[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11504-11505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03890]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA884]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review 
for Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Distinct Population 
Segment

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

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

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to conduct a 5-year review of the 
endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) distinct 
population segment (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 the 
Cook Inlet beluga whale DPS, particularly information on its status, 
threats, and recovery, that has become available since the previous 5-
year review was issued in February 2017.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than April 26, 2021. However, we will 
continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: Submit your information, identified by docket number NOAA-
NMFS-2021-0010, by either of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. In 
the Search box, enter the above docket number for this notice. Then, 
click on the Search icon. On the resulting web page, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written information to Jon Kurland, Assistant 
Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Alaska Region NMFS, 
Attn: Records Office. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802-1668.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments or other information 
if sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or 
received after the comment period ends. All comments and information 
received are a part of the public record and NMFS will post the 
comments for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All 
personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), 
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information 
submitted voluntarily by the sender is publicly accessible. NMFS will 
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you 
wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Seymour, NMFS Alaska Region, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that 
the Secretary, through NMFS, conduct a review of listed species at 
least once every 5 years. The regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require that 
we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing species 
currently under active review. Based on such reviews, we determine 
whether a listed species should be delisted, or be 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; 
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.
    The Cook Inlet beluga whale DPS was listed as endangered under the 
ESA on October 22, 2008 (73 FR 62919). Background information on the 
DPS is available on the NMFS website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/beluga-whale.

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 Relevant Information

    To ensure that the 5-year review is complete and based on the best 
scientific and commercial data available, we are soliciting new 
information from the public, governmental agencies, Tribes, the 
scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other

[[Page 11505]]

interested parties concerning the status of the listed Cook Inlet 
beluga whale DPS. 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, 
suitability, 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.

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

    Dated: February 22, 2021.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-03890 Filed 2-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P