Notice2021-21713
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of a 5-Year Status Review of the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 5, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our intention to conduct a 5-year status review under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, for the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). The polar bear was listed as threatened in 2008. A 5-year status review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of information that has become available since the last review of the species in 2017.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 190 (Tuesday, October 5, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54996-54997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21713]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R7-ES-2021-0075; FXFR133707PB000-212-FF07CAMM00]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of a 5-
Year Status Review of the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our
intention to conduct a 5-year status review under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended, for the polar bear (Ursus maritimus).
The polar bear was listed as threatened in 2008. A 5-year status review
is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the
time of the review. We are requesting submission of information that
has become available since the last review of the species in 2017.
DATES: To ensure consideration of your comments in our preparation of
this 5-year status review, we must receive your comments and
information by December 6, 2021. However, we will accept information
about any species at any time.
ADDRESSES: Please submit your information on the current status of the
polar bear by one of the following methods:
<bullet> U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: FWS-R7-ES-2021-0075, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters,
MS: PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, Virginia 22041-3803; or
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the instructions for submitting information to Docket No. FWS-
R7-ES-2021-0075. For more about submitting information, see Request for
Information in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Gustine, Polar Bear Lead, Marine
Mammals Management, by telephone at 907-786-3800. Individuals who are
hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service
at 800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are initiating a 5-year status review
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), for the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). A 5-year status
review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at
the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any
new information on this species that has become available since the
last 5-year review was conducted in 2017.
Why do we conduct a 5-year review?
Under the ESA, we maintain Lists of Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively refer to as the List) in the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and
17.12 (for plants). Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires us to review
each listed species' status at least once every 5 years. Further, our
regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the
Federal Register announcing those species
[[Page 54997]]
under active review. For additional information about 5-year reviews,
go to <a href="http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html">http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/recovery-overview.html</a>.
What information do we consider in our review?
In conducting these reviews, we consider the best scientific and
commercial data that have become available since the listing
determination or most recent status review, such as:
(1) The biology of the species, 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) Threat status and trends in relation to the five listing
factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA); 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.
Any new information will be considered during the 5-year review and
will also be useful in evaluating the ongoing recovery programs for the
species.
Species Under Review
Entity listed: Polar bear (Ursus maritimus).
<bullet> Where listed: wherever found.
<bullet> Classification: Threatened.
<bullet> Date listed (publication date for final listing rule): May
15, 2008.
<bullet> Federal Register citation for final listing rule: 73 FR
28212.
Request for Information
To ensure that a 5-year review is complete and based on the best
available scientific and commercial information, we request new
information from all sources. See What Information Do We Consider in
Our Review? for specific criteria. If you submit information, please
support it with documentation such as maps, bibliographic references,
methods used to gather and analyze the data, and/or copies of any
pertinent publications, reports, or letters by knowledgeable sources.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Completed and Active Reviews
A list of all completed and currently active 5-year reviews
addressing species for which the Alaskan Region of the Service has lead
responsibility is available at <a href="https://www.fws.gov/alaska/pages/endangered-species-program/recovery-endangered-species">https://www.fws.gov/alaska/pages/endangered-species-program/recovery-endangered-species</a>.
Authority
This document is published under the authority of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Peter Fasbender,
Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries and Ecological Service, Alaska
Region.
[FR Doc. 2021-21713 Filed 10-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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