National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 9, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In response to a petition by Animal Welfare Institute, Center for Biological Diversity, and WildEarth Guardians, we, NMFS, are issuing a final rule to list the Taiwanese humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis taiwanensis) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have reviewed the status of the Taiwanese humpback dolphin, including efforts being made to protect the subspecies, and considered public comments submitted on the proposed listing rule as well as new information received since publication of the proposed rule. Based on all of this information, we have determined that the Taiwanese humpback dolphin warrants listing as an endangered subspecies. We will not designate critical habitat for this subspecies, because the geographical areas occupied by these dolphins are entirely outside U.S. jurisdiction, and we have not identified any unoccupied areas within U.S. jurisdiction that are currently essential to the conservation of the subspecies.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment this continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.