[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12566-12567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05330]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0007; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-BA73


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Taxonomy of the 
Hawaiian Monk Seal

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are amending 
the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife to reflect the 
scientifically accepted taxonomy and nomenclature of the Hawaiian monk 
seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi (=Monachus schauinslandi)). This 
amendment is based on a previously published determination by the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, which has 
jurisdiction for this species.

DATES: This rule is effective March 10, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Higgins, NMFS, Pacific Islands 
Regional Office, (808) 725-5151; or Marta Nammack, NMFS, Office of 
Protected Resources, (301) 427-8469.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and Reorganization 
Plan No. 4 of 1970 (35 FR 15627; October 6, 1970), NMFS has 
jurisdiction over the Hawaiian monk seal.
    On November 17, 2014, NMFS published a direct final rule (79 FR 
68371) to announce the revised taxonomy of the Hawaiian monk seal. 
Because NMFS did not receive any adverse comments during the first 30 
days of the direct final rule's comment period, that direct final 
rule's effective date is January 16, 2015. Please refer to that rule 
for information on the taxonomy of the Hawaiian monk seal.
    While NMFS has jurisdiction over the Hawaiian monk seal, we are 
responsible for updating the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 
(List) in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 
17.11(h). This final rule is an administrative action to adopt the 
change already published by NMFS. This action ensures that the List 
shows the Hawaiian monk seal's most recently accepted scientific name 
in accordance with 50 CFR 17.11(b).

Administrative Procedure Act

    Because NMFS provided a public comment period on the direct final 
rule to update the taxonomy and nomenclature of the Hawaiian monk seal, 
and because this action of the Service to amend the List in accordance 
with the determination by NMFS is nondiscretionary, the Service finds 
good cause that the notice and public comment procedures of 5 U.S.C. 
553(b) are unnecessary for this action. We also find good cause under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make this rule effective immediately. This rule is 
an administrative action to reflect the scientifically accepted 
taxonomy and nomenclature of the Hawaiian monk seal in the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife at 50 CFR 17.11(h). The public would 
not be served by delaying the effective date of this rulemaking action.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, we amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 
of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 1531-1544; 4201-4245, unless 
otherwise noted.


0
2. Amend Sec.  17.11(h) by revising the entry for ``Seal, Hawaiian 
monk'' under MAMMALS in the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 
to read as follows:


Sec.  17.11  Endangered and threatened wildlife.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

[[Page 12567]]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Species                                                    Vertebrate
--------------------------------------------------------                        population where                                  Critical     Special
                                                            Historic range       endangered or         Status      When listed    habitat       rules
           Common name                Scientific name                              threatened
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mammals
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Seal, Hawaiian monk..............  Neomonachus           U.S.A. (HI)........  Entire.............  E                        18      226.201           NA
                                    schauinslandi
                                    (=Monachus
                                    schauinslandi).
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

    Dated: February 25, 2015.
 Stephen Guertin,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-05330 Filed 3-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P