82 FR 29842 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review for the North Pacific Right Whale

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 125 (June 30, 2017)

NMFS announces a 5-year review of the North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended. A 5-year review must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information on these whales that has become available since the last status review in 2012.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 29842]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13701]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF425


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review 
for the North Pacific Right Whale

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: NMFS announces a 5-year review of the North Pacific right 
whale (Eubalaena japonica) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(ESA), as amended. A 5-year review must be based on the best scientific 
and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we 
are requesting submission of any such information on these whales that 
has become available since the last status review in 2012.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than July 31, 2017. However, we will 
continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2017-0046, by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0046, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Jon Kurland, Assistant 
Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Alaska Region NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802-1668.

    Instructions: 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 by NMFS. 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), confidential information, or 
otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Verena Gill, NMFS Alaska Region, (907) 
271-1937, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that 
we conduct a review of listed species at least once every five years. 
The regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in 
the Federal Register announcing species currently under active review. 
This notice announces our active review of North Pacific right whales, 
currently listed as endangered. 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 North Pacific right whales. Categories of requested 
information include: (1) Species biology and demographics (population 
trends, distribution, abundance, genetics, etc.); (2) habitat 
conditions (amount, distribution, suitability, quality, etc.); (3) 
conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the 
species; (4) status and trends of threats; and (5) other new 
information, data, or corrections including, but not limited to, 
taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of erroneous 
information contained in the list of threatened and endangered species, 
and improved analytical methods, if any. Any new information will be 
considered during the 5-year review and will also be useful in 
evaluating the ongoing recovery programs for these whales.

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

    Dated: June 26, 2017.
Catherine Marzin,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13701 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
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