[Federal Register: April 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 79)] [Notices] [Page 20320-20321] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr26ap99-127] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Listing of Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) in Appendix II and its Implementation by the United States; Public Meeting AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: With this notice the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a public meeting to discuss the implementation of the listing of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This listing decision was reached at the Tenth Conference of the CITES Parties (COP10) which was held in June of 1997. The listing became effective September 18, 1997. The CITES listing covers live plants as well as whole and sliced roots and parts of roots, excluding manufactured parts or derivatives such as powders, pills, extracts, tonics, teas, and confectionary. By listing goldenseal in CITES, the live plants and roots are now covered by the Service's regulations regarding import or export of wildlife. The focus of the meeting will be the export process for goldenseal roots from the United States to comply with the requirements of the CITES listing. DATES: A public meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, will be held on May 18, 1999, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Holiday Inn Oakland Park/St. Louis Airport. Please note that the room for this meeting is accessible to the handicapped. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Rosemarie Gnam, Office of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington Virginia, 22203. Telephone (703) 358-2095, fax (703) 358-2298, email: r9oma__cites@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, hereafter referred to as CITES, is an international treaty designed to control international trade in certain animal and plant species that are or may become threatened with extinction, and are listed in Appendices to the Convention. Currently, 145 countries, including the United States, are CITES Parties. The Service is the lead agency for the implementation of CITES. As such, we are responsible for implementing decisions from past meetings of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (COPs). COP10, the most recent COP, was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in June, 1997. Among the decisions taken at COP10, was to include goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) in Appendix II of CITES. This listing became effective September 18, 1997 (see 63 FR 63210). Goldenseal is a North American perennial herb valued for its medicinal properties; it occurs in one Canadian province and approximately 27 States in the United States. Goldenseal is highly valued in the U.S. medicinal market, and is becoming increasingly popular in Europe and elsewhere. The species suffered severe population decreases during the second half of the 19th century due to over- harvesting for the commercial trade. It is considered to have some degree of threat in Canada and 11 U.S. States, and it is classified as ``very threatened rangewide'' by The Nature Conservancy. Much of the goldenseal on the medicinal plant market is wild- harvested. There appears to be very little legal protection afforded this species within its natural range except within designated protected areas. Furthermore, management plans for harvesting this species appear to be currently lacking, although researchers are beginning to undertake field studies of goldenseal ecology. Due to concern regarding the over-collection of wild goldenseal within the range States of the United States and Canada, the United States proposed listing this species in Appendix II of CITES at COP10. The species, including parts and derivatives such as finished pharmaceutical products, was proposed for listing. The final listing was for live plants as well as whole and sliced roots and parts of roots, excluding manufactured parts or derivatives such as powders, pills, extracts, tonics, teas, and confectionary. The listing of goldenseal will provide a regulatory mechanism for the export of fresh and dried roots. The aim of this listing is to ensure sustainable use and management of wild goldenseal populations. With the listing of goldenseal in CITES at COP10, this species is now covered by the Service's regulations regarding import or export of wildlife. All goldenseal root will now require export permits prior to being shipped out of the United States. All goldenseal must be exported through ports designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Each shipment will be inspected by a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Division of Plant Protection and Quarantine (APHIS/ PPQ) inspector at the designated port. This public meeting will provide an opportunity for the Service to meet with goldenseal exporters and other persons interested in the CITES listing. The Service will explain the wildlife regulations that will now affect goldenseal exports, and how these requirements will be implemented. The public meeting will be held in St. Louis because of its proximity to much of the goldenseal industry in the United States, and the corresponding concentration of affected members of the general public. The Service has prepared a fact sheet, ``What you need to know about exporting Goldenseal'' to help answer questions on the listing and its implementation. It is available from the Office of Management Authority upon [[Page 20321]] request. Written requests should be sent to: Office of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, Virginia, 22203. Paperwork Reduction Act This Notice does not contain new or revised information collection for which Office of Management and Budget approval is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The referenced information collection is covered by an existing OMB approval, and has been assigned clearance No. 1018-0093, Form 3-200-32, with an expiration date of January 31, 2001; implementing regulations for the CITES documentation appear in 50 CFR 23. The Service may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information request unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Author: This notice was prepared by Anne St. John, Office of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dated: April 16, 1999. Jamie Rappaport Clark, Director. [FR Doc. 99-10342 Filed 4-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P