Re-Opening of Public Comment

[USARK.Jonathan.Brady]

Re-Opening of Public Comment
Public Comment regarding the proposed Rule Change to the Lacey Act adding 9 constrictor snakes to the Injurious Wildlife list closed May 11, 2010. A 30 day extension will be granted for additional Public Comment. This will require US Fish & Wildlife Service to publish a notice in the Federal Register re-opening the Public Comment period. We believe that this will occur in early June. Once notice has been published we will have an additional 30 days to make comment.
There has been some confusion over the 30 day extension. Some apparently were under the impression that the comment period would just roll over into another 30 days. That is not the case. The government portal shut down on May 11. It will re-open after the notice is published in the Federal Register in June.
Please stay tuned to USARK for details. We will let everyone know when the Public Comment period re-opens.

[Sariel]

Can you make more than one comment?

[j_h_smith]

Do you think these comments will make a difference? I'm sure there will be nuts on both side of the arguments. Also, do you know who reads these comments? And do they have the ear of the Congress critters or just some desk jockey?

Thanks Again!
Jim Smith

[USARK.Jonathan.Brady]

I believe a second comment could be made if you had additional information to add (such as the new USDA paper) and hopefully the results from the SREL study in Aiken, SC.

As for who reads them, that would be the USFWS folks. Not real encouraging, for sure. Initially, they're reading them for compliance - did the comments answer the questions asked. Then they're read for content - from what I understand.

jb