2650 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 13 / Monday, January 22, 2007 / Notices 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Susan Pultz at the above address, or at 

301–713–1401 x116. 

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 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, 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 fin 

whale, sperm whale and southern right 

whale, all currently listed as 

endangered. 

Public Solicitation of New Information 

To ensure that the 5–year reviews are 

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 the fin whale, sperm whale and 

southern right whale. 

Five-year 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 for 

any of these 5–year reviews, you may 

submit your information and materials 

to Susan Pultz (see ADDRESSES section). 

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: January 12, 2007. 

Angela Somma, 

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office 

of Protected Resources, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–752 Filed 1–19–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[I.D. 011207A] 

Endangered and Threatened Species; 

Initiation of a 5–Year Review of the 

Hawaiian Monk Seal 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

AtmosphericAdministration, 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5–year 

review; request for information. 

SUMMARY: The National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a 

5–year review of the Hawaiian monk 

seal (Monachus schauinslandi) under 

the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 

1973. The Hawaiian monk seal was 

listed as a threatened species under the 

ESA on November 23, 1976. On April 

30, 1986, critical habitat was designated 

at all beach areas, lagoon waters, and 

ocean waters out to a depth of 10 

fathoms around Kure Atoll, Midway, 

Pearl and Hermes Reef, Lisianski Island, 

Laysan Island, Gardner Pinnacles, 

French Frigate Shoals, Necker Island 

and Nihoa Island; critical habitat was 

extended to include Maro Reef and 

waters around all habitat out to the 20 

fathom isobath on May 26, 1988. 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 Hawaiian monk seals 

that has become available since their 

original listing as an endangered species 

in 1976. 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 March 

23, 2007. However, we will continue to 

accept new information about any listed 

species at any time. 

ADDRESSES: Please submit information 

to Chris E. Yates, Assistant Regional 

Administrator for Protected Species, 

National Marine Fisheries Service, 

Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601 

Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, 

HI 96814. 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 submitted by e-mail to: Dr. 

Michelle Yuen at 


rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 13 / Monday, January 22, 2007 / Notices 2651 

michelle.yuen@noaa.gov. Include in the 

subject line of the e-mail, the following 

identifier: Comments on 5–year review 

for the Hawaiian monk seal. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Contact Dr. Michelle Yuen at the above 

email address or at 808–944–2243. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the 

ESA, a list of endangered and 

threatened wildlife and plant species at 

50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 150 CFR 

7.12 (for plants) must be maintained. 

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 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 the 

Hawaiian monk seal, currently listed as 

endangered. 

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, the scientific 

community, industry, environmental 

entities, and any other interested parties 

concerning the status of Hawaiian monk 

seals. 

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, populationtrends, 

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. NMFS is seeking 

information that has not been 

previously reported in the recent 

Hawaiian Monk Seal Stock Assessment 

Report (SARs) published in 2005 (http:// 

www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/), nor 

previously reported in the revised 

Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Monk 

Seal, which is currently available for 

public review until January 29, 2007 (71 

FR 70964). 

If you wish to provide information for 

this 5–year review, you may submit 

your information and materials to Dr. 

Michelle Yuen (see ADDRESSES section). 

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: January 16, 2007. 

Angela Somma, 

Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office 

of Protected Resources, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–811 Filed 1–19–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[I.D. 011607A] 

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; 

General Provisions for Domestic 

Fisheries; Application for Exempted 

Fishing Permits 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional 

Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, 

Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant 

Regional Administrator), has made a 

preliminary determination that an 

Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) 

application submitted by the University 

of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) 

contains all of the required information 

and warrants further consideration. The 

Assistant Regional Administrator has 

made a preliminary determination that 

the activities authorized under this EFP 

would be consistent with the goals and 

objectives of the Northeast (NE) 

Multispecies and Monkfish Fishery 

Management Plans (FMPs). However, 

further review and consultation may be 

necessary before a final determination is 

made to issue an EFP. Therefore, NMFS 

announces that the Assistant Regional 

Administrator proposes to recommend 

that an EFP be issued that would allow 

one commercial fishing vessel to 

conduct fishing operations that are 

otherwise restricted by the regulations 

governing the fisheries of the 

Northeastern United States. The EFP, 

which would enable researchers to 

study the biology of large monkfish, 

would grant exemptions from the NE 

Multispecies FMP as follows: Western 

Gulf of Maine (GOM) Closure Area; 

GOM Rolling Closure Areas I and II; and 

NE multispecies effort control measures. 

Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act require publication of 

this notification to provide interested 

parties the opportunity to comment on 

applications for proposed EFPs. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before February 6, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit written 

comments by any of the following 

methods: 

• Email: DA6–387@noaa.gov. Include 

in the subject line ‘‘Comments on UMES 

monkfish EFP.’’

• Mail: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional 

Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional 

Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, 

MA 01930. Mark the outside of the 

envelope ‘‘Comments on UMES 

monkfish EFP, DA6–387.’’

• Fax: (978) 281–9135. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Douglas Potts, Fishery Management 

Specialist, 978–281–9341. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An 

application for an EFP was submitted on 

December 28, 2006, by Andrea K. 

Johnson, Ph.D., Research Assistant 

Professor at UMES, for a project funded 


rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES