81 FR 70394 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-Year Review and Notice of Intent To Draft the Recovery Plan for the Distinct Population Segment of North Pacific Ocean Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 197 (October 12, 2016)

Page Range		70394-70395
FR Document		2016-24676

NMFS and USFWS announce the initiation of a 5-year review for the distinct population segment (DPS) of North Pacific Ocean loggerhead sea turtle (hereafter referred to as `North Pacific loggerhead') and our intent to draft the North Pacific loggerhead recovery plan. A 5- year review is a periodic assessment conducted to ensure that the listed species has the appropriate level of protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). Recovery plans are guides to rebuild and ensure the long-term viability of protected species in the wild. Each document is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review/update. Therefore, we are requesting submission of any information on the status of the North Pacific loggerhead that has become available since the 2011 listing.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70394-70395]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24676]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XX37


Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-
Year Review and Notice of Intent To Draft the Recovery Plan for the 
Distinct Population Segment of North Pacific Ocean Loggerhead Sea 
Turtle (Caretta caretta)

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

ACTION: Notice of initiation of a 5-year review and notice of intent to 
draft a recovery plan; request for information.

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SUMMARY: NMFS and USFWS announce the initiation of a 5-year review for 
the distinct population segment (DPS) of North Pacific Ocean loggerhead 
sea turtle (hereafter referred to as `North Pacific loggerhead') and 
our intent to draft the North Pacific loggerhead recovery plan. A 5-
year review is a periodic assessment conducted to ensure that the 
listed species has the appropriate level of protection under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). Recovery plans are 
guides to rebuild and ensure the long-term viability of protected 
species in the wild. Each document is based on the best scientific and 
commercial data available at the time of the review/update. Therefore, 
we are requesting submission of any information on the status of the 
North Pacific loggerhead that has become available since the 2011 
listing.

DATES: Information related to this notice must be received by close of 
business on December 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0134, by 
either of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=[NOAA-NMFS-2016-0134], click the ``Comment Now!'' 
icon, complete the required fields and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Alexis Gutierrez, 
National Marine

[[Page 70395]]

Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Marine Mammal and Sea 
Turtle Conservation Division, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    Instructions: NMFS, may not consider comments if they are sent by 
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after 
the end of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and NMFS will generally post 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: Alexis Gutierrez, Office of Protected 
Resources, phone, 301-427-8441, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were globally listed as 
threatened under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) in 1978. A Recovery 
Plan for the U.S. Pacific population of Loggerhead Sea Turtles was 
published in 1998. In 2007, the 5-year review of the loggerhead sea 
turtle recommended the application of the DPS policy (61 FR 4722; 
February 7, 1996). On July 16, 2007, NMFS and USFWS received a petition 
from the Center for Biological Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration 
Network requesting that loggerhead turtles in the North Pacific Ocean 
be reclassified as a DPS with endangered status and that critical 
habitat be designated. On November 16, 2007, NMFS and USFWS received a 
petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and Oceana requesting 
that loggerhead turtles in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean be reclassified 
as a DPS with endangered status and that critical habitat be 
designated. NMFS and USFWS determined that the July 16, 2007, North 
Pacific petition and the November 16, 2007, Northwest Atlantic petition 
both presented substantial information that the petitioned actions may 
be warranted. The 2009 Status Review identified nine DPSs. In 2011, we 
published a final rule (76 FR 58868; September 22, 2011) determining 
nine DPSs for loggerhead sea turtles.
    Upon listing a species, section 4(f)(1) of the ESA requires the 
preparation and implementation of a recovery plan and revision to those 
plans as necessary. The plan must contain: (1) Objective, measurable 
criteria which, when met, would result in a determination that the 
species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-specific 
management actions necessary to achieve the plan's goals; and (3) 
estimates of the time required and costs to implement recovery actions. 
Recovery plans describe actions beneficial to the conservation and 
recovery of species listed under the ESA, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). The ESA requires the development of recovery plans for each 
listed species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of 
the species. This new recovery plan will focus solely on the North 
Pacific loggerhead DPS.
    In addition, the ESA requires that we conduct a review of listed 
species at least once every five years. This will be the first 5-year 
review for the North Pacific loggerhead since the 2011 listing as 
endangered. 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)). Delisting a species 
must be supported by the best scientific and commercial data available 
and only considered if such data substantiate that the species is 
neither endangered nor threatened for one or more of the following 
reasons: (1) The species is considered extinct; (2) the species is 
considered to be recovered; and/or (3) the original data available when 
the species was listed, or the interpretation of such data, were in 
error. Any change in Federal classification would require a separate 
rulemaking process. The regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require that we 
publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing those species 
currently under active review. This notice announces our active review 
of the North Pacific loggerhead currently listed as endangered (76 FR 
58868; September 22, 2011), as well as our intent to prepare a recovery 
plan.
    Background information on the North Pacific loggerhead including 
the endangered listing is available on the NMFS Office of Protected 
Species Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/loggerhead.html.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    To ensure that the 5-year review and recovery plan are 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 North Pacific 
loggerhead. The 5-year review and recovery plan will consider the best 
scientific and commercial data and all new information that has become 
available since the listing determination. 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 
nomenclature changes, identification of erroneous information contained 
in the list of endangered and threatened species, and improved 
analytical methods for evaluating extinction risk.
    If you wish to provide information for this 5-year review and/or 
the recovery plan, you may submit your information and materials 
electronically or via mail (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.
    Upon completion, the draft recovery plan will be available for 
public review and comment through the publication of Federal Register 
notice.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: October 6, 2016.
Daniel Bess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-24676 Filed 10-11-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 197 / Wednesday, October 12, 2016 / Notices 70395

