Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening and Widening/Expansion of a 5-Year Review of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus, 14940-14941 [E6-4280]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14940-14941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4280]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening and 
Widening/Expansion of a 5-Year Review of the West Indian Manatee 
(Trichechus manatus)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
amendment of an ongoing 5-year review of the West Indian manatee 
(Trichechus manatus) under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (Act). On April 14, 2005, we initiated a 5-year review only 
for the Florida manatee subpecies (Trichechus manatus latirostris) of 
this species. We now expand the scope of this 5-year review to include 
the entire species. We request that the public submit any applicable 
information on the West Indian manatee that has become available since 
its original listing. Based on the results of this 5-year review, we 
will make the requisite determination under section 4(c)(2)(B) of the 
Act.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than June 13, 2006. However, we will 
continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: Submit information to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Jacksonville Ecological Services Office, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, 
Suite 310, Jacksonville, FL 32216. Information received in response to 
this notice and review will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours, at the above address. 
Information may also be sent via e-mail to manatee@fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dawn Jennings at the above address, or 
at 904-232-2580, ext. 114.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We listed the Florida manatee (Trichechus 
manatus latirostris), a subspecies of the West Indian Manatee, as 
endangered in 1967 under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 
1966 (80 Stat. 926; 16 U.S.C. 668aa(c)). In 1970, we listed the West 
Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) in our U.S. List of Endangered 
Foreign Fish and Wildlife by amending and adding names to the First 
List of Endangered Foreign Fish and Wildlife (Appendix A under 50 CFR 
Part 17. (35 FR 8491, June 2, 1970)). The earlier listing of the 
Florida manatee was incorporated into the listing of the West Indian 
manatee. The West Indian manatee is currently listed as an endangered 
species under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the population is 
further protected as a depleted stock under the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407).
    Under the Act, the Service maintains a list of endangered and 
threatened wildlife and plant species (List) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for 
animals) and 17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires 
that we conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years 
to ensure that the listing classification of a species is accurate. On 
the basis of such reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine 
whether or not the species should be removed from the List (delisted), 
or reclassified from endangered to threatened or from threatened to 
endangered. If we determine that a change in classification is not 
warranted, the West Indian manatee will remain on the List under its 
current status. 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.
    On April 14, 2005, (70 FR 19780), we initiated a 5-year review for 
the Florida manatee subspecies only. By this notice,

[[Page 14941]]

we announce that we are amending and reopening this 5-year review to 
include the entire West Indian manatee subspecies.

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 
information from the public, concerned governmental agencies, Tribes, 
the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any 
other interested parties concerning the status of the manatee.
    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 (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 that benefit the species; (D) threat status and trends; and 
(E) other new information, data, or corrections, including but not 
limited to taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of 
erroneous information contained in the List, and improved analytical 
methods. 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.
    If you wish to provide information for this 5-year review, you may 
submit your comments and materials to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service's Jacksonville, Florida Ecological Services Office (see 
ADDRESSES). Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Respondents may request that we withhold a respondent's 
identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name or 
address, you must state this request prominently at the beginning of 
your comment. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. To the 
extent consistent with applicable law, we will make all submissions 
from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. Comments 
and materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours (see ADDRESSES).

Authority

    This document is published under the authority of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: March 2, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E6-4280 Filed 3-23-06; 8:45 am]
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