81_FR_8958 81 FR 8923 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review for Indus River Dolphin

81 FR 8923 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review for Indus River Dolphin

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 35 (February 23, 2016)

Page Range8923-8924
FR Document2016-03628

We, NMFS, announce a 5-year review of the Indus River dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The purpose of these reviews is to ensure that the listing classification of a species is accurate. The 5-year review will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we request submission of any such information on Indus River dolphins that has become available since their original listing as endangered in January 1991. Based on the results of this 5-year review, we will make the requisite determination under the ESA.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8923-8924]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03628]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE441


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

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: We, NMFS, announce a 5-year review of the Indus River dolphin 
(Platanista gangetica minor) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (ESA). The purpose of these reviews is to ensure that the 
listing classification of a species is accurate. The 5-year review will 
be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the 
time of the review; therefore, we request submission of any such 
information on Indus River dolphins that has become available since 
their original listing as endangered in January 1991. Based on the 
results of this 5-year review, we will make the requisite determination 
under the ESA.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than May 23, 2016. However, we will 
continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2016-0016 by either of the following methods:
     Electronic submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To 
submit comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the 
``submit a comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2016-0016 in the 
keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on from the 
resulting list and click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right 
of that line.
     Mail or hand-delivery: Therese Conant, NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. 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. NMFS will 
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you 
wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Therese Conant, NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources, 301-427-8456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the ESA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service maintains a list of endangered and threatened wildlife and 
plant species at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals and 17.12 (for plants). 
Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that we conduct a review of 
listed species at least once every five years. On the basis of such 
reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether or not any 
species should be delisted or reclassified from endangered to 
threatened or from threatened to endangered. Delisting a species must 
be supported by the best scientific and commercial data available and 
only considered if such data substantiates 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 Indus River 
dolphin currently listed as endangered (56 FR 1463; January 14, 1991).
    Background information on Indus River dolphins including the 
endangered listing is available on the NMFS Office of Protected Species 
Web site at: http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/dolphins/indus-river-dolphin.html#documents.

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 taking into account those efforts, if 
any, being made by any State or foreign nation, to protect such 
species.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    To ensure that the 5-year 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 Indus River dolphins. The 
5-year review considers the best scientific and commercial data and all 
new information that has become available since the listing 
determination or most recent status review. Categories of requested 
information include: (1) Species biology including, but not limited to, 
population trends,

[[Page 8924]]

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; 
(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, 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, 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.

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

    Dated: February 17, 2016.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-03628 Filed 2-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Notices                                             8923

