[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2143-2144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00401]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2019-N144; FXES11140600000-201-FF06E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Review of Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) in the 
conterminous United States

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating a 5-
year status review of Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) in the 
conterminous United States under the Endangered Species Act. A 5-year 
status review is based on the best scientific and commercial data 
available at the time of

[[Page 2144]]

the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any new 
information on this species that has become available since the last 
review of the species in 2011.

DATES: To ensure consideration in our review, we are requesting 
submission of new information no later than March 16, 2020. However, we 
will continue to accept new information about the species at any time.

ADDRESSES: Submitting Information: If you wish to provide information 
on the grizzly bear, please submit your information and materials by 
one of the following methods:
     Internet: By email to [email protected].
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Grizzly Bear Recovery Office, University of Montana, 
University Hall #309, Missoula, MT 59812.
    Reviewing Submitted Information: Submissions and materials received 
are available for public review upon request at the Grizzly Bear 
Recovery Office listed in ADDRESSES during normal business hours. For 
more information, see Public Availability of Submissions under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hilary Cooley, Grizzly Bear Recovery 
Coordinator, via telephone 406-243-4903 or via the Federal Relay 
Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are 
initiating a 5-year status review of Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos 
horribilis) in the conterminous United States under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 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 this species that has become 
available since the last review of the species in 2011.

Why do we conduct 5-year status reviews?

    Under the Act, 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 Act 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 status reviews, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html, scroll down 
to ``Learn More about 5-Year Status Reviews,'' and click on our 
factsheet.

What information do we consider in our review?

    A 5-year status 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:
    (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 that benefit 
the species;
    (D) Threat status and trends in relation to the five listing 
factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the Act); 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.
    Any new information will be considered during the 5-year status 
review and will also be useful in evaluating the ongoing recovery 
programs for the species.

Which species are under review?

    This notice announces our active review of the grizzly bear in the 
conterminous United States.

Request for New Information

    To ensure that a 5-year status 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.

How do I ask questions or provide information?

    Please see ADDRESSES and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Public Availability of Submissions

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

Contents of Public Submissions

    Please make your submissions as specific as possible. Please 
confine your submissions to issues for which we seek input in this 
notice, and explain the basis for your submissions. Include sufficient 
information with your submissions to allow us to authenticate any 
scientific or commercial data you include.
    The information and recommendations that will be most useful and 
likely to be relevant to agency decisions are: (1) Those supported by 
quantitative information or studies; and (2) Those that include 
citations to, and analyses of, the applicable laws and regulations.

Completed and Active Reviews

    A list of all completed and currently active 5-year status reviews 
addressing species for which the Mountain-Prairie Region of the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service has lead responsibility is available at 
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.

Authority

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

Matt Hogan,
Deputy Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2020-00401 Filed 1-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P