[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 229 (Friday, November 27, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76262-76299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21226]



[[Page 76261]]

Vol. 85

Friday,

No. 229

November 27, 2020

Part III





Department of Commerce





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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration





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50 CFR Parts 223 and 226





Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the Threatened 
Indo-Pacific Corals; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 85 , No. 229 / Friday, November 27, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 76262]]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 223 and 226

[Docket No: 200918-0249]
RIN 0648-BJ52


Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the 
Threatened Indo-Pacific Corals

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), propose to 
designate critical habitat for the seven threatened corals in U.S. 
waters in the Indo-Pacific (Acropora globiceps, Acropora jacquelineae, 
Acropora retusa, Acropora speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, Isopora 
crateriformis, and Seriatopora aculeata) pursuant to section 4 of the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). Seventeen specific occupied areas 
containing physical features essential to the conservation of these 
coral species are being proposed for designation as critical habitat; 
these areas contain approximately 600 square kilometers (km\2\; 230 
square miles) of marine habitat. We have considered positive and 
negative economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the 
proposed designations, and we propose to exclude two areas from the 
critical habitat designations due to anticipated impacts on national 
security. We are soliciting comments from the public on all aspects of 
the proposal, including our identification of the geographical area and 
depths occupied by the species, the physical and biological feature 
essential to the coral species' conservation and identification, areas 
not included and excluded, and consideration of impacts of the proposed 
action.

DATES: Comments on this proposal must be received by January 26, 2021.
    Public hearings: If requested, we will hold at least one public 
hearing on this proposed rule.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the docket number 
NOAA-NMFS-2016-0131, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0131 click the ``Comment Now'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Lance Smith, Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 
Pacific Islands Regional Office, NOAA Inouye Regional Center, 1845 Wasp 
Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
    Instructions: You must submit comments by one of the previously 
described methods to ensure that we receive, document, and consider 
them. 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. All comments received are a part of the public record and 
will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. 
All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required 
fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Smith, NMFS, Pacific Islands 
Regional Office, 808-725-5131, [email protected]; or, Celeste Stout, 
NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8436, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with section 4(b) of the ESA 
(16 U.S.C. 1533) and our implementing regulations (50 CFR 424.12), this 
proposed rule is based on the best scientific information available 
concerning the range, biology, habitat, threats to the habitat, and 
conservation objectives for the seven threatened corals in U.S. waters 
of the Indo-Pacific (Acropora globiceps, A. jacquelineae, A. retusa, A. 
speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, Isopora crateriformis, and Seriatopora 
aculeata). We reviewed the available information and have used it to 
identify physical and biological features essential to the conservation 
of each coral, the specific areas within the occupied areas that 
contain the essential physical and biological features that may require 
special management considerations or protections, the Federal 
activities that may impact the physical or biological features or 
areas, and the potential impacts of designating critical habitat for 
these seven Indo-Pacific corals. The economic, national security, and 
other relevant impacts of the proposed critical habitat designations 
for these coral species are described in the draft document titled, 
``Endangered Species Act Critical Habitat Information Report: Basis and 
Impact Considerations of Critical Habitat Designations for Threatened 
Indo-Pacific Corals,'' hereafter referred to as the Draft Information 
Report (NMFS, 2019). This supporting document is available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals, at www.regulations.gov, or upon request 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Background

    We listed 20 coral species as threatened under the ESA on September 
10, 2014 (79 FR 53851). Although 15 of the listed species occur in the 
Indo-Pacific, only 7 of the listed coral species have been found in 
U.S. waters: A. globiceps, A. jacquelineae, A. retusa, A. speciosa, E. 
paradivisa, I. crateriformis, and S. aculeata. These seven species have 
been found in the U.S. jurisdictions of American Samoa, Guam, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and the Pacific 
Remote Island Area (PRIA). The final listing determinations were based 
on the best available information on a suite of demographic, spatial, 
and susceptibility components that influence the species' vulnerability 
to extinction in the face of continuing threats over the foreseeable 
future. All 20 listed species have undergone some level of population 
decline and are susceptible to multiple threats, including: Ocean 
warming, diseases, ocean acidification, ecological effects of fishing, 
and land-based sources of pollution. We found that aspects of the 
species' demography and distribution buffer the effects of these 
threats. Although we have no information that indicates that these 
species are currently in danger of extinction, we determined that they 
all are likely to become endangered throughout all of their ranges 
within the foreseeable future as a result of a combination of threats, 
the most severe of which are related to climate change. As such, we 
listed them as threatened. The following proposed rule is based on our 
Draft Information Report and peer review comments on the report. All of 
the information that we used to make our determinations in this 
proposed rule is contained in that report. The Draft Information Report 
is available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals, at 
www.regulations.gov, or upon request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).

Natural History

    This section summarizes life history and biological characteristics 
of Indo-

[[Page 76263]]

Pacific reef-building corals to provide context for the identification 
of the physical and biological feature essential for the conservation 
of these species. In this section, we cover several topic areas 
including an introduction to reef-building corals, as well as 
reproduction, settlement and growth, coral habitat types, and coral 
reef ecosystems. There is little species-specific information available 
on the life history, reproductive biology, and ecology for the seven 
corals that occur in U.S. waters of the Indo-Pacific, because many of 
the several hundred Indo-Pacific reef-building corals resemble one 
another, thus most investigations to date have been at the genus level. 
We provide specific information for each species where possible. In 
addition, we provide general information on the biology and ecology of 
the Indo-Pacific corals, highlighting traits that these seven corals 
share. The information below is largely summarized from the final 
listing rule (79 FR 53851; September 10, 2014), and it has been updated 
with the best available scientific information to date. The seven ESA-
listed Indo-Pacific corals are reef-building corals. Reef-building 
corals, in the phylum Cnidaria, are marine invertebrates that occur as 
polyps. The Cnidaria include true stony corals (class Anthozoa, order 
Scleractinia), the blue coral (class Anthozoa, order Helioporacea), and 
fire corals (class Hydrozoa, order Milleporina). These species secrete 
massive calcium carbonate skeletons that form the physical structure of 
coral reefs. Reef-building coral species collectively produce coral 
reefs over time in high-growth conditions, but they also occur in non-
reef habitats. That is, they are reef-building, but not reef-dependent. 
About 90 percent of the world's approximately 800 reef-building coral 
species occur in the Indo-Pacific (Veron, 2000). These unique animals 
contain symbiotic algae within their cells, they produce clones of 
themselves by different means, and most of them occur as colonies of 
polyps. Polyps are the building blocks of colonies, and colony growth 
occurs both by increasing the number of polyps, as well as extending 
the supporting skeleton under each polyp.
    Reef-building corals are able to grow and thrive in the 
characteristically nutrient-poor environments of tropical and 
subtropical regions due to their ability to form mutually beneficial 
symbioses with unicellular photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) living 
within the host coral's tissues. Zooxanthellae belong to the 
dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium and provide nutrition to the host 
coral by translocating fixed organic carbon and other nutrients. In 
return, they receive inorganic waste metabolites from host respiration 
as well as protection from grazing. This exchange of nutrients allows 
both partners to flourish and helps the coral secrete the calcium 
carbonate that forms the skeletal structure of the coral colony, which 
in turn contributes to the formation of the reef. Thus, reef-building 
corals are also known as zooxanthellate corals. Some corals do not 
contain zooxanthellae, and these species form much smaller skeletons, 
and therefore are not considered reef-building. The seven ESA-listed 
Indo-Pacific corals discussed in this proposed rule are zooxanthellate 
species, and thus are reef-building, because they contain symbiotic 
algae in their cells, enabling them to grow large skeletons that 
contribute to the physical structure of coral reefs.
    Coral polyps can occur as free-living, solitary polyps (e.g., 
fungiids) or as colonies of polyps, depending on the species. Most 
reef-building coral species are colonial, producing colonies made up of 
dozens to thousands of polyps that are connected seamlessly through 
tissue and skeleton. In a colonial species, a single larva will develop 
into a discrete unit (the primary polyp) that then produces modular 
units of itself (i.e., genetically-identical copies, or clones, of the 
primary polyp, otherwise known as clones). Each polyp consists of a 
column with mouth and tentacles on the upper side growing on top of a 
calcium carbonate skeleton, which the polyps produce through the 
process of calcification. Colony growth is achieved mainly through the 
addition of more cloned polyps. The colony can continue to exist even 
if numerous polyps die, or if the colony is broken apart or otherwise 
damaged. The seven listed Indo-Pacific corals are all colonial species, 
although polyp size, colony size, and colony morphology vary 
considerably by species and also based on environmental variables in 
different habitats. Colonies themselves can produce clones, most 
commonly through fragmentation or budding (described in more detail 
below). Clones can also be produced in some species by asexual larvae 
or polyp bail-out (a rare case when an individual polyp breaks away 
from the colony due to poor environmental conditions and re-settles 
elsewhere). The seven listed Indo-Pacific corals are all clonal 
species, both as colonies of cloned polyps, and with the ability to 
produce clones of individual colonies. The way they produce colony-
level clones varies by species. For example, branching species are much 
more likely than encrusting species to produce clones via 
fragmentation; Brainard et al., 2011).
    Corals use a number of diverse reproductive strategies that have 
been researched extensively; however, many individual species' 
reproductive modes remain poorly described. Most coral species use both 
sexual and asexual propagation. Sexual reproduction in corals is 
primarily through gametogenesis (i.e., development of eggs and sperm 
within the polyps). Some coral species have separate sexes 
(gonochoric), while others are hermaphroditic. Strategies for 
fertilization are either by brooding (internal fertilization) or 
broadcast spawning (external fertilization). Asexual reproduction in 
coral species most commonly involves fragmentation, by which colony 
pieces or fragments are dislodged from larger colonies and establish 
new colonies, although the budding of new polyps within a colony can 
also be considered asexual reproduction. In many species of branching 
corals, fragmentation is a common and sometimes dominant means of 
propagation (79 FR 53852, September 10, 2014).
    Of the seven listed Indo-Pacific species, A. retusa, A. globiceps, 
and A. jacquelineae are all hermaphroditic spawners. The reproductive 
characteristics of A. speciosa have not yet been determined, but most 
other Acropora species are also hermaphroditic spawners. Euphyllia 
paradivisa's reproductive mode is unknown and other Euphyllia species 
exhibit a variety of reproductive characteristics, so it is unclear 
which is most probable for the species. The reproductive 
characteristics of I. crateriformis and S. aculeata have also not been 
determined, but other similar species of both Isopora and Seriatopora 
are simultaneous hermaphroditic brooders. As for skeletal growth, there 
is no species-specific information available, but branching Acropora 
species such as the four listed Acropora species are typically 
relatively fast-growing (Brainard et al., 2011).
    Coral larvae presumably experience considerable mortality from 
predation or other factors prior to settlement and metamorphosis. Such 
mortality cannot be directly observed, but is inferred from the large 
number of eggs and sperm spawned versus the much smaller number of 
recruits observed later. Little is known concerning the settlement 
patterns of planulae (free-swimming larvae) of the listed Indo-Pacific 
corals. In general, upon proper

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stimulation, coral larvae, whether released from parental colonies or 
developed in the water column external to the parental colonies (like 
Acropora spp.), settle and metamorphose on appropriate substrates. 
Biological and physical factors that have been shown to affect spatial 
and temporal patterns of coral recruitment include substrate 
availability and community structure, grazing pressure, fecundity, mode 
and timing of reproduction, behavior of larvae, hurricane disturbance, 
physical oceanography, the structure of established coral assemblages, 
and chemical cues. Like most corals, the listed Indo-Pacific corals 
require hard, consolidated substrate, including attached, dead coral 
skeleton, for their larvae to settle. Algal growth limits the amount of 
hard substrate available to coral settlement, and a low nutrient 
environment is less conducive to algal growth. Once larvae are able to 
settle onto appropriate hard substrate, metabolic energy is diverted to 
colony growth and maintenance.
    Reef-building corals combine calcium and carbonate ions derived 
from seawater into crystals that form their skeletons. Skeletal 
expansion rates vary greatly by taxa, morphology, location, habitat and 
other factors. For example, in general, branching species (e.g., most 
Acropora species) have much higher skeletal extension rates than 
massive species (e.g., massive Porites species). The energy required to 
produce new polyps and build calcium carbonate skeleton is provided by 
the symbiotic relationship corals have with photosynthetic 
zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae require light to photosynthesize, thus 
lower water clarity (i.e., poor transparency) reduces the host coral's 
energy, growth and survival by limiting the amount of light that 
penetrates the water. Lower water clarity sharply reduces 
photosynthesis in zooxanthellae with moderate reductions in adult 
colony survival and calcification. The skeletons of coral colonies are 
bound together by cementation, resulting in the formation of coral 
reefs. Species with high recruitment rates or fast growth rates may 
have the ability to recover more quickly from disturbances. 
Additionally, long-lived species with large colony size can sustain 
partial mortality (fission) and still have the potential for 
persistence and regrowth (79 FR 53852, September 10, 2014). Additional 
information on the biological requirements for reproduction, 
settlement, and growth is provided below in the Physical and Biological 
Features Essential for Conservation section.
    Shallow coral reefs are fragile ecosystems that exist in a narrow 
band of environmental conditions that allow the skeletons of reef-
building coral species to grow quickly enough for reef accretion to 
outpace reef erosion. High-growth conditions for reef-building corals 
include clear, warm waters with abundant light, and low levels of 
nutrients, sediments, and freshwater. The three broad categories of 
coral reefs are fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing 
reefs are mostly close to coastlines, and usually have a high component 
of non-carbonate sediment. Barrier reefs are offshore and are composed 
of wave-resistant consolidated limestone. Atolls are usually a wall of 
reefs partially or completely enclosing a central lagoon. There are not 
sharp differences that clearly mark boundaries between reef types. For 
example, fringing reefs gradually become barrier reefs with increasing 
distance from shore. Also, the shape of both barrier reefs and atolls 
is largely determined by the bathymetry of the substratum, producing 
many irregularly shaped reefs that are intermediary between the two 
types. Isolated reefs that do not fit any of these descriptions are 
referred to as platform reefs. Despite the differences between the reef 
categories, most fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls, and platform 
reefs consist of a reef slope, a reef crest, and a back-reef, which in 
turn are typically characterized by distinctive habitats. The 
characteristics of coral reef habitat vary greatly by reef categories, 
locations, latitudes, frequency of disturbance, etc., and there is also 
much variability within each habitat type. Temporal variability in 
coral habitat conditions is also very high, both cyclically (e.g., from 
tidal, seasonal, annual, and decadal cycles) and episodically (e.g., 
storms, temperature anomalies, etc.). Together, all these factors 
contribute to the habitat heterogeneity of coral reefs across the Indo-
Pacific, as described in more detail in the final listing rule (79 FR 
53852; September 10, 2014).
    As described previously, reef-building corals are not dependent on 
coral reefs, and many of these species can thrive in low-growth 
conditions where skeletal growth is inadequate to result in accretion 
of coral reefs. ``Non-reef habitat'' refers to hard substrates where 
reef-building corals can grow, including marginal habitats where 
conditions prevent reef development (e.g., turbid or high-latitude or 
upwelling-influenced areas) and recently available habitat (e.g., lava 
flows). All the listed species can occur in both shallow coral reef and 
non-reef habitats, provided that hard substrate and suitable water 
quality are present. The term ``mesophotic habitat'' refers to hard 
substrates deeper than 30 m. Shallow coral reefs, non-reef habitats, 
and mesophotic habitats are not necessarily sharply delineated from one 
another, thus one may gradually blend into another. The total area of 
non-reef and mesophotic habitats is likely greater than the total area 
of shallow coral reef habitats within the ranges of the listed corals 
(79 FR 53852; September 10, 2014). Despite the large amount of 
variability in habitats occupied by corals, they have several 
characteristics in common that provide the fundamental support 
necessary for coral settlement and growth, including hard substrate and 
low-nutrient, clear water with good light penetration.
    The seven listed Indo-Pacific species within U.S. waters vary in 
their recorded depth ranges and habitat types. Acropora globiceps 
occurs on upper reef slopes, reef flats, and adjacent habitats. In the 
final listing rule, the best available information indicated this 
species occurs in depths ranging from 0 to 8 meters (m). However, in 
2015, we learned that A. globiceps has been observed in American Samoa 
at 11 m (Asili, Tutuila) and 18 m in the National Park of American 
Samoa on the north side of Tutuila (D. Fenner, pers. comm., 2015). 
Based on the new information, we consider the rangewide depth 
distributions of A. globiceps to be 0 to 20 m. Acropora jacquelineae is 
found in numerous subtidal reef slope and back-reef habitats, including 
but not limited to, lower reef slopes, walls and ledges, mid-slopes, 
and upper reef slopes protected from wave action, and its depth range 
is 10 to 35 m (D. Fenner, pers. comm. 2015). Acropora retusa occurs in 
shallow reef slope and back-reef areas, such as upper reef slopes, reef 
flats, and shallow lagoons. In the final listing rule, the best 
available information indicated its depth range to be 0 to 5 m. In 
2015, we learned that A. retusa has been observed in American Samoa at 
10 m near Asili on Tutuila Island (D. Fenner, pers. comm. 2015). Based 
on the previously described new information combined with the fact that 
it's almost always found in shallower waters, we consider the rangewide 
depth distribution of A. retusa to be 0 to 10 m in this rule. Acropora 
speciosa occurs on lower reef slopes and walls, especially those 
characterized by clear water and high Acropora diversity, in a depth 
range of 12 to 40 m (Veron, 2014). Euphyllia paradivisa is found in 
environments protected from wave action on at least upper reef slopes, 
mid-

[[Page 76265]]

slope terraces, and lagoons at a depth range of 2 to 25 m (Veron, 
2014). Isopora crateriformis's predominant habitat is shallow, high-
wave energy environments, including reef flats and reef crests, and it 
also occurs in adjacent habitats such as upper reef slopes. It has a 
depth distribution of 0 to 12 m, and has been reported as common at 5 
to 10 m (D. Fenner, pers. comm. 2015). Seriatopora aculeata occurs in a 
broad range of habitats on the reef slope and back reef, including but 
not limited to upper reef slopes, mid-slope terraces, lower reef 
slopes, reef flats, and lagoons in a depth range of 3 to 40 m (Veron, 
2014).
    In summary, based on the best currently available information, we 
consider the rangewide depth distributions of the seven listed species 
as follows: A. globiceps, 0 to 20 m; A. jacquelineae, 10 to 35 m; A. 
retusa, 0 to 10 m; A. speciosa, 12 to 40 m; E. paradivisa, 2 to 25 m; 
I. crateriformis, 0 to 12 m; and S. aculeata, 3 to 40 m (Table 1).

