranched specimens (and laundering of wild-
caught animals): Recommendation that the United States submit captive-
bred and ranched specimens (and laundering of wild-caught animals) as a 
separate agenda item, or to ensure that the Secretariat will include it 
as a standalone agenda item; recommendation that the United States 
consider submission of a document highlighting the problem.
    16. Legal acquisition findings: Recommendation that the United 
States ensure that the issue is discussed under a separate agenda item 
at CoP18.
    17. Ginseng: Recommendation that the United States recommend at 
CoP18 that all Parties to CITES are to recognize ``personal exemption'' 
for dried cultivated American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Maximum 
amount allowed 4.5 kg.
    18. Management Authorities: Recommendation that the United States 
ensure that the development of a resolution pertaining to CITES 
Management Authorities properly tracks the responsibilities placed on 
Management Authorities in the text of the Convention.
    19. Electronic permitting: Recommendation that the United States 
support continued development of a robust electronic permitting system 
such as eCITES that would eventually allow for universal utilization of 
electronic permits.
    20. Rural communities: Recommendation that the United States submit 
a draft Resolution to prepare draft decisions that would suspend the 
operation of the Working Group, direct the Standing Committee to 
prepare appropriate criteria for membership, review existing and 
proposed members in the light of these criteria and of the need for 
both regional balance and a balance of views, and only reconstitute the 
Working Group once these criteria have been adopted by the Conference 
of the Parties.
    21. Destruction of ivory stockpiles: Recommendation that the United 
States submit a document calling on all Parties planning to destroy 
their ivory stocks to conduct independently audited inventories before 
any destruction events and to make samples of the seized ivory 
available for DNA- and/or isotope-based analysis. Recommendation that 
the United States support making available materials and guidance on 
best practices for the management of ivory stockpiles, including their 
disposal when applicable. Recommendation that the United States support 
a decision at the CoP to endorse the dissemination (through the CITES 
website and other means) of the stockpile management system of the 
organization ``Stop Ivory,'' which has been used successfully by 
several countries.
    22. Other species-specific matters: Recommendation that the United 
States ensure that the following issues are on the CoP18 agenda: Other 
aspects of wildlife trafficking, great apes, Asian big cats in 
captivity, illegal trade in cheetahs, Monitoring the Illegal Killing

[[Page 49427]]

of Elephants (MIKE) and the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), 
saiga antelope, and CITES and livelihoods.

Request for Information and Comments

    We invite information and comments concerning any of the possible 
CoP18 species proposals, resolutions, decisions, and agenda items 
discussed above. You must submit your information and comments to us no 
later than the date specified in DATES, above, to ensure that we 
consider them. Comments and materials received will be posted for 
public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, and will be available 
by appointment, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the 
Division of Management Authority (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 during regular business hours.
    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 non-
governmental, 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 CoP18 may request approval directly from the CITES 
Secretariat. Persons wishing to be observers representing U.S. national 
nongovernmental organizations at CoP18 must receive prior approval from 
our Division of Management Authority (ADDRESSES). 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 CoP18 to participate in CoP18 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. 
non-governmental organization if it prefers.
    Any organization that submits a request to us for approval as an 
observer should include 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 
should include copies of the organization's charter and any bylaws, and 
a list of representatives it intends to send to CoP18. 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 CoP18 as an 
observer. An organization that we have previously approved as an 
observer at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties within the past 
5 years must submit a request, but does not need to provide as much 
detailed information concerning its qualifications as an organization 
seeking approval for the first time. These requests should be sent to 
the Division of Management Authority at the address provided in 
ADDRESSES, above; via email to [email protected]; or via fax 
to 703-358-2298.
    Once we approve an organization as an observer, we will inform them 
of the appropriate page on the CITES website where they may obtain 
instructions for registration with the CITES Secretariat, including a 
meeting registration form and travel and hotel information. A list of 
organizations approved for observer status at CoP18 will be available 
upon request from the Division of Management Authority just prior to 
the start of CoP18.

Future Actions

    We expect the CITES Secretariat to provide us with a provisional 
agenda for CoP18 within the next several months. Once we receive the 
provisional agenda, we will publish it in a Federal Register notice and 
provide the Secretariat's website address. We will also provide the 
provisional agenda on our website, at http://www.fws.gov/international/CITES/CoP18/index.html.
    The United States must submit any proposals to amend Appendix I or 
II, or any draft resolutions, decisions, or agenda items for discussion 
at CoP18, to the CITES Secretariat 150 days (i.e., by December 24, 
2018) prior to the start of the meeting. In order to meet this deadline 
and to prepare for CoP18, 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 proposals and which proposed resolutions, decisions, and 
agenda items warrant submission by the United States for consideration 
by the Parties. Approximately 4 months prior to CoP18, 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 CITES Secretariat for consideration at CoP18.
    Through a series of additional notices and website postings in 
advance of CoP18, we will inform you about preliminary negotiating 
positions on resolutions, decisions, and amendments to the Appendices 
proposed by other Parties for consideration at CoP18. We will also 
publish an announcement of a public meeting to be held approximately 2 
to 3 months prior to CoP18, to receive public input on our positions 
regarding CoP18 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 Laura S. 
Noguchi, Branch Chief, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.

[[Page 49428]]

Authority

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

James W. Kurth,
Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Exercising the 
Authority of the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-21255 Filed 9-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P



                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 190 / Monday, October 1, 2018 / Notices                                           49421

