[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64959-64960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26237]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC284


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review 
for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American Green 
Sturgeon

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 Southern Distinct 
Population Segment (DPS) of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser 
medirostris) (hereafter, Southern DPS) under the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973, as amended (ESA). On April 7, 2006, NMFS issued a final 
listing determination for the Southern DPS as threatened under the ESA. 
The purpose of the 5-year review is to ensure the accuracy of the 
listing classification for this species. A 5-year review is based on 
the best scientific and commercial data available; therefore, we are 
requesting submission of any such information on the Southern DPS that 
has become available since the listing determination in 2006. We are 
also requesting information regarding the status of the Northern DPS of 
the North American green sturgeon (hereafter, Northern

[[Page 64960]]

DPS), which is a NMFS Species of Concern.

DATES: To allow adequate time to conduct this review, we must receive 
your information no later than December 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0198, 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-2012-0198 in the keyword search. 
Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and 
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
     Mail or hand-delivery: Chris Yates, ATTN: Green Sturgeon 
Status Review, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Region, 
Protected Resources Division, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA, 90802-4213.
    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 information that you wish to 
protect from disclosure. 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: Melissa Neuman, NMFS Southwest Region, 
Protected Resources Division, 562-980-4115.

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 Southern DPS of 
green sturgeon 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, governmental agencies, Tribes, the 
scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other 
interested parties concerning the status of the Southern DPS since the 
listing determination in 2006. 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; (5) other new information, 
data, or improved analytical methods; and (6) corrections including, 
but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes. The Southern 
DPS consists of populations originating from coastal and Central Valley 
watersheds south of the Eel River in California, with the only known 
spawning population in the Sacramento River. NMFS also seeks new 
information available on the Northern DPS, consisting of populations 
originating from coastal watersheds north of and including the Eel 
River. The Northern DPS is listed as a NMFS Species of Concern. At the 
time of the Southern DPS proposed listing, NMFS volunteered to revisit 
and update, if necessary, the Northern DPS' status in five years time 
(70 FR 17386; April 6, 2005). Therefore, any information submitted 
regarding the Northern DPS will not be used as part of a formal 5-year 
status review, but rather an informal assessment of the DPS' status to 
verify whether its current position on the Species of Concern List is 
still appropriate.
    Any new information will be considered during the 5-year review and 
will also be useful in evaluating ongoing research and conservation 
activities and may be incorporated into the final recovery plan for the 
Southern DPS.

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

    Dated: October 18, 2012.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26237 Filed 10-23-12; 8:45 am]
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