Marine Mammals and Endangered Species, 27418-27419 [2024-08190]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 17, 2024 / Notices
The Steller sea lion was listed as
threatened under the ESA by an
emergency interim rule on April 5, 1990
(55 FR 12645). NMFS published a final
rule to list the Steller sea lion as a
threatened species under the ESA on
November 26, 1990 (55 FR 49204).
NMFS designated critical habitat for the
Steller sea lion on August 27, 1993 (58
FR 45269). On May 5, 1997, based on
demographic and genetic dissimilarities,
NMFS reclassified the Steller sea lion
into two DPSs: a WDPS, listed as
endangered, and an eastern DPS (EDPS),
listed as threatened (62 FR 24345). The
WDPS, comprised of animals originating
from breeding sites west of 144° W
longitude, was listed as endangered (62
FR 24345, May 5, 1997) due to
persistent decline and lack of recovery,
while the EDPS remained listed as
threatened. On November 4, 2013,
NMFS delisted the EDPS Steller sea lion
(78 FR 66140). NMFS completed the last
5-year review of this species on
February 20, 2020 and the document is
available on the NMFS website at:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
resource/document/western-distinctpopulation-segment-steller-sea-lion-5year-review-summary-and. Background
information on these Steller sea lion
DPSs is available on the NMFS website
at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
species/steller-sea-lion/overview.
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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
conducting a review of the status of the
species and after taking into account
those efforts, if any, being made by any
State or foreign nation to protect such
species.
Application of the DPS Policy
On February 7, 1996, NMFS adopted
the Policy Regarding the Recognition of
Distinct Vertebrate Population Segments
(DPS Policy) to clarify the interpretation
of the phrase ‘‘distinct population
segment of any species of vertebrate fish
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or wildlife’’ for the purposes of listing,
delisting, and reclassifying species
under the ESA (61 FR 4722). The WDPS
of Steller sea lion was listed as a DPS
of a vertebrate taxon. In the application
of the DPS Policy, we are responsible for
determining whether species,
subspecies, or DPSs of marine and
anadromous species are threatened or
endangered under the ESA. A DPS is
defined in the DPS Policy (61 FR 4722,
February 7, 1996). For a population to
be listed under the ESA as a DPS, three
elements are considered: (1) the
discreteness of the population segment
in relation to the remainder of the
species to which it belongs; (2) the
significance of the population segment
to the species to which it belongs; and
(3) the population segment’s
conservation status in relation to the
Act’s standards for listing (i.e., is the
population segment, when treated as if
it were a species, endangered or
threatened?). DPSs of vertebrate species,
as well as subspecies of all listed
species, may be proposed for separate
reclassification or for removal from the
List. As required by the DPS policy, we
will apply the DPS policy during the 5year review.
Public Solicitation of New Relevant
Information
To ensure that the 5-year review is
complete and based on the best
scientific and commercial data
available, 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 the endangered WDPS of the Steller
sea lion. Categories of requested
information include: (1) species biology
including, but not limited to, population
trends, distribution, abundance,
demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat
conditions including, but not limited to,
amount, distribution, suitability, and
important features for conservation; (3)
status and trends of threats to the
species and its habitats; (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
and improved analytical methods for
evaluating extinction risk.
If you wish to provide information for
this review, you may submit your
information and materials electronically
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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: April 12, 2024.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–08208 Filed 4–16–24; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD875]
Marine Mammals and Endangered
Species
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits and
permit amendments.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
permits and permit amendments have
been issued to the following entities
under the Marine Mammal Protection
Act (MMPA) and the Endangered
Species Act (ESA), as applicable.
ADDRESSES: The permits and related
documents are available for review
upon written request via email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Hapeman (Permit No. 25563–01)
and Jennifer Skidmore (Permit Nos.
22095–01 and 27514); at (301) 427–
8401.
SUMMARY:
Notices
were published in the Federal Register
on the dates listed below that requests
for a permit or permit amendment had
been submitted by the below-named
applicants. To locate the Federal
Register notice that announced our
receipt of the application and a
complete description of the activities, go
to https://www.federalregister.gov and
search on the permit number provided
in table 1 below.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 75 / Wednesday, April 17, 2024 / Notices
27419
TABLE 1—ISSUED PERMITS AND PERMIT AMENDMENTS
Permit No.
RTID
Applicant
Previous Federal Register
Notice
22095–01 .......
0648–XG371 ....
84 FR 15595, April 16, 2019 .......
March 15, 2024.
25563–01 .......
0648–XD609 ....
89 FR 906, January 8, 2024 .......
March 8, 2024.
27514 .............
0648–XD552 .....
SeaWorld LLC, 9205 South Park Center Loop,
Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819 (Responsible
Party: Christopher Dold, DVM).
NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine
Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE,
Seattle, WA 98115 (Responsible Party: John
Bengtson, Ph.D.).
Heather E. Liwanag, Ph.D., California Polytechnic
State University, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis
Obispo, CA 93407.
88 FR 81368, November 22,
2023.
March 21, 2024.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final
determination has been made that the
activities proposed are categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
As required by the ESA, as applicable,
issuance of these permit was based on
a finding that such permits: (1) were
applied for in good faith; (2) will not
operate to the disadvantage of such
endangered species; and (3) are
consistent with the purposes and
policies set forth in section 2 of the
ESA.
