[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78723-78725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30677]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223 and 224

[Docket No. 130501429-4999-03]
RIN 0648-XC659


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule To 
Revise the Code of Federal Regulations for Species Under the 
Jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: This document contains technical corrections for errors in a 
rule related to Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for distinct 
population segments (DPSs) of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta 
caretta). The ``Final Rule to Revise the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) for Species Under the Jurisdiction of the National Marine 
Fisheries Service'' revised the CFR tables that list threatened and 
endangered species under the ESA. During that process, we incorrectly 
revised the descriptions of listed entities for the DPSs of the 
loggerhead sea turtle in a manner that differs from the original 
listing descriptions. In this document, we correct the descriptions of 
the DPSs in the CFR tables. We also add cross-references to recently 
designated critical habitat of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of the 
loggerhead sea turtle.

DATES: Effective on December 31, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Schultz at (301) 427-8443, or 
Angela Somma at (301) 427-8474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On April 14, 2014, we, NMFS, issued the ``Final Rule to Revise the 
Code of Federal Regulations for Species Under the Jurisdiction of the 
National Marine Fisheries Service'' (79 FR 20802) to clarify and update 
the descriptions and associated protections for species that are listed 
as threatened or endangered under the ESA. These revisions changed the 
format and content of the tables, which list and describe threatened 
and endangered species under NMFS' jurisdiction at 50 CFR 223.102(e) 
and 50 CFR 224.101(h), respectively. For example, the table columns 
previously labeled, ``where listed'' are now labeled ``description of 
listed entity,'' and the columns labeled, ``critical habitat'' now cite 
the specific section in 50 CFR part 226, where the critical habitat 
description is found.
    During this process, we incorrectly revised the descriptions of the 
listed entities for the DPSs of the loggerhead sea turtle. For example, 
we changed the description of listed entity from ``Northwest Atlantic 
Ocean north of the equator, south of 60[deg] N. Lat., and west of 
40[deg] W. Long.,'' to ``loggerhead sea turtles originating from the 
Northwest Atlantic Ocean west of 40[deg] W. Long.'' Therefore, this 
document amends the tables by correcting the descriptions of listed 
entities for the DPSs of the loggerhead sea turtle to reflect the 
original listing description published in the CFR. There was one 
mistake in the original listing (76 FR 58868, September 22, 2011). The 
Southwest Indian Ocean

[[Page 78724]]

DPS includes loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Southwest 
Indian Ocean north of the equator, south of 30[deg] N. Lat., east of 
20[deg] E. Long., and west of 80[deg] E. Long; the original listing 
incorrectly indicated, ``west of 20[deg] E. Long., and east of 80[deg] 
E. Long.''
    On July 10, 2014, NMFS and USFWS issued separate final rules to 
designate critical habitat for marine and terrestrial habitat, 
respectively, for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of the loggerhead 
sea turtle (79 FR 39855 and 79 FR 39755, respectively). At that time, 
we did not update the column labeled ``critical habitat,'' in the table 
in 50 CFR 223.102(e) to cross reference these new rules. Therefore, 
this document also corrects the table by citing the critical habitat 
designations in 50 CFR 226.223 and 50 CFR 17.95(c) in the column of the 
table in 50 CFR 223.102(e).

Classification

    This correction does not alter or revise in any way the threatened 
or endangered species statuses or critical habitat designations for the 
DPSs of the loggerhead sea turtle. Therefore, the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive 
requirement to provide prior public notice and comment.

Need for Correction

    As published, the final regulations contain errors which may prove 
to be misleading and need to be clarified.

List of Subjects

50 CFR Part 223

    Threatened marine and anadromous species.

50 CFR Part 224

    Endangered marine and anadromous species.

    Dated: December 22, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    Accordingly, 50 CFR parts 223 and 224 are corrected by making the 
following correcting amendments:

PART 223--THREATENED MARINE AND ANADROMOUS SPECIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 223 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; subpart B, Sec.  223.201-202 
also issued under 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 5503(d) for 
Sec.  223.206(d)(9).


0
2. In Sec.  223.102(e), revise the table entries for ``Sea turtle, 
loggerhead (Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead 
(South Atlantic Ocean DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (Southeast Indo-
Pacific Ocean DPS)'', and ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (Southwest Indian 
Ocean DPS)'' to read as follows:


Sec.  223.102  Enumeration of threatened marine and anadromous species.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *

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                             Species \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------  Citation(s) for    Critical
                                                   Description of          listing        habitat     ESA rules
         Common name           Scientific name      listed entity     determination(s)
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                                                  * * * * * * *
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                                                 Sea Turtles \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sea turtle, loggerhead         Caretta caretta  Loggerhead sea        76 FR 58868, Sep    17.95(c),     223.205,
 (Northwest Atlantic Ocean                       turtles originating   22, 2011.            226.223     223.206,
 DPS).                                           from the Northwest                                     223.207.
                                                 Atlantic Ocean
                                                 north of the
                                                 equator, south of
                                                 60[deg] N. Lat.,
                                                 and west of 40[deg]
                                                 W. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (South  Caretta caretta  Loggerhead sea        76 FR 58868, Sep           NA     223.205,
 Atlantic Ocean DPS).                            turtles originating   22, 2011.                        223.206,
                                                 from the South                                         223.207.
                                                 Atlantic Ocean
                                                 south of the
                                                 equator, north of
                                                 60[deg] S. Lat.,
                                                 west of 20[deg] E.
                                                 Long., and east of
                                                 67[deg] W. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead         Caretta caretta  Loggerhead sea        76 FR 58868, Sep           NA     223.205,
 (Southeast Indo-Pacific                         turtles originating   22, 2011.                        223.206,
 Ocean DPS).                                     from the Southeast                                      223.207
                                                 Indian Ocean south
                                                 of the equator,
                                                 north of 60[deg] S.
                                                 Lat., and east of
                                                 80[deg] E. Long.;
                                                 South Pacific Ocean
                                                 south of the
                                                 equator, north of
                                                 60[deg] S. Lat.,
                                                 and west of
                                                 141[deg] E. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead         Caretta caretta  Loggerhead sea        76 FR 58868, Sep           NA     223.205,
 (Southwest Indian Ocean DPS).                   turtles originating   22, 2011.                        223.206,
                                                 from the Southwest                                      223.207
                                                 Indian Ocean north
                                                 of the equator,
                                                 south of 30[deg] N.
                                                 Lat., east of
                                                 20[deg] E. Long.,
                                                 and west of 80[deg]
                                                 E. Long.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
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\1\ Species includes taxonomic species, subspecies, distinct population segments (DPSs) (for a policy statement,
  see 61 FR 4722, February 7, 1996), and evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) (for a policy statement, see 56
  FR 58612, November 20, 1991).
\2\ Jurisdiction for sea turtles by the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
  National Marine Fisheries Service, is limited to turtles while in the water.


[[Page 78725]]

* * * * *

PART 224--ENDANGERED MARINE AND ANADROMOUS SPECIES

0
3. The authority citation for part 224 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543 and 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.


0
4. In Sec.  224.101(h), revise the table entries for ``Sea turtle, 
loggerhead (Mediterranean Sea DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (North 
Indian Ocean DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (North Pacific Ocean 
DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (Northeast Atlantic Ocean DPS)'', and 
``Sea turtle, loggerhead (South Pacific Ocean DPS)'' to read as 
follows:


Sec.  224.101  Enumeration of endangered marine and anadromous species.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Species \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Citation(s) for listing    Critical
                                                                 Description of listed         determination(s)       habitat           ESA rules
             Common name                  Scientific name                entity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Sea Turtles \2\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sea turtle, loggerhead                Caretta caretta.......  Loggerhead sea turtles       76 FR 58868, Sep 22,              NA  224.104
 (Mediterranean Sea DPS).                                      originating from the         2011
                                                               Mediterranean Sea east of
                                                               5[deg]36' W. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (North Indian  Caretta caretta.......  Loggerhead sea turtles       76 FR 58868, Sep 22,              NA  224.104
 Ocean DPS).                                                   originating from the North   2011
                                                               Indian Ocean north of the
                                                               equator and south of
                                                               30[deg] N. Lat.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (North         Caretta caretta.......  Loggerhead sea turtles       76 FR 58868, Sep 22,              NA  224.104
 Pacific Ocean DPS).                                           originating from the North   2011
                                                               Pacific north of the
                                                               equator and south of
                                                               60[deg] N. Lat.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (Northeast     Caretta caretta.......  Loggerhead sea turtles       76 FR 58868, Sep 22,              NA  224.104
 Atlantic Ocean DPS).                                          originating from the         2011
                                                               Northeast Atlantic Ocean
                                                               north of the equator,
                                                               south of 60[deg] N. Lat.,
                                                               and east of 40[deg] W.
                                                               Long., except in the
                                                               vicinity of the Strait of
                                                               Gibraltar where the
                                                               eastern boundary is
                                                               5[deg]36' W. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (South         Caretta caretta.......  Loggerhead sea turtles       76 FR 58868, Sep 22,              NA  224.104
 Pacific Ocean DPS).                                           originating from the South   2011
                                                               Pacific south of the
                                                               equator, north of 60[deg]
                                                               S. Lat., west of 67[deg]
                                                               W. Long., and east of
                                                               141[deg] E. Long.
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
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\1\ Species includes taxonomic species, subspecies, distinct population segments (DPSs) (for a policy statement, see 61 FR 4722, February 7, 1996), and
  evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) (for a policy statement, see 56 FR 58612, November 20, 1991).
\2\ Jurisdiction for sea turtles by the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, is
  limited to turtles while in the water.

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2014-30677 Filed 12-30-14; 8:45 am]
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