                                                Granted by: Dominique Blom, General                     Submitting Information and                         Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                                             Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and               Comments: We will consider written                    Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: IA,
                                             Indian Housing.                                         information and comments we receive                   Falls Church, VA 22041; or via email to
                                                Date Granted: June 21, 2018.
                                                Reason Waived: Due to circumstances
                                                                                                     by November 30, 2018.                                 managementauthority@fws.gov.
                                             beyond the PHA’s control, they were unable                 Requesting Approval to Attend CoP18                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
                                             to submit their SEMAP certification on time.            as an Observer: We must receive your                  information pertaining to species
                                             This waiver was approved to avoid the                   request no later than February 15, 2019               proposals, contact Rosemarie Gnam,
                                             unnecessary administrative and financial                (see ADDRESSES).                                      Chief, Division of Scientific Authority,
                                             burden on both the PHA and the HUD field                ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents:                       at 703–358–1708 (phone); 703–358–
                                             office to complete the work required of a
                                             troubled housing agency when the agency is              Access the extended version of this                   2276 (fax); or scientificauthority@
                                             not actually a troubled performer.                      notice, as well as comments and                       fws.gov (email).
                                                Contact: Becky Primeaux, Housing                     materials we receive in response to this                 For information pertaining to
                                             Voucher Management and Operations                       notice, via either of the following                   resolutions, decisions, and agenda
                                             Division, Office of Public Housing and                  methods:                                              items, contact Laura Noguchi, Branch
                                             Voucher Programs, Office of Public and                     • Internet: http://                                Chief, Division of Management
                                             Indian Housing, Department of Housing and               www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket                Authority, at 703–358–2028 (phone);
                                             Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW,               No. FWS–HQ–IA–2017–0079.                              703–358–2298 (fax); or
                                             Room 4216, Washington, DC 20410,
                                             telephone (202) 708–0477.                                  • Hard copies: View documents by                   managementauthority@fws.gov (email).
                                                                                                     appointment between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.,                   If you use a telecommunications
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–21260 Filed 9–28–18; 8:45 am]                                                                   device for the deaf (TDD), call the
                                                                                                     Monday through Friday, except Federal
                                             BILLING CODE 4210–67–P                                                                                        Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339.
                                                                                                     holidays, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                                                                                                     Service, Divisions of Management and                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                                                                     Scientific Authorities, 5275 Leesburg                 United States (or we), as a Party to the
                                             DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. To                 Convention on International Trade in
                                                                                                     make an appointment, call 703–358–                    Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
                                             Fish and Wildlife Service                               2095 or 703–358–1708.                                 Flora (CITES, or the Convention), may
                                             [Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2017–0079;                           Submitting Information and                         propose amendments to the CITES
                                             FF09A30000–189–FXIA16710900000]                         Comments: You may submit comments                     Appendices for consideration at
                                                                                                     pertaining to species proposals for                   meetings of the Conference of the
                                             Conference of the Parties to the                        consideration and to proposed                         Parties. The eighteenth regular meeting
                                             Convention on International Trade in                    resolutions, decisions, and agenda items              of the Conference of the Parties to CITES
                                             Endangered Species of Wild Fauna                        for discussion at CoP18 by one of the                 (CoP18) is scheduled to be held in
                                             and Flora (CITES); Eighteenth Regular                   following methods:                                    Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 23 to June 3,
                                             Meeting: Taxa Being Considered for                         • Internet: http://                                2019. With this notice, we describe
                                             Amendments to the CITES Appendices                      www.regulations.gov. Search for and                   proposed amendments to the CITES
                                             and Proposed Resolutions, Decisions,                    submit comments on Docket No. FWS–                    Appendices (species proposals) as well
                                             and Agenda Items Being Considered;                      HQ–IA–2017–0079.                                      as proposed resolutions, decisions, and
                                             Observer Information                                       • Hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or                agenda items that the United States
                                             AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,                    hand-delivery to Public Comments                      might submit for consideration at
                                             Interior.                                               Processing; Attn: Docket No. FWS–HQ–                  CoP18; invite your comments and
                                             ACTION: Notice.                                         IA–2017–0079; U.S. Fish and Wildlife                  information on these proposals; and
                                                                                                     Service; MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike,                provide information on how U.S.
                                             SUMMARY:   The United States, as a Party                Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. Internet:                nongovernmental organizations can
                                             to the Convention on International                      http://www.regulations.gov. Search for                attend CoP18 as observers.
                                             Trade in Endangered Species of Wild                     Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2017–0079.
                                             Fauna and Flora (CITES), may propose                       We will not consider comments sent                 Background
                                             amendments to the CITES Appendices                      by email or fax, or to an address not                   CITES is an international treaty
                                             for consideration at meetings of the                    listed in ADDRESSES. We will post all                 designed to control and regulate
                                             Conference of the Parties. The                          comments on http://                                   international trade in certain animal and
                                             eighteenth regular meeting of the                       www.regulations.gov. This generally                   plant species that are affected by trade
                                             Conference of the Parties to CITES                      means that we will post any personal                  and are now, or potentially may
                                             (CoP18) is scheduled to be held in                      information you provide us. If you                    become, threatened with extinction.
                                             Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 23 to June 3,                   submit a comment via http://                          These species are included in the
                                             2019. With this notice, we describe                     www.regulations.gov, your entire                      Appendices to CITES, which are
                                             proposed amendments to the CITES                        comment—including any personal                        available on the CITES Secretariat’s
                                             Appendices (species proposals) as well                  identifying information—will be posted                website at https://www.cites.org.
                                             as proposed resolutions, decisions, and                 on the website. If you submit a                       Currently there are 183 Parties to
                                             agenda items that the United States                     hardcopy comment that includes                        CITES—182 countries, including the
                                             might submit for consideration at                       personal identifying information, you                 United States, and one regional
                                             CoP18; invite your comments and                         may request at the top of your document               economic integration organization, the
                                             information on these proposals; and                     that we withhold this information from                European Union. The Convention calls
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             provide information on how U.S.                         public review. However, we cannot                     for regular biennial meetings of the
                                             nongovernmental organizations can                       guarantee that we will be able to do so.              Conference of the Parties, unless the
                                             attend CoP18 as observers.                              We will post all hardcopy comments on                 Conference decides otherwise. At these
                                             DATES:                                                  http://www.regulations.gov.                           meetings, the Parties review the
                                               Meeting: The meeting is scheduled to                     Requesting Approval to Attend CoP18                implementation of CITES, make
                                             be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 23                   as an Observer: Send your request via                 provisions enabling the CITES
                                             to June 3, 2019.                                        U.S. mail to the Division of Management               Secretariat in Switzerland to carry out


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:50 Sep 28, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00069   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM   01OCN1


                                             49422                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 190 / Monday, October 1, 2018 / Notices

                                             its functions, consider amendments to                   and Safari Club International                         additional biological or trade
                                             the list of species in Appendices I and                 Foundation (SCI Foundation).                          information on these species.
                                             II, consider reports presented by the                   Additionally, the United States may
                                                                                                                                                           A. What species proposals will the
                                             Secretariat, and make recommendations                   submit one plant species proposal
                                                                                                                                                           United States likely submit for
                                             for the improved effectiveness of CITES.                currently under periodic review by the
                                                                                                                                                           consideration at CoP18?
                                             Any country that is a Party to CITES                    Plants Committee and one animal
                                             may propose amendments to                               species proposal that previously                        None.
                                             Appendices I and II, as well as                         underwent periodic review by the                      B. On what species proposals is the
                                             resolutions, decisions, and agenda items                Animals Committee.                                    United States still undecided, pending
                                             for consideration by all the Parties. Our                  We have undertaken initial
                                                                                                                                                           additional information and
                                             regulations governing this public                       evaluations of the available trade and
                                                                                                                                                           consultations?
                                             process are found in 50 CFR 23.87.                      biological information on many of these
                                                This is our third notice in a series of              taxa. Based on the information                           The United States is still undecided
                                             Federal Register notices that, together                 available, we made provisional                        on whether to submit CoP18 proposals
                                             with an announced public meeting                        evaluations of whether to proceed with                for the following taxa. In most cases, we
                                             (time and place to be announced),                       the development of proposals for                      have not completed our consultations
                                             provide you with an opportunity to                      species to be included in, removed                    with relevant range countries. In other
                                             participate in the development of the                   from, or transferred between the CITES                cases, we expect meetings to occur in
                                             U.S. submissions and negotiating                        Appendices. We made these evaluations                 the immediate future, at which
                                             positions for the eighteenth regular                    by considering the best information                   participants will generate important
                                             meeting of the Conference of the Parties                available on the species; the presence,               recommendations, trade analyses, or
                                             to CITES (CoP18), which is scheduled to                 absence, and effectiveness of other                   biological information on the taxon in
                                             be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 23                   mechanisms that may preclude the need                 question that may be useful to our final
                                             to June 3, 2019. We published our first                 for species’ inclusion in the CITES                   decision-making. In addition one of the
                                             CoP18-related Federal Register notice                   Appendices (e.g., range country actions               taxa in this section is undergoing review
                                             on January 23, 2018 (83 FR 3179); this                  or other international agreements); and               through the periodic review of the
                                             notice requested information and                        availability of resources. We have also               CITES Appendices by the Plants
                                             recommendations on animal and plant                     considered the following factors, as per              Committee (PC), in accordance with
                                             species proposals for the United States                 the U.S. approach for CoP18 discussed                 Resolution Conf. 14.8 (Rev. CoP17), and
                                             to consider submitting for consideration                in our January 23, 2018, Federal                      one has undergone periodic review by
                                             at CoP18. On March 12, 2018 (83 FR                      Register notice:                                      the Animals Committee (AC) at AC25.
                                             10736), we published our second notice,                    (1) Does the proposed action address               This is a regular process under CITES to
                                             in which we requested information and                   a serious wildlife or plant trade issue               evaluate whether listings of taxa in
                                             recommendations on proposed                             that the United States is experiencing as             CITES Appendices I and II continue to
                                             resolutions, decisions, and agenda items                a range country for species in trade?                 be appropriate, based on current
                                             for the United States to consider                          (2) Does the proposed action address               biological and trade information. These
                                             submitting for consideration at CoP18,                  a serious wildlife or plant trade issue for           taxa are at various stages in the periodic
                                             and provided preliminary information                    species not native to the United States?              review process. This process includes
                                             on how to request approved observer                        (3) Does the proposed action provide               an initial assessment that is put before
                                             status for nongovernmental                              additional conservation benefit for a                 the appropriate Committee (Plants or
                                             organizations that wish to attend the                   species already covered by another                    Animals) for discussion, which may
                                             meeting. Comments received on those                     international agreement?                              result in an AC or PC recommendation
                                             two notices may be viewed at http://                       Based on our initial evaluations, we               that a taxon be uplisted (transferred
                                             www.regulations.gov in Docket No.                       have assigned each taxon to one of three              from Appendix II to Appendix I); that a
                                             FWS–HQ–IA–2017–0079.                                    categories, which reflects the likelihood             taxon be downlisted (transferred from
                                                                                                     of our submitting a proposal. In sections             Appendix I to Appendix II, or deleted
                                             Recommendations for Species                             A, B, and C below, we have listed the
                                             Proposals for the United States To                                                                            from Appendix II); or that no change be
                                                                                                     current status of each species proposal               made to the listing.
                                             Consider Submitting for CoP18                           recommended by the public, as well as
                                               In response to our January 2018                       species proposals we have been                        Plants
                                             notice, we received 17                                  developing on our own. Please note that                  1. Saw-toothed lewisia (Lewisia
                                             recommendations from 3 individuals                      we have only provided here a list of taxa             serrata)—Potential amendment to
                                             and the following 14 organizations for                  and the proposed action. We have                      Appendix II-listing.
                                             possible proposals involving over 200                   posted an extended version of this                       2. Frankincense (Boswellia spp.)—
                                             taxa (6 mammals, 23 birds, 78 reptiles,                 notice on our website, at http://                     Inclusion in Appendix II.
                                             41+ sharks/rays, 5 bony fish, 64+                       www.fws.gov/international/                               3. Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)—
                                             invertebrates, and 32 plants): The                      publications-and-media/federal-register-              Amend current annotation to exclude
                                             American Herbal Products Association                    notices.html, with text describing in                 sliced ginseng roots from CITES control.
                                             (AHPA); Ginseng Board of Wisconsin;                     more detail certain proposed action and
                                             Center for Biological Diversity (CBD);                  explaining the rationale for the tentative            Invertebrates
                                             Robin des Bois; Humane Society                          U.S. position on these possible                         4. Ornamental/parachute spider/
                                             International (HSI); Pew Charitable                     proposals. Copies of the extended                     tarantula species (Poecilotheria spp.)—
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             Trusts; Species Survival Network (SSN);                 version of the notice are also available              Inclusion in Appendix II.
                                             Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS);                    from the Division of Scientific Authority               5. Two families of sea cucumbers
                                             International Wood Products                             at the above address or at http://                    (Holothuridae and Stichopodidae)—
                                             Association; League of American                         www.regulations.gov at Docket No.                     Inclusion in Appendix II.
                                             Orchestras; The Ornithological Council;                 FWS–HQ–IA–2017–0079.                                    6. Sea cucumbers found in U.S. native
                                             Sustainable Fisheries Association, Inc.                    We welcome your comments,                          waters: Pepino de mar (Actinopyga
                                             (SFA); Safari Club International (SCI);                 especially if you are able to provide any             agassizii), deepwater redfish (A.


