[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3373-3374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01142]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
[Docket No FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0176; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-A104
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Removal
of the Scarlet-Chested Parakeet and Turquoise Parakeet From the List of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
reopening of the public comment period on our September 2, 2003,
proposed rule to remove the scarlet-chested parakeet (Neophema
splendida) and the turquoise parakeet (Neophema pulchella) from the
List (List) of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended. We are taking this action to determine
whether removing these species from the List is still warranted, and to
ensure we get the best scientific and commercial information available.
DATES: We will consider comments received or postmarked on or before
February 22, 2016. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal
eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES section, below) must be received by
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search field, enter FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0176,
which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click the Search
button. You may submit a comment by clicking on ``Comment Now!''
(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0176, Division of Policy and
Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: BPHC, 5275
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
We request that you send comments only by the methods described
above. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide
us (see the Public Comments section, below, for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janine Van Norman, Chief, Branch of
Foreign Species, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
MS: ES, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; telephone,
703-358-2171; facsimile, 703-358-1735. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In our September 2, 2003 proposed rule (68 FR 52169), we proposed
to remove the scarlet-chested parakeet (Neophema splendida) and the
turquoise parakeet (Neophema pulchella) from the List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife under the Act, because the endangered designation
no longer correctly reflected the current conservation status of these
birds. Our review of the status of the species at the time showed that
the wild populations of these species were stable and increasing, with
more than 20,000 breeding-age turquoise parakeets and 10,000 breeding-
age scarlet-chested parakeets found throughout their range.
Furthermore, trade in wild caught specimens was strictly limited, and
the species' were protected through domestic regulation within the
range country (Australia), as well as through additional national and
international treaties and laws. Currently, the Act prohibits the
import, export and interstate and foreign commerce of these species,
unless the individual can prove that the otherwise prohibited act
enhances the propagation or survival of the species, or it is for
scientific research. Removal of these species from the List means that
the protections of the Act will no longer apply. However, protections
under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Fauna and
Flora the Lacey Act and the Wild Bird Conservation Act (for wild-caught
specimens only) would remain unchanged.
For more information on previous Federal actions concerning the
scarlet-chested and turquoise parakeet, or information regarding the
species' biology, status, distribution, and habitat, refer to the
proposed rule published in the Federal Register on September 2, 2003
(68 FR 52169), which is available online at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/FR-2003-09-02/03-22225, or by mail from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service in Falls Church, VA (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT).
[[Page 3374]]
Public Comments
We will accept written comments and information during this
reopened comment period on our proposal to remove the scarlet-chested
parakeet (Neophema splendida) and the turquoise parakeet (Neophema
pulchella) from the List. We will consider information and
recommendations from all interested parties. We intend that any final
action resulting from the proposal be as accurate as possible and based
on the best available scientific and commercial data.
If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire
comment--including any personal identifying information--will be posted
on the Web site. We will post all hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov as well. 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.
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we used in preparing the proposed listing, will be
available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov at Docket
No. FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0176, or by appointment, during normal business
hours at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Falls Church, VA (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Authors
The primary authors of this notice are staff members in the
Ecological Services Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Falls
Church, VA.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
Dated: January 8, 2016.
Stephen Guertin,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01142 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-55-P