[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64959-64960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26237]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC284
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review
for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American Green
Sturgeon
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 Southern Distinct
Population Segment (DPS) of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser
medirostris) (hereafter, Southern DPS) under the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (ESA). On April 7, 2006, NMFS issued a final
listing determination for the Southern DPS as threatened under the ESA.
The purpose of the 5-year review is to ensure the accuracy of the
listing classification for this species. A 5-year review is based on
the best scientific and commercial data available; therefore, we are
requesting submission of any such information on the Southern DPS that
has become available since the listing determination in 2006. We are
also requesting information regarding the status of the Northern DPS of
the North American green sturgeon (hereafter, Northern
[[Page 64960]]
DPS), which is a NMFS Species of Concern.
DATES: To allow adequate time to conduct this review, we must receive
your information no later than December 24, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0198, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2012-0198 in the keyword search.
Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
Mail or hand-delivery: Chris Yates, ATTN: Green Sturgeon
Status Review, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Region,
Protected Resources Division, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long
Beach, CA, 90802-4213.
Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the
sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information that you wish to
protect from disclosure. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word
or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Neuman, NMFS Southwest Region,
Protected Resources Division, 562-980-4115.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that
we conduct a review of listed species at least once every five years.
The regulations in 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 Southern DPS of
green sturgeon 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, governmental agencies, Tribes, the
scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other
interested parties concerning the status of the Southern DPS since the
listing determination in 2006. The 5-year review considers 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: (1) Species biology
including, but not limited to, population trends, distribution,
abundance, demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat conditions
including, but not limited to, amount, distribution, and suitability;
(3) conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the
species; (4) status and trends of threats; (5) other new information,
data, or improved analytical methods; and (6) corrections including,
but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes. The Southern
DPS consists of populations originating from coastal and Central Valley
watersheds south of the Eel River in California, with the only known
spawning population in the Sacramento River. NMFS also seeks new
information available on the Northern DPS, consisting of populations
originating from coastal watersheds north of and including the Eel
River. The Northern DPS is listed as a NMFS Species of Concern. At the
time of the Southern DPS proposed listing, NMFS volunteered to revisit
and update, if necessary, the Northern DPS' status in five years time
(70 FR 17386; April 6, 2005). Therefore, any information submitted
regarding the Northern DPS will not be used as part of a formal 5-year
status review, but rather an informal assessment of the DPS' status to
verify whether its current position on the Species of Concern List is
still appropriate.
Any new information will be considered during the 5-year review and
will also be useful in evaluating ongoing research and conservation
activities and may be incorporated into the final recovery plan for the
Southern DPS.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: October 18, 2012.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26237 Filed 10-23-12; 8:45 am]
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