Posted by:
webwheeler
at Thu May 27 21:36:26 2010 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by webwheeler ]
webwheeler@aqua-terra-vita.com
05/18/2010 12:14 PM
To
susan_jewell@fws.gov
cc
Subject
Injurious Wildlife Evaluation; Amphibian Trade and Chytrid Fungus
I have a few questions that pertain to the following:
"Abstract: We are reviewing a petition to add all traded live amphibians or their eggs to our list of injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act unless certified as free of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid fungus). The importation and introduction of live amphibians infected with chytrid fungus into U.S. natural ecosystems may pose a threat to the interests of U.S. agriculture, fisheries, and commerce, as well as to the welfare and survival of wildlife and wildlife resources. For live amphibians or their eggs infected with chytrid fungus, an injurious wildlife listing would prohibit the importation into, or transportation between, States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any U.S. territory or possession by any means, without a permit. Permits may be issued for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes."
Source: View Rule
Here are my questions concerning the certification of amphibians to be free of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid fungus):
1. Who qualifies for certification (e.g. the general public, only scientific, medical, educational, or zoological institutions, etc.)
2. Who will perform the certification?
3. How will the certification be conducted?
4. How much will the certification cost?
5. How long will the certification take?
6. How often does the certification have to be done?
7. Where will the certification take place?
I look forward to hearing back from you, and thank you for your time in doing so!
Best regards,
Web Wheeler
REPLY:
Dear Mr. Wheeler:
Thank you for your interest in the chytrid fungus issue. We received a petition from the Defenders of Wildlife that asked us to evaluate their suggestion of listing amphibians in trade as injurious wildlife unless they are certified as being free of chytrid fungus. The petitioners are concerned that trade is a pathway for the fungus, which is devastating amphibian populations. The Defenders petition can be found here: [url]http://www.[url ban]/resources/publications/programs_and_policy/international_conservation/petition_to_interior_secretary_salazar.pdf[/url]
We are currently gathering information to address that petition and are not ready to answer questions at this time. We will soon be publishing a notice in the Federal Register that will be asking the public for information on the subject. The Federal Register notice may answer some of your questions. We encourage you to submit information at that time through one of the methods explained in the notice. Your information, along with other public comments, might help us to best address the petition. You can check url=http://www.regulations.gov]Regulations.gov[/url] periodically for Docket No. FWS-R9-FHC-2009-0093.You won't find it until it publishes, but you will have 90 days once it publishes to submit your information online at Regulations.gov. Then we will evaluate all the information submitted and may publish a proposed rule with specific details of what we propose, or make a finding that there is no basis for further action. If we proceed to a proposed rule, there would also be a public comment period. After that, either a final rule would follow, or we could withdraw the proposed rule and take no further action. The process is long, but it greatly benefits from input from the knowledgeable public. During this process, no regulations are expected to change related to the petition.
You might find some useful information on the injurious wildlife
provisions of the Lacey Act from this fact sheet:
www.fws.gov/fisheries/ans/pdf_files/InjuriousWildlifeFactSheet2007.pdf
Again, thank you for your interest in this issue.
Susan Jewell, Injurious Wildlife Listing Coordinator
Fisheries and Habitat Conservation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 770
Arlington, VA 22203
phone 703-358-2416 fax 703-358-2487
susan_jewell@fws.gov
P.S. the [url ban] is Defenders of Wildlife.
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RE: Info From USF&WS - webwheeler, Thu May 27 21:36:26 2010