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:50 Sep 28, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00070   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM   01OCN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 190 / Monday, October 1, 2018 / Notices                                            49423

                                             echinites), stonefish (A. lecanora), surf                 13. Blue-spotted tree monitor                       Appendix II (as recommended by the
                                             redfish (A. mauritiana), blackfish (A.                  (Varanus macraei)—Transfer from                       commenter—we are unlikely to submit
                                             miliaris), giant California sea cucumber                Appendix II to Appendix I.                            a proposal).
                                             (Apostichopus californicus), warty sea                    14. Pancake tortoise (Malacochersus                    4. All sharks and rays in international
                                             cucumber (A. parvimensis), furry sea                    tornieri)—Transfer from Appendix II to                trade—Inclusion in Appendix II.
                                             cucumber (Astichopus multifidus),                       Appendix I.                                              5. Shortfin mako shark (Isurus
                                             leopard fish (Bohadschia argus), brown                                                                        paucus)—Inclusion in Appendix II.
                                                                                                     Birds                                                    6. All wedgefish—Inclusion in
                                             sandfish (B. vitiensis), orange-footed sea
                                             cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa),                              15. Straw-headed bulbul (Pycnonotus               Appendix II.
                                             teripang (Holothuria arenicola),                        zeylanicus)—Transfer from Appendix II                    7. All guitarfish (31 species of
                                             lollyfish (H. atra), Zanga fleur (H.                    to Appendix I.                                        guitarfish are found worldwide; 28 of
                                             cinerascens), snakefish (H. coluber),                       16. Neotropical tanager species:                  these species are not found in U.S.
                                             Pinkfish (H. edulis), red snakefish (H.                 Golden tanager (Tangara arthus), opal-                waters and are categorized as not likely
                                             flavomaculata), Floridian (Holothuria                   crowned tanager (Tangara callophrys),                 to be submitted)—Inclusion in
                                             floridana), Labuyo (H. fuscocinerea),                   burnished-buff tanager (Tangara                       Appendix II.
                                             white teatfish (H. fuscogilva), elephant                cayana), paradise tanager (Tangara                       8. American eel (Anguilla rostrata)—
                                             trunkfish (H. fuscopunctata), tigertail                 chilensis), golden-eared tanager                      Inclusion in Appendix II.
                                             (H. hilla), spotted sea cucumber (H.                    (Tangara chrysotis), blue-necked tanager                 9. Tiger-tail seahorse (Hippocampus
                                             impatiens), golden sandfish (H. lessoni),               (Tangara cyanicollis), blue-browed                    comes)—Transfer from Appendix II to
                                             white threadfish (H. leucospilota),                     tanager (Tangara cyanotis), bay-headed                Appendix I.
                                             Pepino de mar (H. mexicana), Bantunan                   tanager (Tangara gyrola), silver-throated             Reptiles
                                             (H. pardalis), no common name (H.                       tanager (Tangara icterocephala), golden-
                                                                                                     hooded tanager (Tangara larvata),                         10. Shaw’s Sea Snake (Hydrophis
                                             pervicax), tubular (H. tubulosa), black
                                                                                                     turquoise tanager (Tangara mexicana),                 curtus)—Inclusion in Appendix II.
                                             teatfish (H. whitmaei), four-sided sea                                                                            11. Eurasian viper species: Cyclades
                                             cucumber (Isostichopus badionotus),                     beryl-spangled tanager (Tangara
                                                                                                     nigroviridis), flame-faced tanager                    blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera
                                             blackspotted sea cucumber                                                                                     schweizeri), mountain viper
                                             (Pearsonothuria graeffei), greenfish                    (Tangara parzudakii), spotted tanager
                                                                                                     (Tangara punctata), green-and-gold                    (Montivipera albizona), Anatolian
                                             (Stichopus chloronotus), curryfish (S.                                                                        meadow viper (Vipera anatolica), snub-
                                             herrmanni), Selenka’s sea cucumber (S.                  tanager (Tangara schrankii), opal-
                                                                                                     rumped tanager (Tangara velia), and                   nosed viper (Vipera latastei), Caucasus
                                             horrens), prickly redfish (Thelenota                                                                          viper (Vipera kaznakovi), Black Sea
                                             ananas), amber fish (T. anax), and                      saffron-crowned tanager (Tangara
                                                                                                     xanthocephala)—Inclusion in Appendix                  viper (Vipera pontica), nose-horned
                                             lemonfish (T. rubralineata)—Inclusion                                                                         viper (Vipera ammodytes), Orlov’s viper
                                             in Appendix II.                                         II.
                                                                                                         17. Attwater’s prairie chicken                    (Vipera orlovi), magnificent viper
                                                7. Sea cucumbers not found in U.S.                                                                         (Vipera magnifica), asp viper (Vipera
                                             native waters: Deepwater blackfish                      (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri)—
                                                                                                     Remove from Appendix II.                              aspis), Darevsky’s viper (Vipera
                                             (Actinopyga palauensis), burying                                                                              darevskii), and Caucasus subalpine
                                             blackfish (A. spinea), Japanese sea                     Mammals                                               viper (Vipera dinniki)—Inclusion in
                                             cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus),                                                                            Appendix II or Appendix I.
                                             brown-spotted sandfish (Bohadschia                          18. Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica)—
                                                                                                     Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix                     12. South African puff adder species:
                                             marmorata), Falalyjaka (B. subrubra),                                                                         Albany adder (Bitis albanica), southern
                                             Japanese cucumaria (Cucumaria                           I.
                                                                                                         19. Markhor (Capra falconeri)—                    adder (Bitis armata), many-horned
                                             japonica), black teatfish (Holothuria                                                                         adder (Bitis cornuta), plain mountain
                                             nobilis), sandfish (H. scabra), brown sea               Transfer from Appendix I to Appendix
                                                                                                     II.                                                   adder (Bitis inornata), red adder (Bitis
                                             cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus),                                                                               rubida), and Namaqua dwarf adder
                                             Selenka’s sea cucumber (Stichopus                       C. For which species is the United States             (Bitis schneideri)—Inclusion in
                                             monotuberculatus), and Selenka’s sea                    not likely to submit proposals for                    Appendix II.
                                             cucumber (S. naso)—Inclusion in                         consideration at CoP18, unless we                         13. American rattlesnake species
                                             Appendix II.                                            receive significant additional                        (Crotalus spp.)—Inclusion in Appendix
                                             Fishes                                                  information?                                          II.
                                                                                                       The United States does not intend to                    14. Neotropical wood turtle species:
                                               8. All guitarfish (31 species of                                                                            Painted wood turtle (Rhinoclemmys
                                                                                                     submit proposals for the following taxa
                                             guitarfish are found worldwide; 3 of                                                                          pulcherrima) and spot-legged wood
                                                                                                     unless we receive significant additional
                                             these species are found in U.S. waters                                                                        turtle (R. punctularia)—Inclusion in
                                                                                                     information indicating that a proposal is
                                             and are categorized as undecided)—                                                                            Appendix II.
                                                                                                     warranted.
                                             Inclusion in Appendix II.                                                                                         15. North American map turtles
                                               9. Lined seahorse (Hippocampus                        Plants                                                (Graptemys spp.): Barbour’s map turtle
                                             erectus)—Transfer from Appendix II to                     1. Dalbergia and other wood products                (G. barbouri), Cagle’s map turtle (G.
                                             Appendix I.                                             (especially for musical instruments)—                 caglei), Escambia map turtle (G. ernsti),
                                               10. Dwarf seahorse (Hippocampus                       Revision of Annotation #15.                           yellow-blotched map turtle (G.
                                             zosterae)—Transfer from Appendix II to                                                                        flavimaculata), northern map turtle (G.
                                             Appendix I.                                             Invertebrates                                         geographica), Pascagoula map turtle (G.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                               11. Slender seahorse (Hippocampus                       2. Wallace’s giant bee (Megachile                   gibbonsi), black-knobbed map turtle (G.
                                             reidi)—Transfer from Appendix II to                     pluto, synonym Chalicodoma pluto)—                    nigrinoda), ringed map turtle (G.
                                             Appendix I.                                             Inclusion in Appendix I.                              oculifera), Ouachita map turtle (G.
                                                                                                                                                           ouachitensis), Pearl River map turtle (G.
                                             Reptiles                                                Fishes                                                pearlensis), false map turtle (G.
                                               12. Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko)—                          3. Atlantic spiny dogfish (Squalus                  pseudogeographica), Alabama map
                                             Inclusion in Appendix II.                               acanthias)—Inclusion in Appendix I or                 turtle (G. pulchra), and Texas map turtle


