The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has scheduled a virtual public hearing on January 5, 2023, from 1:00 – 4:00pm Eastern Time (EST) to give the public an opportunity to learn more about the Proposed Revision of the African Elephant 4(d) Rule and to provide a forum for the Service to receive verbal comments from the public on the proposed rule.
The Service will hold the virtual public hearing via the Zoom online platform so that participants can attend remotely. During the virtual public hearing, attendees can join by computer or phone to learn about the Proposed Revision of the African Elephant 4(d) Rule. The virtual public hearing will start with a brief presentation by Service staff followed by an opportunity for attendees to provide their verbal comments on the Proposed Revision of the African Elephant 4(d) Rule. Commenters may have an allotted time period to provide comments, and the order of commenters will be based on hearing registration. The Service requests that where possible, like-minded comments only be submitted once. This will reduce redundancy and allow commenters more time to provide and explain their comments. In addition, public comments can be submitted at African Elephant (4d) Proposed Rule. (Full Link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/17/2022-25010/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-revision-to-the-section-4d-rule-for-the-african)
We recommend that members of the public log into the Zoom meeting platform 5 minutes prior to the beginning of the presentation to ensure that they can connect. If using the phone-only option, participants will be able to listen to the virtual public hearing, but they will not view the presentation. Instructions will be given regarding how participants will be able to provide their comments for the public hearing.
*For security purposes, registration is required. To listen and view the hearing via Zoom, listen to the hearing by telephone, or provide verbal public comment during the hearing by Zoom or telephone, you must register.
*Interested members of the public not familiar with the Zoom platform should view the Zoom video tutorials (https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-video-tutorials) prior to the public hearing.
*If you have technical difficulties registering for the hearing or joining the hearing on January 5th, please email alli.yamnitsky@empsi.com.
Instructions for Attending the Virtual Public Hearing:
For Participants Joining by Zoom Web Platform or Zoom App:
- Please pre-register* using this link: https://empsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y_lk1brBTTWZ4dJ97U-XFA
*If you plan on providing a comment during the virtual public hearing, please indicate that when registering. - After registration, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the hearing.
- On the day of the hearing, please join using the information contained in your confirmation email.
For Participants Joining by Phone:
- Register for the hearing (see above). On the day of the hearing, call in using one of the toll-free phone numbers listed below. You will be prompted to enter your Webinar ID. Enter your Webinar ID from your confirmation email and press the # key.
- You will then be prompted: “Enter your Participant ID followed by #. Otherwise just press #.” Phone-only participants will not receive an individualized Participant ID, so just press the # key.
- You will then be prompted: “Enter your Password followed by #. Otherwise just press #.” Enter the Passcode from your confirmation email and press the # key.
- You will be directly joined to the webinar. If the webinar has not started, you will be on hold until the webinar begins.
Call-in Numbers(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
- US: +1 720 707 2699 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592
- International numbers available: Zoom International Dial-in Numbers - Zoom
Reasonable Accommodations
The Service is committed to providing access to the virtual public hearing for all participants. Closed captioning will be available during the public hearing. Further, a full audio and video recording and transcript of the public hearing will be posted online at www.fws.gov/page/african-elephant-4d-rule after the hearing. Participants will also have access to live audio during the public hearing via their telephone or computer speakers. An accessible version of the Service’s public hearing presentation will also be posted online at www.fws.gov/page/african-elephant-4d-rule prior to the hearing.