[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83993-83994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28415]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-ES-2020-N108; FX3ES11130300000-201-FF03E00000]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Review for the Northern Long-Eared Bat
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of initiation of review; request for information.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating a 5-
year status review under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended, for the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). A 5-
year status review 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 that has become available since the
last review for the species to determine whether the listed species
should be delisted or reclassified.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written information by
February 22, 2021. However, we will continue to accept new information
about any listed species at any time.
ADDRESSES: Please submit information by one of the following methods:
Email: TwinCities@fws.gov.
U.S. mail: USFWS, 4101 American Boulevard East,
Bloomington, MN 55425.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Utrup, 952-252-0092. Individuals
who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay
Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are initiating a 5-year status review
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), for the northern long-eared bat (Myotis
septentrionalis). A 5-year status review 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 that
has become available since the last review for the species.
Why do we conduct 5-year reviews?
Under the ESA, we maintain Lists of Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively refer to as the List) in the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and
17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires us to review
each listed species' status at least once every 5 years. Our
regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the
Federal Register announcing those species under active review. For
additional information about 5-year reviews, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html, scroll down to ``Learn
More about 5-Year Reviews,'' and click on our factsheet.
What information do we consider in our review?
A 5-year review considers the best scientific and commercial data
that have become available since the current listing determination or
most recent status review of each species, such as:
(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) Threat status and trends in relation to the five listing
factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA); 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.
New information will be considered in the 5-year review and ongoing
recovery programs for the species.
What species is under review?
This notice announces our active 5-year status review for the
northern long-eared bat.
[[Page 83994]]
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Final listing
rule (Federal
Taxonomic Register
Common name Scientific name group Listing status Where listed citation and
publication
date)
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Northern long-eared bat...... Myotis Mammal....... T.............. U.S.A. (AL, AR, 80 FR 17973;
septentrionali CT, DE, DC, April 2,
s. FL, GA, IL, 2015.\1\
IN, IA, KS,
KY, LA, ME,
MD, MA, MI,
MN, MS, MO,
MT, NE, NH,
NJ, NY, NC,
ND, OH, OK,
PA, RI, SC,
SD, TN, VT,
VA, WV, WI,
WY); Canada
(AB, BC, LB,
MB, NB, NF,
NS, NT, ON,
PE, QC, SK,
YT).
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Request for Information
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\1\ A court remanded the final rule to the Service for a new
listing determination consistent with the court's order. Center for
Biological Diversity v. Everson, 435 F. Supp. 3d (D.D.C. 2020). The
ruling did not invalidate the final rule or change the threatened
status of the northern long-eared bat.
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To ensure that a 5-year review is complete and based on the best
available scientific and commercial information, we request new
information from all sources. See What Information Do We Consider in
Our Review? for specific criteria. If you submit information, please
support it with documentation such as maps, bibliographic references,
methods used to gather and analyze the data, and/or copies of any
pertinent publications, reports, or letters by knowledgeable sources.
Public Availability of Submissions
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority
We publish this notice under the authority of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Lori Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2020-28415 Filed 12-22-20; 8:45 am]
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