[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61573-61574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24935]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC281


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review 
for Kemp's Ridley, Olive Ridley, Leatherback, and Hawksbill Sea Turtles

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

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces 5-year reviews of Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys 
kempii), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), leatherback (Dermochelys 
coriacea), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). A 5-year review 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 these sea turtles that has become available since that 
has become available since their last status review in 2007.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than December 10, 2012. However, we 
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0196, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To 
submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a 
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2012-0196 in the keyword search. 
Locate the document you wish to comment on

[[Page 61574]]

from the resulting list and click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on 
the right of that line.
     Mail or hand-delivery: Angela Somma, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species 
Division, 1325 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the 
sender will 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). Attachments to electronic comments will be 
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file 
formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larissa Plants, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-427-8471.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that 
we conduct a review of listed species at least once every five years. 
The regulations in 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 Kemp's ridley, 
olive ridley, leatherback, and hawksbill sea turtles.

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, governmental agencies, Tribes, the 
scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other 
interested parties concerning the status of Kemp's ridley, olive 
ridley, leatherback, and hawksbill sea turtles. The 5-year review 
considers 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: (1) Species biology including, but not limited to, population 
trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics; (2) 
habitat conditions including, but not limited to, amount, distribution, 
and suitability; (3) conservation measures that have been implemented 
that benefit the species; (4) status and trends of threats; and (5) 
other new information, data, or corrections including, but not limited 
to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of erroneous 
information contained in the List of Endangered and Threatened Species, 
and improved analytical methods.
    Any new information will be considered during the 5-year review and 
will also be useful in evaluating the ongoing recovery program for 
these sea turtles. For example, information on conservation measures 
will assist in tracking implementation of recovery actions.

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

    Dated: October 3, 2012.
Heather Coll,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-24935 Filed 10-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P