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:50 Sep 28, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00071   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM   01OCN1


                                             49424                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 190 / Monday, October 1, 2018 / Notices

                                             (G. versa)—Transfer from Appendix III                   Professional Aviculturists; Performing                decisions, and agenda items that the
                                             to Appendix II.                                         Arts Alliance; Paul Reed Smith Guitars;               United States is likely to submit,
                                                16. Alligator snapping turtle                        Species Survival Network; Taylor                      currently undecided about submitting,
                                             (Macrochelys temminckii)—Transfer                       Guitars; Theatre Communications                       or currently planning not to submit.
                                             from Appendix III to Appendix II.                       Group; The Recording Academy;
                                                                                                     WildCat Conservation Legal Aid                        A. What resolutions, decisions, and
                                             Birds                                                                                                         agenda items is the United States likely
                                                                                                     Society; Wildlife Conservation Society;
                                               17. Four Indo-Pacific bird species:                   and World Animal Protection. We also                  to submit for consideration at CoP18?
                                             Loria’s bird-of-paradise (Cnemophilus                   received comments from one individual.                   Strategy for CITES capacity-building
                                             loriae), crested bird-of-paradise (C.                   In addition, we received comments from                efforts: The United States is considering
                                             macgregorii), yellow-breasted bird-of-                  Center for Biological Diversity and                   submission of a document calling on the
                                             paradise (Loboparadisea sericea), and                   Organization of Professional                          CITES parties to develop a framework
                                             Macgregor’s bird-of-paradise                            Aviculturists related to proposals to                 for CITES capacity building that
                                             (Macgregoria pulchra)—Removal from                      amend the CITES Appendices and from                   facilitates Party and donor coordination,
                                             Appendix II.                                            16 of the above commenters related to                 transparency, and accountability across
                                               18. Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus                   expanding the number of designated                    an array of needs and investments. This
                                             andinus)—Transfer from Appendix II to                   U.S. ports for CITES exports. These                   may include suggestion of a framework
                                             Appendix I.                                             comments were outside the scope of this               and a method to identify and track
                                             Mammals                                                 action.                                               outstanding needs as well as
                                                                                                        We considered all of the                           recommendations for measuring
                                                19. Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus                       recommendations of the above                          progress toward shared goals to start the
                                             amphibius)—Transfer from Appendix II                    individual and organizations, as well as              discussion.
                                             to Appendix I.                                          the factors described in the U.S.
                                                20. Narwhal (Monodon monoceros)—                                                                              Elephant conservation: The United
                                                                                                     approach for CoP18 discussed in our                   States is considering submission of a
                                             Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix                   January 23, 2018, Federal Register
                                             I.                                                                                                            document that will address the
                                                                                                     notice, when compiling a list of                      conservation of Asian and African
                                                21. Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)—                      resolutions, decisions, and agenda items
                                             Transfer from Appendix III to Appendix                                                                        elephants either through a new
                                                                                                     that the United States is likely to submit            resolution or decisions or amendment of
                                             I; or Transfer Pacific walrus subspecies                for consideration by the Parties at
                                             (O. r. divergens) from Appendix III to                                                                        existing resolutions or decisions.
                                                                                                     CoP18. We also compiled lists of
                                             Appendix I and Transfer Atlantic (O. r.                 resolutions, decisions, and agenda items              B. On what resolutions, decisions, and
                                             rosmarus) and Laptev (O. r. laptevi)                    for consideration at CoP18 that the                   agenda items is the United States still
                                             walrus subspecies from Appendix III to                  United States either is currently                     undecided, pending additional
                                             Appendix II.                                            undecided about submitting, is not                    information and consultations?
                                                22. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)—                    considering submitting at this time, or
                                             Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix                                                                            1. Pangolin and Appendix-I
                                                                                                     plans to address in other ways. In
                                             I.                                                                                                            specimens acquired prior to Appendix-
                                                                                                     compiling these lists, we also
                                                                                                                                                           I uplisting: Recommendation that the
                                             Recommendations for Resolutions,                        considered potential submissions that
                                                                                                                                                           United States continue its work to
                                             Decisions, and Agenda Items for the                     we identified internally. The United
                                                                                                                                                           combat trafficking of pangolins by
                                             United States To Consider Submitting                    States may consider submitting
                                                                                                                                                           ensuring that stockpiles of scales and
                                             for CoP18                                               documents for some of the issues for
                                                                                                                                                           live animals are not traded on the basis
                                                                                                     which it is currently undecided or not
                                               In our Federal Register notice                                                                              of fraudulent CITES exceptions or
                                                                                                     considering submitting at this time,
                                             published on March 12, 2018 (83 FR                                                                            unsupported legal theories.
                                                                                                     depending on the outcome of
                                             10736), we requested information and                    discussions of these issues in the CITES                 2. Elephant: Recommendation that the
                                             recommendations on potential                            Standing Committee, additional                        United States support efforts to reduce
                                             resolutions, decisions, and agenda items                consultations with range country                      the illegal and legal ivory trade to put
                                             for the United States to submit for                     governments and subject matter experts,               an end to the ongoing poaching of
                                             consideration at CoP18. We received                     or comments we receive during the                     elephants and to ensure that adequate
                                             information and recommendations from                    public comment period for this notice.                safeguards are in place to protect wild
                                             the following organizations: American                      Please note that, under A, B, and C                elephants; recommendation that if the
                                             Federation of Musicians of the United                   below, we have listed those resolutions,              United States submits a document on
                                             States and Canada; American Federation                  decisions, and agenda items that the                  the issue of appropriate and acceptable
                                             of Violin and Bow Makers; Animal                        United States is likely to submit,                    destinations that it first consult with
                                             Welfare Clinic at Michigan State                        currently undecided about submitting,                 range states and relevant experts and
                                             University College of Law; Animal                       or currently planning not to submit. We               take into account the view of the
                                             Welfare Institute; Center for Biological                have posted a supplementary document                  majority of the African elephant range
                                             Diversity; C.F. Martin & Co., Inc.;                     on our website at http://www.fws.gov/                 states that wild elephants should only
                                             Chamber Music America; Fender                           international/CITES/CoP18/index.html                  be destined to in situ conservation
                                             Musical Instruments Corporation; Forest                 and at http://www.regulations.gov, with               projects.
                                             Based Solutions; Ginseng Board of                       text describing in more detail each of                   3. National ivory action plans
                                             Wisconsin; Humane Society                               these issues and explaining the rationale             (NIAPs): Recommendation that the
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             International; International Association                for the tentative U.S. position on each               United States present options for further
                                             of Violin and Bow Makers; International                 issue. Copies of the supplementary                    strengthening progress with Parties’
                                             Wood Products Association; League of                    document are also available from the                  implementation of their NIAPs
                                             American Orchestras; National                           Division of Management Authority at                   processes—possibly through submission
                                             Association of Music Merchants;                         the address in ADDRESSES.                             of draft text amending Resolution Conf.
                                             Natural Resources Defense Council;                         We welcome your comments and                       10.10 (Rev. CoP17), on Trade in
                                             OPERA America; Organization of                          information regarding the resolutions,                elephant specimens.