                                                  3. Council Issues                             this 5-year review, we will make the                            commercial data available and only
                                                     A. Council Program Review                  requisite determination under the ESA.                          considered if such data substantiates
                                                     B. Overfishing of EPO Swordfish            DATES: To allow us adequate time to                             that the species is neither endangered
                                                     C. FEP Review Modifications                conduct this review, we must receive                            nor threatened for one or more of the
                                                  4. American Samoa FEP Community               your information no later than May 23,                          following reasons: (1) The species is
                                                        Activities                              2016. However, we will continue to                              considered extinct; (2) the species is
                                                  5. American Samoa FEP AP Issues               accept new information about any listed                         considered to be recovered; and/or (3)
                                                     A. Report of the Subpanels                 species at any time.                                            the original data available when the
                                                     i. Island Fisheries Subpanel               ADDRESSES: You may submit                                       species was listed, or the interpretation
                                                     ii. Pelagic Fisheries Subpanel             information on this document identified                         of such data, were in error. Any change
                                                     iii. Ecosystems and Habitat Subpanel       by NOAA–NMFS–2016–0016 by either                                in Federal classification would require a
                                                     iv. Indigenous Fishing Rights              of the following methods:                                       separate rulemaking process. The
                                                        Subpanel                                   • Electronic submission: Submit all                          regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require
                                                     B. Other Issues                            electronic public comments via the                              that we publish a notice in the Federal
                                                  6. Public Comment                             Federal e-Rulemaking Portal                                     Register announcing those species
                                                  7. Discussion and Recommendations             www.regulations.gov. To submit                                  currently under active review. This
                                                  8. Other Business                             comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking                           notice announces our active review of
                                                                                                Portal, first click the ‘‘submit a                              the Indus River dolphin currently listed
                                                  Special Accommodations                                                                                        as endangered (56 FR 1463; January 14,
                                                                                                comment’’ icon, then enter NOAA–
                                                     These meetings are physically              NMFS–2016–0016 in the keyword                                   1991).
                                                  accessible to people with disabilities.       search. Locate the document you wish                               Background information on Indus
                                                  Requests for sign language                    to comment on from the resulting list                           River dolphins including the
                                                  interpretation or other auxiliary aids        and click on the ‘‘Submit a Comment’’                           endangered listing is available on the
                                                  should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, icon on the right of that line.                                       NMFS Office of Protected Species Web
                                                  (808) 522–8220 (voice) or (808) 522–             • Mail or hand-delivery: Therese                             site at: http://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
                                                  8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the      Conant, NMFS Office of Protected                                pr/species/mammals/dolphins/indus-
                                                  meeting date.                                 Resources, 1315 East-West Highway,                              river-dolphin.html#documents.
                                                     Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.          Silver Spring, MD 20910.                                        Determining if a Species Is Threatened
                                                                                                   Instructions: Comments must be                               or Endangered
                                                     Dated: February 18, 2016.
                                                                                                submitted by one of the above methods
                                                  Tracey L. Thompson,                                                                                             Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA requires
                                                                                                to ensure that the comments are
                                                  Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable                                                                 that we determine whether a species is
                                                                                                received, documented, and considered
                                                  Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.                                                                 endangered or threatened based on one
                                                                                                by NMFS. Comments sent by any other
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–03705 Filed 2–22–16; 8:45 am]                                                                   or more of the five following factors: (1)
                                                                                                method, to any other address or
                                                                                                                                                                The present or threatened destruction,
                                                  BILLING CODE 3510–22–P                        individual, or received after the end of
                                                                                                                                                                modification, or curtailment of its
                                                                                                the comment period, may not be                                  habitat or range; (2) overutilization for
                                                                                                considered. All comments received are                           commercial, recreational, scientific, or
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                        a part of the public record and will                            educational purposes; (3) disease or
                                                                                                generally be posted for public viewing                          predation; (4) the inadequacy of existing
                                                  National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                                                                on www.regulations.gov without change.                          regulatory mechanisms; or (5) other
                                                  Administration
                                                                                                All personal identifying information                            natural or manmade factors affecting its
                                                  RIN 0648–XE441                                (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted                           continued existence. Section 4(b) also
                                                                                                voluntarily by the sender will be                               requires that our determination be made
                                                  Endangered and Threatened Species;            publicly accessible. Do not submit
                                                  Initiation of 5-Year Review for Indus                                                                         on the basis of the best scientific and
                                                                                                confidential business information, or                           commercial data available after taking
                                                  River Dolphin                                 otherwise sensitive or protected                                into account those efforts, if any, being
                                                  AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries             information. NMFS will accept                                   made by any State or foreign nation, to
                                                  Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and          anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in                            protect such species.
                                                  Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),            the required fields if you wish to remain
                                                  Commerce.                                     anonymous).                                                     Public Solicitation of New Information
                                                                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                  To ensure that the 5-year review is
                                                  ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year
                                                  review; request for information.              Therese Conant, NMFS Office of                                  complete and based on the best
                                                                                                Protected Resources, 301–427–8456.                              available scientific and commercial
                                                  SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce a 5-year SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the                                     information, we are soliciting new
                                                  review of the Indus River dolphin             ESA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service                         information from the public,
                                                  (Platanista gangetica minor) under the        maintains a list of endangered and                              governmental agencies, Tribes, the
                                                  Endangered Species Act of 1973, as            threatened wildlife and plant species at                        scientific community, industry,
                                                  amended (ESA). The purpose of these           50 CFR 17.11 (for animals and 17.12 (for                        environmental entities, and any other
                                                  reviews is to ensure that the listing         plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA                          interested parties concerning the status
                                                  classification of a species is accurate.      requires that we conduct a review of                            of Indus River dolphins. The 5-year
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                                                  The 5-year review will be based on the        listed species at least once every five                         review considers the best scientific and
                                                  best scientific and commercial data           years. On the basis of such reviews                             commercial data and all new
                                                  available at the time of the review;          under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine                          information that has become available
                                                  therefore, we request submission of any whether or not any species should be                                  since the listing determination or most
                                                  such information on Indus River               delisted or reclassified from endangered                        recent status review. Categories of
                                                  dolphins that has become available            to threatened or from threatened to                             requested information include: (1)
                                                  since their original listing as endangered endangered. Delisting a species must be                            Species biology including, but not
                                                  in January 1991. Based on the results of      supported by the best scientific and                            limited to, population trends,


