[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 140 (Thursday, July 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42684-42685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17832]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XX29


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-year Review 
of the Baiji/Chinese River Dolphin/Yangtze River Dolphin

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 42685]]

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 Baiji/Chinese River 
Dolphin/Yangtze River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) 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 Baiji/Chinese 
River Dolphin/Yangtze River Dolphin that has become available. 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 September 20, 2010. However, we 
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by [0648-XX29], by 
either of the following methods:
    Mail: Angela Somma, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of 
Protected Resources, Endangered Species Division, 1325 East West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
    Fax: 301-713-4060, attention: Angela Somma
    Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov, by selecting 
``submit a comment'' and ID 0648-XX29. Instructions: No 
comments will be posted for public viewing until after the comment 
period has closed. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov 
without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, 
name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be 
publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept 
anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to 
remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    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 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: Larissa Plants (301) 713-1401, 
[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 Baiji/Chinese 
River Dolphin/Yangtze River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) currently 
listed as endangered.

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 Baiji/Chinese 
River Dolphin/Yangtze River Dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer).
    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.
    If you wish to provide information for this 5-year review, you may 
submit your information and materials to Angela Somma (see ADDRESSES).

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

    Dated: July 15, 2010.
Therese Conant,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-17832 Filed 7-21-10; 8:45 am]
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