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Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-year review of Johnson's Seagrass
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: October 12, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 197)]
[Notices]
[Page 60108-60109]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12oc06-29]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 100306H]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-year review
of Johnson's Seagrass
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of initiation of a 5-Year Review; request for information.
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SUMMARY: We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), announce a
5-year review of Johnson's seagrass (Halophila johnsonii) under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). A 5-year review is a periodic
process conducted to ensure that the listing classification of a
species is accurate. A 5-year review is 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 Johnson's seagrass
that has become available since its original listing as a threatened
species in 1998. Based on the results of this 5-year review, we will
make the requisite findings under the ESA.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must
receive your information no later than December 11, 2006. However, we
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any
time.
ADDRESSES: You may submit information by any of the following methods:
? Mail: Shelley Norton, National Marine Fisheries Service,
263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
? E-mail: shelley.norton@noaa.gov. Include in the subject
line of the e-mail the following identifier: Comments on 5-year review
for Johnson's seagrass.
? Fax: 1-727-824-5309, Attention: Shelley Norton
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shelley Norton at the above address,
or at 727-824-5312.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the ESA, a list of endangered and
threatened wildlife and plant species must be maintained. The list is
published 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
[[Page 60109]]
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 removed from the List (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 Johnson's seagrass,
currently listed as threatened.
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, concerned governmental agencies, Tribes,
the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any
other interested parties concerning the status of Johnson's seagrass.
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, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics;
(2) habitat conditions including, but not limited to, amount,
distribution, and suitability; (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, and improved analytical
methods.
If you wish to provide information for this 5-year review, you may
submit your information and materials to Shelley Norton (see
ADDRESSES). Our practice is to make submissions of information,
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 submission. We will not, however,
consider anonymous submissions. 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. Information and materials
received will be available for public inspection, by appointment,
during normal business hours (see ADDRESSES section).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: October 4, 2006.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-16933 Filed 10-11-06; 8:45 am]
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