[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40615-40616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16076]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-ES-2020-N045; FXES11140700000-212-FF07CAFB00]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-
Year Status Review of the Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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[[Page 40616]]

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 
intention to conduct a 5-year status review under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended, for the Eskimo curlew. A 5-year status 
review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at 
the time of the review. We are requesting submission of any new 
information that has become available since the last review of the 
species in 2016.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your comments and 
information by September 27, 2021. However, we will accept information 
about the species at any time.

ADDRESSES: Please submit your information by one of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]; or
     U.S. mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attention: Dan 
Rizzolo, Fisheries and Ecological Services, 101 12th Avenue, Fairbanks, 
Alaska 99701.
    For more about submitting information, see Request for Information 
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Rizzolo, by telephone at 907-456-
0227. Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call 
the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are initiating a 5-year status review 
under the ESA for the Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis). 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 5-year review was conducted in 2016.

Why do we conduct 5-year reviews?

    Under the ESA, 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 ESA requires us to review 
each listed species' status at least once every 5 years. Further, 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 reviews, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html.

What information do we consider in our reviews?

    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:
    (1) The biology of the species, including but not limited to 
population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics;
    (2) Habitat conditions, including but not limited to amount, 
distribution, and suitability;
    (3) Conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit 
the species;
    (4) Threat status and trends in relation to the five listing 
factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA); and
    (5) 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 review and 
will also be useful in evaluating the ongoing recovery programs for the 
species.
    In the case of the Eskimo curlew, we concluded in our 2016 5-year 
review that the probability that the species remained extant was 
extremely low based on the scarcity of recent sightings and the length 
of time that has passed since the last sighting that was confirmed with 
physical evidence. We will therefore focus this 5-year review upon 
reported sightings or other recent information on the species' possible 
existence. Thus, we ask, in particular, for information on recent 
sightings, including indication as to whether corroborating evidence 
(such as photographs) is available.

Species Under Review

    Entity listed: Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis).
     Where listed: Wherever found.
     Classification: Endangered.
     Date listed (publication date for final listing rule): 
March 11, 1967, under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966.
     Federal Register citation for final listing rule: 32 FR 
4001.

Request for Information

    To ensure that a 5-year 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.

Public Availability of Comments

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

Completed and Active Reviews

    A list of all completed and currently active 5-year status reviews 
addressing species for which the Alaska Region of the Service has the 
lead responsibility is available at https://www.fws.gov/alaska/pages/endangered-species-program/recovery-endangered-species.

Authority

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

Peter Fasbender,
Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries and Ecological Services, Alaska 
Region.
[FR Doc. 2021-16076 Filed 7-27-21; 8:45 am]
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