                                               Table 1--Confirmed Geographic and Depth Distributions of Threatened Indo-Pacific Corals in the U.S.
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                        Jurisdiction                                  Am Samoa                          Mariana Islands (Guam and CNMI)                        Pacific Remote Island Area
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                          Unit \1\                             1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8      9      10     11     12     13     14     15     16     17     18     19
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A. globiceps, (0-20 m).....................................     X      X      X      X      X      X      X      X      X      X      X      X      X   .....     X      X   .....     X   .....
A. jacquelineae, (10-35 m).................................     X   .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....
A. retusa, (0-10 m)........................................     X      X      X      X      X   .....  .....     X   .....  .....  .....  .....  .....     X   .....     X      X      X      X
A. speciosa, (12-40 m).....................................     X   .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....     X   .....  .....  .....
E. paradivisa, (2-40 m)....................................     X   .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....
I. crateriformis, (0-12 m).................................     X      X      X   .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....
S. aculeata, (3-40 m)......................................  .....  .....  .....  .....     X   .....  .....  .....     X   .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....  .....
                                                            ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Depths of all listed spp.\2\...........................     a      b      b      b      a      b      b      b      a      b      b      b      b      c      B      a      c      b      c
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\1\ Unit Key: (1) Tutuila & Offshore Banks; (2) Ofu & Olosega; (3) Ta'u; (4) Rose Atoll; (5) Guam & Offshore Banks; (6) Rota; (7) Aguijian; (8) Tinian and Tatsumi Reef; (9) Saipan and Garapan
  Bank; (10) Farallon de Medinilla; (11) Anatahan; (12) Pagan; (13) Maug Islands & Supply Reef; (14) Howland Island; (15) Palmyra Atoll; (16) Kingman Reef; (17) Johnston Atoll; (18) Wake
  Atoll; and (19) Jarvis Island.
\2\ Depth Key: (a) 0-40 m; (b) 0-20 m; (c) 0-10 m.

    Species identification of many Indo-Pacific reef-building corals is 
challenging, even for experts who have worked in the field for decades. 
There are a multitude of reasons for this, including: Poor quality type 
specimens; lack of samples to verify photos; inter-specific and intra-
specific morphological plasticity and variability; inherent human 
subjectivity; and unreliable published information. For the seven 
listed species considered here, current species identification 
uncertainty is rated as moderate or high for six species (all but E. 
paradivisa). In addition, because traditional coral identification is 
based on colony morphological characteristics, and recent genetics 
results often contradict morphological identifications, species 
identification uncertainty is predicted to increase for most of these 
species (Fenner, 2015).

Critical Habitat Identification and Designation

    The purpose of designating critical habitat is to identify the 
areas that are essential to the species' recovery. Once critical 
habitat is designated, it can contribute to the conservation of listed 
species in several ways, including by identifying areas where Federal 
agencies can focus their section 7(a)(1) conservation programs, and 
helping focus the efforts of other conservation partners, such as 
States and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and 
individuals (81 FR 7414, February 11, 2016). Designating critical 
habitat also provides a significant regulatory protection by ensuring 
that the Federal government considers the effects of its actions in 
accordance with section 7(a)(2) of the ESA and avoids or modifies those 
actions that are likely to destroy or adversely modify critical 
habitat. This requirement is in addition to the section 7 requirement 
that Federal agencies ensure that their actions are not likely to 
jeopardize the continued existence of ESA-listed species. Critical 
habitat requirements do not apply to citizens engaged in activities on 
private land that do not involve a Federal agency.
    Section 3(5)(A) of the ESA defines critical habitat as (i) the 
specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the species, at 
the time it is listed in accordance with the provisions of section 4 of 
the ESA, on which are found those physical or biological features (I) 
essential to the conservation of the species and (II) which may require 
special management considerations or protections; and (ii) specific 
areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time 
it is listed in accordance with the provisions of section 4 of the ESA, 
upon a determination by the Secretary that such areas are essential for 
the conservation of the species (16 U.S.C. 1532(5)(A)). Conservation is 
defined in section 3 of the ESA as the use of all methods and 
procedures which are necessary to bring any endangered species or 
threatened species to the point at which the measures provided pursuant 
to this chapter are no longer necessary (16 U.S.C. 1532(3)). Therefore, 
critical habitat is the habitat essential for the species' recovery. 
However, section 3(5)(C) of the ESA clarifies that, except in those 
circumstances determined by the Secretary, critical habitat shall not 
include the entire geographical area which can be occupied by the 
threatened or endangered species.
    To identify and designate critical habitat, we considered 
information on the distribution of the seven threatened Indo-Pacific 
corals, their major life stages, habitat requirements of those life 
stages, threats to the species, and conservation objectives that can be 
supported by identifiable essential physical or biological features 
(hereafter also referred to as ``PBFs'' or ``essential features''). In 
the final listing rule, ocean warming, diseases, ocean acidification, 
trophic effects of reef fishing, nutrient enrichment, sedimentation, 
and inadequacy of regulatory mechanisms were found to be the main 
threats contributing to the threatened status of all seven corals. 
Several other threats also contributed to the species' statuses, but 
were considered to be relatively lower in importance as compared to the 
main threats. Therefore, we evaluated physical and biological features 
of their habitats to determine what features are essential to the 
conservation of each coral.
    Accordingly, our step-wise approach for identifying potential 
critical habitat areas for the threatened corals was to determine: (1) 
The geographical area occupied by each coral at the time of listing; 
(2) the physical or biological

[[Page 76266]]

features essential to the conservation of the corals; (3) whether those 
features may require special management considerations or protection; 
(4) the specific areas of the occupied geographical area where these 
features occur; and, (5) whether any unoccupied areas are essential to 
the conservation of any of the corals.

Geographical Area Occupied by the Species

    ``Geographical area occupied'' in the definition of critical 
habitat is interpreted to mean the entire range of the species at the 
time it was listed, inclusive of all areas they use and move through 
seasonally (81 FR 7413; February 11, 2016). We did not consider 
geographical areas outside of the United States because we cannot 
designate critical habitat areas outside of U.S. jurisdiction (50 CFR 
424.12(g)). As noted previously, seven of the listed species have been 
confirmed within U.S. Pacific Islands waters (Table 1), and only these 
seven are currently being considered for critical habitat designation. 
We first identified the U.S. jurisdictional areas where observations of 
listed coral species have been confirmed. In summary, six listed 
species are confirmed in American Samoa (A. globiceps, A. jacquelineae, 
A. speciosa, A. retusa, I. crateriformis, and E. paradivisa); three 
listed species are confirmed in Guam and CNMI (A. globiceps, A. retusa, 
and S. aculeata); and three listed species are confirmed in PRIA (A. 
globiceps, A. retusa, and A. speciosa). We further broke down the areas 
under consideration for critical habitat designation into 19 units 
based on information on the confirmed locations of each species within 
these jurisdictions, in order to better describe the geographic areas 
occupied by each species. The units generally consist of individual 
islands or atolls and nearby shoals or banks. Table 1 shows the 
distributions of the seven listed species by both jurisdiction and 
critical habitat unit. The proposed units are shown in the figures at 
the end of this rule. More detailed information on the distributions of 
the seven listed species in these units is provided in the Draft 
Information Report (NMFS, 2019).

Physical or Biological Features Essential for Conservation

    Within the geographical area occupied, critical habitat consists of 
specific areas on which are found those PBFs essential to the 
conservation of the species and that may require special management 
considerations or protection. PBFs essential to the conservation of the 
species are defined as the features that occur in specific areas and 
that are essential to support the life-history needs of the species, 
including water characteristics, soil type, geological features, sites, 
prey, vegetation, symbiotic species, or other features. A feature may 
be a single habitat characteristic, or a more complex combination of 
habitat characteristics. Features may include habitat characteristics 
that support ephemeral or dynamic habitat conditions. Features may also 
be expressed in terms relating to principles of conservation biology, 
such as patch size, distribution distances, and connectivity (50 CFR 
424.02).
    In the final listing rule, we determined that the seven corals were 
threatened under the ESA. This means that while the species are not in 
danger of extinction currently, they are likely to become so within the 
next several decades based on their current abundances and trends in 
abundance, distributions, and threats they experience now and in the 
future. The goal of an ESA listing is to first prevent extinction, and 
then to recover the species so they no longer meet the definition of a 
threatened species and no longer need the protections of the ESA. One 
of the first steps in recovery planning we completed after listing 
these coral species was to develop a Recovery Outline that contains a 
Recovery Vision, which describes what the state of full recovery looks 
like for the species. We identified the following Recovery Vision for 
the 15 Indo-Pacific corals listed in 2014, including the 7 species 
covered by this critical habitat rule: Populations of the 15 listed 
Indo-Pacific corals should be present throughout as much of their 
historical ranges as future environmental changes will allow, and may 
expand their ranges into new locations with more favorable habitat 
conditions in the future (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/15-indo-pacific-coral-species-recovery-outline). Recovery of 
these species will require conservation of the coral reef ecosystem 
through threats abatement to ensure a high probability of survival into 
the future (NMFS, 2015). The key conservation objective that 
facilitates this Recovery Vision, and that can be assisted through 
these critical habitat designations, is supporting successful 
reproduction and recruitment, and survival and growth of all life 
stages, by abating threats to the corals' habitats. In the final 
listing rule, we identified the major threats contributing to the seven 
corals' extinction risk: Ocean warming, disease, ocean acidification, 
trophic effects of reef fishing, nutrient enrichment, and 
sedimentation. Five of the six major threats (i.e., all but disease) 
impact corals in part by changing the corals' habitat, making it 
unsuitable for them to carry out the essential functions at all life 
stages. Although it was not considered to be posing a major threat at 
the time of listing, we also identified contaminants as a potential 
threat to each of these corals (79 FR 53852, September 10, 2014). Thus, 
we identify ocean warming, ocean acidification, trophic effects of reef 
fishing, nutrient enrichment, sedimentation, and contaminants as the 
threats to the seven corals' habitat that are impeding their recovery. 
Protecting essential features of the corals' habitat from these threats 
will facilitate the Recovery Vision.
    We then turned to determining the physical or biological features 
essential to this conservation objective of supporting successful 
reproduction and recruitment, and survival and growth of all life 
stages. Specifically, we evaluated whether particular habitat features 
will facilitate recovery through enhancing population growth. There are 
many physical and biological features that are important in supporting 
the corals' habitat; therefore, we focused on a composite habitat 
feature that supports the conservation objective through its relevance 
to the major threats and threats impeding recovery. The essential 
feature we ultimately identified is sites with a complex combination of 
substrate and water column characteristics that support normal 
functions of all life stages of the corals. Due to corals being sessile 
for almost their entire life cycle, they carry out most of their 
demographic functions in one location. Thus, we have identified sites 
with a combination of certain substrate and water column 
characteristics as the essential feature. A detailed discussion of how 
this feature was determined will follow. Specifically, these sites have 
attributes that determine the quality of the appropriate attachment 
substrate, in association with warm, aragonite-supersaturated, 
oligotrophic, clear marine water, which are essential to reproduction 
and recruitment, survival, and growth of all life stages of all seven 
species of coral. These sites can be impacted by ocean acidification 
and ocean warming, trophic effects of reef fishing, nutrient 
enrichment, sedimentation, and contamination.
    Based on the best scientific information available we identify the 
following physical feature essential to the conservation of the seven 
corals. Our proposed definition for the essential feature is:

[[Page 76267]]

    Reproductive, recruitment, growth, and maturation habitat. Sites 
that support the normal function of all life stages of the corals are 
natural, consolidated hard substrate or dead coral skeleton free of 
algae and sediment at the appropriate scale at the point of larval 
settlement or fragment reattachment, and the associated water column. 
Several attributes of these sites determine the quality of the area and 
influence the value of the associated feature to the conservation of 
the species:
    (1) Substrate with presence of crevices and holes that provide 
cryptic habitat, the presence of microbial biofilms, or presence of 
crustose coralline algae;
    (2) Reefscape (all the visible features of an area of reef) with no 
more than a thin veneer of sediment and low occupancy by fleshy and 
turf macroalgae;
    (3) Marine water with levels of temperature, aragonite saturation, 
nutrients, and water clarity that have been observed to support any 
demographic function; and
    (4) Marine water with levels of anthropogenically-introduced (from 
humans) chemical contaminants that do not preclude or inhibit any 
demographic function.
    As described in detail in the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 
2019), all corals require exposed natural consolidated hard substrate 
for the settlement and recruitment of larvae or asexual fragments. 
Substrate provides the physical surface and space necessary for 
settlement of coral larvae, a stable environment for metamorphosis of 
the larvae into the primary polyp, growth of juvenile and adult 
colonies, and re-attachment of fragments. Larvae can settle and attach 
to dead coral skeleton (Brainard et al., 2011). A number of attributes 
have been shown to influence coral larval settlement. Positive cues 
include the presence of crustose coralline algae (Heyward and Negri, 
1999), biofilms (Webster et al., 2004), and cryptic habitat such as 
crevices and holes (Nozawa, 2008). Attributes that negatively affect 
settlement include presence of sediment and algae (Vermeij et al., 
2009). Coral recruitment tends to be greater when macroalgal biomass is 
low (Birrell et al., 2005). In addition to preempting space for coral 
larvae settlement, many fleshy macroalgae produce substances that may 
inhibit larval settlement, recruitment, and survival (Jompa and McCook, 
2003). Furthermore, algal turfs can trap sediments (Purcell and 
Bellwood, 2001), which then create the potential for algal turfs and 
sediments to act in combination to hinder coral settlement (Birrell et 
al., 2005).
    Presence and amount of sediment is a particularly important 
determinant of the quality of substrate for reef-building coral 
habitat. Sediments enter the reef environment through many processes 
that are natural or anthropogenic in origin, including erosion of the 
coastline, resuspension of bottom sediments, terrestrial run-off, and 
nearshore dredging for coastal construction projects and navigation 
purposes. The rate of sedimentation affects reef distribution, 
community structure, growth rates, and coral recruitment (Dutra et al., 
2006). Sediment accumulation on dead coral skeletons and exposed hard 
substrate reduces the amount of available substrate for coral larvae 
settlement and fragment reattachment (Rogers, 1990). Sediment impedes 
settlement of coral larvae (Babcock and Smith, 2002). The deeper the 
sediment, the longer it may take for natural waves and currents to 
remove the sediment from the settlement substrate. Sediment texture 
also affects the severity of impacts to corals and recruitment 
substrate. Fine grain sediments have greater negative effects to live 
coral tissue and to recruitment substrate (Erftemeijer et al., 2012). 
Accumulation of sediments is also a major cause of mortality in coral 
recruits (Fabricius et al., 2003). In some instances, if mortality of 
coral recruits does not occur under heavy sediment conditions, then 
settled coral planulae may undergo reverse metamorphosis and die in the 
water column (Te, 1992). Accumulation of sediment can smother living 
corals, cover dead coral skeleton, and exposed hard substrate 
(Erftemeijer et al., 2012; Fabricius, 2005). Sedimentation, therefore, 
impacts the health and survivorship of all life stages of corals (i.e., 
adults, fragments, larvae, and recruits).
    The literature provides several recommendations on maximum sediment 
levels for coral reefs (i.e., levels that managers should strive to 
stay under). De'ath and Fabricius (2008) and the Great Barrier Reef 
Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA 2010) recommend that sediment levels on 
the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) be less than a mean annual sedimentation 
rate of 3 mg/cm\2\/day, and less than a daily maximum of 15 mg/cm\2\/
day. Rogers (1990) recommends that sediment levels on coral reefs 
globally be less than a mean maximum of 10 mg/cm\2\/day to maintain 
healthy corals, and also notes that moderate to severe effects on 
corals are generally expected at mean maximum sedimentation rates of 10 
to 50 mg/cm\2\/day, and severe to catastrophic effects at >50 mg/cm\2\/
day. Similarly, Erftemeijer et al. (2012) suggests that moderate to 
severe effects to corals are expected at mean maximum sediment levels 
of >10 mg/cm\2\/day, and catastrophic effects at >50 mg/cm\2\/day. 
Nelson et al. (2016) suggests that sediment depths of >0.5 cm result in 
substantial stress to most coral species, and that sediment depths of 
>1.0 cm are lethal to most coral species. The previously described 
generalizations are for coral reef communities and ecosystems, rather 
than individual species.
    Sublethal effects of sediment to corals potentially occur at much 
lower levels than mortality. Sublethal effects include reduced growth, 
lower calcification rates and reduced productivity, bleaching, 
increased susceptibility to diseases, physical damage to coral tissue 
and reef structures (breaking, abrasion), and reduced regeneration from 
tissue damage (see reviews by Fabricius et al., 2005; Erftemeijer et 
al., 2012; Browne et al., 2015; and Rogers, 1990). Erftemeijer et al. 
(2012) states that sublethal effects for coral species that are 
sensitive, intermediate, or tolerant to sediment (i.e., most reef-
building coral species) occur at mean maximum sedimentation rates of 
between <10 and 200 mg/cm\2\/day, depending on species, exposure 
duration, and other factors.
    Finally, artificial substrates and frequently disturbed ``managed 
areas'' are not essential to coral conservation. Only natural 
substrates provide the quality and quantity of recruitment habitat 
necessary for the conservation of threatened corals. Artificial 
substrates are generally less functional than natural substrates in 
terms of supporting healthy and diverse coral reef ecosystems (Edwards 
and Gomez, 2007; USFWS, 2004). Artificial substrates are typically man-
made or introduced substrates that are not naturally occurring to the 
area. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, fixed and 
floating structures, such as aids-to-navigation (AToNs), jetties, 
groins, breakwaters, seawalls, wharves, boat ramps, fishpond walls, 
pipes, wrecks, mooring balls, docks, aquaculture cages, and other 
artificial substrates. Our definition of recruitment substrate does not 
include any artificial substrate. In addition, there are some natural 
substrates that, because of their consistently disturbed nature, also 
do not provide the quality of substrate necessary for the conservation 
of threatened corals. While these areas may provide hard substrate for 
coral settlement and growth over short periods, the periodic nature of 
direct human disturbance renders them poor environments for coral 
growth and

