40568 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 154 / Wednesday, August 12, 2009 / Notices 

The Department is currently 

investigating a number of complex 

alleged subsidy programs, including 

various loan programs, grants, income 

tax incentives, and the provision of 

goods and services for less than 

adequate remuneration. Due to the 

number and complexity of the alleged 

subsidy programs being investigated, we 

find that this investigation is 

extraordinarily complicated and that 

additional time is necessary to make the 

preliminary determination. Therefore, 

in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(B) 

of the Act, we are fully extending the 

due date for the preliminary 

determination to no later than 130 days 

after the day on which the investigation 

was initiated. The deadline for 

completion of the preliminary 

determination is now October 24, 2009. 

This notice is issued and published 

pursuant to section 703(c)(2) of the Act. 

Dated: August 5, 2009. 

Ronald K. Lorentzen, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Import 

Administration. 

[FR Doc. E9–19332 Filed 8–11–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XQ74 

Endangered and Threatened Species; 

Initiation of a Status Review for the 

Humpback Whale and Request for 

Information 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic 

andAtmospheric Administration, 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of initiation of a status 

review; request for information. 

SUMMARY: The National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a 

status review of the humpback whale 

(Megaptera novaeangliae) under the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). 

A status review is a periodic 

undertaking conducted to ensure that 

the listing classification of a species is 

accurate. A status 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 the all 

humpback whale populations in all 

waters worldwide that has become 

available since the last humpback whale 

status review in 1999. Based on the 

results of this review, we will make the 

requisite findings under the ESA. 

DATES: To allow us adequate time to 

conduct these reviews, we must receive 

your information no later than October 

13, 2009. However, we will continue to 

accept new information about any listed 

species at any time. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 

identified by the code 0648–XQ74, 

addressed to Shannon Bettridge by any 

of the following methods: 

1. Electronic Submissions: Submit all 

electronic comments via the Federal 

eRulemaking Portal http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

2. Facsimile (fax): 301–713–0376, 

Attn: Shannon Bettridge. 

3. Mail: Shannon Bettridge, National 

Marine Fisheries Service, Office of 

Protected Resources, 1315 East-West 

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shannon Bettridge at the above address, 

or at 301–713–2322. 

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 

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 a particular 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, substantiating 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 active reviews of the 

humpback whale, currently listed 

globally as endangered. 

Public Solicitation of New Information 

To ensure that the review is complete 

and based on the best available 

scientific and commercial information, 

we are soliciting new information from 

the public, relevant governmental 

agencies, tribes, the scientific 

community, industry, environmental 

entities, and any other interested parties 

concerning the status of the humpback 

whale. 

Status reviews consider 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. 

Because these species are vertebrate 

species, we will also be considering 

application of the Distinct Population 

Segment (DPS) policy for vertebrate 

taxa. A DPS is defined in the February 

7, 1996, Policy Regarding the 

Recognition of Distinct Vertebrate 

Population Segments (61 FR 4722). 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 

ESA=s standards for listing (i.e., is the 

population segment 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. 

If you wish to provide information on 

the humpback whale in the northern 

and/or southern hemispheres for this 

status review, you may submit your 

information and materials to Shannon 

Bettridge (see ADDRESSES section). 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 

Dated: August 5, 2009. 

James H. Lecky, 

Office Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–19336 Filed 8–11–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 


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