[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69464-69466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22624]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Addition of White 
Abalone and the United States Distinct Vertebrate Population Segment of 
the Smalltooth Sawfish to the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are adding two 
marine taxa to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) in 
accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act). These two taxa are the white abalone 
(Haliotis sorenseni) and the United States Distinct Vertebrate 
Population Segment (DPS) of the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata). 
These amendments are based on previously published determinations by 
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, which has 
jurisdiction for these species.

DATES: Effective date: This rule is effective November 16, 2005.
    Applicability dates: The white abalone listing is applicable as of 
June 28, 2001. The United States DPS of the

[[Page 69465]]

smalltooth sawfish listing is applicable as of May 1, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marjorie Nelson, Branch of Listing, 
Endangered Species Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. 
Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop 420, Arlington, Virginia 22203 (703/358-2105).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In accordance with the Act and the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 
1970, NMFS has jurisdiction over these taxa. Under section 4(a)(2) of 
the Act, NMFS must decide whether a species under its jurisdiction 
should be classified as endangered or threatened. The Service is 
responsible for the actual amendment of the List in 50 CFR 17.11(h).
    On May 5, 2000, NMFS published a proposed rule (65 FR 26167) to 
list the white abalone as endangered. During the public comment period 
for that proposed rule, NMFS received nine written comments. On May 29, 
2001, NMFS published a final rule to list the white abalone as 
endangered (66 FR 29046). The listing was effective as of June 28, 
2001. In that final rule, NMFS addressed all public comments received 
in response to the proposed rule.
    On April 16, 2001, NMFS published a proposed rule to list the 
smalltooth sawfish as endangered on (66 FR 19414). During the 60-day 
public comment period, NMFS received 12 written comments on the 
proposed rule. On April 1, 2003, NMFS published a final rule to list 
the DPS of smalltooth sawfish in the United States as an endangered 
species (68 FR 15674). The listing was effective as of May 1, 2003. In 
that final rule, NMFS addressed all comments received in response to 
the proposed rule.
    Because NMFS provided a public comment period on the proposed rules 
for these two taxa, and because this action of the Service to amend the 
List in accordance with the determination by NMFS is nondiscretionary, 
the Service has omitted the notice and public comment procedures of 5 
U.S.C. 553(b) for this action.
    For more information concerning these two listing determinations, 
please consult the respective rules published in the Federal Register.

Required Determinations

National Environmental Policy Act

    The Service has determined that an Environmental Assessment, as 
defined under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, need not be prepared in connection with regulations adopted 
pursuant to section 4(a) of the Act. A notice outlining the Service's 
reasons for this determination was published in the Federal Register on 
October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Service has examined this regulation under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 and found it to contain no information collection 
requirements. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Export, Import, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Regulation Promulgation

0
Accordingly, part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations, is amended as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

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1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500, unless otherwise noted.

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2. Amend Sec.  17.11 by adding the following, in alphabetical order 
under FISHES and CLAMS, respectively, to the List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife:


Sec.  17.11  Endangered and threatened wildlife.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

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                        Species                                                    Vertebrate
--------------------------------------------------------                        population where                                  Critical     Special
                                                            Historic range       endangered or         Status      When listed    habitat       rules
           Common name                Scientific name                              threatened
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                                                                      * * * * * * *
              Fishes
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Sawfish, smalltooth..............  Pristis pectinata...  North Atlantic       U.S.A. (Gulf of      E                       748           NA           NA
                                                          (Mediterranean,      Mexico from Texas
                                                          U.S. Atlantic and    to Florida and
                                                          Gulf of Mexico)      along the east
                                                          and the Southwest    coast from Florida
                                                          Atlantic.            to Cape Hatteras).
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
              Clams
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Abalone, white...................  Haliotis sorenseni..  North America (West  NA.................  T                       748           NA           NA
                                                          coast from Point
                                                          Conception, CA,
                                                          U.S.A., to Punta
                                                          Abreojos, Baja
                                                          California,
                                                          Mexico).
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
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[[Page 69466]]

    Dated: September 15, 2005.
Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 05-22624 Filed 11-15-05; 8:45 am]
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