[[Page 76268]]

survival over time (e.g., they can become covered with sediment). 
Therefore, they are not essential to the conservation of the species. 
Specific areas that may contain these disturbed natural substrates are 
described in the Specific Areas Containing the Essential Features 
within the Geographical Areas Occupied by the Species section of this 
proposed rule.
    The substrate characterized previously must be associated with 
water that also supports all life functions of corals that are carried 
out at the site. Water quality conditions fluctuate greatly over 
various spatial and temporal scales in natural reef environments 
(Kleypas et al., 1999). However, certain levels of particular 
parameters (e.g., water clarity, water temperature, aragonite 
saturation) must exist on average to provide the conditions conducive 
to coral growth, reproduction, and recruitment. Corals may tolerate and 
survive in conditions outside these levels, depending on the local 
conditions to which they have acclimatized and the intensity and 
duration of any deviations from conditions conducive to a particular 
coral's growth, reproduction and recruitment. Deviations from tolerance 
levels of certain parameters result in direct negative effects on all 
life stages.
    As described in the Draft Information Report, corals thrive in 
warm, clear, nutrient-poor marine waters with calcium carbonate 
concentrations that allow for symbiont photosynthesis, coral 
physiological processes and skeleton formation. This water must also 
have low to no levels of contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, chemicals) 
that would interfere with normal functions of all life stages. Water 
quality that supports normal functions of corals is adversely affected 
by ocean warming, ocean acidification, nutrient enrichment, 
sedimentation, and contamination.
    Seawater temperature is a particularly important limiting factor of 
coral habitat, and consequently ocean warming is one of the most 
important threats to reef-building corals. Corals occur in a wide 
temperature range across geographic locations (15.7[deg]C-35.5[deg]C 
weekly average and 21.7-29.6[deg]C annual average; Guan et al., 2015), 
but only thrive in areas with mean temperatures in a narrow range 
(typically 25[deg]C-29[deg]C) as indicated by the global distribution 
of coral reefs (Brainard et al., 2011; Kleypas et al., 1999). Short-
term exposures (days) to temperature increases of a few degrees (i.e., 
3[deg]C-4[deg]C increase above mean maximum summer temperature) or 
long-term exposures (several weeks) to minor temperature increases 
(i.e., 1[deg]C-2[deg]C above mean maximum summer temperature) can cause 
significant thermal stress and mortality to most coral species 
(Berkelmans and Willis, 1999; Jokiel and Coles, 1990). In addition to 
coral bleaching, elevated seawater temperatures impair coral 
fertilization and settlement (Nozawa and Harrison, 2007) and cause 
increases in coral disease (Miller et al., 2009).
    Effects of elevated seawater temperatures are well-studied for 
reef-building corals, and many approaches have been used to estimate 
temperature thresholds for coral bleaching and mortality (see reviews 
by Brown, 1997; Berkelmans, 2002; Coles and Brown, 2003; Jokiel, 2004; 
Baker et al., 2007; Jones, 2008; Coles and Riegl, 2013). The tolerance 
of corals to temperature is species-specific (van Woesik et al., 2011; 
Vega-Rodriguez, 2016) and depends on suites of other variables that 
include acclimation temperature, aragonite saturation state, dissolved 
inorganic nitrogen (Cunning and Baker, 2012; Fabricius, 2005; 
Wooldridge, 2013); and physical, physiological, and chemical stressors, 
including suspended sediments and turbidity (Anthony et al., 2007; 
Woods et al., 2016); trace metals such as copper (Negri and Hoogenboom, 
2011; Woods et al., 2016); ultraviolet radiation (Anthony et al., 
2007); and salinity, nitrates, and phosphates (Negri and Hoogenboom, 
2011).
    Ocean warming is one of the most significant threats to the seven 
ESA-listed Indo-Pacific corals. Mean seawater temperatures in reef-
building coral habitat in the Indo-Pacific have increased during the 
past few decades, and are predicted to continue to rise between now and 
2100 (IPCC, 2013). The primary observable coral response to ocean 
warming is bleaching of adult coral colonies, wherein corals expel 
their symbiotic zooxanthellae in response to stress (Brown, 1997). Even 
so, evaluating the effects that changes in water temperatures have on 
the conservation value of coral habitat is very complex and 
contextually-driven, and simple numeric effect thresholds are not 
easily assigned to listed corals to establish when stress responses 
occur. For many corals, an episodic increase of only 1[deg]C-2[deg]C 
above the normal local seasonal maximum ocean temperature can induce 
bleaching (Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2007; Jones, 2008). Corals can 
withstand mild to moderate bleaching; however, severe, repeated, or 
prolonged bleaching can lead to colony death (Brown, 1997). In addition 
to coral bleaching, other effects of ocean warming detrimentally affect 
virtually every life-history stage in reef-building corals. Impaired 
fertilization and developmental abnormalities (Negri and Heyward, 
2000), mortality, and impaired settlement success (Nozawa and Harrison, 
2007) have all been documented. Increased seawater temperature also may 
act synergistically with coral diseases to reduce coral health and 
survivorship (Bruno and Selig, 2007). Coral disease outbreaks often 
have either accompanied or immediately followed bleaching events (Jones 
et al., 2004; Miller et al., 2009). Outbreaks also follow seasonal 
patterns of high seawater temperatures (Willis et al., 2004).
    Coles and Brown (2003) defined a general bleaching threshold for 
reef-building corals as increases in seawater temperatures of 1-3[deg]C 
above maximum annual mean temperatures at a given location. GBRMPA 
(2010) defined a general ``trigger value'' for bleaching in reef-
building corals as increases in seawater temperatures of no more than 
1[deg]C above maximum annual mean temperatures at a given location. 
Because duration of exposure to elevated temperatures determines the 
extent of bleaching, several methods have been developed to integrate 
duration into bleaching thresholds, including the number of days, 
weeks, or months of the elevated temperatures (Berkelmans, 2002; Eakin 
et al., 2009). NOAA's Coral Reef Watch Program utilizes the Degree 
Heating Week method (Glynn and D'Croz, 1990; Eakin et al. 2009), which 
defines a general bleaching threshold for reef-building corals as 
seawater temperatures of 1[deg]C above maximum monthly mean at a given 
location for four consecutive weeks (https://coralreefwatch.noaa. gov/
).
    These general thresholds were developed for coral reef communities 
and ecosystems, rather than individual species. Many of these studies 
are community or ecosystem-focused and do not account for species-
specific responses to changes in seawater temperatures, and instead are 
focused on long-term climatic changes and large scale impacts (e.g., 
coral reef distribution, persistence).
    In summary, temperature deviations from local averages prevent or 
impede successful completion of all life history stages of the listed 
coral species. Identifying temperatures at which the conservation value 
of habitat for listed corals may be affected is inherently complex and 
influenced by taxa, exposure duration, and other factors.
    Carbonate ions (CO32-) are used by many 
marine organisms, including corals, to build calcium carbonate 
skeletons. For corals, the mineral form

[[Page 76269]]

of calcium carbonate in their skeletons is called ``aragonite.'' The 
more carbonate ions there are dissolved in seawater, the easier it is 
for corals to build their aragonite skeletons. The metric used to 
express the relative availability of calcium and carbonate ions is the 
aragonite saturation state ([Omega]arg). Thus, the lower the 
[Omega]arg of seawater, the lower the abundance of carbonate 
ions, and the more energy corals have to expend for skeletal 
calcification, and vice versa (Cohen and Holcomb, 2009). At saturation 
states between 1 and 20, marine organisms can create calcium carbonate 
shells or skeletons using a physiological calcifying mechanism and the 
expenditure of energy. The aragonite saturation state varies greatly 
within and across coral reefs and through daily cycles with 
temperature, salinity, pressure, and localized biological processes 
such as photosynthesis, respiration, and calcification by marine 
organisms (Gray et al., 2012; McMahon et al., 2013; Shaw et al., 
2012b).
    Coral reefs form in an annually-averaged saturation state of 4.0 or 
greater for optimal calcification, and an annually-averaged saturation 
state below 3.3 will result in reduced calcification at rates 
insufficient to maintain net positive reef accretion, resulting in loss 
of reef structure (Guinotte et al., 2003; Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2007). 
Guinotte et al. (2003) classified the range of aragonite saturation 
states between 3.5-4.0 as ``adequate'' and < 3 as ``extremely 
marginal.'' Thus, aragonite saturation state between 3 and 4 is likely 
necessary for coral calcification. But, generally, seawater 
[Omega]arg should be 3.5 or greater to enable maximum 
calcification of reef-building corals, and average 
[Omega]arg in most coral reef areas is currently in that 
range (Guinotte et al., 2003). Further, (Kleypas et al., 1999) 
concluded that a general threshold for [Omega]arg occurs 
near 3.4, because only a few reefs occur where saturation is less than 
this. Guan et al. (2015) found that the minimum aragonite saturation 
observed where coral reefs currently occur is 2.82; however, it is not 
known if those locations hosted live accreting corals. These general 
characterizations and thresholds were identified for coral reef 
communities and ecosystems, rather than individual species.
    Ocean acidification is a term referring to changes in ocean 
carbonate chemistry, including a drop in the pH of ocean waters, that 
is occurring in response to the rise in the quantity of atmospheric 
CO2 and the partial pressure of CO2 
(pCO2) absorbed in oceanic waters (Caldeira and Wickett, 
2003). As pCO2 rises, oceanic pH declines through the 
formation of carbonic acid and subsequent reaction with water resulting 
in an increase of free hydrogen ions. The free hydrogen ions react with 
carbonate ions to produce bicarbonate, reducing the amount of carbonate 
ions available, and thus reducing the aragonite saturation state. Ocean 
acidification is one of the most significant threats to reef-building 
corals (Brainard et al., 2011; Jokiel, 2015).
    A variety of laboratory studies conducted on corals and coral reef 
organisms (e.g., Langdon and Atkinson, 2005) consistently show declines 
in the rate of coral calcification and growth with rising 
pCO2, declining pH, and declining carbonate saturation 
state. Laboratory experiments have also shown that skeletal deposition 
and initiation of calcification in newly settled corals is reduced by 
declining aragonite saturation state (Albright et al., 2008; Cohen et 
al., 2009). Field studies from a variety of coral locations in the 
Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, and Red Sea have shown a decline in linear 
extension rates of coral skeleton under decreasing aragonite saturation 
state (Bak et al., 2009; De'ath et al., 2009; Schneider and Erez, 2006; 
Tanzil et al., 2009). Reduced calcification and slower growth will mean 
slower recovery from breakage, whether natural (hurricanes and storms) 
or human (breakage from vessel groundings, anchors, fishing gear, 
etc.), or mortality from a variety of disturbances. Slower growth also 
implies even higher rates of mortality for newly settled corals due to 
the longer time it will take to reach a colony size that is no longer 
vulnerable to overgrowth competition, sediment smothering, and 
incidental predation. Reduced calcification and slower growth means 
more time to reach reproductive size and reduces sexual and asexual 
reproductive potential. Increased pCO2 coupled with 
increased sea surface temperature can lead to even lower rates of 
calcification, as found in the meta-analysis by Kornder et al. (2018).
    In summary, aragonite saturation reductions prevent or impede 
successful completion of all life history stages of the listed coral 
species. Identifying the declining aragonite saturation state at which 
the conservation value of habitat for listed corals may be affected is 
inherently complex and influenced by taxa, exposure duration, 
acclimatization to localized nutrient regimes, and other factors.
    Nitrogen and phosphorous are two of the main nutrients that affect 
the suitability of coral habitat (Fabricius et al., 2005; Fabricius, 
2005). These two nutrients occur as different compounds in coral reef 
habitats and are necessary in low levels for normal reef function. 
Dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved inorganic phosphorus in the 
forms of nitrate (NO3) and phosphate (PO43) are 
particularly important for photosynthesis, with dissolved organic 
nitrogen also providing an important source of nitrogen, and are the 
dominant forms of nitrogen and phosphorous in coral reef waters. 
Nutrients are a major component of land-based sources of pollution 
(LBSP), one of the most important threats to reef-building corals 
(Brainard et al., 2011). Excessive nutrients affect corals through two 
main mechanisms: direct impacts on coral physiology such as reduced 
fertilization and growth (Harrison and Ward, 2001; Ferrier-Pages et 
al., 2000), and indirect effects through nutrient-stimulation of other 
community components (e.g., macroalgae seaweeds, turfs/filamentous 
algae, cyanobacteria, and filter feeders) that compete with corals for 
space on the reef (79 FR 53851, September 10, 2014). As discussed 
previously, the latter also affects the quality of recruitment 
substrate. The physiological response a coral exhibits to an increase 
in nutrients mainly depends on concentration and duration. A short 
duration of a large increase in a nutrient may result in a severe 
adverse response, just as a chronic, lower concentration might.
    Most coral reefs occur where annual mean nutrient levels are low. 
Kleypas et al. (1999) analyzed dissolved nutrient data from nearly 
1,000 coral reef sites, finding mean values of 0.25 micromoles per 
liter ([mu]mol/l) for NO3, and 0.13 [mu]mol/l for 
PO4. Over 90 percent of the sites had mean NO3 
values of <0.6 [mu]mol/l, and mean PO4 values of <0.2 
[mu]mol/l (Kleypas et al., 1999). Several authors, including Bell and 
Elmetri (1995) and Lapointe (1997) have proposed threshold values of 
1.0 [mu]mol/l for NO3, and 0.1-0.2 [mu]mol/l for 
PO4, above which NO3 and PO4 are 
excessive (eutrophic). However, concentrations of dissolved nutrients 
are poor indicators of coral reef status, and the concept of a simple 
threshold concentration that indicates eutrophication has little 
validity (McCook et al., 1999). One reason for that is because corals 
are exposed to nutrients in a variety of forms, including dissolved 
nitrogen (e.g., NO3), dissolved phosphorus (e.g., 
PO43), particulate nitrogen (PN), and particulate phosphate 
(PP). Since the dissolved forms are assimilated rapidly by 
phytoplankton, and the majority of nitrogen and phosphorus discharged 
in

[[Page 76270]]

terrestrial runoff is in the particulate forms, PN and PP are the most 
common bio-available forms of nutrients for corals on coastal zone 
reefs (Cooper and Fabricius, 2007). Thus, De'ath and Fabricius (2008) 
and GBRMPA (2010) provide general recommendations on maximum annual 
mean values for PN and PP of 1.5 [mu]mol/l PN and 0.09 [mu]mol/l PP for 
coastal zone reefs. These generalizations are for coral reef 
communities and ecosystems, rather than individual species.
    As noted previously, identifying nutrient concentrations at which 
the conservation value of habitat for listed corals may be affected is 
inherently complex and influenced by taxa, exposure duration, and 
acclimatization to localized nutrient regimes, and other factors.
    Water clarity or transparency is a key factor for marine ecosystems 
and it is the best explanatory variable for a range of bioindicators of 
reef health (Fabricius et al., 2012). Water clarity affects the light 
availability for photosynthetic organisms and food availability for 
filter feeders. Corals depend upon their symbiotic algae for nutrition 
and thus depend on light availability for algal photosynthesis. Reduced 
water clarity is determined by the presence of particles of sediment, 
organic matter, and/or plankton in the water, and so is often 
associated with elevated sedimentation and/or nutrients. Water clarity 
can be measured in multiple ways, including percent of solar irradiance 
at depth, Secchi depth (the depth in the water column at which a black 
and white disk is no longer visible), and Nephelometric Turbidity Unit 
(NTU) (measure of light scatter based on particles in the water 
column). Reef-building corals naturally occur across a broad range of 
water clarity levels from very turbid waters on enclosed reefs near 
river mouths (Browne et al., 2012) to very clear waters on offshore 
barrier reefs, and many intermediate habitats such as open coastal and 
mid-shelf reefs (GBRMPA, 2010). Coral reefs appear to thrive in 
extremely clear areas where Secchi depth is >= 15 m or light scatter is 
< 1 NTU (De'ath and Fabricius, 2010). Typical levels of total suspended 
solids (TSS) in reef environments are less than 10 mg/L (Rogers, 1990). 
The minimum light level for reef development is about 6-8 percent of 
surface irradiance (Fabricius et al., 2014).
    For a particular coral colony, tolerated water clarity levels 
likely depend on several factors, including species, life history 
stage, spatial variability, and temporal variability. For example, 
colonies of a species occurring on fringing reefs around high volcanic 
islands with extensive groundwater inputs are likely to be better 
acclimatized or adapted to higher turbidity than colonies of the same 
species occurring on offshore barrier reefs or around atolls with very 
little or no groundwater inputs. In some cases, corals occupy naturally 
turbid habitats (Anthony and Larcombe, 2000; McClanahan and Obura, 
1997; Te, 2001) where they may benefit from the reduced amount of UV 
radiation to which they are exposed (Zepp et al., 2008). Reductions in 
water clarity affect light availability for corals. As turbidity and 
nutrients increase, thus decreasing water clarity, reef community 
composition shifts from coral-dominated to macroalgae-dominated, and 
ultimately to heterotrophic animals (Fabricius et al., 2012). Light 
penetration is diminished by suspended abiotic and biotic particulate 
matter (especially clay and silt-sized particles) and some dissolved 
substances (Fabricius et al., 2014). The availability of light 
decreases directly as a function of particle concentration and water 
depth, but also depends on the nature of the suspended particles. Fine 
clays and organic particles are easily suspended from the sea floor, 
reducing light for prolonged periods, while undergoing cycles of 
deposition and resuspension. Suspended fine particles also carry 
nutrients and other contaminants (Fabricius et al., 2013). Increased 
nutrient runoff into semi-enclosed seas accelerates phytoplankton 
production to the point that it also increases turbidity and reduces 
light penetration, and can also settle on colony surfaces (Fabricius, 
2005). In areas of nutrient enrichment, light for benthic organisms can 
be additionally severely reduced by dense stands of large fleshy 
macroalgae shading adjacent corals (Fabricius, 2005).
    The literature provides several recommendations on maximum 
turbidity levels for coral reefs (i.e., levels that managers should 
strive to stay under). GBRMPA (2010) recommends minimum mean annual 
water clarity, or ``trigger values'', in Secchi distances for the GBR 
depending on habitat type: For enclosed coastal reefs, 1.0-1.5 m; for 
open coastal reefs and mid-shelf reefs, 10 m; and for offshore reefs, 
17 m. De'ath and Fabricius (2008) recommend a minimum mean annual water 
clarity trigger value in Secchi distance averaged across all GBR 
habitats of 10 m. Bell and Elmetri (1995) recommend a maximum value of 
3.3 mg/L TSS across all GBR habitats. Thomas et al. (2003) recommend a 
maximum value of 10 mg/L averaged across all Papua New Guinea coral 
reef habitats. Larcombe et al. (2001) recommend a maximum value of 40 
mg/L TSS for GBR ``marginal reefs'', i.e., reefs close to shore with 
high natural turbidity levels. Guan et al. (2015) recommend a minimum 
light intensity ([mu]mol photons second/m2) of 450 [mu]mol photons 
second/m2 globally for coral reefs. The previously described 
generalizations are for coral reef communities and ecosystems, rather 
than individual species.
    A coral's response to a reduction in water clarity is dependent on 
intensity and duration. For example, corals exhibited partial mortality 
when exposed to 476 mg/L TSS (Bengtsson et al., 1996) for 96 hours, but 
had total mortality when exposed to 1000 mg/L TSS for 65 hours 
(Thompson and Bright, 1980). Depending on the duration of exposure, 
most coral species exhibited sublethal effects when exposed to 
turbidity levels between 7 and 40 NTU (Erftemeijer et al., 2012). The 
most tolerant coral species exhibited decreased growth rates when 
exposed to 165 mg/L TSS for 10 days (Rice and Hunter, 1992). Turbidity 
reduces water clarity and so reduces the maximum depth at which corals 
can live, making deeper habitat unsuitable (Fabricius, 2005). Existing 
data suggest that coral reproduction and settlement are more highly 
sensitive to changes in water clarity than adult survival, and these 
functions are dependent on clear water. Suspended particulate matter 
reduces fertilization and sperm function (Ricardo et al., 2015), and 
strongly inhibits larvae survival, settlement, recruitment, and 
juvenile survival (Fabricius, 2005).
    In summary, water clarity deviations from local averages prevent or 
impede successful completion of all life history stages of the listed 
coral species. Identifying turbidity levels at which the conservation 
value of habitat for listed corals may be affected is inherently 
complex and influenced by taxa, exposure duration, and acclimatization 
to localized nutrient regimes, and other factors.
    The water column may include levels of anthropogenically-introduced 
chemical contaminants that prevent or impede successful completion of 
all life history stages of the listed coral species. For the purposes 
of this rule, ``contaminants'' is a collective term to describe a suite 
of anthropogenically-introduced chemical substances in water or 
sediments that may adversely affect corals. The study of the effects of 
contaminants on corals is a relatively new field and information on 
sources and ecotoxicology is incomplete. The