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:50 Sep 28, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00072   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM   01OCN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 190 / Monday, October 1, 2018 / Notices                                             49425

                                                4. Grey parrot: Recommendation that                  towards improvements in this area by                  ensure are highlighted in CoP
                                             the United States propose that the                      proactively submitting a proposal to                  discussions: Chain of custody issues,
                                             considerations given to the evaluation of               fully implement a ‘‘personal effects’’                marking and traceability issues, the
                                             applications to register facilities that                exemption for those instruments                       making of legal acquisition findings,
                                             breed African grey parrot (Psittacus                    containing protected species that are                 catch documentation and product
                                             erithacus) for commercial purposes in                   carried in personal accompanying                      certification schemes, and the role of
                                             Decision 17.258 be extended until the                   baggage. Recommendation that the                      Regional Fisheries Management
                                             20th meeting of the Conference of the                   United States advance consideration of                Organizations. Recommendation that
                                             Parties (CoP20).                                        permit exemptions for musical                         the United States ensure a discussion at
                                                5. Eel: Recommendation that the                      instruments transported by cargo under                the CoP on capacity building needs in
                                             United States submit a draft resolution                 a carnet.                                             the issuance of non-detriment findings
                                             on conservation of Anguilla species.                      10. Trade and commerce in wood                      for sharks and rays on the CITES
                                                6. CITES National Legislation Project:               species: Recommendation that any                      Appendices.
                                             Recommendation that the United States                   revision to Annotation #15, and                          4. Elephants—domestic ivory markets:
                                             submit or co-sponsor and develop a                      annotations more broadly, account for                 Recommendation that the United States
                                             draft resolution to amend Resolution                    and prevent potential unintended                      report on implementation of Resolution
                                             Conf. 8.4 (Rev. CoP15), National laws                   consequences for trade, allow                         Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP17) on Trade in
                                             for implementation of the Convention,                   appropriate timeframes for                            elephant specimens, with a particular
                                             to provide clear guidelines as to the                   implementation, and can be supported                  focus on the successful enforcement of
                                             criteria for inclusion in Categories 1, 2,              through harmonized interpretations                    new laws on domestic ivory trade, work
                                             and 3 (including coverage of all CITES                  across CITES Parties.                                 with other Parties to close their ivory
                                             taxa, including marine species).                                                                              markets as a matter of urgency, and
                                             Recommendation that the United States                   C. What resolutions, decisions, and
                                                                                                                                                           ensure that the issue is discussed at
                                             submit a document on this issue, or                     agenda items is the United States not
                                                                                                                                                           CoP18. According to the commenter,
                                             otherwise to ensure that it is on the                   likely to submit for consideration at
                                                                                                                                                           paragraph 3 of Resolution Conf. 10.10
                                             agenda of the CoP; further,                             CoP18, unless we receive significant
                                                                                                                                                           (Rev. CoP17) can be misconstrued to
                                             recommendation that the United States                   additional information?
                                                                                                                                                           mean that some Parties with open
                                             raise this issue at the July 2018 meeting                  1. Totoaba and vaquita:                            domestic ivory markets are not obligated
                                             of the Food and Agriculture                             Recommendation that the United States                 to take further action to close their
                                             Organization of the United Nations                      propose and champion the imposition                   markets if they believe they are not
                                             (FAO) Committee on Fisheries, as it will                of sanctions against Mexico pursuant to               contributing significantly to illegal trade
                                             not meet again prior to CoP18.                          Article VIII of CITES and CITES                       and the commenter believes that all
                                                7. Appendix-I specimens acquired                     Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP17), on                such markets contribute to poaching of
                                             prior to Appendix-I uplisting and                       Compliance and enforcement, and                       elephants and illegal ivory trade,
                                             Resolution Conf. 13.6 (Rev. CoP16),                     Resolution Conf. 14.3, on CITES                       facilitate laundering, foster demand for
                                             Implementation of Article VII,                          compliance procedures, since,                         ivory, and undermine the conservation
                                             paragraph 2, concerning ‘‘pre-                          according to the commenters, the                      efforts of elephant range States.
                                             Convention’’ specimens, interpretation                  vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus) is on               Therefore, recommendation that the
                                             issues: Recommendation that the United                  the brink of extinction and the ongoing               United States work with other Parties to
                                             States submit a document clarifying this                failure of the government of Mexico to                amend paragraph 3 accordingly.
                                             issue, and reject the Secretariat’s views               enact and enforce rules and policies to                  5. Leopard quotas: Recommendation
                                             in SC69 Doc. 57. Recommendation that                    fully protect the vaquita and its habitat             that the United States track the
                                             the United States ensure that the                       and to address the blatant illegal fishing            information being provided on existing
                                             document to be prepared by the                          for totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi).                     leopard quotas. Based upon this
                                             Secretariat is balanced and legally                     Recommendation that the United States                 information and other available
                                             accurate; that the United States not rely               propose that CITES recommend that all                 information, recommendation that the
                                             only on the potential document from the                 Parties cease all wildlife trade with                 United States ensure that reasonable
                                             Secretariat, but to also submit its own                 Mexico until it creates a management                  quotas are set that are not detrimental to
                                             document on the issue for consideration                 strategy and plan concerning totoaba                  the survival of the species.
                                             by CoP18, and also ensure that the issue                and vaquita that meets or exceeds the                 Recommendation that the United States
                                             is discussed as a standalone agenda item                standards presented by the commenters.                submit a document for consideration at
                                             so that the issue obtains the full                         2. Trade in biosynthetic plant and                 CoP18 that recommends that there be
                                             discussion and understanding of the                     wildlife material: Recommendation that                full scientific justification for leopard
                                             CITES Parties.                                          the United States, given the U.S.                     quotas approved by the CITES
                                                8. Marine ornamental fishes:                         significant investments in demand                     Conference of the Parties in Resolution
                                             Recommendation that the United States                   reduction and enforcement, to continue                Conf. 10.14 (Rev. CoP16), Quotas for
                                             consider submitting an agenda item for                  its work with regard to biosynthetic                  leopard hunting trophies and skins for
                                             discussion at CoP18 on trade in marine                  products of or made from CITES-listed                 personal use. This document should
                                             ornamental fishes.                                      species.                                              propose a new procedure for
                                                9. International travel with musical                    3. Sharks and rays: Recommendation                 establishment and review of such
                                             instruments: Recommendation that the                    that the United States ensure that the                quotas, including that any Party wishing
                                             United States seek outcomes at CoP18                    outcomes of the shark working groups                  to retain their leopard quota provide
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             that will advance CITES policies related                and deliberations of the Standing and                 scientific justification for continuing the
                                             to international travel with musical                    Animals Committees are on the agenda                  quota at each meeting of the Conference
                                             instruments containing protected                        of CoP18, as a separate agenda item. The              of the Parties to CITES; and all matters
                                             species material. Recommendation that                   Standing Committee has agreed to                      related to establishment, continuance or
                                             since the United States initiated the                   discuss several issues, including the                 increase of leopard quotas be approved
                                             creation of the Musical Instrument                      following, which the commenter                        by a two-thirds majority vote of the
                                             Certificate, it should lead an effort                   recommends that the United States                     Parties.