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                                                  8924                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Notices

                                                  distribution, abundance, demographics,                  on its proposal to issue an incidental                NMFS’ EA (2010), and this notice
                                                  and genetics; (2) habitat conditions                    harassment authorization (IHA) to                     collectively provide the environmental
                                                  including, but not limited to, amount,                  SCWA to incidentally take marine                      information related to proposed
                                                  distribution, and important features for                mammals, by Level B harassment only,                  issuance of this IHA for public review
                                                  conservation; (3) status and trends of                  during the specified activity.                        and comment. We will review all
                                                  threats; (4) conservation measures that                 DATES: Comments and information must                  comments submitted in response to this
                                                  have been implemented that benefit the                  be received no later than March 24,                   notice as we complete the NEPA
                                                  species, including monitoring data                      2016.                                                 process, including a decision of whether
                                                  demonstrating effectiveness of such                                                                           the existing EA and FONSI provide
                                                                                                          ADDRESSES: Comments on the
                                                  measures; (5) need for additional                                                                             adequate analysis related to the
                                                                                                          application should be addressed to Jolie
                                                  conservation measures; and (6) other                                                                          potential environmental effects of
                                                                                                          Harrison, Chief, Permits and                          issuing an IHA to SCWA, prior to a final
                                                  new information, data, or corrections                   Conservation Division, Office of
                                                  including, but not limited to, taxonomic                                                                      decision on the incidental take
                                                                                                          Protected Resources, National Marine                  authorization request.
                                                  or nomenclatural changes, identification                Fisheries Service. Physical comments
                                                  of erroneous information contained in                   should be sent to 1315 East-West                      Background
                                                  the list of endangered and threatened                   Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and
                                                  species, and improved analytical                                                                                 Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
                                                                                                          electronic comments should be sent to                 MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct
                                                  methods for evaluating extinction risk.                 ITP.Laws@noaa.gov.
                                                    If you wish to provide information for                                                                      the Secretary of Commerce to allow,
                                                                                                             Instructions: NMFS is not responsible              upon request by U.S. citizens who
                                                  this 5-year review, you may submit your                 for comments sent by any other method,
                                                  information and materials electronically                                                                      engage in a specified activity (other than
                                                                                                          to any other address or individual, or                commercial fishing) within a specified
                                                  or via mail (see ADDRESSES section). We                 received after the end of the comment
                                                  request that all information be                                                                               area, the incidental, but not intentional,
                                                                                                          period. Comments received                             taking of small numbers of marine
                                                  accompanied by supporting                               electronically, including all
                                                  documentation such as maps,                                                                                   mammals, providing that certain
                                                                                                          attachments, must not exceed a 25-                    findings are made and the necessary
                                                  bibliographic references, or reprints of                megabyte file size. Attachments to
                                                  pertinent publications. We also would                                                                         prescriptions are established.
                                                                                                          electronic comments will be accepted in                  The incidental taking of small
                                                  appreciate the submitter’s name,                        Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF                  numbers of marine mammals may be
                                                  address, and any association,                           file formats only. All comments                       allowed only if NMFS (through
                                                  institution, or business that the person                received are a part of the public record              authority delegated by the Secretary)
                                                  represents; however, anonymous                          and will generally be posted to the                   finds that the total taking by the
                                                  submissions will also be accepted.                      Internet at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/                     specified activity during the specified
                                                     Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.                    permits/incidental/construction.htm                   time period will (i) have a negligible
