[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46938-46939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19294]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XR016


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review 
for the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Central & Southwest Atlantic, 
Eastern Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, and Indo-West Pacific Distinct 
Population Segments

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

ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year review; request for information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to conduct a 5-year review for the 
four distinct population segments (DPSs) of the scalloped hammerhead 
shark (Sphyrna lewini): Eastern Atlantic DPS, Eastern Pacific DPS, 
Central & Southwest Atlantic DPS, and Indo-West Pacific DPS. NMFS is 
required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews 
to ensure that listing classifications of species are accurate. The 5-
year review must be based on the best scientific and commercial data 
available at the time of the review. We request submission of any such 
information on these scalloped hammerhead shark DPSs, particularly 
information on the status, threats, and recovery of the DPSs that have 
become available since their listing on July 3, 2014 (79 FR 38214).

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than November 5, 2019. However, we 
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2019-0071 by either of the following methods:
     Electronic submission: Submit electronic information via 
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov. To submit 
information via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a 
comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2019-0071 in the keyword search. 
Locate the document you wish to respond to from the resulting list and 
click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
     Mail or Hand-Deliver: Submit written comments to 
Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13626, Silver Spring, MD 
20910; Attn: Quibilah Barnes.
    Instructions: Information must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure that the information is received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Information sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the specified 
period, may not be considered. All information received is 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.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information submitted 
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept 
anonymous submissions (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish 
to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Therese Conant at the above address 
(attn.: Quibilah Barnes), by phone at

[[Page 46939]]

(916) 930-3627 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our review of the 
status of the endangered Eastern Atlantic DPS, endangered Eastern 
Pacific DPS, threatened Central & Southwest Atlantic DPS, and 
threatened Indo-West Pacific DPS of scalloped hammerhead shark. 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 species currently under active review. On the basis of such 
reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether a species should 
be delisted or reclassified from endangered to threatened or from 
threatened to endangered. As described by the regulations in 50 CFR 
424.11(d), delisting a species must be supported by the best scientific 
and commercial data available and only considered if such data 
substantiates that the species is neither endangered nor threatened for 
one or more of the following reasons: (1) The species is considered 
extinct; (2) the species is considered to be recovered; or (3) the 
original data available when the species was listed, or the 
interpretation of such data, were in error. Any change in Federal 
classification would require a separate rulemaking process. The 
scalloped hammerhead shark DPSs were listed under the ESA on July 3, 
2014 (79 FR 38214).
    Background information on the scalloped hammerhead shark DPSs is 
available on the NMFS website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/scalloped-hammerhead-shark.

Determining if a Species Is Threatened or Endangered

    Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA requires that we determine whether a 
species is endangered or threatened based on one or more of the five 
following factors: (1) The present or threatened destruction, 
modification, or curtailment of its habitat or range; (2) 
overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes; (3) disease or predation; (4) the inadequacy of 
existing regulatory mechanisms; or (5) other natural or manmade factors 
affecting its continued existence. Section 4(b) also requires that our 
determination be made on the basis of the best scientific and 
commercial data available after conducting a review of the status of 
the species and after taking into account those efforts, if any, being 
made by any State or foreign nation, to protect such species.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    To ensure that the 5-year review is complete and based on the best 
available scientific and commercial data, 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 listed scalloped 
hammerhead DPSs. 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 
important features for conservation; (3) status and trends of threats; 
(4) conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the 
species, including monitoring data demonstrating effectiveness of such 
measures; (5) need for additional conservation measures; and (6) other 
new information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to, 
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes and improved analytical methods for 
evaluating extinction risk.
    If you wish to provide information for the 5-year reviews, you may 
submit your information and materials electronically or via mail (see 
ADDRESSES section). We request that all information be accompanied by 
supporting documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or 
reprints of pertinent publications. We also would appreciate the 
submitter's name, address, and any association, institution, or 
business that the person represents; however, anonymous submissions 
will also be accepted.

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

    Dated: September 3, 2019.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-19294 Filed 9-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P