[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14940-14941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing 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 [email protected].
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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