[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 134 (Friday, July 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32573-32574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14793]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-ES-2017-N055; FXES11140700000-178-FF07CAAN00]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of a 5-
Year Status Review of the Aleutian Shield Fern

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are 
initiating a 5-year status review of the Aleutian shield fern under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). A 5-year status 
review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at 
the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any 
new information on these species that has become available since the 
last review, in 2005.

DATES: To ensure consideration of your comments in our preparation of 
this 5-year status review, we must receive your comments and 
information by September 12, 2017. However, we will accept information 
about any species at any time.

ADDRESSES: Please submit your information by any one of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]; or
     U.S. mail or hand delivery: U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, ATTN: Aleutian shield fern, 4700 BLM Road, Anchorage, AK 
99507.
    For more about submitting information, see Request for Information 
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leah Kenney, Anchorage Fish and

[[Page 32574]]

Wildlife Field Office, by telephone at 907-271-2440 (phone). 
Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are initiating a 5-year status review 
under the ESA for the Aleutian shield fern (Polystichum aleuticum). A 
5-year status review is based on the best scientific and commercial 
data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting 
submission of information that has become available since the last 
review of the species in 2005.

Why do we conduct 5-year reviews?

    Under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain Lists of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively 
refer to as the List) in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 
CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of 
the ESA requires us to review each listed species' status at least once 
every 5 years. Further, our regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that 
we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing those species 
under active review. For additional information about 5-year reviews, 
go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html, 
scroll down to ``Learn More about 5-Year Reviews,'' and click on the 
``5-Year Reviews'' link.

What information do we consider in our review?

    A 5-year review considers all new information available at the time 
of the review. In conducting these reviews, we consider the best 
scientific and commercial data that have become available since the 
listing determination or most recent status review, such as:
    (1) The biology of the species, 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) Threat status and trends in relation to the five listing 
factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA); 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, 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 programs for the 
species.

Species Under Review

    Entity listed: Aleutian shield fern (Polystichum aleuticum).
    Where listed: Wherever found.
    Classification: Endangered.
    Date listed (publication date for final listing rule): February 17, 
1988.
    Federal Register citation for final listing rule: 53 FR 4626.

Request for Information

    To ensure that a 5-year review is complete and based on the best 
available scientific and commercial information, we request new 
information from all sources. See What Information Do We Consider in 
Our Review? for specific criteria. If you submit information, please 
support it with documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, 
methods used to gather and analyze the data, and/or copies of any 
pertinent publications, reports, or letters by knowledgeable sources. 
If you submit purported sightings of the species, please also provide 
supporting documentation in any form to the extent that it is 
available.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Completed and Active Reviews

    A list of all completed and currently active 5-year reviews 
addressing species for which the Alaskan Region of the Service has lead 
responsibility is available at http://www.fws.gov/alaska/fisheries/endangered/reviews.htm.

Authority

    This document is published under the authority of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: April 10, 2017.
Gregory Siekaniec,
Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-14793 Filed 7-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P