[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 141-142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28302]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-ES-2017-N127; FXES11130700000-178-FF07CAFB00]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of a 5-
Year Status Review of the Alaska-Breeding Population of Steller's Eider

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 Alaska-breeding population of 
Steller's eider 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 the species that has 
become available since the last review of the species.

DATES: To ensure consideration of your comments in our preparation of 
this 5-year status review, we must receive your comments and 
information by March 5, 2018. 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: Kate Martin 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503.
    For more about submitting information, see Request for Information 
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Martin, Fairbanks Fish and 
Wildlife Field Office, by telephone at 907-786-3459 (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 Alaska-breeding population of Steller's eider. 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.

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

[[Page 142]]

will also be useful in evaluating the ongoing recovery programs for the 
species.

Species Under Review

    Entity listed: Steller's eiders (Polysticta stelleri).
    Where listed: United States (Alaska-breeding population only).
    Classification: Threatened.
    Date listed (publication date for final listing rule): June 11, 
1997.
    Federal Register citation for final listing rule: 62 FR 31748.

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. For specific criteria, see What 
information do we consider in our review? 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: September 20, 2017.
Gregory Siekaniec,
Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-28302 Filed 12-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P