[[Page 76271]]

major groups of contaminants that have been studied for effects to 
corals include heavy metals (also called trace metals), pesticides, and 
hydrocarbons. Other organic contaminants, such as chemicals in personal 
care products, polychlorinated biphenyl, and surfactants, have also 
been studied. Contaminants may be delivered to coral reefs via point or 
non-point sources. Specifically, contaminants enter the marine 
environment through wastewater discharge, shipping, industrial 
activities, and agricultural and urban runoff. These contaminants can 
cause negative effects to coral reproduction, development, growth, 
photosynthesis, and survival.
    Heavy metals (e.g., copper, cadmium, manganese, nickel, cobalt, 
lead, zinc, and iron) can be toxic at concentrations above naturally-
occurring levels. Heavy metals are persistent in the environment and 
can bioaccumulate. Metals are adsorbed to sediment particles, which can 
result in their long distance transport away from sources of pollution. 
Corals incorporate metals in their skeleton and accumulate them in 
their soft tissue (Al-Rousan et al., 2012; Barakat et al., 2015). 
Although heavy metals can occur in the marine environment from natural 
processes, in nearshore waters they are mostly a result of 
anthropogenic sources (e.g., wastewater, antifouling and anticorrosive 
paints from marine vessels and structures, land filling and dredging 
for coastal expansion, maritime activities, inorganic and organic 
pollutants, crude oil pollution, shipping processes, industrial 
discharge, agricultural activities), and are found near cities, ports, 
and industrial developments.
    The effects of copper on corals include physiological impairment, 
impaired photosynthesis, bleaching, reduced growth, and DNA damage 
(Bielmyer et al., 2010; Schwarz et al., 2013). Effects to 
fertilization, larval development, larval swimming behavior, 
metamorphosis, and larval survival have also been documented (Kwok and 
Ang, 2013; Negri and Hoogenboom, 2011; Puisay et al., 2015; Reichelt-
Brushett and Hudspith, 2016; Rumbold and Snedaker, 1997). Toxicity of 
copper was found to be higher when temperatures are elevated (Negri and 
Hoogenboom, 2011). Nickel and cobalt can also have negative effects on 
corals, such as reduced growth and photosynthetic rates (Biscere et 
al., 2015), and reduced fertilization success (Reichelt-Brushett and 
Hudspith, 2016). Chronic exposure of corals to higher levels of iron 
may significantly reduce growth rates Ferrier-Pages et al. (2001). 
Further, iron chloride has been found to cause oxidative DNA damage to 
coral larvae (Vijayavel et al., 2012).
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are found in fossil fuels 
such as oil and coal and can be produced by the incomplete combustion 
of organic matter. PAHs disperse through non-point sources such as road 
run-off, sewage, and deposition of particulate air pollution. PAHs can 
also disperse from point sources such as oil spills and industrial 
sites. Studies have found effects of oil pollution on corals include 
growth impairments, mucus production, and decreased reproduction, 
especially at increased temperature (Kegler et al., 2015). Hydrocarbons 
have also been found to affect early life stages of corals. Oil-
contaminated seawater reduced settlement of Orbicella faveolata and of 
Agaricia humilis and was more severe than any direct or latent effects 
on survival (Hartmann et al., 2015). Natural gas (water accommodated 
fraction) exposure resulted in abortion of larvae during early 
embryogenesis and early release of larvae during late embryogenesis, 
with higher concentrations of natural gas yielding higher adverse 
effects (Villanueva et al., 2011). Oil, dispersant, and a combination 
of oil and dispersant on significantly decreased settlement and 
survival of Porites astreoides and O. faveolata larvae (Goodbody-
Gringley et al., 2013).
    Anthracene (a PAH used in dyes, wood preservatives, insecticides, 
and coating materials) exposure to apparently healthy and diseased 
(Caribbean yellow band disease) fragments of O. faveolata reduced 
activity of enzymes important for protection against environmental 
stressors in the diseased colonies (Montilla et al., 2016). The results 
indicated that diseased tissues might be more vulnerable to the 
exposure to PAHs such as anthracene than apparently healthy corals. PAH 
concentrations similar to those present after an oil spill inhibited 
metamorphosis of Acropora tenuis larvae, and sensitivity increased when 
larvae were co-exposed to PAHs and ``shallow reef'' UV light levels 
(Negri et al., 2016).
    Pesticides include herbicides, insecticides, and antifoulants used 
on vessels and other marine structures. Pesticides can affect non-
target marine organisms like corals and their zooxanthellae. Diuron, an 
herbicide, decreased photosynthesis isolated zooxanthellae (Shaw et 
al., 2012b). Irgarol, an additive in copper-based antifouling paints, 
significantly reduced settlement in Porites hawaiiensis (Knutson et 
al., 2012). Porites astreoides larvae exposed to two major mosquito 
pesticide ingredients, naled and permethrin, for 18-24 hours showed 
differential responses. Concentrations of 2.96 [micro]g/L or greater of 
naled significantly reduced larval survivorship. However, reduced 
larval survivorship was not detected in exposure of up to 6.0 [micro]g/
L of permethrin. Larval settlement, post-settlement survival, and 
zooxanthellae density were not impacted by any treatment (Ross et al., 
2015).
    Benzophenone-2 (BP-2) is a chemical additive to personal care 
products (e.g., shampoo, body lotions, soap, detergents), product 
coatings (oil-based paints, polyurethanes), acrylic adhesives, and 
plastics that protects against damage from ultraviolet light. It is 
released into the ocean through municipal and boat/ship wastewater 
discharges, landfill leachates, residential septic fields, and 
unmanaged cesspits. BP-2 is a known endocrine disruptor and a DNA 
mutagen, and its effects are worse in the light. It caused deformation 
of Stylophora pistillata larvae changing them from a motile planktonic 
state to a deformed sessile condition at low concentrations. It also 
caused increasing larval bleaching with increasing concentration (Downs 
et al., 2014). Benzophenone-3 (BP-3; oxybenzone) is an ingredient in 
sunscreen and personal care products (e.g., hair cleaning and styling 
products, cosmetics, insect repellent, soaps) that protects against 
damage from ultraviolet light. It enters the marine environment through 
swimmers and municipal, residential, and boat/ship wastewater 
discharges and can cause DNA mutations. Oxybenzone is a skeletal 
endocrine disruptor, and it caused larvae of S. pistillata to encase 
themselves in their own skeleton. Exposure to oxybenzone transformed S. 
pistillata larvae from a motile state to a deformed, sessile condition. 
Larvae exhibited an increasing rate of coral bleaching in response to 
increasing concentrations of oxybenzone (Downs et al., 2016).
    Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmentally stable, 
persistent organic pollutants that have been used as heat exchange 
fluids in electrical transformers and capacitors, and as additives in 
paint, carbonless copy paper, and plastics. They can be transported 
globally through the atmosphere, water, and food web. A study of the 
effects of the PCB Aroclor 1254 on the scleractinian coral S. 
pistillata found no effects on coral survival, photosynthesis, or 
growth; however, the exposure concentration

[[Page 76272]]

and duration may alter the expression of certain genes involved in 
important cellular functions (Chen et al., 2012).
    Surfactants are used as detergents and soaps, wetting agents, 
emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants. Linear alkylbenzene 
sulfonate (LAS) is one of the most common surfactants in use. 
Biodegradation of surfactants can occur within a few hours to several 
days, but significant proportions of surfactants attach to suspended 
solids and remain in the environment. This sorption of surfactants onto 
suspended solids depends on environmental factors such as temperature, 
salinity, or pH. Exposure of Pocillopora verrucosa to LAS resulted in 
tissue loss on fragments. The combined effects of LAS exposure with 
increased temperature (+3[deg]C to 31[deg]C) resulted in greater tissue 
loss than LAS exposure alone (Kegler et al., 2015).
    In summary, there are multiple chemical contaminants that prevent 
or impede successful completion of all life history stages of the 
listed coral species. Identifying contaminant levels at which the 
conservation value of habitat for listed corals may be affected is 
inherently complex and influenced by taxa, exposure duration, and other 
factors.
    As described previously, the best-available information shows coral 
reefs form on solid substrate but only within a narrow range of water 
column conditions that on average allow the deposition rates of corals 
to exceed the rates of physical, chemical, and biological erosion 
(i.e., conducive conditions, Brainard et al., 2005). However, as with 
all ecosystems, water column conditions are dynamic and vary over space 
and time. Therefore, we also describe environmental conditions in which 
coral reefs currently exist globally, thus indicating the conditions 
that may be tolerated by corals and allow at least for survival. To the 
extent tolerance conditions deviate in duration and intensity from 
conducive conditions, they may not support coral reproduction and 
recruitment, and reef growth, and thus would impair recovery of the 
species. Further, annually and spatially averaged-tolerance ranges 
provide the limits of the environmental conditions in which coral reefs 
exist globally (Guan et al., 2015), but these conditions do not 
necessarily represent the conditions that may be tolerated by 
individual coral species. Individual species may or may not be able to 
withstand conditions within or exceeding the globally-averaged 
tolerance ranges for coral reefs, depending on the individual species' 
biology, local average conditions to which the species are 
acclimatized, and intensity and duration of exposure to adverse 
conditions. In other words, changes in the water column parameters 
discussed previously that exceed the tolerance ranges may induce 
adverse effects in a particular species. Thus, the concept of 
individual species' tolerance limits is a different aspect of water 
quality conditions compared to conditions that are conducive for 
formation and growth of reef structures.
    These values presented in the previous summaries constitute the 
best available information at the time of this rulemaking. It is 
possible that future scientific research will identify species-specific 
values for some of these parameters that become more applicable to the 
seven listed coral species, though it is also possible that future 
species-specific research will document that conducive or tolerance 
ranges for the seven corals fall within these ranges. Because the ESA 
requires us to use the best scientific information available in 
conducting consultations under section 7, we will incorporate any such 
new scientific information into consultations when evaluating potential 
impacts to the critical habitat.

Need for Special Management Considerations or Protection

    Specific areas within the geographical area occupied by a species 
may be designated as critical habitat only if they contain essential 
features that may require special management considerations or 
protection (16 U.S.C. 1532(5)(A)(i)(II). Special management 
considerations or protection are any methods or procedures useful in 
protecting physical or biological features for the conservation of 
listed species (50 CFR 424.02).
    The proposed essential feature is particularly susceptible to 
impacts from human activity because of the relatively shallow water 
depth ranges of the seven listed corals (less than 40 m). The proximity 
of this habitat to coastal areas subject this feature to impacts from 
multiple activities, including, but not limited to, coastal and in-
water construction, dredging and disposal activities, beach 
nourishment, stormwater run-off, wastewater and sewage outflow 
discharges, point and non-point source pollutant discharges, and 
fishery management. Further, the global oceans are being impacted by 
climate change from greenhouse gas emissions, particularly the tropical 
oceans in which the Indo-Pacific corals occur (van Hooidonk et al., 
2014). The impacts from these activities, combined with those from 
natural factors (e.g., major storm events), significantly affect 
habitat for all life stages for these threatened corals. We conclude 
that the essential feature is currently and will likely continue to be 
negatively impacted by some or all of these factors.
    Greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., fossil fuel combustion) lead to 
global climate change and ocean acidification. These activities 
adversely affect the essential feature by increasing sea surface 
temperature and decreasing the aragonite saturation state. Coastal and 
in-water construction, channel dredging, and beach nourishment 
activities can directly remove the essential feature by dredging it or 
by depositing sediments on it, making it unavailable for settlement and 
recruitment of coral larvae or fragments. These same activities can 
impact the essential feature by creating turbidity during operations. 
Stormwater run-off, wastewater and sewage outflow discharges, and point 
and non-point source contaminant discharges can adversely impact the 
essential feature by allowing nutrients and sediments, as well as 
contaminants, from point and non-point sources, including sewage, 
stormwater and agricultural runoff, river discharge, and groundwater, 
to alter the natural levels in the water column. The same activities 
can also adversely affect the essential feature by increasing the 
growth rates of macroalgae, allowing them to preempt available 
recruitment habitat. Fishery management can adversely affect the 
essential feature if it allows for the reduction in the number of 
herbivorous fishes available to control the growth of macroalgae on the 
substrate.
    Given these ongoing threats throughout the corals' habitat, we find 
that the essential feature may require special management 
considerations.

Specific Areas Containing the Essential Features Within the 
Geographical Areas Occupied by the Species

    Our regulations state that each critical habitat area will be shown 
on a map, with more-detailed information discussed in the preamble of 
the rulemaking documents published in the Federal Register defined by 
specific limits using reference points and lines on standard 
topographic maps of the area, and referencing each area by the State, 
county, or other local governmental unit in which it is located (50 CFR 
424.12(c)). Our regulations also state that when several habitats, each 
satisfying requirements for designation as critical habitat, are 
located in proximity to one another, an inclusive area may be 
designated as critical habitat (50 CFR 424.12(d)).

[[Page 76273]]

    We identified 19 units within the geographical area occupied by the 
seven listed Indo-Pacific species confirmed in U.S. waters, at the time 
of listing, that contain the essential feature (Table 1): Four in 
American Samoa (Tutuila and Offshore Banks, Ofu and Olosega, Ta'u, and 
Rose Atoll); one in Guam (Guam and Offshore Banks); eight in CNMI 
(Rota, Aguijian, Tinian and Tatsumi Reef, Saipan and Garapan Bank, 
Farallon de Medinilla, Anatahan, Pagan, and Maug Islands and Supply 
Reef); and six in PRIA (Howland Island, Palmyra Atoll, Kingman Reef, 
Johnston Atoll, Wake Atoll, and Jarvis Island).
    Within each of these 19 units, we delineated more specific areas 
that contain the essential feature using a 3-step process: (1) We 
reviewed available information on substrate and water quality 
parameters to determine where the essential feature occurs; (2) we 
established upper and lower depth limits for these areas depending on 
the species present; and (3) within the depth limits, we identified 
areas that may have the essential feature but are not necessary for the 
conservation of the listed species because they are artificial 
substrates or natural substrates that are consistently disturbed, and 
therefore do not qualify as critical habitat.
    For step 1, determining specific areas that contain the essential 
feature, we reviewed available substrate and water quality data for 
each unit. For substrate, we used data and maps from two benthic 
habitat mapping programs that collect benthic data for coral reef 
ecosystems throughout the United States (these programs are also 
available to the public on their websites): (1) For habitat <20 m 
depth, the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science's (NCCOS; https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/) provides data and maps (except for some of 
the PRIA); and (2) for habitat >20 m depth, the Pacific Islands Benthic 
Habitat Mapping Center (PIBHMC; https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/cms/) provides data and maps. These two complementary programs provide 
nearly complete, large-scale coverage of reef-building coral substrate 
in the U.S. Pacific Islands, except for some of the PRIA areas which 
are not included in the NCCOS database. For substrate and water quality 
information, we also used coral reef monitoring and status reports from 
the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science) for the Mariana 
Islands (Brainard et al., 2012; except for Farallon de Medinilla (FDM)) 
and American Samoa (Brainard et al., 2008). For the PRIA, we used 
Miller et al. (2008). In contrast to substrate, data for water quality 
parameters are limited to a few of the parameters over a small overall 
portion of reef-building coral habitat within the area under 
consideration for critical habitat.
    We applied step 2, establishing upper and lower depth limits for 
these areas, by using depth distribution information for the listed 
coral species that occur in each unit to delineate upper and lower 
depth limits for each unit. Because at least some, if not all, listed 
corals in each unit occur in shallow habitats (e.g., reef flats), the 
upper depth limit for all units is mean low water, referred to here as 
zero (0) m depth. The lower depth limit for each unit is based on the 
deepest observed record of any listed species in that unit. As 
previously described in more detail in the Background section, based on 
the best currently available information, we consider the rangewide 
depth distributions of the seven listed species as follows: A. 
globiceps, 0 to 20 m; A. jacquelineae, 10 to 35 m; A. retusa, 0 to 10 
m; A. speciosa, 12 to 40 m; E. paradivisa, 2 to 25; I. crateriformis, 0 
to 12 m; and S. aculeata, 3 to 40 m. We used depth distributions for 
all listed Indo-Pacific species within U.S. waters combined as a 
comprehensive approach to establish a lower limit because most listed 
species have overlapping depth distributions, and depth distributions 
of these species are still not well known for many of the critical 
habitat units.
    We next applied step 3 for each unit by identifying areas that may 
contain the essential feature, but are not necessary for the 
conservation of the listed species. There are two types of areas that 
may contain hard consolidated substrate and suitable water quality 
parameters, but are not considered necessary for the conservation of 
the species, and none, one, or both may occur in each unit: (1) 
artificial substrates; and (2) ``managed areas.'' Artificial substrates 
include any human-made structure, regardless of age or level of active 
management. Examples include, but are not limited to, fixed and 
floating structures, such as: Jetties, groins, breakwaters, fixed or 
floating AToNs, seawalls, wharves, boat ramps, fishpond walls, pipes, 
wrecks, mooring balls, docks, aquaculture cages, and other artificial 
substrates. Managed areas are areas where the substrate has been 
disturbed by management and will continue to be periodically disturbed 
by such management. Examples include, but are not limited to, dredged 
navigation channels, shipping basins, vessel berths, and AToN chain 
scour areas around anchor blocks. As noted previously, protecting 
artificial substrates and managed areas would not facilitate meeting 
our conservation goal of maintaining functional natural reef ecosystems 
on which the listed species depend. They do not provide stable natural 
environments for coral growth and settlement and therefore are not 
necessary for the conservation of the species.
    NMFS is aware that dredging may result in sedimentation impacts 
beyond the actual dredge channel. To the extent that these impacts are 
persistent, are expected to recur whenever the channel is dredged and 
are of such a level that the areas in question have already been made 
unsuitable for coral, then NMFS expects that the federal action agency 
can assess and identify such areas during their pre-dredging planning 
and provide their rationale and information supporting this conclusion. 
To the extent that the federal action agency does so, NMFS proposes 
that these persistently impacted areas be considered part of the 
managed areas and excluded from critical habitat.
    The application of the 3-step process to each of the 19 specific 
areas is described in more detail in the Draft Information Report. The 
resulting delineations of the specific areas are described in Appendix 
A of the report, and 17 of the 19 are described and shown in the maps 
at the end of this rule. The entireties of the other two specific areas 
(Wake and FDM) were determined to be ineligible by the 4(a)(3) analyses 
summarized below, and described and shown in the Draft Information 
Report (NMFS, 2019). These are the 19 specific areas to which the ESA 
section 4(a)(3) and 4(b)(2) analyses were applied. The essential 
feature is unevenly distributed throughout these 19 specific areas. 
Within these areas there exists a mosaic of habitats at relatively 
small spatial scales, some of which naturally contain the essential 
feature and some that do not. Further, within these large areas, 
specific managed areas as described previously also exist. If a 
location within one of these areas does not meet the definition of 
critical habitat (such as an area of soft substrate or a continuously 
managed area), it is not included in the designations. Due to the 
spatial scale at which the essential feature exists interspersed with 
these other habitats and disturbed areas, and the fact that the precise 
locations of the essential feature change over time (e.g., seasonally, 
in response to storms, etc.), we are not able to more finely delineate 
the essential feature.

