16 USC § 4909 - Petitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s4909"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 4909 - Petitions"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "4909"
section_name: "Petitions"
chapter_number: 69
chapter_name: "WILD EXOTIC BIRD CONSERVATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 102–440, title I, § 110, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2229.)"
---


# § 4909. Petitions

**(a)** **In general** Any person may at any time submit to the Secretary a petition in writing requesting that the Secretary exercise authority of the Secretary under this chapter to—

**(1)** establish, modify, or terminate any prohibition, suspension, or quota under this chapter on importation of any species of exotic bird;

**(2)** add a species of exotic bird to, or remove such a species from, a list under section 4905 of this title; or

**(3)** determine under section 4906 of this title whether an exotic bird breeding facility is a qualifying facility.

**(b)** **Consideration and ruling** For each petition submitted to the Secretary in accordance with subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

**(1)** within 90 days after receiving the petition, issue and publish in the Federal Register a preliminary ruling regarding whether the petition presents sufficient information indicating that the action requested in the petition might be warranted; and

**(2)** for each petition determined to present such sufficient information—

**(A)** provide an opportunity for the submission of public comment on the petition; and

**(B)** issue and publish in the Federal Register a final ruling on the petition, by not later than 90 days after the end of the period for public comment.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 102–440, title I, § 110, Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2229.)