[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 2995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-982]



[[Page 2995]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

RIN 0648-XI12


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans; Recovery Plan 
for the Northwest Atlantic Population of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle

AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce; Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS), Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY:  We, NMFS and USFWS, announce the availability of the revised 
Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Population of the Loggerhead 
Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta). The revised recovery plan includes 
specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met in order to delist 
this species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(Act).

ADDRESSES:  The Recovery Plan for the Northwest Atlantic Population of 
the Loggerhead Sea Turtle is available on the Internet at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm#turtles or http://www.fws.gov/northflorida. Copies also may be obtained by contacting NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13657, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910 (telephone 301-713-1401) or USFWS North Florida Field Office, 
7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256 (telephone 904-
731-3336).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Schroeder (ph. 301-713-1401, 
fax 301-713-0376, e-mail [email protected]) or Sandy 
MacPherson (ph. 904-731-3328, fax 904-731-3045, e-mail [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (15 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that NMFS and USFWS develop and implement 
recovery plans for the conservation and survival of threatened and 
endangered species under their jurisdiction, unless it is determined 
that such plans would not promote the conservation of the species. 
Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide a public notice and an 
opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan 
development. We made the draft revision of the Recovery Plan for the 
Northwest Atlantic Population of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle available 
for public comment from May 30, 2008, through July 29, 2008 (73 FR 
31066, May 30, 2008). We considered information we received during the 
public comment period and information from peer reviewers in our 
preparation of this final revised recovery plan.
    The plan discusses the natural history, current status, and the 
known and potential threats to the loggerhead turtle in the Northwest 
Atlantic. The plan lays out a recovery strategy to address the 
potential threats based on the best available science and includes 
recovery goals and criteria. The plan is not a regulatory action, but 
presents guidance for use by agencies and interested parties to assist 
in the recovery of loggerhead turtles. The plan identifies substantive 
actions needed to achieve recovery by addressing the threats to the 
species. Recovery of loggerhead turtles in the Northwest Atlantic is a 
long-term effort and will require cooperation and coordination of 
Federal, state, and local government agencies, and the community, as 
well as international cooperation.

    Dated: January 9, 2009.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.

    Dated: January 6, 2009.
Jeffrey M. Flemming,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E9-982 Filed 1-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODES 3510-22-S, 4310-55-S