[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 21, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62459-62460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25076]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 224 and 226

RIN 0648-XJ93; RIN 0648-AW77


Endangered and Threatened Species; Proposed Endangered Status for 
the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic Salmon; 
Proposed Critical Habitat for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population 
Segment of Atlantic Salmon

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

ACTION:  Notice of two public hearings; notice of extension of public 
comment period.

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SUMMARY:  We (NMFS) will hold two public hearings in Maine in November 
2008 for the purposes of answering questions on the proposal to list 
the Gulf of Maine (GOM) Atlantic salmon distinct population segment 
(DPS) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA) and the NMFS proposal to designate critical habitat for 
the GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon. NMFS also extends the public comment 
period for the proposed critical habitat designation.

DATES:  The hearings will be held on November 5, 2008, from 7 to 9 p.m. 
in Augusta, ME, and on November 6, 2008, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Brewer, 
ME. Informational sessions will be held prior to each hearing from 6 to 
7 p.m.
    NMFS extends the due date for public comments on the proposal to 
designate critical habitat for the GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon by 30 
days, from November 4, 2008, to December 5, 2008. Comments must be 
received by December 2, 2008, for the proposed rule to list the GOM DPS 
as endangered under the ESA and December 5, 2008, for the proposal to 
designate critical habitat for the GOM DPS.

ADDRESSES:  The November 5, 2008, hearing will be held at the Augusta 
Civic Center, 76 Community Dr., Augusta, ME, and the November 6, 2008, 
hearing will be held at Jeff's Catering, 15 Littlefield Way, Brewer, 
ME.
    You may submit comments, identified by the RIN 0648-XJ93 (proposed 
listing rule) or RIN 0648-AW77 (proposal to designate critical 
habitat), by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Assistant Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast 
Regional Office, Protected Resources Division, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930
     Fax: For proposed listing decision fax comments to the 
attention of Jessica Pruden at (978) 281-9394; for proposal to 
designate critical habitat fax comments to the attention of Dan 
Kircheis at (207) 866-7342.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may 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). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. The 
proposed rule and status review report are also available 
electronically at the NMFS website at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/altsalmon/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the proposal to list the GOM DPS 
as endangered, Rory Saunders, NMFS, at (207) 866-4049; or Jessica 
Pruden, NMFS, at (978) 281-9300 ext. 6532. For the proposal to 
designate critical habitat for the GOM DPS, Dan Kircheis, NMFS, at 
(207) 866-7320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 3, 2008, we published a proposed rule (73 FR 51415) to 
list an expanded GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon as endangered under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended. On September 5, 2008, 
NMFS published a proposed rule (73 51747) to designate critical habitat 
for this expanded GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon. We stated that we would 
hold public hearings on these proposals. NMFS will accept oral comment 
regarding the proposed listing decision and critical habitat 
designation for the GOM DPS of Atlantic salmon at two public hearings.

[[Page 62460]]

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Jessica Pruden at (978) 281-9300 
ext 6532 at least 7 working days prior to the hearing date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: October 16, 2008.
Helen Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-25076 Filed 10-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S