What's New - September 3, 2010

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
49 CFR Parts 107, 171, 172, 173, 176, 177, 179, and 180

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 17

To see the full text of the section within the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) title or view the Federal Register notice, purchase a subscription to FedRegs Online.

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

49 CFR Parts 107, 171, 172, 173, 176, 177, 179, and 180

Hazardous Materials: Minor Editorial Corrections and Clarifications

This final rule corrects editorial errors, makes minor regulatory changes and, in response to requests for clarification, improves the clarity of certain provisions in the Hazardous Materials Regulations. The intended effect of this rule is to enhance the accuracy and reduce misunderstandings of the regulations. The amendments contained in this rule are non-substantive changes and do not impose new requirements.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Status for Shovelnose Sturgeon Under the Similarity of Appearance Provisions of the Endangered Species Act

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined it necessary to treat shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) as threatened due to similarity of appearance to the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) under the similarity of appearance provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The shovelnose sturgeon and the endangered pallid sturgeon are difficult to differentiate in the wild and inhabit overlapping portions of the Missouri and Mississippi River basins. Commercial harvest of shovelnose sturgeon has resulted in the documented take of pallid sturgeon where the two species coexist and is a threat to the pallid sturgeon. This determination to treat shovelnose sturgeon due to similarity of appearance will substantially facilitate law enforcement actions to protect and conserve pallid sturgeon. This rule extends take prohibitions to shovelnose sturgeon, shovelnose[dash]pallid sturgeon hybrids, and their roe when associated with a commercial fishing activity in areas where pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon commonly coexist. Accidental or incidental capture of pallid or shovelnose sturgeon, or shovelnose[dash]pallid sturgeon hybrids, in commercial fishing gear will not be considered take provided the sturgeon are immediately released to the wild at the point where taken with roe intact.