[[Page 76274]]

Unoccupied Critical Habitat Areas

    We have not identified any unoccupied areas for designation of 
critical habitat. ESA section 3(5)(A)(ii) defines critical habitat to 
include specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the 
species at the time of listing if the areas are determined by the 
Secretary to be essential for the conservation of the species. 
Regulations at 50 CFR 424.12(b)(2) specify that we will identify, at a 
scale determined to be appropriate, specific areas outside the 
geographical area occupied by the species that are essential for its 
conservation, considering the life history, status, and conservation 
needs of the species based on the best available scientific data.
    The threats to these seven corals include ocean warming, ocean 
acidification, and other threats that are primarily caused by global 
climate change (Brainard et al., 2011). We issued guidance in June 2016 
on the treatment of climate change uncertainty in ESA decisions, which 
addresses critical habitat specifically (NMFS 2016). The guidance 
states that, when designating critical habitat, NMFS will consider 
proactive designation of unoccupied habitat as critical habitat when 
there is adequate data to support a reasonable inference that the 
habitat is essential for the conservation of the species because of the 
function(s) it is likely to serve as climate changes.
    All seven of these species occur in the Coral Triangle, an area 
predicted to have rapid and severe impacts from climate change. As a 
response to changing conditions, these species may shift into 
previously unoccupied habitats as they become more suitable and as 
other parts of their range become less suitable in the future. However, 
the best information available currently does not support a reasonable 
inference that listed Indo-Pacific corals may expand into unoccupied 
areas within U.S. waters in the future due to changing climate 
conditions. In addition, coral reef areas within U.S. jurisdiction 
provide no more than about 2 percent of each listed species' total 
range. Without further information, we cannot support the notion that 
such a small area of unoccupied habitat at the range margin is 
essential to the conservation of the species.

Application of ESA Section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) (Military Lands)

    Section 4(a)(3)(B)(i) of the ESA prohibits designating as critical 
habitat any lands or other geographical areas owned or controlled by 
the Department of Defense (DoD), or designated for its use, that are 
subject to an Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) 
prepared under section 101 of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a), if the 
Secretary of Commerce determines in writing that such plan provides a 
benefit to the species for which critical habitat is proposed for 
designation.
    Two INRMPs are applicable to proposed coral critical habitat: (1) 
The Navy's Joint Region Marianas INRMP (JRM INRMP), finalized and 
signed in 2019 (DoN, 2019); and (2) the Air Force's INRMP for Wake 
Island Air Field, Wake Atoll, Kokee Air Force Station, Kauai, Hawaii, 
and Mt. Kaala Air Force Station, Oahu, Hawaii (Wake INRMP), finalized 
and signed in 2017 (USAF, 2017). The JRM INRMP is a composite of 
management plans for many distinct DoD controlled areas in the Mariana 
Islands, including in Guam and CNMI (DoN, 2019).
    Summaries of the analyses of whether these two INRMPs are likely to 
benefit the ESA-listed corals or their habitat in Guam and CNMI (JRM 
INRMP) and Wake (Wake INRMP) are provided below, following the four 
considerations outlined in the 2016 guidance for the 4(a)(3) and 
4(b)(2) portions of critical habitat designations (81 FR 7413; February 
11, 2016). These four considerations are: (1) The extent of the area 
and essential feature present in the area; (2) The type and frequency 
of use of the area by the listed species; (3) The relevant elements of 
the INRMP in terms of management objectives, activities covered, and 
best management practices, and the certainty that the relevant elements 
will be implemented; and (4) The degree to which the relevant elements 
of the INRMP will protect the habitat (essential feature) from the 
types of effects that would be addressed through a destruction-or-
adverse- modification analysis.

JRM INRMP--Guam

    In Guam, the JRM INRMP encompasses three marine areas that overlap 
with areas proposed for coral critical habitat (hereafter ``INRMP 
marine areas''): (1) Naval Base Guam--Main Base (NBG Main Base) 
Submerged Lands; (2) Naval Base Guam--Telecommunications Site (NBG TS) 
Submerged Lands; and (3) Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) Submerged 
Lands. A summary of the analyses of whether the INRMP is likely to 
benefit the habitat of ESA-listed corals in each of these three INRMP 
marine areas is provided below, summarized from the full analyses in 
the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019).
    With regard to the extent of the area and essential feature 
present: (1) The NBG Main Base Submerged Lands cover approximately 
30,000 acres along the coastline from Orote Peninsula to Asan 
(described in the JRM INRMP, Section 5.3, DoN, 2019); (2) the NBG TS 
Submerged Lands cover approximately 19,500 acres on the northwestern 
side of Guam (described in the JRM INRMP, Section 8.3, DoN, 2019); and 
(3) AAFB Submerged Lands cover approximately 26,500 acres of Submerged 
Lands on the northern side of Guam (described in the JRM INRMP, Section 
9.3, DoN, 2019). Each of the three INRMP marine areas includes 
extensive potential proposed critical habitat, as shown in Fig. 21 in 
the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019). Most or all of the potential 
proposed critical habitat within the three INRMP marine areas includes 
both the substrate and water quality components of the essential 
feature of coral critical habitat (i.e., characteristics of substrate 
and water quality support coral life history, including reproduction, 
recruitment, growth, and maturation), based on information provided 
previously in the Guam section of the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 
2019), the Guam chapter of PIFSC's coral reef monitoring report for the 
Mariana archipelago (Brainard et al., 2012), and the INRMP (DoN, 2019).
    With regard to use of the area by the listed species, the listed 
coral Acropora globiceps occurs within each of the three INRMP marine 
areas. Two other listed coral species, Acropora retusa and Seriatopora 
aculeata, have been recorded on Guam at one or two sites, and thus may 
also occur in one or more of the three INRMP marine areas (DoN, 2019).
    With regard to the relevant elements of the INRMP, and certainty 
that the relevant elements will be implemented, the two parts of this 
step are addressed separately below. The relevant elements of the JRM 
INRMP for each INRMP marine area include: (1) For the NBG Main Base 
Submerged Lands, the INRMP includes a Coral Habitat Enhancement plan 
(Section 5.4.2.1), consisting of eight specific actions in three 
categories: (1) Monitoring and adaptive management (3 actions), (2) 
collaboration with local partners (3 actions), and (3) reduction of 
vessel impacts (2 actions); (2) for NBG TS Submerged Lands, the INRMP 
includes a Coral Habitat Enhancement plan (Section 8.4.2.1), consisting 
of a similar set of eight specific actions as for NBG Main Base; and 
(3) for AAFB Submerged Lands, the INRMP includes a Coral Habitat 
Enhancement plan (Section 9.4.2.1), consisting of a similar set of 
seven specific actions as for NBG Main Base, except that there is less 
focus on

[[Page 76275]]

reduction in vessel impacts because of the much lower vessel traffic 
there.
    NMFS concludes that the Navy will implement the relevant elements 
of the JRM INRMP for the previously described three INRMP marine areas 
for three reasons:
    (1) Clear and Recent Documentation--the 2019 JRM INRMP includes 
Coral Habitat Enhancement plans for INRMP marine areas in Guam, with 
clear strategies and actions that address the habitat conservation 
needs of ESA-listed corals within these areas. The JRM INRMP's Appendix 
D also includes annual reports describing how coral conservation 
efforts have been implemented in recent years. These new coral habitat 
conservation plans, as well as reports from recent years, clearly 
articulate how Navy is conserving coral habitat within the INRMP marine 
areas in Guam, and how it will do so in the future.
    (2) Demonstration of Good Faith Efforts for Listed Corals--the Navy 
has already implemented coral habitat conservation projects that are 
beneficial to ESA-listed corals within some INRMP marine areas in Guam, 
as described in the INRMP annual reports in the JRM INRMP's Appendix D 
(DoN, 2019a), and listed in the Draft Information Report. Many of these 
projects have been ongoing for several years and are proactive, in that 
they were not required of the Navy by the ESA. For example, in Fiscal 
Year 2018 (Oct-18 to Sep-19, FY18), the following coral habitat 
conservation projects were carried out by the Navy within these waters: 
(1) 20 mooring buoys were installed within NBG Main Base submerged 
waters to prevent anchoring on its coral reefs; (2) monitoring of the 
impacts of coral bleaching and crown of thorns starfish on reef-
building corals including listed species; (3) coral surveys of Apra 
Harbor including listed species; (4) translocation of corals from a 
dredging area within Apra Harbor (no listed corals); (5) water quality 
monitoring; and (6) environmental education and outreach (DoN, 2019a, 
Appendix D, FY18 Annual Report). Many of these projects have been 
ongoing for several years and are proactive, in that they were not 
required of the Navy by the ESA.
    (3) History of Strong Conservation Work--the Navy has a long 
history of carrying out successful marine habitat conservation work on 
Guam, and often takes the initiative on conservation efforts whether 
requested by NMFS or FWS or not. For example, many of the coral habitat 
conservation projects in the 2019 JRM INRMP had already been started by 
the Navy before corals were listed in 2014, and were being done to 
improve conservation of marine resources on the island, regardless of 
whether they were required by Federal statute or not.
    The coral habitat enhancement elements of the JRM INRMP described 
previously are expected to substantially reduce the types of effects 
within the three INRMP marine areas in Guam that would be addressed 
through the destruction-or-adverse-modification analysis. Navy would 
accomplish this primarily by using the results of its own monitoring 
program to develop and implement management actions to enhance coral 
habitat and measures to minimize the impacts of Navy's (and other DoD 
branches') actions in Guam on coral habitat within the INRMP marine 
areas, thereby benefiting listed corals and their habitat.

JRM INRMP--CNMI

    In CNMI, the JRM INRMP encompasses two marine areas that overlap 
with areas considered for coral critical habitat: (1) The Tinian Marine 
Lease Area (Tinian MLA) Submerged Lands; and (2) the Farallon de 
Medinilla (FDM) Submerged Lands (DoN, 2019). A summary of the analyses 
of whether the INRMP is likely to benefit the habitat of ESA-listed 
corals in each of these two INRMP marine areas is provided below, 
summarized from the full analyses in the Draft Information Report 
(NMFS, 2019).
    With regard to the extent of the area and essential feature 
present: (1) The Tinian MLA Submerged Lands cover approximately 47,500 
acres surrounding the northern portion of Tinian (described in the JRM 
INRMP, Section 11.3, DoN, 2019); (2) the FDM Submerged Lands consists 
of approximately 25,000 acres surrounding FDM (described in the JRM 
INRMP, Section 12.3, DoN, 2019). Most or all of the potential proposed 
critical habitat within the two INRMP marine areas includes both the 
substrate and water quality components of the essential feature of 
coral critical habitat (i.e., characteristics of substrate and water 
quality support coral life history, including reproduction, 
recruitment, growth, and maturation), based on information provided in 
the Tinian and FDM sections of the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 
2019), the Tinian and FDM chapters of PIFSC's coral reef monitoring 
report for the Mariana archipelago (Brainard et al. 2012), and the 
INRMP (DoN, 2019).
    With regard to use of the area by the listed species, the listed 
coral Acropora globiceps is distributed widely throughout the Tinian 
MLA Submerged Lands, and also occurs in the FDM Submerged Lands. One 
other listed coral species, Acropora retusa, has been recorded in the 
Tinian MLA Submerged Lands, but not in the FDM Submerged Lands. No 
other listed corals have been reported from either INRMP marine area 
(DoN, 2019; NMFS, 2019).
    With regard to the relevant elements of the INRMP, and certainty 
that the relevant elements will be implemented, the two parts of this 
step are addressed separately below. The relevant elements of the JRM 
INRMP for each INRMP marine area include: (1) For the Tinian MLA 
Submerged Lands, the INRMP includes a Coral Habitat Enhancement plan, 
consisting three specific actions to enhance coral habitat by 
monitoring health and acute impacts (Section 11.4.2.1; DoN, 2019); and 
(2) for the FDM Submerged Lands, the INRMP includes marine habitat 
management actions, consisting of surveys and mapping of ESA-listed 
corals, coral reef, and other marine habitats within the area (Section 
12.4.2; DoN, 2019). The INRMP also includes assessment of ESA-listed 
corals, as required by the 2015 biological opinion on the Navy's 
Mariana Islands Testing and Training program (Section 12.4.2.2; DoN, 
2019).
    NMFS concludes that the Navy will implement these relevant elements 
of the JRM INRMP for three reasons:
    (1) Clear and Recent Documentation--the 2019 JRM INRMP includes 
Coral Habitat Enhancement plans for INRMP marine areas in CNMI (Tinian 
MLA, FDM Submerged Lands), with clear strategies and actions that 
address the habitat conservation needs of ESA-listed corals within 
these areas. The JRM INRMP's Appendix D also includes annual reports 
describing how coral conservation efforts have been implemented in 
recent years in INRMP marine areas in CNMI. These new coral habitat 
conservation plans, as well as reports from recent years, clearly 
articulate how Navy is conserving coral habitat within the INRMP marine 
areas in CNMI, and how it will do so in the future.
    (2) Demonstration of Good Faith Efforts for Listed Corals--the Navy 
has already implemented coral projects that have the potential to 
benefit the habitat of ESA-listed corals within INRMP marina areas in 
CNMI (Tinian MLA, FDM Submerged Lands). For example, coral species 
presence and abundance surveys were conducted within the Tinian MLA in 
2013 (DoN, 2014) and 2017 (DoN, 2017), and around FDM in 2012 (Smith 
and Marx, 2016) and 2017 (Carilli et al., 2018). These surveys were not 
required by the ESA, and have the potential to benefit the habitat of 
ESA-

[[Page 76276]]

listed corals by providing information needed to better protect these 
areas in the future.
    (3) History of Strong Conservation Work--the Navy has a long 
history of carrying out successful marine habitat conservation work in 
the Mariana Islands, and often takes the initiative on conservation 
efforts whether requested by NMFS or FWS or not. For example, many of 
the coral habitat conservation projects in the 2019 JRM INRMP had 
already been started by the Navy before corals were listed in 2014, and 
were being done to improve conservation of marine resources on the 
island, regardless of whether they were required by Federal statute or 
not. While the great majority of these projects have been implemented 
in Guam rather than CNMI, the JRM INRMP includes many plans for CNMI 
(as noted previously), and the same Navy office (Navy Facilities 
Marianas) is responsible for carrying out such work in both Guam and 
CNMI.
    The coral habitat enhancement elements of the JRM INRMP described 
previously are expected to substantially reduce the types of effects 
within the two INRMP marine areas in CNMI that would be addressed 
through the destruction-or-adverse-modification analysis. Navy would 
accomplish this primarily by using the results of its own monitoring 
program to develop and implement management measures to minimize the 
impacts of Navy's (and other DoD branches') actions in CNMI on coral 
habitat within the INRMP marine areas, thereby benefiting listed corals 
and their habitat.

Wake INRMP

    On Wake Atoll, the Wake INRMP (USAF, 2017) encompasses the entire 
area considered for coral critical habitat, as described and shown in 
the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019). A summary of the analyses of 
whether the INRMP is likely to benefit the habitat of ESA-listed corals 
in this INRMP marine area is provided below, summarized from the full 
analyses in the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019).
    With regard to the extent of the area and essential feature 
present, the Wake INRMP marine area includes nearly 500,000 acres of 
Submerged Lands and waters within the lagoon and surrounding the atoll 
out to 12 nautical miles from the mean low water line (USAF 2017), and 
thus includes all reef-building corals and coral reefs associated with 
the atoll. Most or all of the potential proposed critical habitat 
within the INRMP marine area includes both the substrate and water 
quality components of the essential feature of coral critical habitat 
(i.e., characteristics of substrate and water quality support coral 
life history, including reproduction, recruitment, growth, and 
maturation), based on information provided in the Wake section of the 
Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019) and the INRMP (USAF, 2017).
    With regard to use of the area by the listed species, the USFWS 
coral survey at Wake Atoll in August 2016 recorded colonies of both 
Acropora globiceps and A. retusa on the south side of Wake in the 
vicinity of the three sites (USFWS, 2017; USAF, 2017). Thus, we assume 
that at least these two listed species occur throughout much of this 
INRMP marine area. No other listed corals have been reported from Wake 
(USAF, 2017; NMFS, 2019).
    With regard to the relevant elements of the INRMP, and certainty 
that the relevant elements will be implemented, the two parts of this 
step are addressed separately below. The relevant element of the Wake 
INRMP is the coral conservation component that was added to the INMRP 
in 2017 (Appendix S, Coral Conservation Actions at Wake Atoll; USAF, 
2017), which is made up of four groups of actions, each of which 
include multiple projects: Water quality improvements (six projects), 
education and outreach (two projects), fisheries management (four 
projects), and physical DoD presence on Wake Atoll (three projects; 
USAF, 2017). The actions and projects are described in detail in the 
Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019).
    NMFS concludes that the Air Force will implement these relevant 
elements of the Wake INRMP for three reasons:
    (1) Clear and Recent Documentation--the Wake INRMP includes a coral 
conservation plan (Appendix S) with a 4-pronged strategy (water quality 
improvement, outreach and education for Wake-based staff, fisheries 
management, and physical DoD presence on Wake Atoll i.e., restriction 
of access and overall natural resource management) that comprehensively 
addresses the conservation needs of ESA-listed corals on Wake Atoll. 
This new official coral conservation plan clearly articulates how USAF 
is conserving corals on Wake, and how it will do so in the future.
    (2) Demonstration of Good Faith Efforts for Listed Corals: USAF has 
already implemented projects on Wake for each of its 4-pronged coral 
conservation strategy, as explained in Appendix S of the Wake INRMP. 
For water quality improvement, in 2016 USAF began implementation of 
both the stormwater pollution prevention and invasive plant control 
projects. For outreach and education, in 2016 USAF revised the Wake 
Island Dive Club Charter to further reduce the potential impacts of 
recreational activities on corals. For fisheries management, in 2017 
USAF updated its fishing rules, which are part of the Wake Island 
Operating Guidance (PSRC 2017) to prohibit the use of (1) cast nets on 
the exterior of the atoll, (2) anchoring on coral reef habitat, and (3) 
and trolling over coral reef habitat. For physical DoD presence on Wake 
Atoll, in 2016 USAF funded and provided logistical support for a FWS 
coral survey that documented two ESA-listed corals on the atoll for the 
first time.
    (3) History of Strong Conservation Work--USAF has a long history of 
carrying out successful conservation work on Wake, and often takes the 
initiative on conservation efforts whether requested by NMFS or FWS or 
not. For example, many of the projects in the new INRMP's coral 
conservation strategy had already been started by USAF before corals 
were listed in 2014, and were being done to improve conservation of 
marine and terrestrial resources on the atoll, regardless of whether 
they were required by Federal statute or not. Likewise, in 2016, USAF 
funded and supported the FWS coral survey of the atoll, leading to the 
discovery of two ESA-listed corals. In addition, USAF has historically 
been an excellent conservation partner with NMFS and FWS, supporting a 
wide variety of marine and terrestrial conservation projects, and 
actively engaging both agencies in the INRMP planning and 
implementation process.
    The coral conservation component of the Wake INRMP (Appendix S, 
Coral Conservation Actions at Wake Atoll; USAF, 2017) is expected to 
reduce both direct and indirect impacts to listed corals via 
minimization or avoidance of recreational impacts (fishing, diving, 
anchoring), and terrestrial impacts (i.e., run-off from land-based 
activities; USAF, 2017). Thus, implementation of the Wake INRMP is 
likely to provide substantial protection to the essential feature of 
coral critical habitat (reproductive, recruitment, growth, and 
maturation habitat) within the INRMP marine area from the types of 
effects that would be addressed through critical habitat consultation, 
thereby benefiting listed corals and their habitat.

