[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 158 (Friday, August 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49640-49641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17766]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA376]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-
Year Review of the Southern Right Whale

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

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the initiation of a 5-year review for the 
southern right whale (Eubalaena australis). NMFS is required by the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that 
the 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 the southern right whale, particularly information on the status, 
threats, and recovery of the species that has become available since 
its last status review in 2015.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than October 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0114, by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit electronic information via 
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter 
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0114. Click on the ``Comment Now!'' icon and complete 
the required fields. Enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Heather Austin, 
Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13634, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    Instructions: Comments 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 comments received are 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

[[Page 49641]]

accept anonymous submissions (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if 
you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Austin at the above address, 
by phone at (301) 427-8422 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our review of the 
southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) listed as endangered under 
the ESA. Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that we conduct a 
review of listed species at least once every 5 years. This will be the 
fourth review of this species since it was listed in 1970 under the 
Endangered Species Conservation Act, the precursor to the ESA. 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 any species should be removed from the list (i.e., delisted) or 
reclassified from endangered to threatened or from threatened to 
endangered (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(2)(B)). As described by the regulations 
in 50 CFR 424.11(e), the Secretary shall delist a species if the 
Secretary finds that, after conducting a status review based on the 
best scientific and commercial data available: (1) The species is 
extinct; (2) the species does not meet the definition of an endangered 
species or a threatened species; and/or (3) the listed entity does not 
meet the statutory definition of a species. Any change in Federal 
classification would require a separate rulemaking process.
    Background information on the species is available on the NMFS 
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/southern-right-whale.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    To ensure that the reviews are complete and based on the best 
available scientific and commercial information, 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 Eubalaena australis. 
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 to the 
species and its habitats; (4) conservation measures that have been 
implemented that benefit the species, including monitoring data 
demonstrating effectiveness of such measures; and (5) 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 review, 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: August 10, 2020.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-17766 Filed 8-13-20; 8:45 am]
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