[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14668-14669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07174]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-ES-2018-N172; FXES11130900000C2-190-FF09E32000]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Review for Atlantic Sturgeon (Gulf Subspecies)
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 (USFWS) and the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-NMFS), are initiating a 5-year
status review for the Gulf subspecies of the Atlantic sturgeon under
the Endangered Species Act. A 5-year review is an assessment of the
best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the
review. We are requesting submission of information that has become
available since the last review of this subspecies.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we are requesting submission of new
information no later than June 10, 2019. However, we will continue to
accept new information about any listed species at any time.
ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information and review
information that we receive on this subspecies, see Request for New
Information under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For species-specific information, see
Request for New Information under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Why do we conduct 5-year reviews?
Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain lists of endangered and threatened
wildlife and plant species (referred to as the Lists) in title 50 of
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for wildlife)
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.
Which species are under review?
This notice announces our active 5-year review of the species in
the following table.
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Final listing rule
Contact person, Status (endangered or States where the (Federal Register Contact's mailing
Common name/scientific name email, phone threatened) species is known to citation and address
occur publication date)
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ANIMALS
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Fishes
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Sturgeon, Atlantic (Gulf Adam Kaeser, Threatened................ Alabama, Florida, 56 FR 49653; 9/30/ USFWS, 1601 Balboa
subspecies) (Acipenser oxyrinchus panamacity@fws.gov, Louisiana, 1991. Ave., Panama City,
desotoi). 850-769-0552, or Mississippi. FL 32405.
Nick Farmer,
nick.farmer@noaa.gov
, 727-824-5305.
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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 a 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 to benefit the
species;
D. Threat status and trends (see the five factors under How Do We
Determine Whether A Species Is Endangered or Threatened?); 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.
We request any new information concerning the status of this
subspecies. Information submitted should be supported by 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.
Definitions
A. Species means any species or subspecies of fish, wildlife, or
plant, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate
which interbreeds when mature.
B. Endangered means any species that is in danger of extinction
throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
C. Threatened means any species that is likely to become an
endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a
significant portion of its range.
How do we determine whether a species is endangered or threatened?
Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA requires that we determine whether a
species is
[[Page 14669]]
endangered or threatened based on one or more of the following five
factors:
A. The present or threatened destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range;
B. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes;
C. Disease or predation;
D. The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or
E. Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued
existence.
Request for New Information
To do any of the following, contact the persons associated with the
subspecies under the table in Which Species Are Under Review?:
A. To get more information on this subspecies;
B. To submit information on this subspecies; or
C. To review information we receive, which will be available for
public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the
addresses given in the table.
Public Availability of Comments
Comments we receive become part of the administrative record
associated with this action. 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 request in your comment that we withhold
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their
entirety.
Availability of Status Reviews
All completed status reviews under the ESA are available via either
of the following websites:
Service: https://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/us-species.html.
NOAA-NMFS: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resources/documents?title=&field_category_document_value%5Besa_five_review%5D=esa_five_review&sort_by=created.
Authority: We publish this document under the authority of the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: February 20, 2019.
Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-07174 Filed 4-10-19; 8:45 am]
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