[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93554-93555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27848]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE496]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review of
the Brazilian Guitarfish (Rhinobatos horkelii)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the initiation of a 5-year review of the
endangered Brazilian guitarfish (Rhinobatos horkelii). The Endangered
Species Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed species at
least once every 5 years to determine whether a species should be
removed from the list (i.e., delisted), reclassified from an endangered
species to a threatened species (i.e., downlisted), or reclassified
from a threatened species to an endangered species (i.e., uplisted).
The determination must be based on the best scientific and commercial
data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we request
relevant information (e.g., biology, threats, and conservation efforts)
that has become available since our previous review of the species.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct the 5-year review, we must
receive your information no later than January 27, 2025. While we
accept new information about any listed species at any time,
information received after the date stated above may not be considered
for the purposes of this review.
ADDRESSES: Submit your information electronically via the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-
NMFS-2024-0137 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon,
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
[[Page 93555]]
Instructions: We may not consider comments or other information if
sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or
received after the date stated above. All comments and information
received are a part of the public record, and we will post the comments
for public viewing on https://www.regulations.gov. All personal
identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected
information. We will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead, NMFS Office of
Protected Resources, (301) 427-8427, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our initiation of the
Brazilian guitarfish (Rhinobatos horkelii) 5-year review. Section
4(c)(2) of the ESA requires us to conduct a review of listed species at
least once every 5 years to determine whether species should be removed
from the list, changed in status from an endangered species to a
threatened species, or changed in status from a threatened species to
an endangered species (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(2)). Section 4(a)(1) of the
ESA requires us to determine whether any species is an endangered or
threatened species because of any of the following factors: (A) the
present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its
habitat or range; (B) overutilization for commercial, recreational,
scientific, or educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the
inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or
manmade factors affecting its continued existence (16 U.S.C.
1533(a)(1)). Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA requires us to make the
determination based solely on the best scientific and commercial data
available at the time of the review and after taking into account
efforts to protect the species (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(1)(A)). 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 species should be delisted or
reclassified (50 CFR 424.21). Any such change (i.e., delisting or
reclassification) would require a separate rulemaking process.
We last performed a review of the Brazilian guitarfish in 2015.
Background information on the species is available on the NMFS website
at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/brazilian-guitarfish/overview.
Public Solicitation of Relevant Information
To ensure that the 5-year review is based on the best scientific
and commercial data available, we are soliciting information from the
public, governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community,
industry, environmental organizations, and any other interested
parties. We request information that has become available since the
previous review was published in 2015. Categories of requested
information include: (1) species biology including, but not limited to,
abundance, population trends, demographics, distribution, and
diversity; (2) habitat conditions including, but not limited to,
amount, distribution, suitability, and important features for
conservation; (3) degree, nature, and trends of threats to the species
and its habitats, especially those factors described in section 4(a)(1)
of the ESA and listed above; (4) conservation efforts that have been
implemented to benefit the species, including monitoring data
demonstrating the effectiveness of such efforts; and (5) other
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, please 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: November 22, 2024.
Lisa Manning,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-27848 Filed 11-26-24; 8:45 am]
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