Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review for Indus River Dolphin, 8923-8924 [2016-03628]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Notices 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 Special Accommodations comment’’ icon, then enter NOAA– These meetings are physically NMFS–2016–0016 in the keyword accessible to people with disabilities. search. Locate the document you wish Requests for sign language to comment on from the resulting list interpretation or other auxiliary aids and click on the ‘‘Submit a Comment’’ should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, icon on the right of that line. (808) 522–8220 (voice) or (808) 522– • Mail or hand-delivery: Therese 8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the Conant, NMFS Office of Protected meeting date. Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Instructions: Comments must be Dated: February 18, 2016. submitted by one of the above methods Tracey L. Thompson, to ensure that the comments are Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable received, documented, and considered Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. by NMFS. Comments sent by any other [FR Doc. 2016–03705 Filed 2–22–16; 8:45 am] method, to any other address or BILLING CODE 3510–22–P individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered. All comments received are DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing National Oceanic and Atmospheric on www.regulations.gov without change. Administration All personal identifying information RIN 0648–XE441 (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be Endangered and Threatened Species; publicly accessible. Do not submit Initiation of 5-Year Review for Indus confidential business information, or River Dolphin otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the required fields if you wish to remain Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), anonymous). Commerce. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year Therese Conant, NMFS Office of review; request for information. Protected Resources, 301–427–8456. SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce a 5-year SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the review of the Indus River dolphin ESA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Platanista gangetica minor) under the maintains a list of endangered and Endangered Species Act of 1973, as threatened wildlife and plant species at amended (ESA). The purpose of these 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals and 17.12 (for reviews is to ensure that the listing plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA classification of a species is accurate. requires that we conduct a review of The 5-year review will be based on the listed species at least once every five best scientific and commercial data years. On the basis of such reviews available at the time of the review; under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine therefore, we request submission of any whether or not any species should be such information on Indus River delisted or reclassified from endangered dolphins that has become available to threatened or from threatened to since their original listing as endangered endangered. Delisting a species must be in January 1991. Based on the results of supported by the best scientific and mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 3. Council Issues A. Council Program Review B. Overfishing of EPO Swordfish C. FEP Review Modifications 4. American Samoa FEP Community Activities 5. American Samoa FEP AP Issues A. Report of the Subpanels i. Island Fisheries Subpanel ii. Pelagic Fisheries Subpanel iii. Ecosystems and Habitat Subpanel iv. Indigenous Fishing Rights Subpanel B. Other Issues 6. Public Comment 7. Discussion and Recommendations 8. Other Business VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:06 Feb 22, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 8923 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: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ pr/species/mammals/dolphins/indusriver-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, E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1 8924 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2016 / Notices 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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE428 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Russian River Estuary Management Activities National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; request for comments. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: NMFS has received a request from the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to Russian River estuary management activities. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:06 Feb 22, 2016 Jkt 238001 on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to SCWA to incidentally take marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, during the specified activity. DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than March 24, 2016. ADDRESSES: Comments on the application should be addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. Physical comments should be sent to 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and electronic comments should be sent to ITP.Laws@noaa.gov. Instructions: NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. Comments received electronically, including all attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF file formats only. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to the Internet at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ permits/incidental/construction.htm without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Laws, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Availability An electronic copy of SCWA’s application and supporting documents, as well as a list of the references cited in this document, may be obtained by visiting the Internet at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed above (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) NMFS has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA; 2010) and associated Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in accordance with NEPA and the regulations published by the Council on Environmental Quality. These documents are posted at the aforementioned Internet address. Information in SCWA’s application, PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 NMFS’ EA (2010), and this notice collectively provide the environmental information related to proposed issuance of this IHA for public review and comment. We will review all comments submitted in response to this notice as we complete the NEPA process, including a decision of whether the existing EA and FONSI provide adequate analysis related to the potential environmental effects of issuing an IHA to SCWA, prior to a final decision on the incidental take authorization request. Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified area, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals, providing that certain findings are made and the necessary prescriptions are established. The incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals may be allowed only if NMFS (through authority delegated by the Secretary) finds that the total taking by the specified activity during the specified time period will (i) have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) and (ii) not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant). Further, the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such taking must be set forth. The allowance of such incidental taking under section 101(a)(5)(A), by harassment, serious injury, death, or a combination thereof, requires that regulations be established. Subsequently, a Letter of Authorization may be issued pursuant to the prescriptions established in such regulations, providing that the level of taking will be consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under the specific regulations. Under section 101(a)(5)(D), NMFS may authorize such incidental taking by harassment only, for periods of not more than one year, pursuant to requirements and conditions contained within an IHA. The establishment of these prescriptions requires notice and opportunity for public comment. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘. . . an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8923-8924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: https://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
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