[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59907-59908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23715]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR 226

RIN 0648-BD27


Endangered and Threatened Species: Proposed Rule To Designate 
Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Loggerhead Sea Turtle 
Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and Proposed Determination Regarding 
Critical Habitat for the North Pacific Ocean Loggerhead DPS

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reopening the comment period for its Proposed Rule to 
Designate Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Loggerhead 
Sea Turtle Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and Proposed Determination 
Regarding Critical Habitat for the North Pacific Ocean Loggerhead DPS. 
The comment period is being reopened to provide additional opportunity 
for public comment.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on July 18, 
2013 (78 FR 43005) is reopened. Comments and information on this 
document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2013-0079, must be received by 
November 29, 2013. Requests for public hearings must be made in writing 
(see ADDRESSES) by November 14, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2013-0079, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. 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.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Susan Pultz, NMFS, Office 
of Protected Resources, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
     Fax: 301-713-0376; Attn: Susan Pultz.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received will be part of 
the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS 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, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    The proposed rule, list of references and supporting documents, 
including the biological report, the draft Economic Analysis and the 
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act (IRFA) analysis which is appended to 
the draft Economic Analysis, are also available electronically at 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/loggerhead.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Pultz, NMFS, Office of Protected 
Resources 301-427-8472 or [email protected]; or Angela Somma, NMFS, 
Office of Protected Resources 301-427-8474 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Reopening of Comment Period

    The comment period will be reopened through November 29, 2013.

Background

    On July 18, 2013, we (NMFS) published in the Federal Register a 
proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Northwest Atlantic 
Ocean loggerhead sea turtle Distinct Population Segment (DPS) (Caretta 
caretta) within the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico and a 
proposed determination that no marine areas meet the definition of 
critical habitat within the jurisdiction of the United States for the 
North Pacific Ocean DPS. The comment period for this action ended 
Monday, September 16, 2013. The comment period is being reopened to 
provide additional opportunity for public comment.
    Specific areas proposed for designation include 36 occupied marine 
areas within the range of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS. These areas 
contain one or a combination of nearshore reproductive habitat, winter 
area, breeding areas, and migratory corridors. We are also asking for 
comment on whether to include as critical habitat in the final rule 
some areas that contain foraging habitat and two large areas that 
contain Sargassum habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service addressed 
terrestrial areas (nesting beaches) in a separate document (78 FR 
18000; March 25, 2013).
    We are soliciting comments from the public on all aspects of the 
proposal, including information on the economic, national security, and 
other relevant impacts. We will consider additional information 
received prior to making a final designation.

Public Hearings

    We held hearings regarding this proposed rule in Wilmington, NC on 
September 9, 2013, and in Morehead City, NC on September 10, 2013. Due 
to budget constraints, we are unsure whether we can hold additional 
public hearings. However, we are considering requests for additional 
hearings. Requests for public hearings must be made in writing (see 
ADDRESSES) by November 14, 2013. If we are able to hold an additional 
public hearing, a notice detailing the specific hearing location and 
time will be published in

[[Page 59908]]

the Federal Register at least 15 days before the hearing is to be held. 
Information on the specific hearing locations and times will also be 
posted on our Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/loggerhead.htm.

    Dated: September 25, 2013.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23715 Filed 9-27-13; 8:45 am]
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