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:50 Sep 28, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00073   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM   01OCN1


                                             49426                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 190 / Monday, October 1, 2018 / Notices

                                                6. Registration of operations that                   demand for illegally sourced bear bile                   16. Legal acquisition findings:
                                             breed Appendix-I avian species in                       products.                                             Recommendation that the United States
                                             captivity for commercial purposes:                         11. Disposal of confiscated                        ensure that the issue is discussed under
                                             Recommendation that the United States                   specimens: Recommendation that the                    a separate agenda item at CoP18.
                                             reevaluate the process for the                          United States prepare draft decisions                    17. Ginseng: Recommendation that
                                             registration of operations that breed                   that would direct the Secretariat to                  the United States recommend at CoP18
                                             Appendix-I avian species in captivity                   request information from Parties on the               that all Parties to CITES are to recognize
                                             for commercial purposes.                                scope of this problem and potential                   ‘‘personal exemption’’ for dried
                                             Recommendation that Decision 17.258                     solutions and report to the Animals,                  cultivated American ginseng (Panax
                                             be applied to all animal species for the                Plants, and Standing Committees, and                  quinquefolius). Maximum amount
                                             evaluation of applications to register                  direct the Committees to prepare                      allowed 4.5 kg.
                                             facilities that breed Appendix-I animal                 recommendations, including providing                     18. Management Authorities:
                                             species for commercial purposes; all                    financial assistance so that Parties can              Recommendation that the United States
                                             Appendix-I species that were legally                    either destroy such specimens or                      ensure that the development of a
                                             imported under Appendix II, prior to                    dispose of them in a manner consistent                resolution pertaining to CITES
                                             their inclusion on Appendix I, should                   with Resolution Conf. 17.8, Disposal of               Management Authorities properly tracks
                                             be afforded the opportunity to become                   illegally trade and confiscated                       the responsibilities placed on
                                             registered, taking into consideration the               specimens of CITES-listed species, and                Management Authorities in the text of
                                             CITES trade data as a means of                          submit these recommendations to the                   the Convention.
                                             establishing whether imports from a                     next meeting of the Conference of the                    19. Electronic permitting:
                                             species/country combination will                        Parties.                                              Recommendation that the United States
                                             qualify. Recommendation that the                           12. Species not yet listed in the CITES            support continued development of a
                                             United States propose that Decision                     appendices: Recommendation that the                   robust electronic permitting system
                                             17.258 be amended and adopted into                      United States submit a working                        such as eCITES that would eventually
                                                                                                     document regarding unlisted species,                  allow for universal utilization of
                                             Resolution Conf. 12.10 (Rev CoP15), on
                                                                                                     providing guidance to Parties in                      electronic permits.
                                             Registration of operations that breed
                                                                                                     ensuring that ‘‘the Appendices correctly                 20. Rural communities:
                                             Appendix-I animal species in captivity                                                                        Recommendation that the United States
                                             for commercial purposes.                                reflect the conservation needs of
                                                                                                     species.’’                                            submit a draft Resolution to prepare
                                                7. Specimens of Appendix-I listed                                                                          draft decisions that would suspend the
                                                                                                        13. Tortoises and freshwater turtles:
                                             species bred in non-range States with                   Recommendation that U.S. conservation                 operation of the Working Group, direct
                                             large prolific captive populations, i.e.                efforts related to these species continue.            the Standing Committee to prepare
                                             Psittacus erithacus,                                    Recommendation that the United States                 appropriate criteria for membership,
                                             Cyanoramphusnovaezealandiae,                            ensure that this issue is on the agenda               review existing and proposed members
                                             Psephotus dissimilis and                                at CITES CoP18 in order to further                    in the light of these criteria and of the
                                             chrysopterygius (and several others), be                examine what steps might be necessary                 need for both regional balance and a
                                             treated as an Appendix-II species for the               to protect these taxa from the threats of             balance of views, and only reconstitute
                                             purposes of trade:                                      illegal and/or unsustainable trade.                   the Working Group once these criteria
                                                Recommendation that special                             14. Asian big cats: Recommendation                 have been adopted by the Conference of
                                             consideration be given to range States                  that the United States propose a                      the Parties.
                                             with economically important captive                     Resolution at CoP18 to more effectively                  21. Destruction of ivory stockpiles:
                                             populations.                                            address tiger farming and the trade in                Recommendation that the United States
                                                8. Laundering: Recommendation that,                  captive-bred Asian big cats and their                 submit a document calling on all Parties
                                             in a case where a Management                            parts. Recommendation that the United                 planning to destroy their ivory stocks to
                                             Authority suspects that a facility may be               States recommend: Parties impose                      conduct independently audited
                                             laundering illegal specimens and there                  sanctions against any Party who does                  inventories before any destruction
                                             is insufficient recordkeeping to prove                  not comply with Decision 17.226;                      events and to make samples of the
                                             paternity, an available, established, and               Parties gain public participation to                  seized ivory available for DNA- and/or
                                             proven scientific method should be                      reduce illegal sales, including educating             isotope-based analysis.
                                             used to determine parentage of suspect                  and empowering citizens in range                      Recommendation that the United States
                                             specimens.                                              countries to conserve tigers; Parties                 support making available materials and
                                                9. Criteria: Recommendation that the                 impose appropriate sentences and                      guidance on best practices for the
                                             United States propose that additional                   penalties to meaningfully deter trade of              management of ivory stockpiles,
                                             criteria be established for future                      tigers or tiger parts, including by                   including their disposal when
                                             amendments to the CITES Appendices                      imposing sanctions on Parties that                    applicable. Recommendation that the
                                             for commercially important animal                       create loopholes for the purpose of                   United States support a decision at the
                                             species with prolific captive                           circumventing their treaty obligations.               CoP to endorse the dissemination
                                             populations that limit the disruptive                      15. Captive-bred and ranched                       (through the CITES website and other
                                             and detrimental impact of such an                       specimens (and laundering of wild-                    means) of the stockpile management
                                             action on the livelihoods of indigenous                 caught animals): Recommendation that                  system of the organization ‘‘Stop Ivory,’’
                                             communities and bona fide breeding                      the United States submit captive-bred                 which has been used successfully by
                                             operations.                                             and ranched specimens (and laundering                 several countries.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                                10. Bear bile and bear gall bladder:                 of wild-caught animals) as a separate                    22. Other species-specific matters:
                                             Recommendation that the United States                   agenda item, or to ensure that the                    Recommendation that the United States
                                             propose amendments to Resolution                        Secretariat will include it as a                      ensure that the following issues are on
                                             Conf. 10.8 (Rev. CoP14), on                             standalone agenda item;                               the CoP18 agenda: Other aspects of
                                             Conservation of and trade in bears, or                  recommendation that the United States                 wildlife trafficking, great apes, Asian big
                                             decisions that strategically address the                consider submission of a document                     cats in captivity, illegal trade in
                                             threat of trade in bear bile products and               highlighting the problem.                             cheetahs, Monitoring the Illegal Killing


