[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40622-40623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14468]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XA221]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-
Year Review of the Dusky Sea Snake
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the initiation of a 5-year review for the dusky
sea snake (Aipysurus fuscus). NMFS is required by the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that the 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
dusky sea snake, particularly information on the status, threats, and
recovery of the species that
[[Page 40623]]
has become available since their listing, effective November 6, 2015.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must
receive your information no later than September 8, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0085, by either of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit electronic information via
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0085. Click on the ``Comment Now!'' icon and complete
the required fields. Enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Heather Austin and Grace
Carter, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13634, Silver Spring, MD
20910.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the specified
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.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept
anonymous submissions (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish
to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Austin and Grace Carter at the
above address, by phone at (301) 427-8422 or [email protected] or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our review of the
dusky sea snake (Aipysurus fuscus) listed as endangered under the ESA.
Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that we conduct a review of
listed species at least once every 5 years. This will be the first
review of this species since it was listed in 2015. The regulations in
50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the Federal Register
announcing species currently under active review. On the basis of such
reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether any species
should be removed from the list (i.e., delisted) or reclassified 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 finds that, after
conducting a status review based on the best scientific and commercial
data available: (1) The species is extinct; (2) the species does not
meet the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species;
and/or (3) the listed entity does not meet the statutory definition of
a species. Any change in Federal classification would require a
separate rulemaking process.
Background information on the species is available on the NMFS
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/dusky-sea-snake.
Public Solicitation of New Information
To ensure that the reviews are 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 Aipysurus fuscus.
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 important
features for conservation; (3) status 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 or
via mail (see ADDRESSES section). We request that all information be
accompanied by supporting documentation such as maps, bibliographic
references, or reprints of pertinent publications. We also would
appreciate the submitter's name, address, and any association,
institution, or business that the person represents; however, anonymous
submissions will also be accepted.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: June 30, 2020.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-14468 Filed 7-6-20; 8:45 am]
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