Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment of the
Addition of Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrots (Amazona aestiva) From a
Sustainable Use Management Plan in Argentina to the Approved List of
Non-Captive-Bred Birds Under the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992
[Federal Register: January 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 5)]
[Notices]
[Page 1066-1067]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ja03-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment of the
Addition of Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrots (Amazona aestiva) From a
Sustainable Use Management Plan in Argentina to the Approved List of
Non-Captive-Bred Birds Under the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft Environmental Assessment.
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SUMMARY: The public is invited to comment on the draft Environmental
Assessment of the addition of blue-fronted amazon parrots (Amazona
aestiva) from a sustainable use management plan in Argentina to the
approved list of non-captive-bred birds under the Wild Bird
Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA). We have prepared a draft Environmental
Assessment under regulations implementing the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Council on Environmental Quality regulations
in 40 CFR 1501.3(b) state that an agency ``may prepare an environmental
assessment on any action at any time in order to assist agency planning
and decision making.'' Future regulations implementing the WBCA may be
subject to NEPA documentation requirements on a case-by-case basis.
DATES: Written data, comments, or requests for a copy of this draft
Environmental Assessment must be received by February 7, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Written data, comments, or requests for a copy of this draft
Environmental Assessment should be sent to the Chief, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Management Authority, 4401 North Fairfax
Drive, Room 700, Arlington, Virginia 22203.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Gaski, Chief, Branch of
Operations, Division of Management Authority, at 703-358-2095.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The WBCA, which was signed into law on October 23, 1992, limits or
prohibits imports of exotic bird species
[[Page 1067]]
to ensure that their wild populations are not harmed by trade. It also
encourages wild bird conservation programs in countries of origin by
ensuring that all imports of such species into the United States are
biologically sustainable and not detrimental to the survival of the
species. A final rule published in the Federal Register on November 16,
1993 (58 FR 60524), implemented the prohibitions stipulated in the WBCA
and provided permit requirements and procedures for some allowed
exemptions.
Since the publication of the final rule of November 16, 1993,
imports of all birds listed in the Appendices of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) as defined in the final rule are prohibited, except for (a)
species included in an approved list; (b) specimens for which an import
permit has been issued; (c) species from countries that have approved
sustainable use management plans for those species; or (d) specimens
from approved foreign captive-breeding facilities. We published a
proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 17, 1994 (59 FR 12784),
that would implement procedures for the establishment of an approved
list of captive-bred species listed in the CITES Appendices that can be
imported without a WBCA permit, criteria for including non-captive-bred
(wild-caught) species in the approved list, and approval of foreign
captive-breeding facilities.
A final rule published on January 24, 1996 (61 FR 2084),
implemented procedures for the establishment of an approved list of
non-captive-bred (wild-caught) species listed in the CITES Appendices
that could be imported. The list of approved non-captive-bred species
is contained in 50 CFR 15.33(b). For wild-caught CITES-listed birds to
be on the approved list, we must determine that CITES is being
effectively implemented for the species for each country of origin from
which imports will be allowed, CITES-recommended measures are
implemented, and there is a scientifically based management plan for
the species that is adequately implemented and enforced. The
scientifically based management plan must: (a) Provide for the
conservation of the species and its habitat; (b) include incentives for
conservation; (c) ensure that the use of the species is biologically
sustainable and is well above the level at which the species might
become threatened; (d) ensure that the species is maintained throughout
its range at a level consistent with its role in the ecosystem; (e)
address factors that include illegal trade, domestic trade, subsistence
use, disease, and habitat loss; and (f) ensure that the methods of
capture, transport, and maintenance of the species minimize the risk of
injury or damage to health. For a species with a multinational
distribution, we must also consider (a) whether populations of the
species in other countries will be detrimentally affected by exports
from the country requesting approval; (b) whether factors affecting
conservation of the species are regulated throughout its range so that
recruitment and/or breeding stocks will not be detrimentally affected
by the proposed export; (c) whether the projected take and export will
detrimentally affect breeding populations; and (d) whether the
projected take and export will detrimentally affect existing
enhancement activities, conservation programs, or enforcement efforts
throughout the species' range. A species and country of export listed
in 50 CFR 15.33(b) may be approved for three years, after which time
the Service will have an opportunity to consider renewal of the
approval.
On August 10, 2000, we published in the Federal Register (65 FR
49007) a notice of receipt of application for approval of a petition
from the Management Authority of Argentina, Direccion de Fauna and
Flora Silvestre, requesting that blue-fronted amazon parrots (Amazona
aestiva) from an Argentine sustainable use management plan be added to
the list of approved non-captive-bred species under the WBCA. We
accepted comments on that petition until October 11, 2000.
Approval of Argentina's petition would result in the need to amend
50 CFR 15.33(b) by adding blue-fronted amazon parrots from Argentina to
the list of approved non-captive-bred species. The amendment would
allow the import into the United States of blue-fronted amazon parrots
removed from the wild in Argentina under an approved sustainable use
management plan, without a WBCA import permit. Along with this notice
of availability, we will publish a proposed rule to allow the import
into the United States of blue-fronted amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva)
removed from the wild in Argentina under their approved sustainable use
management plan.
Comments on the draft Environmental Assessment will be considered
in our decision regarding whether to amend 50 CFR 15.33(b) by adding
blue-fronted amazon parrots from Argentina to the list of approved non-
captive-bred species. Written comments we have already received in
response to the August 10, 2000, notice of receipt of application, have
been retained and will be considered during this open comment period.
Although we have used information already received in formulating the
draft Environmental Assessment, we will address that information as
well as any new comments received in our final Environmental
Assessment, if necessary.
Dated: January 3, 2003.
Peter O. Thomas,
Chief, Division of Management Authority.
[FR Doc. 03-345 Filed 1-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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