4(a)(3) Conclusion

    Based on the analyses summarized previously and provided in the 
Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019), implementation of the JRM INRMP 
(DoN, 2019) and the Wake INRMP (USAF, 2017) both are likely to benefit

[[Page 76277]]

the habitats of ESA-listed coral species within all INRMP marine areas 
on Guam, CNMI, and Wake. Thus, the potential proposed coral critical 
habitat within the INRMP marine areas on Guam, Tinian, FDM, and Wake 
are ineligible for coral critical habitat. The partial overlap of these 
INRMP marine areas with potential proposed coral critical habitat are 
shown in Figures 21 (Guam) and 22 (Tinian) of the Draft Information 
Report (NMFS, 2019). On FDM and Wake, the INRMP marine areas completely 
encompass all the potential proposed coral critical habitat, as shown 
in Figures 11 (FDM) and 19 (Wake) of the Draft Information Report 
(NMFS, 2019).

Application of ESA Section 4(b)(2)

    Section 4(b)(2) of the ESA requires that we consider the economic 
impact, impact on national security, and any other relevant impact, of 
designating any particular area as critical habitat. Additionally, the 
Secretary has the discretion to consider excluding any area from 
critical habitat if (s)he determines that the benefits of exclusion 
(that is, avoiding some or all of the impacts that would result from 
designation) outweigh the benefits of designation based upon the best 
scientific and commercial data available. The Secretary may not exclude 
an area from designation if exclusion will result in the extinction of 
the species. Because the authority to exclude is discretionary, 
exclusion is not required for any particular area under any 
circumstances.
    The ESA provides the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and 
NMFS (the Services) with broad discretion in how to consider impacts. 
(See, H.R. Rep. No. 95-1625, at 17, reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 
9453, 9467 (1978). Economics and any other relevant impact shall be 
considered by the Secretary in setting the limits of critical habitat 
for such a species. The Secretary is not required to give economics or 
any other relevant impact predominant consideration in his 
specification of critical habitat. The consideration and weight given 
to any particular impact is completely within the Secretary's 
discretion.). Courts have noted the ESA does not contain requirements 
for any particular methods or approaches. (See, e.g., Bldg. Indus. 
Ass'n of the Bay Area et al. v. U.S. Dept. of Commerce et al., No. 13-
15132 (9th Cir., July 7, 2015), upholding district court's ruling that 
the ESA does not require the agency to follow a specific methodology 
when designating critical habitat under section 4(b)(2)). For this 
proposed rule, we followed the same basic approach to describing and 
evaluating impacts as we have for several recent critical habitat 
rulemakings, as informed by our Policy Regarding Implementation of 
Section 4(b)(2) of the ESA (81 FR 7226, February 11, 2016).
    The following sub-sections describe the economic, national 
security, and other relevant impacts that we projected would result 
from including the specific areas described previously in these 
proposed critical habitat designations. We considered these impacts 
when deciding whether to exercise our discretion to propose excluding 
particular areas from the designation. Both positive and negative 
impacts were identified and considered (these terms are used 
interchangeably with benefits and costs, respectively). Impacts were 
evaluated in quantitative terms where feasible, but qualitative 
appraisals were used where that is more appropriate.
    The primary impacts of a critical habitat designation result from 
the ESA section 7(a)(2) requirement that Federal agencies ensure that 
their actions are not likely to result in the destruction or adverse 
modification of critical habitat, and that they consult with NMFS in 
fulfilling this requirement. Determining these impacts is complicated 
by the fact that section 7(a)(2) also requires that Federal agencies 
ensure their actions are not likely to jeopardize the species' 
continued existence. One incremental impact of designation is the 
extent to which Federal agencies modify their proposed actions to 
ensure that they are not likely to destroy or adversely modify the 
critical habitat beyond any modifications they would make because of 
listing and the jeopardy requirement. When the same modification would 
be required due to impacts to both the species and critical habitat, 
the impact of the designation is co-extensive with the ESA listing of 
the species (i.e., attributable to both the listing of the species and 
the designation critical habitat). To the extent possible, our analysis 
identified impacts that were incremental to the proposed designations 
of critical habitat, meaning those impacts that are over and above 
impacts attributable to the species' listing or any other existing 
regulatory protections. Relevant, existing regulatory protections 
(including the species' listing) are referred to as the ``baseline'' 
and are also discussed in the following sections.
    The following economic and national security impact analyses 
describe projected future Federal activities that would trigger section 
7 consultation requirements because they may affect the essential 
feature, and consequently may result in economic or national security 
impacts. Additionally, these analyses describe broad categories of 
project modifications that may reduce impacts to the essential feature, 
and state whether the modifications are likely to be solely a result of 
the critical habitat designation or co-extensive with another 
regulation, including the ESA listing of the species. These analyses 
incorporate recent guidance provided in the final rule on 4(b)(2) 
analyses (81 FR 7413 February 11, 2016).

Economic Impacts

    Economic impacts of the critical habitat designations result 
through implementation of section 7 of the ESA in consultations with 
Federal agencies to ensure their proposed actions are not likely to 
destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. These economic impacts 
may include both administrative and project modification costs. 
Economic impacts that may be associated with the conservation benefits 
of the designations are described later.
    An economic impact analysis was conducted in 2016 on the proposed 
coral critical habitat that projected annual economic impacts during 
the 10-year period 2016-2025, as described in section 5.1 of the Draft 
Information Report. Due to a large number of uncertainties, low-end and 
high-end estimates of economic impacts were developed in terms of the 
incremental cost of implementing coral critical habitat in addition to 
the cost of section 7 consultations without critical habitat. A key 
uncertainty in estimating the economic impacts of coral critical 
habitat is the lack of critical habitat for any marine species in the 
affected areas, which means that the historic record of section 7 
consultations in these areas does not provide a good predictor of 
either the future number of total consultations, or the proportion of 
formal vs. informal consultations resulting from coral critical 
habitat. Consequently, there is a very large difference between the 
low-end and high-end economic impact estimates. Low-end total 
incremental costs resulting from the listed corals' critical habitat 
are estimated at just under $350,000 over ten years, with an annualized 
cost of approximately $50,000. High-end total incremental costs are 
estimated at more than $13 million over 10 years, with an annualized 
cost of approximately $1.9 million, although this number is 
unrealistic, as explained below (Draft Information Report, section 
5.1).
    The high-end estimate is 40 times higher than the low-end estimate 
primarily because of the assumption that critical habitat would result 
in all

[[Page 76278]]

future coral consultations being formal, and that the resulting 
biological opinions would require modifications to all activities that 
would not be required in the absence of critical habitat. Critical 
habitat could only have a high-end level of economic impact if (1) all 
managed areas such as navigation channels, harbors, and marinas are 
included in critical habitat, as this is where the action areas for 
most activities requiring consultation would be located; and (2) the 
action areas contain the essential feature but not the listed corals, 
so formal consultation would be required solely because of critical 
habitat. However, managed areas are not included in the proposed 
critical habitat, as explained in the Specific Areas Containing the 
Essential Features Within the Geographical Areas Occupied by the 
Species section (although they were included in the economic impact 
analysis because that analysis began in 2015 before managed areas were 
excluded), thereby minimizing incremental impacts. In addition, a 
comparison of the projected annual Section 7 formal consultations in 
2016-2025 vs. the actual formal consultations that occurred in 2016-
2019 found that projected consultations were three times higher than 
actual consultations (NMFS, 2019, section 5.1). Thus, the likely 
economic impact of coral critical habitat is likely to be much closer 
to the low-end estimate than the high-end estimate.
    Many studies describe the economic benefits of corals and coral 
reefs, such as fisheries, recreation, protection of coastal areas by 
reefs, and many others, as described in Appendix B of the Draft 
Information Report (NMFS, 2019). By furthering the conservation of the 
habitat of the listed coral species and associated coral reef species, 
the critical habitat designations has the potential to contribute to 
such economic benefits. The extent of the potential economic benefits 
of coral critical habitat depends on the level of additional protection 
provided. For example, certain activities such as dredging of 
navigation channels permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE) may be subject to project modifications to avoid adverse 
modification of critical habitat. These modifications would provide 
better protection of corals and coral reefs that may then provide 
economic benefits. Although the proportion of USACE-permitted 
activities that would be subject to modifications ranges from zero 
(low-end scenario) to approximately 85 percent (high-end scenario), as 
described previously, we anticipate the actual economic impacts to be 
much closer to the low-end than the high-end scenario, with 
corresponding reduction of potential economic benefits. However, we 
cannot quantify the anticipated level of economic benefits.

National Security Impacts

    When a 4(b)(2) exclusion analysis is undertaken, the Secretaries 
are to determine if the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of 
inclusion for a particular area. If so, they may exclude that area, 
unless they determine that the exclusion will result in the extinction 
of the species concerned. When DoD, DHS, or another Federal agency 
requests exclusion from critical habitat on the basis of national-
security or homeland security impacts, it must provide a reasonably 
specific justification of an incremental impact on national security 
that would result from the designation of that specific area as 
critical habitat. That justification could include demonstration of 
probable impacts, such as impacts to ongoing border security, patrols 
and surveillance activities, or a delay in training or facility 
construction, as a result of compliance with section 7(a)(2) of the 
Act.
    If the agency provides a reasonably specific justification, we will 
defer to the expert judgment of DoD, DHS, another Federal agency as to: 
(1) Whether activities on its lands or waters, or its activities on 
other lands or waters, have national security or homeland security 
implications; (2) the importance of those implications; and (3) the 
degree to which the cited implications would be adversely affected in 
the absence of an exclusion. In that circumstance, in conducting a 
discretionary 4(b)(2) exclusion analysis, we will give great weight to 
national-security and homeland-security concerns in analyzing the 
benefits of exclusion.
    Outside of the JRM and Wake INRMP marine areas described in the 
4(a)(3) section, four sites were requested for exclusion by DoD or USCG 
based on national security impacts, one in Guam and three in CNMI: The 
portion of the Navy's Ritidian Point Surface Danger Zone Complex 
outside of DoD Submerged Lands on Guam, two USCG anchorages on Tinian, 
and a system of six Navy anchorage berths on Saipan. For each of these 
four sites, the impacts to national security of designating the site as 
critical habitat were weighed against the benefits to the conservation 
of listed corals of designating the site as critical habitat. If 
impacts to national security outweigh benefits to conservation of the 
listed species, the site is excluded from critical habitat. If benefits 
to the conservation of the listed species outweigh impacts to national 
security, the site is not excluded from critical habitat. The full 
analysis of impacts vs. benefits is provided in the Draft Information 
Report (NMFS, 2019), and summarized below. The decision to exclude any 
sites from a designation of critical habitat is always at the 
discretion of NMFS. In no circumstances is an exclusion of any site 
required by the ESA (81 FR 7226, February 11, 2016).
    For the Navy's Ritidian Point Surface Danger Zone complex, we 
conclude that the impacts to national security of including this area 
within critical habitat outweigh the conservation benefits of 
designation, thus we propose to exclude the site from coral critical 
habitat designation. The full rationale for excluding this site is 
provided in the Draft Information Report, section 5.2.1. The most 
important factors supporting this exclusion are that this area is a 
unique and important place for DoD activities, and the consultation 
requirements for critical habitat would place new demands on DoD both 
in terms of the consultation process as well as potential modifications 
to the DoD activities. The benefits of designating this low-use and 
remote habitat is reduced somewhat by the protections already afforded 
to some of the characteristics of the essential feature, and because 
DoD use of this area is likely to discourage other Federal activities 
that may otherwise require consultation. While DoD must still ensure 
that activities in this area are not likely to jeopardize the continued 
existence of listed corals, the exclusion of this area means DoD will 
not be required to consult to insure that its activities are not likely 
to adversely modify habitat or essential features within this area. 
Based on our best scientific judgment and acknowledging the small size 
of this area, and other safeguards that are in place (e.g., protections 
already afforded listed corals under its listing and other regulatory 
mechanism), we conclude that exclusion of this area will not result in 
the extinction of the species.
    For the USCG's Tinian anchorages (i.e., Explosives Anchorages A and 
B on Tinian), we conclude that the conservation benefits of designation 
outweigh the impacts to national security of including this area within 
critical habitat, and therefore the anchorages are not excluded from 
coral critical habitat designation. The full rationale for not 
excluding this site is provided in the Draft Information Report, 
section 5.2.2. The factors

[[Page 76279]]

supporting denial of this exclusion request are that: (1) Coral 
critical habitat would not create a new consultation requirement for 
USCG at these sites in addition what is already required by the fact 
that some corals on Tinian are listed as threatened under the ESA; (2) 
even if coral critical habitat would create a new consultation 
requirement for USCG at these site, USCG did not provide enough 
information to demonstrate how national security would be impacted if 
critical habitat is designated in these areas; (3) the majority of the 
areas within the Tinian anchorages are already ineligible for critical 
habitat due to overlap with the Tinian Marine Lease Area, and most of 
the remaining areas of the two anchorages are shallow nearshore areas 
that provide no anchorage; (4) the portions of the anchorages that lie 
outside of the Tinian Marine Lease Area (i.e., those areas that are 
still eligible for coral critical habitat) have no protection other 
than EFH; and (5) the portions of the anchorages that lie outside of 
the Tinian Marine Lease contain high quality coral habitat.
    For the six Navy anchorage berths (L-19, L-32, L-44, L-47, L-62, 
and M-16) within the Saipan Military Prepositioned Squadron Anchorages 
site, we conclude that the impacts to national security of including 
these sites within critical habitat outweigh the conservation benefits 
of designation, and thus the six berths are proposed for exclusion from 
coral critical habitat designation. The full rationale for proposing to 
exclude this site is provided in the Draft Information Report, section 
5.2.3. The most important factor supporting this exclusion is that 
coral critical habitat would create a new consultation requirement for 
the Navy at these sites in addition to what is already required by the 
fact that some corals on Saipan are listed as threatened under the ESA. 
The subsequent formal consultation would cause project delays and 
modifications that would impact the Military Sealift Command's mission, 
which is to provide logistics support to distant Navy, USMC, Army, and 
Air Force military forces for a wide range of national security related 
activities. The circumstances range from a rise in military tensions 
with other nations to the ability of the U.S. Government to respond to 
attacks on U.S. forces, the territory and people of the United States, 
and U.S. allies. The ability of the prepositioning fleet to provide a 
response to a threat to the U.S. requires quick transport and delivery 
of weapons, fuel, and supplies to U.S. military forces; thus delays and 
modifications at this site would result in substantial national 
security impacts. Conservation benefits of including the site in 
critical habitat could be substantial because the site has high quality 
and quantity of the essential feature with high potential to aid in the 
conservation of listed corals, for which critical habitat consultation 
could provide significant protection. However, no listed corals have 
been recorded within any of the six anchorage berths. While DoD must 
still insure that activities in this area are not likely to jeopardize 
the continued existence of listed corals, the exclusion of this area 
means DoD will not be required to consult to insure that its activities 
are not likely to adversely modify habitat or essential features within 
this area. Based on our best scientific judgment and acknowledging the 
small size of this area, and other safeguards that are in place (e.g., 
protections already afforded listed corals under its listing and other 
regulatory mechanism), we conclude that exclusion of this area will not 
result in the extinction of the species.

Other Relevant Impacts

    We identified three broad categories of other relevant impacts of 
this proposed critical habitat: Conservation benefits, both to the 
species and to society; impacts on governmental or private entities 
that are implementing existing management plans that provide benefits 
to the listed species; and educational and awareness benefits.

Conservation Benefits

    The primary benefit of critical habitat designation is the 
contribution to the conservation and recovery of the seven corals. That 
is, in protecting the features essential to the conservation of the 
species, critical habitat directly contributes to the conservation and 
recovery of the species. This analysis contemplates three broad 
categories of benefits of critical habitat designation:
    (1) Increased probability of conservation and recovery of the seven 
corals: The most direct benefits of the critical habitat designations 
stem from the enhanced probability of conservation and recovery of the 
seven corals. From an economics perspective, the appropriate measure of 
the value of this benefit is people's ``willingness-to-pay'' for the 
incremental change. While the existing economics literature is 
insufficient to provide a quantitative estimate of the extent to which 
people value incremental changes in recovery potential, the literature 
does provide evidence that people have a positive preference for listed 
species conservation, even beyond any direct (e.g., recreation, such as 
viewing the species while snorkeling or diving) or indirect (e.g., reef 
fishing that is supported by the presence of healthy reef ecosystems) 
use for the species.
    (2) Ecosystem service benefits of coral reef conservation, in 
general: Overall, coral reef ecosystems, including those comprising 
populations of the seven corals, provide important ecosystem services 
of value to individuals, communities, and economies. These include 
recreational opportunities (and associated tourism spending in the 
regional economy), habitat and nursery functions for recreationally and 
commercially valuable fish species, shoreline protection in the form of 
wave attenuation and reduced beach erosion, and climate stabilization 
via carbon sequestration. The total annual economic value of coral 
reefs in U.S. Pacific Islands jurisdictions in 2012 has been summarized 
as: (1) American Samoa--$12 million/year, (2) Guam--$155 million/year, 
and (3) CNMI--$72 million/year (Brander and Van Beukering, 2013). 
Efforts to conserve the seven corals also benefit the broader reef 
ecosystems, thereby preserving or improving these ecosystem services 
and values.
    Conservation benefits to each coral in all their specific areas are 
expected to result from the designations. Critical habitat most 
directly influences the recovery potential of the species and protects 
coral reef ecosystem services through its implementation under section 
7 of the ESA. That is, these benefits stem from the implementation of 
project modifications undertaken to avoid destruction and adverse 
modification of critical habitat. Accordingly, critical habitat 
designation is most likely to generate the benefits discussed in those 
areas expected to be subject to additional recommendations for project 
modifications (above and beyond any conservation measures that may be 
implemented in the baseline due to the listing status of the species or 
for other reasons). In addition, critical habitat designation may 
generate ancillary environmental improvements and associated ecosystem 
service benefits (i.e., to commercial fishing and recreational 
activities) in areas subject to incremental project modifications. 
While neither benefit can be directly monetized, existing information 
on the value of coral reefs provides an indication of the value placed 
on those ecosystems.
    (3) Education and Awareness Benefits that May Result from the 
Designations: There is the potential for education and awareness 
benefits arising from the critical habitat designations. This

[[Page 76280]]

potential stems from two sources: (1) Entities that engage in section 7 
consultation and (2) members of the general public interested in coral 
conservation. The former potential exists from parties who alter their 
activities to benefit the species or essential feature because they 
were made aware of the critical habitat designation through the section 
7 consultation process. The latter may engage in similar efforts 
because they learned of the critical habitat designations through 
outreach materials. For example, NMFS has been contacted by diver 
groups in the Florida Keys who are specifically seeking the two ESA-
listed Caribbean Acropora corals on dives and report those locations to 
NMFS, thus assisting us in planning and implementing coral conservation 
and management activities for those listed species. In our experience, 
designation raises the public's awareness that there are special 
considerations to be taken within the area.
    Similarly, state and local governments may be prompted to enact 
laws or rules to complement the critical habitat designations and 
benefit the listed corals. Those laws would likely result in additional 
impacts of the designations. However, we are unable to quantify the 
beneficial effects of the awareness gained through, or the secondary 
impacts from state and local regulations resulting from the critical 
habitat designation.

Impacts to Governmental and Private Entities With Existing Management 
Plans Benefitting the Essential Features

    Many previous critical habitat impact analyses evaluated the 
impacts of the designation on relationships with, or the efforts of, 
private and public entities involved in management or conservation 
efforts benefiting listed species. These analyses found that the 
additional regulatory layer of a designation could negatively impact 
the conservation benefits provided to the listed species by existing or 
proposed management or conservation plans.
    There are a large number of Federal marine protected areas in 
American Samoa, Guam, CNMI, and the PRIA where coral critical habitat 
is being considered (Draft Information Report, Appendix B). Impacts of 
critical habitat designation on the agencies responsible for natural 
resource management planning of these areas depend on the type and 
number of Section 7 consultations that may result from the designation 
in the areas covered by those plans, as well as any potential project 
modifications recommended by these consultations. Negative impacts to 
these entities could result if the critical habitat designation 
interferes with these agencies' ability to provide for the conservation 
of the species, or otherwise hampers management of these areas. 
Existing or proposed management plans in the marine protected areas and 
their associated regulations protect existing coral reef resources, but 
they may not specifically protect the substrate and water quality 
feature for purposes of increasing listed coral abundance and eventual 
recovery.
    However, most of these Federal marine protected areas are still 
developing management plans, especially the larger ones that include 
the most potential coral critical habitat (e.g., the National Marine 
Monuments), thus it is not possible to determine at this time if and 
how they would be subject to Section 7 consultation due to potential 
effects on coral critical habitat. Therefore, it is not possible to 
determine at this time if and how the management of Federal marine 
protected areas in the Pacific Islands would be impacted by coral 
critical habitat.

Discretionary Exclusions Under Section 4(b)(2)

    We are not exercising our discretion to consider exclusions based 
on economic impacts. As summarized in the Economic Impacts section, 
low-end total incremental costs resulting from the listed corals' 
critical habitats are estimated at just under $350,000 over 10 years, 
with an annualized cost of approximately $50,000. High-end total 
incremental costs are estimated at more than $13 million over 10 years, 
with an annualized cost of approximately $1.9 million. However, the 
likely economic impact of coral critical habitat is likely to be much 
closer to the low-end estimate than the high-end estimate.
    We are proposing to exclude two particular areas from critical 
habitat on the basis of national security impacts: The Navy's Ritidian 
Point Surface Danger Zone complex in Guam, and the Navy's six anchorage 
berths within the Saipan Military Prepositioned Squadron Anchorages. 
For the Ritidian Point Surface Danger Zone complex, as summarized in 
the National Security Impacts section, substantial national security 
impacts would be expected because consultation requirements for 
critical habitat would place new demands on DoD both in terms of the 
consultation process as well as potential modifications to the DoD 
activities. Conservation benefits are expected to be low because very 
few Federal activities are likely to be proposed within this site. 
Thus, we conclude that impacts outweigh benefits, and the site is 
excluded from proposed critical habitat.
    For the Saipan anchorage berths, as summarized in the National 
Security Impacts section, substantial national security impacts would 
be expected because formal consultation on anchoring would result in 
delays or changes to critical DoD activities at the site. Conservation 
benefits are expected to be substantial because the site has high 
quality and quantity of the essential feature with high potential to 
aid in the conservation of listed corals, for which critical habitat 
consultation could provide significant protection. In addition, non-DoD 
Federal actions may be proposed within the site, and critical habitat 
would address a unique management challenge for listed corals at the 
site. However, because of the substantial national security impacts, we 
conclude that impacts outweigh benefits, thus the site is excluded from 
proposed critical habitat.
    While at this time we are not proposing to exclude the USCG's 
Tinian anchorages (i.e., Explosives Anchorages A and B on Tinian) due 
to a lack of information demonstrating how national security would be 
impacted if critical habitat is designated in these areas. NMFS will 
take comments on and reconsider its decision as it pertains to this 
area consistent with the weighing factors, and provide final exclusion 
determinations for this request in the final rule.
    We are not proposing to exclude any particular area based on other 
relevant impacts. Other relevant impacts include conservation benefits 
of the designations, both to the species and to society. Because the 
feature that forms the basis of the critical habitat designations is 
essential to the conservation of the seven threatened corals, the 
protection of critical habitat from destruction or adverse modification 
may at minimum prevent loss of the benefits currently provided by the 
species and their habitat, and may contribute to an increase in the 
benefits of these species to society in the future. While we cannot 
quantify nor monetize the benefits, we believe they are not negligible 
and would be an incremental benefit of these designations.

Proposed Critical Habitat Designations

    Critical habitat must be defined by specific limits using reference 
points and lines as found on standard topographic maps of the area, and 
cannot use ephemeral reference points (50 CFR 424.12(c)). When several 
habitats, each satisfying the requirements for designation as critical

[[Page 76281]]

habitat, are located in proximity to one another, an inclusive area may 
be designated as critical habitat (50 CFR 424.12(d)).
    The habitat containing the physical or biological feature that is 
essential to the conservation of the seven threatened Indo-Pacific 
corals and that may require special management considerations or 
protection, is marine habitat of particular depths for each species in 
American Samoa, Guam, CNMI, and PRIA. The boundaries of each of the 19 
specific areas that were considered for proposed coral critical habitat 
were determined by the process described in the Specific Areas section 
of the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019) and summarized previously. 
Each specific area provides critical habitat for the one to six listed 
species known to occur in that area (see Table 1). After applying the 
4(a)(3) analysis, the entireties of the FDM and Wake Units were found 
to be ineligible for critical habitat, leaving the 17 specific areas 
described below. Of those, portions of the Guam and Tinian Units were 
also found to be ineligible after applying the 4(a)(3) analysis. In 
addition, after applying the 4(b)(2) analysis, one site in the Guam 
Unit (the Navy's Ritidian Point Surface Danger Zone complex), and one 
site in the Saipan Unit (a group of six Navy berths: L-19, L-32, L-44, 
L-47, L-62, and M-16)) were excluded from critical habitat.

Occupied Critical Habitat Unit Descriptions

    The 17 units of proposed coral critical habitat are briefly 
described below. Detailed descriptions and maps are provided in the 
regulatory text:
    (1) Tutuila and Offshore Banks: All waters from 0-40 m depth around 
Tutuila and Offshore Banks, except the areas specified in section (d) 
of the regulatory text below.
    (2) Ofu and Olosega: All waters 0-20 m depth around Ofu and Olosega 
Islands, except the areas specified in section (d) of the regulatory 
text below.
    (3) Ta`u: All waters 0-20 m depth around Ta`u Island, except the 
areas specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (4) Rose Atoll: All waters 0-20 m depth around Rose Atoll, except 
the areas specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (5) Guam: All waters from 0-40 m depth around Guam and Offshore 
Banks, except the areas specified in section (d) of the regulatory text 
below, and the national security exclusion (Ritidian Point Surface 
Danger Zone complex) specified in section (e) of the regulatory text 
below.
    (6) Rota: All waters 0-20 m depth around Rota Island, except the 
areas specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (7) Aguijian: All waters 0-20 m depth around Aguijian Island, 
except as specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (8) Tinian and Tatsumi Reef: All waters 0-20 m depth around Tinian 
and Tatsumi Reef, except the areas specified in section (d) of the 
regulatory text below.
    (9) Saipan and Garapan Bank: All waters 0-40 m depth around Saipan 
and Garapan Bank, except the areas specified in section (d) of the 
regulatory text below, and the national security exclusion (six Navy 
berths) specified in section (e) of the regulatory text below.
    (10) Anatahan: All waters 0-20 m depth around Anatahan Island, 
except as specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (11) Pagan: All waters 0-20 m depth around Pagan Island, except as 
specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (12) Maug Islands and Supply Reef: All waters 0-20 m depth around 
Maug Islands and Supply Reef, except as specified in section (d) of the 
regulatory text below.
    (13) Howland Island: All waters 0-10 m depth around Howland Island, 
except as specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (14) Palmyra Atoll: All waters 0-20 m depth around Palmyra Atoll, 
except the areas specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (15) Kingman Reef: All waters 0-40 m depth around Kingman Reef, 
except as specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (16) Johnston Atoll: All waters 0-10 m depth around Johnston Atoll, 
except the areas specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.
    (17) Jarvis Island: All waters 0-10 m depth around Jarvis Island, 
except as specified in section (d) of the regulatory text below.

Effects of Critical Habitat Designations

    Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA requires Federal agencies, including 
NMFS, to ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by 
the agency does not jeopardize the continued existence of any 
threatened or endangered species or destroy or adversely modify 
designated critical habitat. When a species is listed or critical 
habitat is designated, Federal agencies must consult with NMFS on any 
agency actions to be conducted in an area where the species is present 
and that may affect the species or its critical habitat. During the 
consultation, NMFS would evaluate the agency action to determine 
whether the action may adversely affect listed species or critical 
habitat and issue its findings in a biological opinion. If NMFS 
concludes in the biological opinion that the agency action would likely 
result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat, 
NMFS would also recommend any reasonable and prudent alternatives to 
the action. Reasonable and prudent alternatives are defined in 50 CFR 
402.02 as alternative actions identified during formal consultation 
that can be implemented in a manner consistent with the intended 
purpose of the action, that are consistent with the scope of the 
Federal agency's legal authority and jurisdiction, that are 
economically and technologically feasible, and that would avoid the 
destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 require Federal agencies that have 
retained discretionary involvement or control over an action, or where 
such discretionary involvement or control is authorized by law, to 
reinitiate consultation on previously reviewed actions in instances in 
which (1) critical habitat is subsequently designated, or (2) new 
information or changes to the action may result in effects to critical 
habitat not previously considered in the biological opinion. 
Consequently, some Federal agencies may request reinitiation of 
consultation or conference with NMFS on actions for which formal 
consultation has been completed, if those actions may adversely modify 
or destroy designated critical habitat or adversely modify or destroy 
proposed critical habitat, respectively.
    Activities subject to the ESA section 7 consultation process 
include activities on Federal lands or conducted by a Federal agency, 
and activities requiring a permit from a Federal agency or some other 
Federal action, including funding. In the marine and aquatic 
environments, activities subject to the ESA section 7 consultation 
process include activities in Federal waters and in state waters that 
(1) have the potential to affect listed species or critical habitat, 
and (2) are carried out by a Federal agency, need a permit or license 
from a Federal agency, or receive funding from a Federal agency. ESA 
section 7 consultation would not be required for Federal actions that 
do not affect listed species or critical habitat and for actions that 
are not federally funded, authorized, or carried out.

[[Page 76282]]

Activities That May Be Affected

    Section 4(b)(8) of the ESA requires that we describe briefly, and 
evaluate in any proposed or final regulation to designate critical 
habitat, those activities that may adversely modify such habitat or 
that may be affected by such designation. As described in our Draft 
Information Report, a wide variety of Federal activities may require 
ESA section 7 consultation because they may affect the essential 
feature of critical habitat. Specific future activities will need to be 
evaluated with respect to their potential to destroy or adversely 
modify critical habitat, in addition to their potential to affect and 
jeopardize the continued existence of listed species. For example, 
activities may adversely modify the essential feature by removing or 
altering the substrate or reducing water clarity through turbidity. 
These activities would require ESA section 7 consultation when they are 
authorized, funded, or carried out by a Federal agency. Private 
entities may also be affected by these proposed critical habitat 
designations if they are undertaking a project that requires a Federal 
permit or receives Federal funding.
    Categories of activities that may be affected by the designations 
include coastal and in-water construction, channel dredging, beach 
nourishment and shoreline protection, water quality management, 
protected area management, fishery management, aquaculture, military 
activities, shipwreck removal, scientific research and monitoring, and 
contaminants regulation. Further information is provided in our Draft 
Information Report (NMFS, 2019). Questions regarding whether specific 
activities will constitute destruction or adverse modification of 
critical habitat should be directed to us (see ADDRESSES and FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Public Comments Solicited

    We request that interested persons submit comments, information, 
and suggestions concerning this proposed rule during the comment period 
(see DATES). We are soliciting comments or suggestions from the public, 
other concerned governments and agencies, the scientific community, 
industry, or any other interested party concerning this proposed rule, 
including any foreseeable economic, national security, or other 
relevant impact resulting from the proposed designations. We 
specifically are seeking comments on: Areas we are proposing for 
exclusion, including but not limited to the types of areas that qualify 
as managed area (e.g., areas adjacent to dredged channels, nearshore 
placement areas); other areas not included and excluded; the identified 
geographic areas and depths occupied by the species; the physical and 
biological feature essential to the coral species' conservation and 
identification; and the Economic Impact Analysis and Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (Appendices B and C of the Draft Information 
Report; NMFS, 2019) related to the low and high end estimates and any 
other costs that may be borne by small businesses directly. You may 
submit your comments and materials concerning this proposal by any one 
of several methods (see ADDRESSES). Copies of the proposed rule and 
supporting documentation are available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals, at www.regulations.gov, or upon request 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). We will consider all comments 
pertaining to this designation received during the comment period in 
preparing the final rule. Accordingly, the final designation may differ 
from this proposal.

Information Quality Act and Peer Review

    The data and analyses supporting this proposed action have 
undergone a pre-dissemination review and have been determined to be in 
compliance with applicable information quality guidelines implementing 
the Information Quality Act (section 515 of Pub. L. 106-554). On July 
1, 1994, a joint USFWS/NMFS policy for peer review was issued stating 
that the Services would solicit independent peer review to ensure the 
best biological and commercial data is used in the development of 
rulemaking actions and recovery plans under the ESA (59 FR 34270). In 
addition, on December 16, 2004, the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) issued its Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review 
(Bulletin). The Bulletin was published in the Federal Register on 
January 14, 2005 (70 FR 2664), and went into effect on June 16, 2005. 
The primary purpose of the Bulletin is to improve the quality and 
credibility of scientific information disseminated by the Federal 
government by requiring peer review of ``influential scientific 
information'' and ``highly influential scientific information'' prior 
to public dissemination. ``Influential scientific information'' is 
defined as ``information the agency reasonably can determine will have 
or does have a clear and substantial impact on important public 
policies or private sector decisions.'' The Bulletin provides agencies 
broad discretion in determining the appropriate process and level of 
peer review. Stricter standards were established for the peer review of 
``highly influential scientific information,'' defined as information 
whose ``dissemination could have a potential impact of more than $500 
million in any one year on either the public or private sector or that 
the dissemination is novel, controversial, or precedent-setting, or has 
significant interagency interest.''
    The information in the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019) 
supporting this proposed critical habitat rule is considered 
influential scientific information and is subject to peer review. To 
satisfy our requirements under the OMB Bulletin, we obtained 
independent peer review of the information used to draft this document 
and incorporated the peer review comments into this draft prior to 
dissemination of this proposed rulemaking. For this action, compliance 
with the OMB Peer Review Bulletin satisfies any peer review 
requirements under the 1994 joint peer review policy. Comments received 
from peer reviewers are available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals, at www.regulations.gov, or upon request (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Classification

Takings (Executive Order 12630)

    Under E.O. 12630, Federal agencies must consider the effects of 
their actions on constitutionally protected private property rights and 
avoid unnecessary takings of property. A taking of property includes 
actions that result in physical invasion or occupancy of private 
property, and regulations imposed on private property that 
substantially affect its value or use. In accordance with E.O. 12630, 
this proposed rule would not have significant takings implications. A 
takings implication assessment is not required.

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, and Executive 
Order 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs

    This rule has been determined to be significant for purposes of 
E.O. 12866 review. This proposed rulemaking is expected to be 
considered ``regulatory'' under E.O. 13771.
    Low-end total incremental costs resulting from the listed corals' 
critical habitat are estimated at just under

[[Page 76283]]

$350,000 over ten years, with an annualized cost of approximately 
$50,000. High-end total incremental costs are estimated at more than 
$13 million over 10 years, with an annualized cost of approximately 
$1.9 million (Appendix B of the Draft Information Report; NMFS, 2019). 
The high-end estimate is 40 times higher than the low-end estimate 
primarily because of the assumption that critical habitat would result 
in all future coral consultations being formal, and that the resulting 
biological opinions would require modifications to all activities that 
would not be required in the absence of critical habitat. Critical 
habitat could only have a high-end level of economic impact if (1) all 
managed areas such as navigation channels, harbors, and marinas are 
included in critical habitat, as this is where the action areas for 
most activities requiring consultation would be located; and (2) the 
action areas contain the essential feature but not the listed corals, 
so formal consultation would be required solely because of critical 
habitat. However, managed areas are not included in the proposed 
critical habitat, as explained in the Specific Areas Containing the 
Essential Features Within the Geographical Areas Occupied by the 
Species section, thereby minimizing incremental impacts. In addition, a 
comparison of the projected annual Section 7 formal consultations in 
2016-2025 vs. the actual formal consultations that occurred in 2016-
2019 found that projected consultations were three times higher than 
actual consultations (NMFS, 2019, section 5.1). Thus, the likely 
economic impact of coral critical habitat is likely to be much closer 
to the low-end estimate than the high-end estimate.
    A Draft Economic Report (Appendix B of the Draft Information 
Report; NMFS, 2019) and Draft ESA Section 4(b)(2) Report (the 4(b)(2) 
section of the Draft Information Report; NMFS, 2019) have been prepared 
to support the exclusion process under section 4(b)(2) of the ESA and 
our consideration of alternatives to this rulemaking. These supporting 
documents are available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals, at www.regulations.gov, or upon request (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

Federalism (Executive Order 13132)

    Pursuant to the Executive Order on Federalism, E.O. 13132, we 
determined that this proposed rule does not have significant federalism 
effects and that a federalism assessment is not required. However, in 
keeping with Department of Commerce policies and consistent with ESA 
regulations at 50 CFR 424.16(c)(1)(ii), we will request information for 
this proposed rule from Territorial resource agencies in American 
Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI. The proposed designations may have some 
benefit to state and local resource agencies in that the proposed rule 
more clearly defines the physical and biological feature essential to 
the conservation of the species and the areas on which that feature is 
found.

