[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29841-29842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13714]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF282


Endangered and Threatened Species; Listing and Recovery Priority 
Guidelines

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On May 31, 2017, we, NMFS, published a notice of availability 
to revise the Recovery Plan Preparation and Implementation Priorities 
and Recovery Plans contained in the 1990 Listing and Recovery Priority 
Guidelines. We opened a public comment period that lasted through June 
30, 2017. We received several requests to extend the public comment 
period. Thus, we are extending the period through August 28, 2017.

DATES: Comments on the proposed revision must be received by close of 
business on August 28, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2017-0020 by either of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/

[[Page 29842]]

#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0020. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Therese Conant, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    Instructions: You must submit comments by one of the above methods 
to ensure that we receive, document, and consider them. 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 http://www.regulations.gov without change. 
All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), 
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information 
submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. We 
will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if 
you wish to remain anonymous).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 
1533(f)) requires the Secretary to develop recovery plans for all 
species listed pursuant to the ESA, unless he/she finds that such a 
plan will not promote the recovery of the species. Section 4(h) of the 
ESA requires the Secretary to establish a system for developing and 
implementing, on a priority basis, recovery plans under Section 4(f). 
We finalized guidance for prioritizing recovery plan development and 
implementation on June 15, 1990 (55 FR 24296). However, through our 
application of the Recovery Plan Preparation and Implementation 
Priorities and Recovery Plans (see parts `B' and `C' 55 FR 24296; June 
15, 1990), we have determined that the guidelines contain vague 
definitions and lack sufficient detail regarding factors that should be 
considered when evaluating threats and recovery potential. For these 
reasons, we published, on May 31, 2017 (82 FR 24944), proposed 
revisions to the Recovery Plan Preparation and Implementation 
Priorities and Recovery Plan parts of the 1990 Listing and Recovery 
Priority Guidelines. We solicited comments on the proposed revision to 
be submitted by June 30, 2017. On June 14 and June 16, 2017, we 
received requests to extend the public comment period by an additional 
30 days and 90 days, respectively. Thus, we are extending the public 
comment period through August 28, 2017. Previously submitted comments 
do not need to be resubmitted.

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

    Dated: June 26, 2017.
Catherine Marzin,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13714 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
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