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:50 Sep 28, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00074   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM   01OCN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 190 / Monday, October 1, 2018 / Notices                                           49427

                                             of Elephants (MIKE) and the Elephant                    directly from the CITES Secretariat.                  notice and provide the Secretariat’s
                                             Trade Information System (ETIS), saiga                  Persons wishing to be observers                       website address. We will also provide
                                             antelope, and CITES and livelihoods.                    representing U.S. national                            the provisional agenda on our website,
                                                                                                     nongovernmental organizations at                      at http://www.fws.gov/international/
                                             Request for Information and Comments
                                                                                                     CoP18 must receive prior approval from                CITES/CoP18/index.html.
                                                We invite information and comments                   our Division of Management Authority
                                             concerning any of the possible CoP18                                                                             The United States must submit any
                                                                                                     (ADDRESSES). Once we grant our
                                             species proposals, resolutions,                         approval, a U.S. national                             proposals to amend Appendix I or II, or
                                             decisions, and agenda items discussed                   nongovernmental organization is                       any draft resolutions, decisions, or
                                             above. You must submit your                             eligible to register with the Secretariat             agenda items for discussion at CoP18, to
                                             information and comments to us no                       and must do so at least 6 weeks prior                 the CITES Secretariat 150 days (i.e., by
                                             later than the date specified in DATES,                 to the opening of CoP18 to participate                December 24, 2018) prior to the start of
                                             above, to ensure that we consider them.                 in CoP18 as an observer. Individuals                  the meeting. In order to meet this
                                             Comments and materials received will                    who are not affiliated with an                        deadline and to prepare for CoP18, we
                                             be posted for public inspection on                      organization may not register as                      have developed a tentative U.S.
                                             http://www.regulations.gov, and will be                 observers. An international                           schedule. We will consider all available
                                             available by appointment, from 8 a.m. to                nongovernmental organization with at                  information and comments we receive
                                             4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the                   least one office in the United States may             during the comment period for this
                                             Division of Management Authority (see                   register as a U.S. non-governmental                   Federal Register notice as we decide
                                             ADDRESSES). Our practice is to post all                 organization if it prefers.                           which species proposals and which
                                             comments, including names and                              Any organization that submits a                    proposed resolutions, decisions, and
                                             addresses of respondents, and to make                   request to us for approval as an observer             agenda items warrant submission by the
                                             comments, including names and home                      should include evidence of their                      United States for consideration by the
                                             addresses of respondents, available for                 technical qualifications in protection,
                                                                                                                                                           Parties. Approximately 4 months prior
                                             public review during regular business                   conservation, or management of wild
                                                                                                                                                           to CoP18, we will post on our website
                                             hours.                                                  fauna or flora, for both the organization
                                                There may be circumstances in which                  and the individual representative(s).                 an announcement of the species
                                             we would withhold from public review                    The request should include copies of                  proposals, draft resolutions, draft
                                             a respondent’s name and/or address, as                  the organization’s charter and any                    decisions, and agenda items submitted
                                             allowable by law. If you wish for us to                 bylaws, and a list of representatives it              by the United States to the CITES
                                             withhold your name and/or address,                      intends to send to CoP18. Organizations               Secretariat for consideration at CoP18.
                                             you must state this prominently at the                  seeking approval for the first time                      Through a series of additional notices
                                             beginning of your comment, but we                       should detail their experience in the                 and website postings in advance of
                                             cannot guarantee that we will be able to                protection, conservation, or                          CoP18, we will inform you about
                                             do so. We will make all comments and                    management of wild fauna or flora, as                 preliminary negotiating positions on
                                             materials submitted by organizations or                 well as their purposes for wishing to                 resolutions, decisions, and amendments
                                             businesses, and by individuals                          participate in CoP18 as an observer. An               to the Appendices proposed by other
                                             identifying themselves as                               organization that we have previously                  Parties for consideration at CoP18. We
                                             representatives or officials of                         approved as an observer at a meeting of
                                                                                                                                                           will also publish an announcement of a
                                             organizations or businesses, available                  the Conference of the Parties within the
                                                                                                                                                           public meeting to be held approximately
                                             for public inspection in their entirety.                past 5 years must submit a request, but
                                                                                                     does not need to provide as much                      2 to 3 months prior to CoP18, to receive
                                             Observers                                               detailed information concerning its                   public input on our positions regarding
                                                Article XI, paragraph 7, of CITES                    qualifications as an organization seeking             CoP18 issues.
                                             states that ‘‘Any body or agency                        approval for the first time. These                       The procedures for developing U.S.
                                             technically qualified in protection,                    requests should be sent to the Division               documents and negotiating positions for
                                             conservation or management of wild                      of Management Authority at the address                a meeting of the Conference of the
                                             fauna and flora, in the following                       provided in ADDRESSES, above; via email               Parties to CITES are outlined in 50 CFR
                                             categories, which has informed the                      to managementauthority@fws.gov; or via                23.87. As noted in paragraph (c) of that
                                             Secretariat of its desire to be represented             fax to 703–358–2298.                                  section, we may modify or suspend the
                                             at meetings of the Conference by                           Once we approve an organization as                 procedures outlined there if they would
                                             observers, shall be admitted unless at                  an observer, we will inform them of the               interfere with the timely or appropriate
                                             least one-third of the Parties present                  appropriate page on the CITES website                 development of documents for
                                             object:                                                 where they may obtain instructions for
                                                                                                                                                           submission to the CoP and of U.S.
                                                (a) International agencies or bodies,                registration with the CITES Secretariat,
                                                                                                                                                           negotiating positions.
                                             either governmental or non-                             including a meeting registration form
                                             governmental, and national                              and travel and hotel information. A list              Authors
                                             governmental agencies and bodies; and                   of organizations approved for observer
                                                (b) national non-governmental                        status at CoP18 will be available upon                  The primary authors of this notice are
                                             agencies or bodies which have been                      request from the Division of                          Thomas E.J. Leuteritz, Ph.D., Branch
                                             approved for this purpose by the State                  Management Authority just prior to the                Chief, Division of Scientific Authority,
                                             in which they are located. Once                         start of CoP18.                                       and Laura S. Noguchi, Branch Chief,
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             admitted, these observers shall have the                                                                      Division of Management Authority, U.S.
                                             right to participate but not to vote.’’                 Future Actions
                                                                                                                                                           Fish and Wildlife Service.
                                                Persons wishing to be observers                        We expect the CITES Secretariat to
                                             representing international                              provide us with a provisional agenda for
                                             nongovernmental organizations (which                    CoP18 within the next several months.
                                             must have offices in more than one                      Once we receive the provisional agenda,
                                             country) at CoP18 may request approval                  we will publish it in a Federal Register


