[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37385-37386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15774]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XU50


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-Year Review 
of the Eastern Distinct Population Segment of the Steller Sea Lion

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

ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year review; request for information.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a 5-year review of the eastern Distinct 
Population Segment (DPS) of the Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). A 5-year 
review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the listing 
classification of a species is accurate and it is based on the best 
scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; 
therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information on the 
eastern DPS of the Steller Sea Lion that has become available since 
their last status review in 1995. Based on the results of this 5-year 
review, we will make the requisite finding under the ESA.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than August 30, 2010. However, we 
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

[[Page 37386]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit information by any of the following methods:
     Mail: Kaja Brix, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska 
Region, Protected Resources Division, P.O. Box 21668, 709 West 9th 
Street, Juneau, AK 99802. .
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include the following 
identifier in the subject line of the e-mail: ``Comments on the 5-year 
review for the eastern DPS of Steller sea lion.''
     Fax: 907-586-7012, attention: Kaja Brix
    Information received in response to this notice and review will be 
available for public inspection (by appointment, during normal business 
hours) at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lisa Rotterman (907-271-1692), 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the ESA, a list of endangered and threatened wildlife and 
plant species (list) must be maintained. The list is published at 50 
CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of 
the ESA requires that we conduct a review of listed species at least 
once every 5 years. On the basis of such reviews under section 
4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether or not any species should be removed 
from the list (delisted), or reclassified from endangered to threatened 
or from threatened to endangered. Delisting a species must be supported 
by the best scientific and commercial data available and only 
considered if such data substantiates that the species is neither 
endangered nor threatened for one or more of the following reasons: (1) 
the species is considered extinct; (2) the species is considered to be 
recovered; and/or (3) the original data available when the species was 
listed, or the interpretation of such data, were in error. Any change 
in federal classification would require a separate rulemaking process. 
The regulations (50 CFR 424.21) require that we publish a notice in the 
Federal Register announcing those species currently under active 
review. This notice announces our active review of the eastern DPS of 
the Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) currently listed as 
threatened.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    To ensure that the 5-year review is complete and based on the best 
available scientific and commercial information, we are soliciting new 
information from the public, concerned governmental agencies, tribes, 
the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any 
other interested parties concerning the status of the eastern DPS of 
the Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus).
    Five-year reviews consider the best scientific and commercial data 
and all new information that has become available since the listing 
determination or most recent status review. Categories of requested 
information include the following: (A) species biology, including, but 
not limited to, population trends, distribution, abundance, 
demographics, and genetics; (B) habitat conditions, including, but not 
limited to, amount, distribution, and suitability; (C) conservation 
measures that have been implemented that benefit the species; (D) 
status and trends of threats; and (E) other new information, data, or 
corrections, including, but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural 
changes, identification of erroneous information contained in the list, 
and improved analytical methods.
    The eastern DPS of the Steller Sea Lion is listed as a Distinct 
Population Segment of a vertebrate taxon. We will also be considering 
application of the DPS policy for vertebrate taxa. DPS is defined in 
the February 7, 1996, Policy Regarding the Recognition of Distinct 
Vertebrate in Population Segments (61 FR 4722). For a population to be 
listed under the ESA as a DPS, three elements are considered: (1) the 
discreteness of the population segment in relation to the remainder of 
the species to which it belongs; (2) the significance of the population 
segment to the species to which it belongs; and (3) the DPS's 
conservation status in relation to the ESA's standards for listing 
(i.e., is the population segment endangered or threatened?). DPSs of 
vertebrate species, as well as subspecies of all listed species, may be 
proposed for separate reclassification or for removal from the list.
    If you wish to provide information for this 5-year review, you may 
submit your information and materials to Kaja Brix (see ADDRESSES). Our 
practice is to make submissions of information, including names and 
home addresses of respondents, available for public review during 
regular business hours. Respondents may request that we withhold a 
respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold 
your name or address, you must state this request clearly at the 
beginning of your submission. We will not, however, consider anonymous 
submissions. To the extent consistent with applicable law, we will make 
all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. 
Information and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours (see 
ADDRESSES).Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: June 23, 2010.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-15774 Filed 6-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S