Fish and Wildlife seeks to expand inspections to 3 American cities

Fish and Wildlife seeks to expand inspections to 3 American cities    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced its intent to designate Houston, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; and Memphis, Tenn., as official ports of entry for the import and export of live fish and wildlife and animal products. The agency said the move would decrease the administrative and financial burden on wildlife importers and exporters.
   The agency currently clears wildlife shipments at 14 locations unless a company seeks a permit and pays the additional cost of having inspectors travel to another port to check a shipment. Importers and exporters can also transship or reroute a shipment under a Customs and Border Protection bond to a designated port of entry, but this is time consuming and delays delivery of goods. The nearest Fish and Wildife port of entry to Memphis, for example, is New Orleans (402 miles).
   Last year, Congress gave the Department of Interior $1.4 million to set up inspection stations in Louisville and Memphis. The money is to be divided equally between each city. The agency said it is seeking to add Houston to its regular list of designated ports, even though it has not received an appropriation from Congress, because the agency already has three full-time inspectors in the city and would not require additional start-up costs for offices and recruiting.
   All three cities are major hubs for international air cargo. Houston is also the top ocean port in the United States in terms of tonnage. Memphis and Louisville also have river ports.
   The agency will hold public meetings in each city this summer to solicit comments from the community. Comments can also be submitted directly to the agency until May 24. For more information, see the Federal Register notice at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-9181.pdf