DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 16
[FWS–R9–FHC–2008–0015; 94410–1342–
0000–N3]
RIN 1018–AV68
Injurious Wildlife Species; Review of
Information Concerning Constrictor
Snakes From Python, Boa, and
Eunectes genera
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of inquiry.
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service or We), are
reviewing available biological and
economic information on constrictor
snakes in the Python, Boa and Eunectes
genera for possible addition to the list
of injurious wildlife under the Lacey
Act. The importation and introduction
of constrictor snakes into the natural
ecosystems of the United States may
pose a threat to the interests of
agriculture, horticulture, forestry; to the
health and welfare of human beings;
and to the welfare and survival of
wildlife and wildlife resources in the
United States. An injurious wildlife
listing would prohibit the importation
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.
Permits may be issued for scientific,
medical, educational, or zoological
purposes. This document seeks
comments from the public to aid in
determining if a proposed rule is
warranted.
DATES: We will accept comments
received or postmarked on or before
April 30, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public
Comments Processing, Attn: RIN 1018–
AV68, Division of Policy and Directives
Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite
222, Arlington, VA 22203.
Instructions: We will not accept
e-mail or faxes. We will post all
comments on http://
www.regulations.gov. This generally
means that we will post any personal
information you provide us (see the
Public Comments section below for
more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin
Williams, Branch of Invasive Species at
(703) 358–2034 or
erin_williams@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
September 21, 2006, we received a
petition from the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD)
requesting that Burmese pythons be
considered for inclusion in the injurious
wildlife regulations pursuant to the
Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42). SFWMD is
concerned about the number of Burmese
pythons found in Florida, particularly
in the Everglades National Park. We are
looking at obtaining information on
constrictor species in the Python, Boa
and Eunectes genera for possible
addition to the injurious wildlife list
under the Lacey Act.
The regulations contained in 50 CFR
part 16 implement the Lacey Act, as
amended. Under the terms of the
injurious wildlife provisions of the
Lacey Act, the Secretary of the Interior
is authorized to prohibit the importation
and interstate transportation of species
designated by the Secretary as injurious.
Injurious wildlife are those species,
offspring, and eggs that are injurious or
potentially injurious to wildlife and
wildlife resources, to human beings, and
to the interests of forestry, horticulture,
or agriculture of the United States. Wild
mammals, wild birds, fish, mollusks,
crustaceans, amphibians, and reptiles
are the only organisms that can be
added to the injurious wildlife list. The
lists of injurious wildlife are at 50 CFR
16.11–16.15. If the process initiated by
this notice results in the addition of a
species to the list of injurious wildlife
contained in 50 CFR part 16, their
importation into or transportation
between States, the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or
any territory or possession of the United
States would be prohibited, except by
permit for zoological, educational,
medical, or scientific purposes (in
accordance with permit regulations at
50 CFR 16.22), or by Federal agencies
without a permit solely for their own
use.
Public Comments
This notice of inquiry solicits
biological, economic, or other data on
adding species in the Python, Boa and
Eunectes genera to the list of injurious
wildlife. This information, along with
other sources of data, will be used to
determine if these species are a threat,
or potential threat, to those interests of
the United States delineated above, and
thus warrant addition to the list of
injurious reptiles in 50 CFR 16.15.
You may submit your comments and
materials concerning this notice of
inquiry by one of the methods listed in
the ADDRESSES section. We will not
accept comments sent by e-mail or fax
or to an address not listed in the
ADDRESSES section. We will not accept
anonymous comments; your comment
must include your first and last name,
city, State, country, and postal (zip)
code. Finally, we will not consider
hand-delivered comments that we do
not receive, or mailed comments that
are not postmarked, by the date
specified in the DATES section.
We will post your entire comment—
including your personal identifying
information—on http://
www.regulations.gov. If you provide
personal identifying information in
addition to the required items specified
in the previous paragraph, such as your
street address, phone number, or e-mail
address, you may request at the top of
your document that we withhold this
information from public review.
However, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
Comments and materials we receive,
as well as supporting documentation we
used in preparing this notice of inquiry,
will be available for public inspection
on http://www.regulations.gov, or by
appointment, during normal business
hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive,
Arlington, VA 22203.
We are soliciting public comments
and supporting data to gain additional
information and specifically seek
comment on the following questions:
(1) What regulations does your State
have pertaining to the use, transport, or
production of Python, Boa and Eunectes
genera?
(2) How many species in the Python,
Boa and Eunectes genera are currently
in production for wholesale or retail
sale, and in how many and which
States?
(3) How many businesses sell Python,
Boa or Eunectes species?
(4) How many businesses breed
Python, Boa or Eunectes species?
(5) What are the annual sales for
Python, Boa or Eunectes species?
(6) Please provide the number of
Python, Boa or Eunectes species, if any,
permitted within each State.
(7) What would it cost to eradicate
Python, Boa or Eunectes individuals or
populations, or similar species, if
found?
(8) What are the costs of
implementing propagation, recovery,
and restoration programs for native
species that are affected by Python, Boa
or Eunectes species, or similar snake
species?
(9) What State-listed species would be
impacted by the introduction of Python,
Boa or Eunectes species?
(10) What species have been
impacted, and how, by Python, Boa or
Eunectes species?
Dated: January 11, 2008.
Lyle Laverty,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and
Parks.
[FR Doc. E8–1770 Filed 1–30–08; 8:45 am]
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Are you scared yet?????
Jason
