38144 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 / Wednesday, July 15, 1998 / Proposed Rules regulations pertaining to domesticated be determined that no conservation risk DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE species, certain captive-bred and exists. Many species are regularly bred captive-born species. In addition, the or born in captivity for international National Oceanic and Atmospheric Service intends to review the current trade such as the Ostrich (Struthio Administration user fee structure. The Service intends camelus) and American Bison (Bison 50 CFR Part 660 for this review to lead to proposed bison bison), but are not considered to changes in the wildlife importation and be domesticated animals and thus are [I.D. 070198A] exportation regulations that would ease subject to all wildlife import and export the burden on importers and exporters regulatory requirements. The Service Western Pacific Fishery Management dealing in wildlife that involves no intends to review those species that are Council; Public Meeting conservation risk, and allow the Service routinely bred or born in captivity, AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries to focus its resources on areas of greater where the commodities in international concern. This review will assess Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and trade are primarily produced from whether proposed changes in the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), captive-bred or captive-born current method of assessing user fees Commerce. are warranted. Any proposed changes in populations in order to determine ACTION: Public meeting; availability of the regulation of domesticated species whether a reduced level of regulatory documents. and certain captive bred or captive-born control and/or user fees is warranted. SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery species, will be addressed in a separate Finally, in the June 21, 1996 (61 FR Management Council (Council) will rule from any possible proposed 31868) final rule amendments to 50 CFR hold its 97th meeting in Kailua Kona, changes to the user fee structure. part 14, the Service also enacted new Hawaii. The Council will consider, DATES: Comments and other information user fee requirements. All commercial among other things, action on new received on or before September 14, importers and exporters of wildlife are framework measures for the American 1998, will be considered by the Service required to be licensed and pay Samoa pelagic and NWHI lobster in developing proposed amendments to appropriate user fees for each shipment. fisheries. Documents for an American 50 CFR part 14. Since the implementation of the new Samoa pelagics closure and a ADDRESSES: Comments and materials user fees, the Service has received Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) concerning this proposal should be sent numerous complaints from small lobster fishery harvest limitation to the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife businesses about the increased burden program are available for comment. Service, P.O. Box 3247, Arlington, on their operation. Although the Service DATES: The Council meeting will be Virginia 22203–3247. Comments and does not intend to change the license held on July 27–29, 1998. Comments on materials may be hand-delivered to the requirement for commercial importers the documents describing new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of and exporters, the Service is interested framework measures for the American Law Enforcement, 4401 N. Fairfax in reviewing the user fees charged for Samoa pelagic and NWHI lobster Drive, Room 500, Arlington, Virginia, each shipment. The Service is exploring fisheries should be received in the between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. different user fee structures including a Council office no later than July 27, Monday through Friday. Comments may tiered system that would assess user 1998. also be submitted via electronic mail (E- fees based on various factors including mail) to: [email protected]. ADDRESSES: The Council’s 97th meeting quantity and value. The Service is will be held at the King Kamehameha FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: interested in receiving comments on the Hotel, Kailua Kona, Hawaii; telephone: Kevin R. Adams, Chief, Office of Law current user fees including information 808–329–2911. Copies of the meeting Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife documenting specific economic, agenda and documents describing new Service, (703) 358–1949. paperwork, or other burdens that have framework measures for the American SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: been imposed on small businesses. Samoa pelagic and NWHI lobster Background fisheries are available from the Western List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 14 On June 21, 1996, the Service Pacific Fishery Management Council, published a final rule (61 FR 31868) that Animal welfare, Exports, Fish, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, defined ‘‘domesticated species’’ to Imports, Labeling, Reporting and HI 96813. include a list of certain species that recordkeeping requirements, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: would be exempt from the requirements Transportation, Wildlife. Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; of 50 CFR part 14, subpart B. The telephone 808–522–8220. Dated: June 23, 1998. Service has experienced difficulty SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: determining which species qualify as Donald J. Barry, Times and Dates domesticated under the current Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and definition in 50 CFR 14.4. In addition, Wildlife and Parks. The Council’s Standing Committees the Service has received continual [FR Doc. 98–18756 Filed 7–14–98; 8:45 am] will meet on July 27, as follows: requests for additions to the list. The BILLING CODE 4310±55±P Enforcement from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Service is considering creating a new Crustaceans from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 definition for ‘‘domesticated species’’ a.m., VMS from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and reviewing the list to determine Pelagics and Bottomfish (concurrent) whether species should be added or from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., deleted, or whether the list should be Indigenous Fishing Rights and clarified or eliminated. Ecosystem & Habitat (concurrent) from The Service is interested in reviewing 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Precious its role in the regulation of international Corals and Executive/Budget & trade of captive-bred and captive-born Programing (concurrent) from 3:00 p.m. wildlife parts and products where it can to 5:00 p.m. The full Council will meet Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 / Wednesday, July 15, 1998 / Proposed Rules 38145 on July 28 and 29, 1998, from 8:30 a.m. 9. Scientific and Statistical Committee 2. Status of EIS on Farallon de to 5:00 p.m., each day. (SSC) and Standing Committee Mendinilla, CNMI; recommendations; 3. Current ecosystem and habitat Agenda 10. Public comment/hearing; issues; The Council is one of eight regional F. Crustaceans; 4. SSC and Standing Committee fishery management councils authorized 1. Annual allocation of bank-specific recommendations; by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery harvest guidelines including 1998 bank- 5. Public comment; Conservation and Management Act specific guidelines and discussion of a L. Program planning; (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The full framework regulatory measure 1. Final Council action on the Council will meet to address the agenda governing future bank-specific comprehensive Sustainable Fisheries items below. The order in which agenda guidelines (see summary of document Act (SFA) amendment for all FMPs items will be addressed may change. F.1); regarding bycatch, fishing sectors, The Council will meet as late as 2. SSC, and Standing Committee fishing communities, overfishing and necessary to complete its scheduled recommendations; designation of essential fish business. 3. Public comment/hearing; habitat(EFH) (including potential Although other issues not contained 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, 29 July 1998 fishing and non-fishing threats to EFH in this agenda may come before the and conservation and enhancement Council for discussion, in accordance G. Reports from Fishery Agencies and measures to mitigate impacts to EFH), with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, those Organizations, including: Department of and environmental impact of SFA issues may not be the subject of formal Commerce National Marine Fisheries provisions. Copy of the draft action during this meeting. Action will Service Southwest Region, Southwest amendment is available for comment be restricted to those issues specifically Fisheries Science Center, and NOAA from the Council office (see ADDRESSES); identified in this notice. General Counsel; and Department of the 2. Advisory Panel and Plan Team Interior Fish and Wildlife Service; 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, 28 July 1998 final comments and SSC and Standing H. Precious corals; Committee recommendations; A. Call to order, opening remarks, 1. Consistency between state and 3. Report on WPacFIN; introductions; Federal regulations; 4. Revision of Council milestones; 1. Approval of agenda and 95th and 2. Plan Team, SSC and Standing 5. Public comment/hearing; 96th Council Minutes; Committee recommendations; M. Administrative matters; B. Reports from the Islands: American 3. Public comments; 1. Administrative reports; Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, and I. Bottomfish; 2. Reports on meetings, workshops, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 1. The 1997 annual report for and proposed 98th Council Meeting in Islands (CNMI); American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii and November 1998, in Honolulu, Hawaii; C. Enforcement; CNMI, including recommendations; 3. Standing Committee 1. Reports from the U.S. Coast Guard, 2. Management of Main Hawaiian National Marine Fisheries Service Office recommendations; Islands onaga, ehu, and hapupuu 4. Public comment; and of Enforcement, and NOAA General including: Status of genetic research on N. Other business. Counsel Southwest Region; stock range and related studies, NMFS 2. Cooperative agreement for Guam research activities (Hawaii, Guam, and Summary of Documents for Public and CNMI; CNMI), and implementation of Comment 3. Standing Committee Department of Land and Natural recommendations; American Samoa Pelagics Closure Resources’ (DLNR) management plan Proposal (E.2) 4. Public comment; and Federal management alternatives; D. Vessel Monitoring System (VMS); 3. Final Council action on amendment 1. The Council will be taking final 1. Report on NMFS Industry Advisory to establish a Mau Zone limited access action on an area closure framework Panel