[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80542-80543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22762]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE349]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Initiation of a 5-
Year Review for the Chinese River Dolphin

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of initiation; request for information.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 
initiation of a 5-year review for the Chinese river dolphin, also 
called the Baiji or the Yangtze River dolphin, (Lipotes vexillifer). 
NMFS is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year 
reviews to ensure that the listing classifications of species are 
accurate. The 5-year review must be based on the best scientific and 
commercial data available at the time of the review. We request 
submission of any such information on the Indus River dolphin, 
particularly information on the status, threats, and recovery of the 
species that has become available since the previous review in 2017.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than December 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2024-0111, by the following method:
    <bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit electronic information via 
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and 
enter NOAA-NMFS-2024-0111 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' 
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
    Instructions: Information sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the specified 
period, may not be considered by NMFS. All information received is a 
part of the public record and will generally be posted for public 
viewing on https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal 
identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential 
business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information 
submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS 
will accept anonymous submissions (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields 
if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Parsons, NOAA Affiliate, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#74371c061d075a241506071b1a07341a1b15155a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8fbd0cad1cb96e8d9cacbd7d6cbf8d6d7d9d996dfd7ce">[email protected]</span></a>, tel. (301) 427-8400 (main office).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the initiation of our 
review of the Chinese River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer), listed as 
endangered under the ESA. Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that 
we conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years. The 
species was previously reviewed in 2017. The regulations in 50 CFR 
424.21 require that we publish a notice in the Federal Register 
announcing species currently under active review. On the basis of such 
reviews under section 4(c)(2)(B), we determine whether any species 
should be removed from the list (i.e., delisted) or reclassified from 
endangered to threatened or from threatened to endangered (16 U.S.C. 
1533(c)(2)(B)). As described by the regulations in Sec.  424.11(e), the 
Secretary of Commerce shall delist a species if the Secretary 
determines, based on consideration of the factors and standards set 
forth in paragraph (c) of that section, that the best scientific and 
commercial data available substantiate that: (1) the species is 
extinct; (2) the species has recovered to the point at which it no 
longer meets the definition of an endangered species or a threatened 
species; (3) new information that has become available since the 
original listing decisions shows the listed entity does not meet the 
definition of an endangered species or a threatened species; or (4) new 
information that has become available since the original listing 
decision shows the listed entity does not meet the definition of a 
species. Any change in Federal classification would require a separate 
rulemaking process.
    Background information on the species is available on the NMFS 
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/chinese-river-dolphin.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    To ensure that the review is complete and based on the best 
available

[[Page 80543]]

scientific and commercial information, we are soliciting new 
information from the public, governmental agencies, Tribes, the 
scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other 
interested parties concerning the status of the Chinese river dolphin/
Baiji/Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer). 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 important features for conservation; (3) 
status and trends of threats to the species and its habitats; (4) 
conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the 
species, including monitoring data demonstrating effectiveness of such 
measures; and (5) other new information, data, or corrections 
including, but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes and 
improved analytical methods for evaluating extinction risk.
    If you wish to provide information for the review, you may submit 
your information and materials electronically (see ADDRESSES section). 
We request that all information be accompanied by supporting 
documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, or reprints of 
pertinent publications.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: September 27, 2024.
Lisa Manning,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-22762 Filed 10-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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