[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86316-86317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25177]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE407]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review 
for the Saimaa Seal (Phoca (or Pusa) hispida saimensis)

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

ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year review; request for information.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to conduct a 5-year review of the 
endangered ringed seal, Saimaa subspecies (Phoca (or Pusa) hispida 
saimensis), hereafter referred to as the Saimaa seal. NMFS is required 
by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure 
that 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 Saimaa seal, particularly information on its status, threats, 
and conservation efforts, which has become available since the previous 
5-year review in January 2018.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct this review, we must 
receive your information no later than December 30, 2024. However, we 
will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: Submit your information, identified by docket number NOAA-
NMFS-2024-0126, by the following method:
    <bullet> Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter 
NOAA-NMFS-2024-0126 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments or other information 
if sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or 
received after the comment period ends. All comments and information 
received are a part of the public record and NMFS will post the 
comments for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All 
personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted 
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit 
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the 
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Parsons, NOAA Affiliate, (301) 
427-8403 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#44072c362d376a142536372b2a37042a2b25256a232b32"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="12517a607b613c427360617d7c61527c7d73733c757d64">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our active review of 
the Saimaa seal (Phoca (or Pusa) hispida saimensis), currently listed 
as endangered (58 FR 26920; June 7, 1993). It should be noted that in 
2014, the scientific name of the Saimaa seal was updated in the list of 
endangered species to reflect use of either of the genus names Phoca or 
Pusa (79 FR 20802; April 14, 2014).
    Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that the Secretary, through 
NMFS, conduct a review of listed species at least once every 5 years. 
The species was last reviewed in 2018 (82 FR 28304; June 21, 2017). The 
regulations in 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the 
Federal Register announcing species currently under active review. 
Based on such reviews, we determine whether a listed species should be 
removed from the list (i.e., delisted), or be changed in status from 
endangered to threatened or from threatened to endangered (16 U.S.C. 
1533(c)(2)(B)). As described by the regulations in 50 CFR 424.11(e), 
the Secretary shall delist a species if the Secretary determines, based 
on consideration of the factors and standards set forth in 50 CFR 
424.11(c), that the best scientific and commercial data available 
substantiate that that, after conducting a status review based on the 
best scientific and commercial data available: (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; or (3) new information that has become available since the 
original listing decision shows that 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 status would require a separate 
rulemaking process.
    Background information on the Saimaa seal is available on the NMFS 
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ringed-seal.

Public Solicitation of New Relevant Information

    To ensure that the 5-year review is complete and based on the best 
scientific and commercial data available, 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 listed Saimaa seal. 
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, suitability, and 
important features for conservation; (3) degree, nature, 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.


[[Page 86317]]


    Dated: October 24, 2024.
Lisa Manning,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-25177 Filed 10-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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