[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 168 (Thursday, August 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70172-70173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19416]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE213]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-
Year Review for the Indus River Dolphin

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

ACTION: Notice of initiation; request for information.

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SUMMARY: The NMFS announces the initiation of a 5-year review for the 
Indus River dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor). 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 the Indus River dolphin, particularly information on the 
status, threats, and recovery of the species that has become available 
since the previous review in 2016.

[[Page 70173]]


DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than October 28, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2024-0097, by the following method:
     Electronic Submission: Submit electronic information via 
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and 
enter NOAA-NMFS-2024-0097 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' 
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
    Instructions: Information sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the specified 
period, may not be considered by NMFS. All information received is a 
part of the public record and will generally be posted for public 
viewing on https://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: Kristen Koyama (301) 427-8456 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our review of the 
Indus River dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor), listed as endangered 
under the ESA. It should be noted that recent research, since the 
previous status review, has suggested that the Indus River dolphin 
should be elevated to species level (Platanista minor), which will be 
discussed in the current review. Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires 
that we conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years. 
The species was previously reviewed in 2016. 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 determines based 
on consideration of the factors and standards set forth in paragraph 
(c) of that section, that the best scientific and commercial data 
available substantiate that: (1) the species is extinct; (2) the 
species has recovered to the point at which it no longer meets the 
definition of an endangered species or a threatened species; (3) new 
information that has become available since the original listing 
decisions on how the listed entity does not meet the definition of an 
endangered species or a threatened species; or (4) new information that 
has become available since the original listing decision shows the 
listed entity does not meet the definition of a species. Any change in 
Federal classification would require a separate rulemaking process.
    Background information on the species is available on the NMFS 
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/indus-river-dolphin.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    To ensure that the review is 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 the Indus River dolphin 
(Platanista gangetica minor). 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 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.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: August 23, 2024.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-19416 Filed 8-28-24; 8:45 am]
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