                                                     Dated: February 17, 2016.                            without change. All personal identifying              impact on the species or stock(s) and (ii)
                                                  Angela Somma,                                           information (e.g., name, address)                     not have an unmitigable adverse impact
                                                  Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
                                                                                                          voluntarily submitted by the commenter                on the availability of the species or
                                                  of Protected Resources, National Marine                 may be publicly accessible. Do not                    stock(s) for subsistence uses (where
                                                  Fisheries Service.                                      submit confidential business                          relevant). Further, the permissible
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–03628 Filed 2–22–16; 8:45 am]             information or otherwise sensitive or                 methods of taking and requirements
                                                  BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                                                                                          protected information.                                pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring
                                                                                                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben                  and reporting of such taking must be set
                                                                                                          Laws, Office of Protected Resources,                  forth.
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  NMFS, (301) 427–8401.                                    The allowance of such incidental
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            taking under section 101(a)(5)(A), by
                                                  National Oceanic and Atmospheric                                                                              harassment, serious injury, death, or a
                                                  Administration                                          Availability                                          combination thereof, requires that
                                                                                                            An electronic copy of SCWA’s                        regulations be established.
                                                  RIN 0648–XE428
                                                                                                          application and supporting documents,                 Subsequently, a Letter of Authorization
                                                  Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to                   as well as a list of the references cited             may be issued pursuant to the
                                                  Specified Activities; Taking Marine                     in this document, may be obtained by                  prescriptions established in such
                                                  Mammals Incidental to Russian River                     visiting the Internet at:                             regulations, providing that the level of
                                                  Estuary Management Activities                           www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/                         taking will be consistent with the
                                                                                                          incidental.htm. In case of problems                   findings made for the total taking
                                                  AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                      accessing these documents, please call                allowable under the specific regulations.
                                                  Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                    the contact listed above (see FOR                     Under section 101(a)(5)(D), NMFS may
                                                  Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                      FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).                         authorize such incidental taking by
                                                  Commerce.                                                                                                     harassment only, for periods of not more
                                                                                                          National Environmental Policy Act                     than one year, pursuant to requirements
                                                  ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental
                                                                                                          (NEPA)                                                and conditions contained within an
                                                  harassment authorization; request for
                                                  comments.                                                 NMFS has prepared an Environmental                  IHA. The establishment of these
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                                                                                                          Assessment (EA; 2010) and associated                  prescriptions requires notice and
                                                  SUMMARY:  NMFS has received a request                   Finding of No Significant Impact                      opportunity for public comment.
                                                  from the Sonoma County Water Agency                     (FONSI) in accordance with NEPA and                      NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible
                                                  (SCWA) for authorization to take marine                 the regulations published by the                      impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘. . . an
                                                  mammals incidental to Russian River                     Council on Environmental Quality.                     impact resulting from the specified
                                                  estuary management activities. Pursuant                 These documents are posted at the                     activity that cannot be reasonably
                                                  to the Marine Mammal Protection Act                     aforementioned Internet address.                      expected to, and is not reasonably likely
                                                  (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments                     Information in SCWA’s application,                    to, adversely affect the species or stock


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:33:10
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:33:10
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of initiation of 5-year review; request for information.
DatesTo allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must receive your information no later than May 23, 2016. However, we will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any time.
ContactTherese Conant, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8456.
FR Citation81 FR 8923 
RIN Number0648-XE44

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