81 FR 75425 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Status Review of the Red Wolf

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 210 (October 31, 2016)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are initiating a 5-year status review for the red wolf (Canis rufus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). A 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of information that has become available since the last review of this species.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 210 (Monday, October 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75425-75426]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26168]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2016-N161; FXES11130900000C2-167-FF09E32000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Status 
Review of the Red Wolf

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of review; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are 
initiating a 5-year status review for the red wolf (Canis rufus) under 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). A 5-year review 
is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available 
at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of information 
that has become available since the last review of this species.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your comments or information on or before December 30, 2016. 
However, we will continue to accept new information about any listed 
species at any time.

ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information and review 
information we receive on the red wolf, see ``Request for New 
Information.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Valenta, Chief, Division of 
Restoration and Recovery, 404-679-4144.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 75426]]

Why do we conduct a 5-year review?

    Under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain lists of 
endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for wildlife) and 17.12 (for 
plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires us to review each 
listed species' status at least once every 5 years. Our regulations at 
50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the Federal Register 
announcing those species under active review. For additional 
information about 5-year reviews, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html, scroll down to ``Learn More about 5-
Year Reviews,'' and click on our factsheet.

Species Under Review

    This notice announces our active review of the red wolf (Canis 
rufus), which is currently listed as endangered.

What information do we consider in our review?

    In conducting a 5-year review, the Service considers the best 
scientific and commercial data that have become available since the 
current listing determination or most recent status review of each 
species, such as:
    A. Species biology, including but not limited to population trends, 
distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics;
    B. Habitat conditions, including but not limited to amount, 
distribution, and suitability;
    C. Conservation measures that have been implemented to benefit the 
species;
    D. Threat status and trends (see five factors under heading ``How 
Do We Determine Whether a Species Is Endangered or Threatened?''); and
    E. Other new information, data, or corrections, including but not 
limited to taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of 
erroneous information contained in the Lists of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife and Plants, and improved analytical methods.
    New information will be considered in the 5-year review and ongoing 
recovery programs for the species.

Definitions

    A. Species means any species or subspecies of fish, wildlife, or 
plant, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate 
which interbreeds when mature.
    B. Endangered means any species that is in danger of extinction 
throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
    C. Threatened means any species that is likely to become an 
endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a 
significant portion of its range.

How do we determine whether a species is endangered or threatened?

    Section 4(a)(1) of the Act establishes that we determine whether a 
species is endangered or threatened based on one or more of the 
following five 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.

Request for New Information

    To do any of the following, contact Aaron Valenta at the Service's 
Southeast Regional Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345; 
fax 404-679-7081; email at [email protected]:
    A. To get more information on the red wolf;
    B. To submit information on the red wolf; or
    C. To review information we receive, which will be available for 
public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
Southeast Regional Office, Ecological Services Division, at the address 
above.
    We request any new information concerning the status of the red 
wolf. See ``What information do we consider in our review?'' above for 
specific criteria. Information submitted should be supported by 
documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, methods used to 
gather and analyze the data, and/or copies of any pertinent 
publications, reports, or letters by knowledgeable sources.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that the entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authority

    We publish this document under the authority of the Endangered 
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: September 23, 2016.
Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-26168 Filed 10-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P