[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51763-51764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21150]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223 and 224

[Docket No. 120425024-5724-05]
RIN 0648-XB089


Endangered and Threatened Species; Identification and Proposed 
Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles 
(Chelonia mydas) as Endangered or Threatened and Revision of Current 
Listings; Third Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce; United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS), Interior.

[[Page 51764]]


ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On March 23, 2015, NMFS and USFWS (or the Services) published 
a proposed rule to revise the listings of the green sea turtle 
(Chelonia mydas; hereafter referred to as the green turtle) under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). We opened a public comment period that 
lasted through June 22, 2015. On June 17, 2015, we published a document 
extending the public comment period through July 27, 2015. On July 27, 
2015, we published a document again extending the public comment period 
to August 26, 2015. Having received a request to further extend the 
comment period, with this document we further extend the comment period 
to September 25, 2015.

DATES: The comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking 
published on March 23, 2015 (80 FR 15271), is extended. Comments and 
information regarding this proposed rule must be received by close of 
business on September 25, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0154, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
    1. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2012-0154,
    2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, 
and
    3. Enter or attach your comments.

OR

     Mail: Submit written comments to Green Turtle Proposed 
Listing Rule, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13535, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
or Green Turtle Proposed Listing Rule, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
North Florida Ecological Services Office, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 
200, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
    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 the Services. All comments received will be a 
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. The Services will accept 
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to 
remain anonymous). The proposed rule is available electronically at 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/green.htm and http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle%20factsheets/green-sea-turtle.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Schultz, NMFS (ph. 301-427-
8443, email [email protected]), or Ann Marie Lauritsen, USFWS 
(ph. 904-731-3032, email [email protected]). Persons who use a 
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, and 
7 days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The green turtle is currently listed under the ESA as a threatened 
species globally, with the exception of the Florida and Mexican Pacific 
coast breeding populations, which are listed as endangered. On March 
23, 2015 (80 FR 15271), the Services published a proposed rule to 
revise these listings because we found that the green turtle is 
composed of 11 distinct population segments (DPSs) that qualify for 
listing under the ESA. We proposed to remove the current listings and, 
in their place, list eight DPSs as threatened and three as endangered. 
We also proposed to apply existing protective regulations to the DPSs 
and to continue the existing critical habitat designation (i.e., waters 
surrounding Culebra Island, Puerto Rico) in effect for the North 
Atlantic DPS. We solicited comments on these proposed actions and 
indicated that comments must be received by June 22, 2015. On June 7, 
2015 (80 FR 34594), we announced additional public hearings and 
extended the public comment period through July 27, 2015. On July 27, 
2015 (80 FR 44322), we extended the public comment period through 
August 26, 2015, due to a typhoon and the loss of internet in Saipan, 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). On August 17, 
2015, we received a request to further extend the public comment period 
due to another typhoon and the loss of electricity in CNMI. We concur 
with this request and hereby extend the public comment period by an 
additional 30 days, until September 25, 2015. Previously submitted 
comments do not need to be resubmitted.

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

    Dated: August 19, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    Dated: August 18, 2015.
James W. Kurth,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21150 Filed 8-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P