and National VMS Policy; measure for the American Samoa 2. Report on the Hawaii VMS program. Copy of the draft amendment is available for comment from the pelagic fishery. program; 2. Action is being taken under 3. Standing Committee Council office (see ADDRESSES); 4. SSC and Standing Committee framework procedures for new measures recommendations; in the Pelagics Fisheries Management E. Pelagics; recommendations; Plan. 1. Second quarter report for longline 5. Public hearing; 3. At its May 1998 meeting, the fisheries in Hawaii and American J. Native rights and indigenous fishing Council agreed to proceed with this Samoa in 1998; issues; 2. Final action on an area closure 1. Review of marine conservation management measure, adopted the framework measure for the American plans from American Samoa, Guam, and initial preferred alternative, and asked Samoa pelagic fishery (see summary of CNMI; that this be included on the agenda for document E.2); 2. Status of the CNMI turtle the 97th Council meeting in July 1998 3. Reports on the 3rd Multilateral conservation workshop; for final Council action. The Council High-level Conference; 3. Status of the community also directed Council staff to prepare a 4. Protected species interactions: development program; detailed document describing the Albatross and turtles; 4. Report on NMFS vessel financing preferred management alternative and 5. Issues concerning shark finning in program and status of the drift gillnet the rejected alternatives which would be the Western Pacific Region; vessel in Guam; available for public comment prior to 6. Report on universal minimum size 5. Advisory Panel appointments; the July Council meeting. limit for swordfish in the United States; 6. Standing Committee 4. Fishermen in American Samoa who 7. Pelagic longline and charter recommendations; are members of the Council’s advisory interactions in Hawaii; 7. Public hearing; panels have expressed concern about 8. Report on Secretariat of the Pacific K. Ecosystems and habitat; the long-term sustainability of the local Community meetings; 1. Coral reef ecosystems; small-boat pelagics fishery. In 38146 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 135 / Wednesday, July 15, 1998 / Proposed Rules particular, there is concern that large action would be to close an area around 2. Action is being taken under the longline vessels will seek new fishing the islands of American Samoa to framework procedure for new measures opportunities in the exclusive economic pelagic fishing vessels longer than 50 ft in the Crustacean Fisheries Management zone (EEZ) around American Samoa as (15.2 m). Plan. fisheries in other areas of the U.S. EEZ At its April 1998 meeting, the Council 3. At its April 1998 meeting, the become increasingly restricted. In the recommended as its initial preferred Council requested the development of late 1980s, a rapid influx of large vessels alternative a prohibition against all U.S. options governing the process by which in the Hawaii longline fishery, resulted fishing vessels (e.g. longliners, purse the NMFS Regional Administrator, in in extensive gear conflicts. In addition, seiners, trollers and pole-and-line bait consultation with the Council, allocates there is concern that the large vessels boats) greater than 50 ft (15.2 m) in the annual harvest guideline among supplying fish to American Samoa’s length fishing for pelagic management banks or areas to prevent overfishing tuna canneries already fish in the EEZ unit species within an area and achieve optimum yield. occasionally. A widely held perception approximately 100 nautical miles from 4. A background document among small-scale trollers and the islands of American Samoa. Those summarizing this issue, the need for longliners is that these larger vessels longline vessels larger than 50 ft (15.2 framework management measure, and intercept fish migrating to local waters m) that had acquired a permit and had alternative actions is available for public and reduce the supply of tuna and other landed a pelagic management unit comment (see ADDRESSES). species in American Samoa prior to pelagic species available for capture by Special Accommodations artisanal and recreational fishermen. November 14, 1997, would still be eligible to fish within the closed area. This meeting is physically accessible The Council was asked at the 92nd 5. A document describing the issue, to people with disabilities. Requests for meeting, in April 1997, to assist in alternative actions, preferred Council sign language interpretation or other forming a fishermen’s working group to action, and anticipated impacts is auxiliary aids should be directed to consider various management options to available for public comment (see Kitty M. Simonds, 808–522–8220 ensure the long-term sustainability of ADDRESSES). (voice) or 808–522–8226 (fax), at least 5 the small-boat fishery. Various meetings days prior to the meeting date. of the working group and other NWHI Annual Bank-Specific Harvest fishermen were convened by the Guidelines (F.1) Dated: July 10, 1998. Council and the American Samoa 1. The Council will be discussing and Gary C. Matlock, Department of Marine and Wildlife may be taking initial action to establish Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, Resources between June and October a process for setting annual bank- National Marine Fisheries Service. 1997. The consensus among fishermen specific harvest guidelines for the 1999 [FR Doc. 98–18889 Filed 7–10–98; 4:02 pm] was that the most effective management NWHI lobster season and beyond. BILLING CODE 3510±22±F