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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93554-93555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27848]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE496]

Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of 5-Year Review of 
the Brazilian Guitarfish (Rhinobatos horkelii)

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

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, announce the initiation of a 5-year review of the 
endangered Brazilian guitarfish (Rhinobatos horkelii). The Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) requires us to conduct a review of listed species at 
least once every 5 years to determine whether a species should be 
removed from the list (i.e., delisted), reclassified from an endangered 
species to a threatened species (i.e., downlisted), or reclassified 
from a threatened species to an endangered species (i.e., uplisted). 
The determination must be based on the best scientific and commercial 
data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we request 
relevant information (e.g., biology, threats, and conservation efforts) 
that has become available since our previous review of the species.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct the 5-year review, we must 
receive your information no later than January 27, 2025. While we 
accept new information about any listed species at any time, 
information received after the date stated above may not be considered 
for the purposes of this review.

ADDRESSES: Submit your information electronically via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-
NMFS-2024-0137 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.

[[Page 93555]]

    Instructions: We may not consider comments or other information if 
sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or 
received after the date stated above. All comments and information 
received are a part of the public record, and we will post the comments 
for public viewing on https://www.regulations.gov. 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. We will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the 
required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead, NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources, (301) 427-8427, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces our initiation of the 
Brazilian guitarfish (Rhinobatos horkelii) 5-year review. Section 
4(c)(2) of the ESA requires us to conduct a review of listed species at 
least once every 5 years to determine whether species should be removed 
from the list, changed in status from an endangered species to a 
threatened species, or changed in status from a threatened species to 
an endangered species (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)(2)). Section 4(a)(1) of the 
ESA requires us to determine whether any species is an endangered or 
threatened species because of any of the following factors: (A) the 
present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its 
habitat or range; (B) overutilization for commercial, recreational, 
scientific, or educational purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) the 
inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) other natural or 
manmade factors affecting its continued existence (16 U.S.C. 
1533(a)(1)). Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA requires us to make the 
determination based solely on the best scientific and commercial data 
available at the time of the review and after taking into account 
efforts to protect the species (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(1)(A)). 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 species should be delisted or 
reclassified (50 CFR 424.21). Any such change (i.e., delisting or 
reclassification) would require a separate rulemaking process.
    We last performed a review of the Brazilian guitarfish in 2015. 
Background information on the species is available on the NMFS website 
at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/brazilian-guitarfish/overview.

Public Solicitation of Relevant Information

    To ensure that the 5-year review is based on the best scientific 
and commercial data available, we are soliciting information from the 
public, governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community, 
industry, environmental organizations, and any other interested 
parties. We request information that has become available since the 
previous review was published in 2015. Categories of requested 
information include: (1) species biology including, but not limited to, 
abundance, population trends, demographics, distribution, and 
diversity; (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, especially those factors described in section 4(a)(1) 
of the ESA and listed above; (4) conservation efforts that have been 
implemented to benefit the species, including monitoring data 
demonstrating the effectiveness of such efforts; and (5) other 
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, please 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: November 22, 2024.
Lisa Manning,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-27848 Filed 11-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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