[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 182 (Monday, September 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50211-50212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25104]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 081398A]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Retention of Species on 
Candidate Species List Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of retention of Atlantic sturgeon on list of candidate 
species.

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SUMMARY: NMFS retains Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus 
oxyrinchus) on its list of candidate species. In a notice published 
today in the Federal Register, NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Services) found that listing Atlantic sturgeon under the ESA 
is not warranted at this time. The finding summarizes the Services' 
concerns regarding the species. NMFS encourages Federal agencies and 
other appropriate parties to take Atlantic sturgeon into account in 
project planning.

DATES: September 15, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marta Nammack or Terri Jordan at (301) 
713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a separate Federal Register document 
published today, the Services find that listing Atlantic sturgeon in 
the United States as a threatened or endangered species is not 
warranted at this time. The finding also summarizes the

[[Page 50212]]

Services' concerns regarding the species. NMFS will retain Atlantic 
sturgeon on its list of candidate species in order to continue to 
monitor the species' status.
    The candidate species list serves to notify the public that NMFS 
has concerns regarding these species/vertebrate populations that may 
warrant listing it as a threatened or endangered species in the future, 
and it facilitates voluntary conservation efforts. NMFS believes it is 
important to highlight candidate species so that Federal and state 
agencies, Native American tribes, and the private sector are aware of 
which species could benefit from proactive conservation efforts and to 
take these species into account in project planning.

    Dated: September 15, 1998.
Patricia A. Montanio,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-25104 Filed 9-15-98; 4:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F