[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12496-12497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5702]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XS00


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans; Recovery Plan 
for the Kemp's Ridley 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; request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  We, NMFS and USFWS, announce the availability for public 
review of the draft Bi-National Recovery Plan (Plan) for the Kemp's 
Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). The Kemp's Ridley Recovery 
Plan is a bi-national plan developed by the NMFS and USFWS and the 
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico. We are 
soliciting review and comment on the Plan from the public and all 
interested parties, including state and local governments. We will 
consider all substantive comments received during the review period 
before submitting the Plan for final approval.

DATES:  Comments on the draft Plan must be received by close of 
business on May 17, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send comments by any one of the following methods:
    (1) Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments via the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Mail: NMFS Deputy Chief Endangered Species Division, Attn: 
Draft Bi-National Kemp's Ridley Recovery Plan, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Room 13535, Silver Spring, MD 20910
    (3) Fax: 301-713-0376, Attn: NMFS Deputy Chief Endangered Species 
Division

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Therese Conant (ph. 301-713-1401, fax 
301-713-0376) or Tom Shearer (ph. 361-994-9005, fax 361-994-8626).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Availability of the Draft Recovery Plan

    Interested persons may obtain the Plan for review on the Internet 
at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm or http://www.fws.gov/kempsridley/ or by contacting Therese Conant or Tom Shearer 
[see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT].

Background

    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. This Plan discusses the 
natural history, current status, and the known and potential threats to 
the Kemp's ridley. The Plan lays out a recovery strategy to address

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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 Kemp's ridleys has and will continue to be a long-
term effort between the U.S. and Mexico and will require cooperation 
and coordination of Federal, state, local government agencies and 
nongovernment organizations. NMFS and USFWS will consider all 
substantive comments and information presented during the public 
comment period in the course of finalizing this Plan.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: March 10, 2010.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5702 Filed 3-15-10; 8:45 am]
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