[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17991-17992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06587]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB914]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review 
for the North Pacific Right Whale (Eubalaena japonica)

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 North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica). 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 North Pacific right whale, particularly information 
on its status, threats, and recovery that has become available since 
the previous 5-year review was issued in December 2017.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than May 31, 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-2022-0038, 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

[[Page 17992]]

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: Jenna Malek, NMFS Alaska Region, 
[email protected], (907) 271-1332.

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 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(2)(A)). 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 northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) was listed as 
endangered under the Endangered Species Preservation Act on December 2, 
1970 (35 FR 18319). In March 2008, NMFS reclassified the northern right 
whale as two separate endangered species, the North Atlantic right 
whale (Eubalaena glacialis) and the North Pacific right whale 
(Eubalaena japonica) (73 FR 12024; March 6, 2008). Background 
information on the North Pacific right whale is available on the NMFS 
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/north-pacific-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 Pacific 
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, 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: March 24, 2022.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-06587 Filed 3-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P