[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86316-86317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25177]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE407]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review
for the Saimaa Seal (Phoca (or Pusa) hispida saimensis)
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 its intent to conduct a 5-year review of the
endangered ringed seal, Saimaa subspecies (Phoca (or Pusa) hispida
saimensis), hereafter referred to as the Saimaa seal. NMFS is required
by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure
that listing classifications of species are accurate. The 5-year review
must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at
the time of the review. We request submission of any such information
on the Saimaa seal, particularly information on its status, threats,
and conservation efforts, which has become available since the previous
5-year review in January 2018.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must
receive your information no later than December 30, 2024. However, we
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any
time.
ADDRESSES: Submit your information, identified by docket number NOAA-
NMFS-2024-0126, by the following method:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments via
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter
NOAA-NMFS-2024-0126 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments or other information
if sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or
received after the comment period ends. All comments and information
received are a part of the public record and NMFS will post the
comments 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 or protected
information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Parsons, NOAA Affiliate, (301)
427-8403 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our active review of
the Saimaa seal (Phoca (or Pusa) hispida saimensis), currently listed
as endangered (58 FR 26920; June 7, 1993). It should be noted that in
2014, the scientific name of the Saimaa seal was updated in the list of
endangered species to reflect use of either of the genus names Phoca or
Pusa (79 FR 20802; April 14, 2014).
Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that the Secretary, through
NMFS, conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years.
The species was last reviewed in 2018 (82 FR 28304; June 21, 2017). The
regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the
Federal Register announcing species currently under active review.
Based on such reviews, we determine whether a listed species should be
removed from the list (i.e., delisted), or be changed in status from
endangered to threatened or from threatened to endangered (16 U.S.C.
1533(c)(2)(B)). As described by the regulations in 50 CFR 424.11(e),
the Secretary shall delist a species if the Secretary determines, based
on consideration of the factors and standards set forth in 50 CFR
424.11(c), that the best scientific and commercial data available
substantiate that that, after conducting a status review based on the
best scientific and commercial data available: (1) the species is
extinct; (2) the species has recovered to the point at which it no
longer meets the definition of an endangered species or a threatened
species; or (3) new information that has become available since the
original listing decision shows that the listed entity does not meet
the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species; or (4)
new information that has become available since the original listing
decision shows the listed entity does not meet the definition of a
species. Any change in Federal status would require a separate
rulemaking process.
Background information on the Saimaa seal is available on the NMFS
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ringed-seal.
Public Solicitation of New Relevant Information
To ensure that the 5-year review is complete and based on the best
scientific and commercial data available, 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 listed Saimaa seal.
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, suitability, and
important features for conservation; (3) degree, nature, and trends of
threats to the species and its habitats; (4) conservation measures that
have been implemented that benefit the species, including monitoring
data demonstrating effectiveness of such measures; and (5) other new
information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to,
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes and improved analytical methods for
evaluating extinction risk.
If you wish to provide information for the review, you may submit
your information and materials electronically (see ADDRESSES section).
We request that all information be accompanied by supporting
documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of
pertinent publications.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
[[Page 86317]]
Dated: October 24, 2024.
Lisa Manning,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-25177 Filed 10-29-24; 8:45 am]
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