[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 180 (Wednesday, September 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 57832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20398]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA452]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-
Year Review of Five Foreign Sturgeon Species

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 
following five foreign sturgeon species: Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser 
naccarii), European sturgeon (A. sturio), Chinese sturgeon (A. 
sinensis), Sakhalin sturgeon (A. mikadoi), and Kaluga sturgeon (Huso 
dauricus). 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 these five sturgeon 
species, particularly information on the status, threats, and recovery 
of the species that has become available since their listing, effective 
July 2, 2014.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than November 16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0121, 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-2020-0121. Click on the ``Comment Now!'' icon and complete 
the required fields. Enter or attach your comments.
    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 accept 
anonymous submissions (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish 
to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrienne Lohe, NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources, (301) 427-8442, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our review of the 
following foreign sturgeon species listed as endangered under the ESA: 
Adriatic Sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii), European sturgeon (A. sturio), 
Chinese sturgeon (A. sinensis), Sakhalin sturgeon (A. mikadoi), and 
Kaluga sturgeon (Huso dauricus). 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 first review of these species since they were listed 
in 2014 (79 FR 31222; June 2, 2014). 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 each of the three species is available on 
the NMFS website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/fish-sharks.

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 A. naccarii, A. sturio, A. 
sinensis, A. mikadoi, and H. dauricus. 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 reviews, you may submit 
your information and materials electronically (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 10, 2020.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-20398 Filed 9-15-20; 8:45 am]
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