[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 18 (Thursday, January 29, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1956]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 226

RIN 0648-AV74


Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the 
Endangered Distinct Population Segment of Smalltooth Sawfish

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

ACTION:  Proposed rule; reopening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On November 20, 2008, NMFS proposed to designate critical 
habitat for the endangered U.S. distinct population segment (DPS) of 
smalltooth sawfish. As part of that proposal, NMFS provided a 60-day 
public comment period, ending on January 20, 2009. Additionally, NMFS 
held two public hearings in Cape Coral and Naples, FL in January 2009. 
NMFS has received requests for an extension of the public comment 
period. In response to these requests, NMFS is reopening the public 
comment period for the proposed action.

DATES:  Written comments on this proposed rule must be received by 5 
p.m. EST on February 13, 2009. Comments received between the close of 
the first comment period on January 20, 2009, and the reopening of the 
comment period on January 29, 2009 will be considered.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the Regulatory 
Information Number (RIN) 0648-AV74, by any of the following methods:
    Mail: Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources 
Division, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33701.
    Facsimile (fax) to: 727-824-5309 Attention Shelley Norton.
    Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments to 
www.regulations.gov by clicking on ``Search for Dockets'' at the top of 
the screen, then entering the RIN in the ``RIN'' field and clicking the 
``Submit'' tab.
    Instructions: All comments received are considered part of the 
public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov. All Personal Identifying Information (i.e., name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted may be publicly accessible. Do not 
submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments. Please 
provide electronic attachments using Microsoft Word, Excel, 
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Shelley Norton, NMFS, Southeast 
Regional Office, at 727-824-5312; or Lisa Manning, NMFS, Office of 
Protected Resources, at 301-713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 20, 2008, we published a proposed rule (73 FR 70290) to 
designate critical habitat for the endangered U.S. DPS of smalltooth 
sawfish. We held two public hearings on the proposed designation, one 
in Naples, FL on January 5, 2009, and one in Cape Coral, FL on January 
14, 2009. Several requests have been received to reopen the public 
comment period for the proposed listing. The public comment period for 
the proposed listing closed on January 20, 2009. NMFS is reopening the 
public comment period until February 13, 2009, to receive additional 
local and public information and comments that may be relevant to our 
consideration of this rulemaking. Public comments received between the 
close of the first comment period on January 20, 2009, and the 
reopening of the comment period January 29, 2009 will also be 
considered timely.

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

    Dated: January 23, 2009.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-1956 Filed 1-28-09; 8:45 am]
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