Defenders of Wildlife files petition to list Non-Native Amphibians on Lacey Act


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is
reviewing a petition to list, under the Lacey Act, all live amphibians
or their eggs in trade as injurious unless certified as free of
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid fungus). The importation and
introduction of live amphibians infected with chytrid fungus into the
natural ecosystems of the United States may pose a threat to interests
of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or to wildlife or the wildlife
resources of the United States. An injurious wildlife listing would
prohibit the importation of live amphibians or their eggs infected with
chytrid fungus into, or transportation between, States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or
possession of the United States by any means, without a permit. We may
issue permits for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological
purposes. This document seeks information from the public to aid in
determining if a proposed rule is warranted.

DATES: We will consider information received or postmarked on or before
December 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. FWS-R9-
FHC-2009-0093.
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: Docket No. FWS-R9-FHC-2009-0093, Division of Policy and
Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North
Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Jewell, Branch of Aquatic
Invasive Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 770, 4401 N.
Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203; telephone 703-358-2416. If you use
a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 9, 2009, Department of the
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar received a petition from the Defenders
of Wildlife requesting that live amphibians or their eggs in trade be
considered for inclusion in the injurious wildlife regulations (50 CFR
part 16) under the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42) unless they are free of
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid fungus). The Defenders of
Wildlife is concerned that unregulated trade--primarily for pet use and
as live animals for consumption as frog legs--continues to threaten the
survival of many amphibian species, including domestic and foreign
species listed by the Service under the Endangered Species Act of 1973
as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), candidate species, and other
species.

Please stay tuned for further updates from USARK.

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