Fisheries Service, Office of Protected plan must contain: (1) Objective, the scientific community, industry,
Resources, Marine Mammal and Sea measurable criteria which, when met, environmental entities, and any other
Turtle Conservation Division, 1315 East would result in a determination that the interested parties concerning the status
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD species is no longer threatened or of the North Pacific loggerhead. The 5-
20910. endangered; (2) site-specific year review and recovery plan will
Instructions: NMFS, may not consider management actions necessary to consider the best scientific and
comments if they are sent by any other achieve the plan’s goals; and (3) commercial data and all new
method, to any other address or estimates of the time required and costs information that has become available
individual, or received after the end of to implement recovery actions. since the listing determination.
the comment period. All comments Recovery plans describe actions Categories of requested information
received are a part of the public record beneficial to the conservation and include: (1) Species biology including,
and NMFS will generally post for public recovery of species listed under the but not limited to, population trends,
viewing on www.regulations.gov ESA, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et distribution, abundance, demographics,
without change. All personal identifying seq.). The ESA requires the and genetics; (2) habitat conditions
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), development of recovery plans for each including, but not limited to, amount,
confidential business information, or listed species unless such a plan would distribution, and important features for
otherwise sensitive information not promote the conservation of the conservation; (3) status and trends of
submitted voluntarily by the sender is species. This new recovery plan will threats to the species and its habitats; (4)
publicly accessible. NMFS will accept focus solely on the North Pacific conservation measures that have been
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in loggerhead DPS. implemented that benefit the species,
the required fields if you wish to remain In addition, the ESA requires that we including monitoring data
anonymous). conduct a review of listed species at demonstrating effectiveness of such
least once every five years. This will be measures; (5) need for additional
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
the first 5-year review for the North conservation measures; and (6) other
Alexis Gutierrez, Office of Protected
Pacific loggerhead since the 2011 listing new information, data, or corrections
Resources, phone, 301–427–8441, email:
as endangered. On the basis of such including, but not limited to, taxonomic
Alexis.Gutierrez@noaa.gov.
reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), we or nomenclature changes, identification
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: determine whether any species should of erroneous information contained in
Background be removed from the list (i.e., delisted) the list of endangered and threatened
or reclassified from endangered to species, and improved analytical
Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta threatened or from threatened to
caretta) were globally listed as methods for evaluating extinction risk.
endangered (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(2)(B)). If you wish to provide information for
threatened under the ESA (16 U.S.C. Delisting a species must be supported this 5-year review and/or the recovery
1531 et seq.) in 1978. A Recovery Plan by the best scientific and commercial plan, you may submit your information
for the U.S. Pacific population of data available and only considered if and materials electronically or via mail
Loggerhead Sea Turtles was published such data substantiate that the species is (see ADDRESSES section). We request that
in 1998. In 2007, the 5-year review of neither endangered nor threatened for all information be accompanied by
the loggerhead sea turtle recommended one or more of the following reasons: (1) supporting documentation such as
the application of the DPS policy (61 FR The species is considered extinct; (2) maps, bibliographic references, or
4722; February 7, 1996). On July 16, the species is considered to be reprints of pertinent publications. We
2007, NMFS and USFWS received a recovered; and/or (3) the original data also would appreciate the submitter’s
petition from the Center for Biological available when the species was listed, or name, address, and any association,
Diversity and Turtle Island Restoration the interpretation of such data, were in institution, or business that the person
Network requesting that loggerhead error. Any change in Federal represents; however, anonymous
turtles in the North Pacific Ocean be classification would require a separate submissions will also be accepted.
reclassified as a DPS with endangered rulemaking process. The regulations in Upon completion, the draft recovery
status and that critical habitat be 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish plan will be available for public review
designated. On November 16, 2007, a notice in the Federal Register and comment through the publication of
NMFS and USFWS received a petition announcing those species currently Federal Register notice.
from the Center for Biological Diversity under active review. This notice
and Oceana requesting that loggerhead Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
announces our active review of the
turtles in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean North Pacific loggerhead currently listed Dated: October 6, 2016.
be reclassified as a DPS with as endangered (76 FR 58868; September Daniel Bess,
endangered status and that critical 22, 2011), as well as our intent to Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected
habitat be designated. NMFS and prepare a recovery plan. Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
USFWS determined that the July 16, Background information on the North [FR Doc. 2016–24676 Filed 10–11–16; 8:45 am]
2007, North Pacific petition and the Pacific loggerhead including the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
November 16, 2007, Northwest Atlantic endangered listing is available on the
petition both presented substantial NMFS Office of Protected Species Web
information that the petitioned actions site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
may be warranted. The 2009 Status species/turtles/loggerhead.html.
Review identified nine DPSs. In 2011, Patent and Trademark Office
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

we published a final rule (76 FR 58868; Public Solicitation of New Information
September 22, 2011) determining nine To ensure that the 5-year review and Secrecy and License To Export
DPSs for loggerhead sea turtles. recovery plan are complete and based ACTION: Proposed collection; comment
Upon listing a species, section 4(f)(1) on the best available scientific and request.
of the ESA requires the preparation and commercial information, we are
implementation of a recovery plan and soliciting new information from the SUMMARY: The United States Patent and
revision to those plans as necessary. The public, governmental agencies, Tribes, Trademark Office (USPTO), as part of its

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Document Created: 2016-10-12 00:56:07
Document Modified: 2016-10-12 00:56:07

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of initiation of a 5-year review and notice of intent to draft a recovery plan; request for information.
Dates		Information related to this notice must be received by close of business on December 12, 2016.
Contact		Alexis Gutierrez, Office of Protected Resources, phone, 301-427-8441, email: [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 70394
RIN Number		0648-XX37

81 FR 70394 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-Year Review and Notice of Intent To Draft the Recovery Plan for the Distinct Population Segment of North Pacific Ocean Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 197 (October 12, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration