[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 51705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20229]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 226

RIN 0648-BD27


Proposed Designation of Marine Critical Habitat for the 
Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Caretta caretta, Under the Endangered Species 
Act; Public Hearing

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, will hold public hearings related to our Proposed 
Designation of Marine Critical Habitat for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, 
Caretta caretta, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

DATES: The public hearings will be held on September 9 and 10, 2013, 
from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The hearings will be held at:
     University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Warwick Center, 
Ballroom 5, 629 Hamilton Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 on September 9.
     Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell Street, Morehead 
City, NC 28557 on September 10.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Pultz, NMFS Office of Protected 
Resources, Silver Spring, MD, telephone: 301-427-8472, email: 
[email protected]; or Therese Conant, NMFS Office of Protected 
Resources, Silver Spring, MD, telephone: 301-427-8456, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS staff will present a brief overview of the Proposed Rule 
titled Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean 
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and 
Determination Regarding Critical Habitat for the North Pacific Ocean 
Loggerhead DPS. Following this overview, members of the public will 
have the opportunity to go on record with comments on the proposed 
designation. Members of the public may also submit written comments at 
the hearing, or via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. To do the latter, 
go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0079, click 
the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach our comments. The proposed rule was published in the Federal 
Register on July 18, 2013 (78 FR 43006) and may be obtained at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/07/18/2013-17204/endangered-and-threatened-species-designation-of-critical-habitat-for-the-northwest-atlantic-ocean. More information and background documents can be found 
at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/loggerhead.htm.

Speaker Sign Up

    Doors will open for registration at 6:30 p.m. for sign-up and 
seating. Time allotted will depend upon the number of speakers but will 
likely be limited to 5 minutes each. Registered speakers will be asked 
to indicate their full name, contact information, and the identity of 
any organizations on whose behalf they may be speaking.

Special Accommodations

    The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to Susan Pultz (see 
ADDRESSES) 3 days prior to the meeting.

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

    Dated: August 15, 2013.
P. Michael Payne,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20229 Filed 8-20-13; 8:45 am]
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