[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14668-14669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07174]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2018-N172; FXES11130900000C2-190-FF09E32000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Review for Atlantic Sturgeon (Gulf Subspecies)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of review; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-NMFS), are initiating a 5-year 
status review for the Gulf subspecies of the Atlantic sturgeon under 
the Endangered Species Act. A 5-year review is an assessment of the 
best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the 
review. We are requesting submission of information that has become 
available since the last review of this subspecies.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we are requesting submission of new 
information no later than June 10, 2019. However, we will continue to 
accept new information about any listed species at any time.

ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information and review 
information that we receive on this subspecies, see Request for New 
Information under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For species-specific information, see 
Request for New Information under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 
Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Why do we conduct 5-year reviews?

    Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain lists of endangered and threatened 
wildlife and plant species (referred to as the Lists) in title 50 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for wildlife) 
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. 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.

Which species are under review?

    This notice announces our active 5-year review of the species in 
the following table.

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                                                                                                               Final listing rule
                                       Contact person,        Status (endangered or       States where the      (Federal Register     Contact's mailing
    Common name/scientific name          email, phone              threatened)          species is known to       citation and             address
                                                                                               occur            publication date)
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                                                                         ANIMALS
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                                                                         Fishes
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Sturgeon, Atlantic (Gulf            Adam Kaeser,           Threatened................  Alabama, Florida,      56 FR 49653; 9/30/    USFWS, 1601 Balboa
 subspecies) (Acipenser oxyrinchus   [email protected],                                Louisiana,             1991.                 Ave., Panama City,
 desotoi).                           850-769-0552, or                                   Mississippi.                                 FL 32405.
                                     Nick Farmer,
                                     [email protected]
                                     , 727-824-5305.
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What information do we consider in our review?

    A 5-year review considers the best scientific and commercial data 
that have become available since the current listing determination or 
most recent status review of a species, such as:
    A. Species biology, including but not limited to population trends, 
distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics;
    B. Habitat conditions, including but not limited to amount, 
distribution, and suitability;
    C. Conservation measures that have been implemented to benefit the 
species;
    D. Threat status and trends (see the five factors under How Do We 
Determine Whether A Species Is Endangered or Threatened?); and
    E. 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.
    We request any new information concerning the status of this 
subspecies. Information submitted should be supported by 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.

Definitions

    A. Species means any species or subspecies of fish, wildlife, or 
plant, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate 
which interbreeds when mature.
    B. Endangered means any species that is in danger of extinction 
throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
    C. Threatened means any species that is likely to become an 
endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a 
significant portion of its range.

How do we determine whether a species is endangered or threatened?

    Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA requires that we determine whether a 
species is

[[Page 14669]]

endangered or threatened based on one or more of the following five 
factors:
    A. The present or threatened destruction, modification, or 
curtailment of its habitat or range;
    B. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes;
    C. Disease or predation;
    D. The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or
    E. Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued 
existence.

Request for New Information

    To do any of the following, contact the persons associated with the 
subspecies under the table in Which Species Are Under Review?:
    A. To get more information on this subspecies;
    B. To submit information on this subspecies; or
    C. To review information we receive, which will be available for 
public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the 
addresses given in the table.

Public Availability of Comments

    Comments we receive become part of the administrative record 
associated with this action. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can request in your comment that we withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their 
entirety.

Availability of Status Reviews

    All completed status reviews under the ESA are available via either 
of the following websites:
 Service: https://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/us-species.html.
 NOAA-NMFS: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resources/documents?title=&field_category_document_value%5Besa_five_review%5D=esa_five_review&sort_by=created.

    Authority:  We publish this document under the authority of the 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: February 20, 2019.
Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-07174 Filed 4-10-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P