[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6146-6147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02187]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB759]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-Year Review
for North Atlantic Right Whale
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
[[Page 6147]]
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
North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). NMFS is required by
the Endangered Species Act 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 North Atlantic right whale, particularly information on its status,
threats, and recovery, that has become available since its last 5-year
review in 2017.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must
receive your information no later than May 4, 2022. 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-2022-0004, by the following method:
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.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after
the comment period ends. All comments 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: Diane Borggaard, Greater Atlantic
Region Right Whale Recovery Coordinator, 978-282-8453,
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species
Act (ESA) requires that we 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. On the basis of such reviews, under section
4(c)(2)(B) we determine whether a listed species should be 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; 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 North Atlantic right whale has been listed as endangered under
the ESA since it was enacted in 1973 (35 FR 18319, December 2, 1970; 73
FR 12024, March 6, 2008). The last North Atlantic right whale 5-year
review is available on the NMFS website at: fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/5-year-review-north-atlantic-right-whale-eubalaena-glacialis. Additional background information on the North Atlantic
right whale is also available on the website at: fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-atlantic-right-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
interested parties concerning the status of the listed North Atlantic
right whale. 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; (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.
If you wish to provide information for this review, 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: January 28, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-02187 Filed 2-2-22; 8:45 am]
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