Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 77 Thursday, No. 3 January 5, 2012 Part IV Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing Two Distinct Population Segments of Broad-Snouted Caiman as Endangered or Threatened and a Special Rule; Proposed Rule VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:53 Jan 04, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\05JAP3.SGM 05JAP3 emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS3 666 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 3 / Thursday, January 5, 2012 / Proposed Rules DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR shown in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION regulations. Please make your comments CONTACT below by February 21, 2012. as specific as possible and explain the Fish and Wildlife Service ADDRESSES: You may submit comments basis for them. In addition, please by one of the following methods: include sufficient information with your 50 CFR Part 17 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// comments to allow us to authenticate [Docket No. FWS–R9–ES–2010–0089; www.regulations.gov. Search for docket any scientific or commercial data you 4500030115; 1113F116] number FWS–R9–ES–2010–0089 and reference or provide. In particular, we then follow the instructions for seek comments concerning the RIN 1018–AT56 submitting comments. following: • (1) New biological, trade, or other Endangered and Threatened Wildlife U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R9– relevant information and data and Plants; Listing Two Distinct concerning any threat (or lack thereof) Population Segments of Broad- ES–2010–0089; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and to the broad-snouted caiman, Snouted Caiman as Endangered or particularly whether there is Threatened and a Special Rule Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203. information that indicates the species AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, We will not accept comments by no longer meets the definition of Interior. email or fax. We will post all comments endangered in any part of its range. (2) New information and data on ACTION: Proposed rule. on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any whether or not climate change is a SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and personal information you provide us threat to the broad-snouted caiman, Wildlife Service (Service), propose to (see the Public Comments section below what regional climate change models reclassify the broad-snouted caiman in for more information). are available, and whether they are reliable and credible to use as a step- Argentina from endangered to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: threatened in the List of Endangered Janine Van Norman, Chief; Branch of down model for assessing the effects of and Threatened Wildlife under the Foreign Species, Endangered Species climate change on the species and its Endangered Species Act of 1973, as Program; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; habitat. (3) The location of any additional amended (ESA or Act). As part of this 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 420; proposed rule, we would establish two populations of broad-snouted caiman. Arlington, VA 22203, U.S.A. Individuals (4) New information concerning the distinct population segments (DPSs) of who are hearing-impaired or speech- the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman range, distribution, and population size impaired may call the Federal and population trends of the broad- latirostris): a DPS in Argentina and a Information Relay Service at 800–877– DPS that would encompass Bolivia, snouted caiman in the wild. 8339 for TTY assistance 24 hours a day, (5) New information on the current or Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This 7 days a week. planned activities within the geographic second DPS would remain listed as SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: range of the broad-snouted caiman that endangered under the Act. We are Public Comments may impact or benefit the species. proposing this action under the Act (6) New information concerning based on the best available data We received eight comments from the captive-breeding operations in indicating that the Argentine population public on the 90-day finding (73 FR Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and of the broad-snouted caiman no longer 33968, published on June 16, 2008). We Uruguay. meets the definition of endangered received comments from foreign (7) New information and data on the under the Act. Intense management of government agencies, the scientific broad-snouted caiman in Argentina, the species in Argentina has brought the community, and the reptile product Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay Argentine DPS to the point where a industry. We received scientific that would enhance our analysis of change in status is appropriate. This literature about this species from whether or not these two populations also serves as our 5-year review. members of the IUCN Crocodile qualify as a DPS under the Act (16 We also propose that the Argentine Specialist Group. This literature U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and whether or not population of broad-snouted caiman be provided additional information about these populations warrant continued included in the special rule for trade in the distribution, abundance, and protection under the Act. caiman species. Inclusion in this special conservation status of the species. The (8) Information concerning the status rule would allow U.S. commerce in comments and information we received and results of monitoring actions for the skins, other parts, and products of this have been considered and incorporated broad-snouted caiman, including those species originating from Argentina, and into this proposed rule to reclassify the implemented under the Convention on reexport of such specimens originating broad-snouted caiman. International Trade in Endangered in Argentina, if certain conditions are We intend that any final action Species of Wild Fauna and Flora met prior to exportation to the United resulting from this proposed rule is (CITES). States. We are seeking information, data, based on the best scientific and The information available emphasizes and comments from the public on this commercial data available and be as field studies and species management in proposed rule. This proposed rule to accurate and effective as possible. Argentina, with little direct information reclassify the broad-snouted caiman in Therefore, we request comments and on the species in the other range Argentina to threatened under the Act information from government agencies, countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and also constitutes our warranted 12-month the scientific community, industry, and Uruguay). This species is primarily finding (status review) on a petition. other interested parties concerning this being monitored in Argentina, and we DATES: To ensure that we are able to proposed rule. The comments that will were unable to find additional consider your comments on this be most useful and likely to influence information or only able to locate a proposed rule, they must be received or our decisions are those supported by small amount of information regarding postmarked on or before March 5, 2012. scientific data or peer-reviewed studies the broad-snouted caiman in its other We must receive requests for public and those that include citations to, and range countries. We are seeking hearings, in writing, at the address analyses of, applicable laws and information and data on the status of the VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:53 Jan 04, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\05JAP3.SGM 05JAP3 emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS3 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 3 / Thursday, January 5, 2012 / Proposed Rules 667 species throughout its range, Endangered Species Program located in Argentina cited reasons for the particularly in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, our Headquarters office (see the FOR reclassification such as the broad- and Uruguay as part of this proposed FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section). snouted caiman populations in rule. Argentina are healthy, habitat remains Public Availability of Comments Please note that submissions merely plentiful, caiman ranching programs in stating support for or opposition to the Before including your address, phone Argentina have proven successful (wild action under consideration without number, email address, or other populations are increasing), and broad- providing supporting information, personal identifying information in your snouted caiman production and harvest although noted, will not be considered comment, you should be aware that is increasing in Argentina. in making a determination, as section your entire comment—including your The reclassification of the species 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act directs that a personal identifying information—may under the Act would allow for determination as to whether any species be made publicly available at any time. commercial U.S. imports of broad- is an endangered or threatened species While you can ask us in your comment snouted caiman originating from must be made ‘‘solely on the basis of the to withhold your personal identifying Argentina to occur. Because the petition best scientific and commercial data information from public review, we from the Government of Argentina was available.’’ cannot guarantee that we will be able to for reclassification of the Argentine Prior to issuing a final rule on this do so. population only, the Service must first proposed action, we will take into Public Hearing consider whether the population of consideration all comments and any Argentina qualifies as a distinct additional information we receive. Such Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act provides vertebrate population segment (DPS) information may lead to a final rule that for one or more public hearings on this under the Act. (See discussion in differs from this proposal. All comments proposed rule, if requested. The main Distinct Population Segment section.). and recommendations, including names purpose of most public hearings is to We then evaluate the entire species to and addresses of commenters, will obtain public testimony or comment. In determine if a change in status under become part of the administrative most cases, it is sufficient to submit the Act is warranted based on any new record.