Authority: The requested permits
have been issued under the MMPA of
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et
seq.), the regulations governing the
taking and importing of marine
mammals (50 CFR part 216), the ESA of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), and the regulations governing the
taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR parts 222–226), as applicable.
Dated: April 12, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–08190 Filed 4–16–24; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
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National Integrated Drought
Information System (NIDIS) Executive
Council Meeting
Climate Program Office (CPO),
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research (OAR), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
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The National Integrated
Drought Information System (NIDIS)
Program Office will hold an
organizational meeting of the NIDIS
Executive Council on April 25, 2024.
DATES: The meeting will be held
Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 8:30 a.m.
EST to 3:30 p.m. EST. These times and
the agenda topics are subject to change.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Hall of the States, Room 233/235,
444 North Capitol St. NW, Washington,
DC 20001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Veva Deheza, NIDIS Executive Director,
David Skaggs Research Center, Room
GD102, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO
80305. Email: Veva.Deheza@noaa.gov;
or visit the NIDIS website at
www.drought.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
National Integrated Drought Information
System (NIDIS) was established by
Public Law 109–430 on December 20,
2006, and reauthorized by Public Law
113–86 on March 6, 2014 and Public
Law 115–423 on January 7, 2019 , with
a mandate to provide an effective
drought early warning system for the
United States; coordinate, and integrate
as practicable, Federal research in
support of a drought early warning
system; and build upon existing
forecasting and assessment programs
and partnerships. See 15 U.S.C. 313d.
The Public Law also calls for
consultation with ‘‘relevant Federal,
regional, State, tribal, and local
government agencies, research
institutions, and the private sector’’ in
the development of NIDIS. 15 U.S.C.
313d(c). The NIDIS Executive Council
provides the NIDIS Program Office with
an opportunity to engage in individual
consultation with senior resource
officials from NIDIS’s Federal partners,
as well as leaders from state and local
government, academia,
nongovernmental organizations, and the
private sector.
Status: This meeting will be open to
public participation. Individuals
SUMMARY:
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Issuance date
interested in attending should register at
https://cpaess.ucar.edu/meetings/nidisexecutive-spring-council-meeting-2024.
Please refer to this web page for the
most up-to-date meeting times and
agenda. Seating at the meeting will be
available on a first-come, first-served
basis.
Special Accommodations: This
meeting is physically accessible to
people with disabilities. Requests for
special accommodations may be
directed no later than 12:00 p.m. on
April 19, 2024, to Elizabeth Ossowski,
Program Manager, David Skaggs
Research Center, Room GD102, 325
Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305; Email:
Elizabeth.Ossowski@noaa.gov.
Matters to Be Considered: The
meeting will include the following
topics: (1) NIDIS implementation
updates and 2024 priorities; (2)
Executive Council member updates and
2024 priorities relevant to Drought,
Climate Adaptation and Resilience,
Water, Fire; (3) Regional Drought Early
Warning Systems and Partnership
Opportunities, as well as Research and
Development; and (4) Managing for both
too much and too little water across
water resource management disciplines.
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/Administrative
Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024–08192 Filed 4–16–24; 8:45 am]
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27418-27419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08190]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD875]
Marine Mammals and Endangered Species
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits and permit amendments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that permits and permit amendments have
been issued to the following entities under the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as
applicable.
ADDRESSES: The permits and related documents are available for review
upon written request via email to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman (Permit No. 25563-01) and
Jennifer Skidmore (Permit Nos. 22095-01 and 27514); at (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices were published in the Federal
Register on the dates listed below that requests for a permit or permit
amendment had been submitted by the below-named applicants. To locate
the Federal Register notice that announced our receipt of the
application and a complete description of the activities, go to https://www.federalregister.gov and search on the permit number provided in
table 1 below.
[[Page 27419]]
Table 1--Issued Permits and Permit Amendments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previous Federal
Permit No. RTID Applicant Register Notice Issuance date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22095-01............. 0648-XG371............. SeaWorld LLC, 9205 84 FR 15595, April March 15, 2024.
South Park Center 16, 2019.
Loop, Suite 400,
Orlando, FL 32819
(Responsible
Party:
Christopher Dold,
DVM).
25563-01............. 0648-XD609............. NMFS Alaska 89 FR 906, January March 8, 2024.
Fisheries Science 8, 2024.
Center, Marine
Mammal
Laboratory, 7600
Sand Point Way
NE, Seattle, WA
98115
(Responsible
Party: John
Bengtson, Ph.D.).
27514................ 0648-XD552............. Heather E. 88 FR 81368, March 21, 2024.
Liwanag, Ph.D., November 22, 2023.
California
Polytechnic State
University, 1
Grand Avenue, San
Luis Obispo, CA
93407.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final determination has been made that the
activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
As required by the ESA, as applicable, issuance of these permit was
based on a finding that such permits: (1) were applied for in good
faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered
species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set
forth in section 2 of the ESA.
Authority: The requested permits have been issued under the MMPA of
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing
the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the ESA
of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and
threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), as applicable.
Dated: April 12, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-08190 Filed 4-16-24; 8:45 am]
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