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:50 Sep 28, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00075   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM   01OCN1


                                             49428                        Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 190 / Monday, October 1, 2018 / Notices

                                             Authority                                               Polaris Avenue in southwest Las Vegas                 required by 43 CFR 2741.4), and will
                                               The authority for this action is the                  and is legally described as:                          contain an appropriate indemnification
                                             Endangered Species Act of 1973, as                      Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada                         clause protecting the United States from
                                             amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).                                                                             claims arising out of the lessee’s/
                                                                                                     T. 22 S., R. 61 E.,
                                                                                                       Sec. 29, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4.                           patentee’s use, occupancy, or operations
                                             James W. Kurth,
                                                                                                       The area described contains 10 acres in
                                                                                                                                                           on the leased/patented lands. It will also
                                             Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife                                                                       contain any other terms and conditions
                                             Service, Exercising the Authority of the                Clark County, Nevada.
                                             Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.                                                                     deemed necessary and appropriate by
                                                                                                        Clark County has filed an R&PP
                                                                                                                                                           the Authorized Officer.
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–21255 Filed 9–28–18; 8:45 am]             application to develop the above-
                                             BILLING CODE 4333–15–P                                  described land as a community park.                      Upon publication of this Notice in the
                                                                                                     The project will consist of picnic                    Federal Register, the land described
                                                                                                     shelters, a children’s play area,                     above will be segregated from all other
                                             DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              restrooms, pedestrian walkways,                       forms of appropriation under the public
                                                                                                     parking, and open-space play areas.                   land laws, including the general U.S.
                                             Bureau of Land Management                               Additional detailed information                       Mining Laws, except for lease and
                                             [LLNVS0100.L58530000.EQ0000.241A;                       pertaining to this publication, plan of               conveyance under the R&PP Act, leasing
                                             N–93733; 12–08807; MO#4500122399;                       development, and site plan is located in              under the mineral leasing laws, and
                                             TAS:15X5232]                                            case file N–93733, which is available for             disposals under the mineral material
                                                                                                     review at the BLM Las Vegas Field                     disposal laws.
                                             Notice of realty action: Classification                 Office at the above address.
                                             for Lease and/or Conveyance for                            The land identified is not needed for                 Interested parties may submit written
                                             Recreation and Public Purposes of                       any Federal purposes. The lease or                    comments on the suitability of the land
                                             Public Lands (N–93733) for a Park in                    conveyance of the lands for recreational              for development of a public park in the
                                             the Southwest Portion of the Las                        or public purposes use is consistent                  City of Las Vegas. Comments on the
                                             Vegas Valley, Clark County, Nevada                      with the BLM Las Vegas Resource                       classification are restricted to whether
                                             AGENCY:   Bureau of Land Management,                    Management Plan dated October 5,                      the land is physically suited for the
                                             Interior.                                               1998, and would be in the public                      proposal, whether the use will
                                             ACTION: Notice of realty action.                        interest. Clark County has not applied                maximize the future use or uses of the
                                                                                                     for more than the 6,400-acre limitation               land, whether the use is consistent with
                                             SUMMARY:    The Bureau of Land                          for recreation uses in a year, nor more               local planning and zoning, or if the use
                                             Management (BLM), Las Vegas Field                       than 640 acres for each of the programs               is consistent with state and Federal
                                             Office, has examined and found suitable                 involving public resources other than                 programs.
                                             for classification for lease and                        recreation.                                              Interested parties may also submit
                                             subsequent conveyance under the                            All interested parties will receive a
                                             provisions of the Recreation and Public                                                                       comments regarding the specific use
                                                                                                     copy of this Notice once it is published
                                             Purposes Act (R&PP), as amended,                                                                              proposed in the application and plan of
                                                                                                     in the Federal Register. A copy of the
                                             approximately 10 acres of public land in                                                                      development and management and
                                                                                                     Notice with information about this
                                             the Las Vegas Valley, Clark County,                     proposed realty action will be published              whether the BLM followed proper
                                             Nevada. Clark County proposes to use                    in a newspaper of local circulation once              administrative procedures in reaching
                                             the land for a 10-acre community park                   a week for three consecutive weeks. The               the decision to lease and convey under
                                             that will help the County meet future                   regulations at 43 CFR Subpart 2741                    the R&PP Act.
                                             expanding recreation needs in the                       addressing requirements and procedures                   Before including your address, phone
                                             southwestern area of the Las Vegas                      for conveyances under the R&PP Act do                 number, email address, or other
                                             Valley.                                                 not require a public meeting.                         personally identifiable information in
                                             DATES: Submit written comments                             The lease or conveyance of the land,               any comment, be aware that your entire
                                             regarding this proposed classification on               when issued, will be subject to the                   comment including your personally
                                             or before November 15, 2018.                            following terms, conditions, and                      identifiable information may be made
                                             ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver written
                                                                                                     reservations:                                         publicly available at any time. While
                                                                                                        1. A right-of-way thereon for ditches
                                             comments to the BLM Las Vegas Field                                                                           you can ask the BLM in your comment
                                                                                                     and canals constructed by the authority
                                             Office, 4701 N Torrey Pines Drive, Las                                                                        to withhold your personally identifiable
                                                                                                     of the United States Act of August 30,
                                             Vegas, Nevada 89130, Attn: Acting                                                                             information from public review, we
                                                                                                     1890 (43 U.S.C. 945);
                                             Assistant Field Manager. The BLM will                                                                         cannot guarantee that we will be able to
                                                                                                        2. Provisions of the R&PP Act and to
                                             not consider comments received via                                                                            do so.
                                                                                                     all applicable regulations of the
                                             telephone calls or email.
                                                                                                     Secretary of the Interior;                               Only written comments submitted to
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                           3. All mineral deposits in the land so             the Field Manager, BLM Las Vegas Field
                                             Marcus Amer at the above address, by                    patented, together with the right to                  Office, will be considered properly
                                             telephone at 702–515–5021, or by email                  prospect for, mine, and remove such                   filed. Any adverse comments will be
                                             to mamer@blm.gov. Persons who use a                     deposits from the same under applicable               reviewed as protests by the BLM Nevada
                                             telecommunications device for the deaf                  law and regulations as established by
                                             may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS)                                                                      State Director, who may sustain, vacate,
                                                                                                     the Secretary of the Interior may                     or modify this realty action.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES




                                             at 1–800–877–8339 to leave a message                    prescribe;
                                             or question for the above individual.                      4. Lease or conveyance of the parcel                  In the absence of any adverse
                                             The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7                  is subject to valid existing rights.                  comments, the decision will become
                                             days a week. You will receive a reply                      Any lease and conveyance will also                 effective on November 30, 2018. The
                                             during normal business hours.                           contain any terms or conditions                       lands will not be available for lease and
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The parcel                   required by law (including, but not                   conveyance until after the decision
                                             is located on West Pyle Avenue and                      limited to, any terms or conditions                   becomes effective.


                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:50 Sep 28, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00076   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM   01OCN1



Document Created: 2018-09-29 04:26:50
Document Modified: 2018-09-29 04:26:50
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesMeeting: The meeting is scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 23 to June 3, 2019.
ContactFor information pertaining to species proposals, contact Rosemarie Gnam, Chief, Division of Scientific Authority, at 703-358-1708 (phone); 703-358-2276 (fax); or [email protected] (email).
FR Citation83 FR 49421 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR