[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37385-37386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15774]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XU50
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-Year Review
of the Eastern Distinct Population Segment of the Steller Sea Lion
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year review; request for information.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a 5-year review of the eastern Distinct
Population Segment (DPS) of the Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). A 5-year
review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the listing
classification of a species is accurate and it is based on the best
scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review;
therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information on the
eastern DPS of the Steller Sea Lion that has become available since
their last status review in 1995. Based on the results of this 5-year
review, we will make the requisite finding under the ESA.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must
receive your information no later than August 30, 2010. However, we
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any
time.
[[Page 37386]]
ADDRESSES: You may submit information by any of the following methods:
Mail: Kaja Brix, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska
Region, Protected Resources Division, P.O. Box 21668, 709 West 9th
Street, Juneau, AK 99802. .
E-mail: [email protected]. Include the following
identifier in the subject line of the e-mail: ``Comments on the 5-year
review for the eastern DPS of Steller sea lion.''
Fax: 907-586-7012, attention: Kaja Brix
Information received in response to this notice and review will be
available for public inspection (by appointment, during normal business
hours) at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lisa Rotterman (907-271-1692),
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the ESA, a list of endangered and threatened wildlife and
plant species (list) must be maintained. The list is published at 50
CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of
the ESA requires that we conduct a review of listed species at least
once every 5 years. On the basis of such reviews under section
4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether or not any species should be removed
from the list (delisted), or reclassified from endangered to threatened
or from threatened to endangered. Delisting a species must be supported
by the best scientific and commercial data available and only
considered if such data substantiates that the species is neither
endangered nor threatened for one or more of the following reasons: (1)
the species is considered extinct; (2) the species is considered to be
recovered; and/or (3) the original data available when the species was
listed, or the interpretation of such data, were in error. Any change
in federal classification would require a separate rulemaking process.
The regulations (50 CFR 424.21) require that we publish a notice in the
Federal Register announcing those species currently under active
review. This notice announces our active review of the eastern DPS of
the Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) currently listed as
threatened.
Public Solicitation of New Information
To ensure that the 5-year review is complete and based on the best
available scientific and commercial information, we are soliciting new
information from the public, concerned governmental agencies, tribes,
the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any
other interested parties concerning the status of the eastern DPS of
the Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus).
Five-year reviews consider the best scientific and commercial data
and all new information that has become available since the listing
determination or most recent status review. Categories of requested
information include the following: (A) species biology, including, but
not limited to, population trends, distribution, abundance,
demographics, and genetics; (B) habitat conditions, including, but not
limited to, amount, distribution, and suitability; (C) conservation
measures that have been implemented that benefit the species; (D)
status and trends of threats; and (E) other new information, data, or
corrections, including, but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural
changes, identification of erroneous information contained in the list,
and improved analytical methods.
The eastern DPS of the Steller Sea Lion is listed as a Distinct
Population Segment of a vertebrate taxon. We will also be considering
application of the DPS policy for vertebrate taxa. DPS is defined in
the February 7, 1996, Policy Regarding the Recognition of Distinct
Vertebrate in Population Segments (61 FR 4722). For a population to be
listed under the ESA as a DPS, three elements are considered: (1) the
discreteness of the population segment in relation to the remainder of
the species to which it belongs; (2) the significance of the population
segment to the species to which it belongs; and (3) the DPS's
conservation status in relation to the ESA's standards for listing
(i.e., is the population segment endangered or threatened?). DPSs of
vertebrate species, as well as subspecies of all listed species, may be
proposed for separate reclassification or for removal from the list.
If you wish to provide information for this 5-year review, you may
submit your information and materials to Kaja Brix (see ADDRESSES). Our
practice is to make submissions of information, including names and
home addresses of respondents, available for public review during
regular business hours. Respondents may request that we withhold a
respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold
your name or address, you must state this request clearly at the
beginning of your submission. We will not, however, consider anonymous
submissions. To the extent consistent with applicable law, we will make
all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.
Information and materials received will be available for public
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours (see
ADDRESSES).Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: June 23, 2010.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-15774 Filed 6-28-10; 8:45 am]
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