Energy Supply, Distribution, and Use (Executive Order 13211)

    Executive Order 13211 requires agencies to prepare Statements of 
Energy Effects when undertaking an action expected to lead to the 
promulgation of a final rule or regulation that is a significant 
regulatory action under E.O. 12866 and is likely to have a significant 
adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. OMB 
Guidance on Implementing E.O. 13211 (July 13, 2001) states that 
significant adverse effects could include any of the following outcomes 
compared to a world without the regulatory action under consideration: 
(1) Reductions in crude oil supply in excess of 10,000 barrels per day; 
(2) reductions in fuel production in excess of 4,000 barrels per day; 
(3) reductions in coal production in excess of 5 million tons per year; 
(4) reductions in natural gas production in excess of 25 million cubic 
feet per year; (5) reductions in electricity production in excess of 1 
billion kilowatt-hours per year or in excess of 500 megawatts of 
installed capacity; (6) increases in energy use required by the 
regulatory action that exceed any of the thresholds previously 
described; (7) increases in the cost of energy production in excess of 
one percent; (8) increases in the cost of energy distribution in excess 
of one percent; or (9) other similarly adverse outcomes. A regulatory 
action could also have significant adverse effects if it (1) adversely 
affects in a material way the productivity, competition, or prices in 
the energy sector; (2) adversely affects in a material way 
productivity, competition or prices within a region; (3) creates a 
serious inconsistency or otherwise interferes with an action taken or 
planned by another agency regarding energy; or (4) raises novel legal 
or policy issues adversely affecting the supply, distribution or use of 
energy arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or 
the principles set forth in E.O. 12866 and 13211.
    This rule, if finalized, will not have a significant adverse effect 
on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. Therefore, we have not 
prepared a Statement of Energy Effects.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)

    We prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) 
pursuant to section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 
U.S.C. 601, et seq.). The IRFA analyzes the impacts to those areas 
where critical habitat is proposed, and is included as Appendix C of 
the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019), which is available at 
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals, at www.regulations.gov, or upon 
request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). The IRFA is summarized 
below, as required by section 603 of the RFA. The IRFA describes the 
economic impact this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small 
entities.
    Consultations on in-water and coastal construction and dredging and 
disposal (as determined by the 4(b)(2) economic impact analysis in 
Appendix B of the draft Information Report) all have the potential to 
involve third parties, such as recipients of Clean Water Act section 
404 permits. These activities were combined into one broad industry 
category that may experience impacts to small entities: In-Water and 
Coastal Construction and Dredging. This IRFA relies on the estimated 
incremental impacts resulting from the proposed critical habitat 
designation, as described in the 4(b)(2) economic impact analysis in 
Appendix B of the Draft Information Report (NMFS, 2019). To be 
consistent with this analysis, the IRFA provides low-end and high-end 
estimates of the impacts to small entities.
    The low-end estimate assumes no incremental project modifications 
occur because baseline permit conditions and regulations would provide 
sufficient protection to avoid adverse modification of critical 
habitat. Impacts to small entities would be due solely to the 
additional administrative costs of considering the potential for 
adverse effects to critical habitat during section 7 consultations. In 
addition, the low-end estimate assumes that trends in the frequency of 
informal consultations over the next ten years will resemble those of 
the past ten years. The high-end estimate of the impacts to small 
entities assumes that there will be incremental project modification 
costs for future projects related to in-water and coastal construction 
and dredging and that all projected future actions will require formal 
consultations (Section 6.0 of Appendix B of Draft Information Report; 
NMFS, 2019).

[[Page 76284]]

    For some projects related to in-water and coastal construction and 
dredging most of the administrative costs and project modification 
costs will likely either be borne directly by, or passed onto, Federal 
agencies. However, in order to present a conservative estimate of the 
impacts to small entities, this IRFA assumes that all administrative 
and project modification costs are borne by third parties rather than 
Federal agencies.
    The low-end and high-end estimated impacts to small entities are 
summarized in Tables 1 and 2 in Appendix B of Draft Information Report 
(NMFS, 2019). Assuming all small entities bear an equal share of costs, 
the low-end estimated impacts per small entity per year ranges from 
$2,273 to $2,816, and the high-end estimated impacts per small entity 
per year ranges from $115,625 to $117,580 in CNMI, Guam, and American 
Samoa.
    The low-end estimate of the total annualized incremental impacts of 
critical habitat designation to small entities across the three areas 
is about $39,000. These costs are distributed evenly among the 
approximate 16 entities expected to be subject to section 7 
consultations each year. Per entity annualized impacts of critical 
habitat designation across the three areas are estimated to make up 
only 0.05 percent of the average annual revenues for a business engaged 
in in-water and coastal construction or dredging. The high-end estimate 
of the annualized impacts to small entities across the three areas is 
$1,819,000. Per entity annualized impacts of critical habitat 
designation across the three areas are estimated to make up 2.4 percent 
of annual revenues for each affected small entity.
    The high-end estimate is almost certainly an overstatement of the 
costs borne by small entities. It is not likely that all projected 
future actions will require formal consultations, nor is it likely that 
one small entity would bear all the consultation costs. Moreover, the 
IRFA conservatively assumes that all administrative and project 
modification costs are borne by third parties rather than Federal 
agencies. On other hand, the low-end estimate likely overstates the 
number of small entities affected and possibly understates the costs 
borne by these entities. In other words, the scenarios in the IRFA 
present broad ranges of the number of potentially affected entities and 
associated revenue effects. The actual number of small entities 
affected and revenue effects are not expected to fall at either extreme 
end of the continuum. NMFS seeks comments on its analysis presented in 
the IRFA related to the low and high end estimates and any other costs 
that may be borne by small businesses directly.

Coastal Zone Management Act

    We have determined that this action will have no reasonably 
foreseeable effects on the enforceable policies of American Samoa, 
Guam, and CNMI. Upon publication of this proposed rule, these 
determinations will be submitted for review by the responsible 
Territorial agencies under section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management 
Act [16 U.S.C. 1456].

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

    This proposed rule does not contain any new or revised collection 
of information. This rule, if adopted, would not impose recordkeeping 
or reporting requirements on State or local governments, individuals, 
businesses, or organizations.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)

    This proposed rule will not produce a Federal mandate. The 
designation of critical habitat does not impose a legally-binding duty 
on non-Federal government entities or private parties. The only 
regulatory effect is that Federal agencies must ensure that their 
actions do not destroy or adversely modify critical habitat under 
section 7 of the ESA. Non-Federal entities which receive Federal 
funding, assistance, permits or otherwise require approval or 
authorization from a Federal agency for an action may be indirectly 
affected by the designation of critical habitat, but the Federal agency 
has the legally binding duty to avoid destruction or adverse 
modification of critical habitat.
    We do not anticipate that this rule, if finalized, will 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, a Small 
Government Action Plan is not required.

Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments (Executive 
Order 13175)

    The longstanding and distinctive relationship between the Federal 
and tribal governments is defined by treaties, statutes, executive 
orders, judicial decisions, and agreements, which differentiate tribal 
governments from the other entities that deal with, or are affected by, 
the Federal Government.
    This relationship has given rise to a special Federal trust 
responsibility involving the legal responsibilities and obligations of 
the United States toward Indian Tribes and with respect to Indian 
lands, tribal trust resources, and the exercise of tribal rights. 
Pursuant to these authorities, lands have been retained by Indian 
Tribes or have been set aside for tribal use. These lands are managed 
by Indian Tribes in accordance with tribal goals and objectives within 
the framework of applicable treaties and laws. Executive Order 13175, 
Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, outlines 
the responsibilities of the Federal Government in matters affecting 
tribal interests. The proposed critical habitat designations for 
threatened Indo-Pacific corals are located in U.S. territories and 
therefore do not have tribal implications in accordance with Executive 
Order 13175.

References Cited

    A complete list of all references cited in this rulemaking is 
available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals, at 
www.regulations.gov, or upon request (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT). In addition, pdf copies of all cited documents are available 
upon request from the NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office in Honolulu, 
HI (see ADDRESSES).

List of Subjects

50 CFR Part 23

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, 
Transportation.

50 CFR Part 226

    Endangered and threatened species.

    Dated: September 22, 2020.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, we propose to amend 50 CFR 
parts 223 and 226 as follows:

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), in the table, under the heading ``Corals'' 
revise the entries for ``Acropora globiceps'', ``Acropora 
jacquelineae'', ``Acropora retusa'', ``Acropora speciosa'', ``Euphyllia 
paradivisa'', ``Isopora crateriformis'', and ``Seriatopora aculeata''.

[[Page 76285]]

Sec.  223.102   Enumeration of threatened marine and anadromous 
species.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Species \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------   Citation(s) for     Critical    ESA
                                                       Description of          listing         habitat    rules
          Common name              Scientific name      listed entity      determination(s)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Corals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coral, [no common name]........  Acropora globiceps  Entire species....  79 FR 53852, Sept.     226.228      NA.
                                                                          10, 2014..
Coral, [no common name]........  Acropora            Entire species....  79 FR 53852, Sept.     226.228      NA.
                                  jacquelineae.                           10, 2014.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Coral, [no common name]........  Acropora retusa...  Entire species....  79 FR 53852, Sept.     226.228      NA.
                                                                          10, 2014.
Coral, [no common name]........  Acropora speciosa.  Entire species....  79 FR 53852, Sept.     226.228      NA.
                                                                          10, 2014.
Coral, [no common name]........  Euphyllia           Entire species....  79 FR 53852, Sept.     226.228      NA.
                                  paradivisa.                             10, 2014.
Coral, [no common name]........  Isopora             Entire species....  79 FR 53852, Sept.     226.228      NA.
                                  crateriformis.                          10, 2014.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Coral, [no common name]........  Seriatopora         Entire species....  79 FR 53852, Sept.     226.228      NA.
                                  aculeata.                               10, 2014.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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).

PART 226--DESIGNATED CRITICAL HABITAT

0
3. The authority citation for part 226 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1533.
0
4. Add Sec.  226.228 to read as follows:


Sec.  226.228   Critical habitat for Acropora globiceps, Acropora 
jacquelineae, Acropora retusa, Acropora speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, 
Isopora crateriformis, and Seriatopora aculeata.

    Critical habitat is designated in the following jurisdictions for 
the following species as depicted in the maps below and described in 
paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section. The maps can be viewed or 
obtained with greater resolution (available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals) to enable a more precise inspection of 
proposed critical habitat for A. globiceps, A. jacquelineae, A. retusa, 
A. speciosa, E. paradivisa, I. crateriformis, and S. aculeata.
    (a) Critical habitat locations. Critical habitat is designated for 
the following species in the following jurisdictions:

                        Table 1 to Paragraph (a)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            State--counties (or other
                Species                           jurisdiction)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acropora globiceps.....................  American Samoa (AS), Guam (Gu),
                                          Commonwealth of the Northern
                                          Mariana Islands (CNMI),
                                          Pacific Remote Island Area
                                          (PRIA).
Acropora jacquelineae..................  AS.
Acropora retusa........................  AS, Gu, CNMI, PRIA.
Acropora speciosa......................  AS, PRIA.
Euphyllia paradivisa...................  AS.
Isopora crateriformis..................  AS.
Seriatopora aculeata...................  Gu, CNMI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) Critical habitat boundaries. Except as noted in paragraphs (d) 
and (e) of this section, critical habitat for the seven species in the 
17 units includes the following areas:
    (1) Tutuila and Offshore Banks: All waters from 0-40 m depth around 
Tutuila and Offshore Banks, except the areas specified in paragraph (d) 
of this section.
    (2) Ofu and Olosega: All waters 0-20 m depth around Ofu and Olosega 
Islands, except the areas specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (3) Ta`u: All waters 0-20 m depth around Ta`u Island, except the 
areas specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (4) Rose Atoll: All waters 0-20 m depth around Rose Atoll, except 
the areas specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (5) Guam: All waters from 0-40 m depth around Guam and Offshore 
Banks, except the areas specified in paragraph (d) of this section, and 
the national security exclusion (the Navy's Ritidian Point Surface 
Danger Zone complex) specified in paragraph (e) of this section.
    (6) Rota: All waters 0-20 m depth around Rota Island, except the 
areas specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (7) Aguijian: All waters 0-20 m depth around Aguijian Island, 
except as specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (8) Tinian and Tatsumi Reef: All waters 0-20 m depth around Tinian 
and Tatsumi Reef, except the areas specified in paragraph (d) of this 
section.
    (9) Saipan and Garapan Bank: All waters 0-40 m depth around Saipan 
and Garapan Bank, except the areas specified in paragraph (d) of this 
section, and the national security exclusion (six Navy berths) 
specified in paragraph (e) of this section.
    (10) Anatahan: All waters 0-20 m depth around Anatahan Island, 
except as specified in paragraph (d) of this section.

[[Page 76286]]

    (11) Pagan: All waters 0-20 m depth around Pagan Island, except as 
specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (12) Maug Islands and Supply Reef: All waters 0-20 m depth around 
Maug Islands and Supply Reef, except as specified in paragraph (d) of 
this section.
    (13) Howland Island: All waters 0-10 m depth around Howland Island, 
except as specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (14) Palmyra Atoll: All waters 0-20 m depth around Palmyra Atoll, 
except the areas specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (15) Kingman Reef: All waters 0-40 m depth around Kingman Reef, 
except as specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (16) Johnston Atoll: All waters 0-10 m depth around Johnston Atoll, 
except the areas specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (17) Jarvis Island: All waters 0-10 m depth around Jarvis Island, 
except as specified in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (18) Maps of the 17 units where critical habitat is proposed are 
provided below (all of Wake Atoll and Farallon de Medinilla are 
ineligible for critical habitat because of 4(a)(3)).
    (c) Essential feature. The feature essential to the conservation of 
A. globiceps, A. jacquelineae, A. retusa, A. speciosa, E. paradivisa, 
I. crateriformis, and S. aculeata is: Reproductive, recruitment, 
growth, and maturation habitat. Sites that support the normal function 
of all life stages of the corals are natural, consolidated hard 
substrate or dead coral skeleton free of algae and sediment at the 
appropriate scale at the point of larval settlement or fragment 
reattachment, and the associated water column. Several attributes of 
these sites determine the quality of the area and influence the value 
of the associated feature to the conservation of the species:
    (1) Substrate with presence of crevices and holes that provide 
cryptic habitat, the presence of microbial biofilms, or presence of 
crustose coralline algae;
    (2) Reefscape with no more than a thin veneer of sediment and low 
occupancy by fleshy and turf macroalgae;
    (3) Marine water with levels of temperature, aragonite saturation, 
nutrients, and water clarity that have been observed to support any 
demographic function; and
    (4) Marine water with levels of anthropogenically-introduced (from 
humans) chemical contaminants that do not preclude or inhibit any 
demographic function.
    (d) Areas not included in critical habitat. Critical habitat does 
not include the following particular areas where they overlap with the 
areas described in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section:
    (1) Pursuant to ESA section 4(a)(3)(B), all areas subject to the 
2017 Wake Island and 2019 Joint Region Marianas Integrated Natural 
Resources Management Plans.
    (2) Pursuant to ESA section 3(5)(A)(i)(I), areas where the 
essential feature does not occur;
    (3) Pursuant to ESA section 3(5)(A)(i)(I), all managed areas that 
may contain natural hard substrate but do not provide the quality of 
substrate essential for the conservation of threatened corals. Managed 
areas that do not provide the quality of substrate essential for the 
conservation of the seven Indo-Pacific corals are defined as particular 
areas whose consistently disturbed nature renders them poor habitat for 
coral growth and survival over time. These managed areas include 
specific areas where the substrate has been disturbed by planned 
management authorized by local, territorial, state, or Federal 
governmental entities at the time of critical habitat designation, and 
will continue to be periodically disturbed by such management. Examples 
include, but are not necessarily limited to, dredged navigation 
channels, shipping basins, vessel berths, and active anchorages;
    (4) Pursuant to ESA section 3(5)(A)(i), artificial substrates 
including but not limited to: Fixed and floating structures, such as 
aids-to-navigation (AToNs), seawalls, wharves, boat ramps, fishpond 
walls, pipes, submarine cables, wrecks, mooring balls, docks, 
aquaculture cages;
    (5) Areas not included in critical habitat on Tutuila.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include two areas where the essential 
feature does not occur: Inner Pago Pago Harbor: West of line between 
Nuutatai Point (-14.276621, -170.680441) and Trading Point (-14.270756, 
-170.684961) on Map 10 of NOAA Chart 83484; and Pala Lagoon: West of 
line between Coconut Point (-14.322021, -170.702835) and the airport 
tarmac (-14.324714, -170.699535).
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include managed areas, including but 
not limited to: USACE-managed small boat harbors, basins, and 
navigation channels (areas within ``Federal Project Limits'' indicated 
in Hydrographic Surveys for Aunu'u and Auasi Small Boat Harbors on 
USACE Honolulu District Civil Works' website); the seawall breakwaters, 
and areas lying between the ``Federal Project Limits'' and seawall 
breakwaters; all other harbors, navigation channels, turning basins, 
and berthing areas that are periodically dredged or maintained; all 
seawall breakwaters, areas lying between the managed areas and seawall 
breakwaters, and a 25 m radius of substrate around each of the AToN 
bases.
    (iii) Critical habitat does not include artificial substrates, 
including but not limited to: The 11 USCG-managed fixed and floating 
AToNs, USACE-managed seawalls (Afono, Aoa, Lepua, Masefau, Matafao, 
Paloa, Vatia, Pago Pago to Nuuuli, and Pago Pago Airport Shore 
Protection and Beach Erosion Control Projects, as described on USACE 
Honolulu District Civil Works' website); and all other AToNs, seawalls, 
wharves, docks, boat ramps, moorings, pipes, wrecks, and other 
artificial structures.
    (6) Areas not included in critical habitat on Ofu and Oloseg.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include managed areas, including but 
not limited to: The USACE-managed Ofu Small Boat Harbor and navigation 
channel (areas within ``Federal Project Limits'' indicated in 
Hydrographic Surveys for the Ofu Small Boat Harbor on USACE Honolulu 
District Civil Works' website); the seawall breakwaters, areas lying 
between the Federal Project Limits and seawall breakwaters, and a 25 m 
radius of substrate around each of the AToN bases.
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include artificial substrates, 
including but not limited to: The two USCG-managed fixed and floating 
AToNs, USACE-managed Ofu Airstrip Shore Protection Project, as 
described on USACE Honolulu District Civil Works' website; and all 
other AToNs, seawalls, wharves, docks, boat ramps, moorings, pipes, 
wrecks, and other artificial structures.
    (7) Areas not included in critical habitat on Ta`u.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include managed areas, including but 
not limited to: The USACE-managed Ta'u Small Boat Harbor and navigation 
channel (areas within ``Federal Project Limits'' indicated in 
Hydrographic Surveys for Ta'u Small Boat Harbor on USACE Honolulu 
District Civil Works' website); the seawall breakwaters, areas lying 
between the Federal Project Limits and seawall breakwaters, and a 25 m 
radius of substrate around each of the AToN bases.
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include artificial substrates 
including but not limited to: The four USCG-managed fixed and floating 
AToNs, all other AToNs, seawalls, wharves, docks, boat

[[Page 76287]]

ramps, moorings, pipes, wrecks, and other artificial structures.
    (8) Areas not included in critical habitat on Rose Atoll.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include the lagoon because it lacks 
the essential feature.
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include any managed areas or 
artificial substrates.
    (9) Areas not included in critical habitat on Guam.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include three INRMP marine areas:
    (A) NBG Main Base Submerged Lands;
    (B) NBG TS Submerged Lands; and
    (C) AAFB Submerged Lands.
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include managed areas, including but 
not limited to: The Guam Port Authority harbors, basins, and navigation 
channels; Navy-managed Apra Harbor basins, and navigation channels, and 
the seawall breakwaters; USACE-managed small boat harbors, basins, and 
navigation channels (areas within ``Federal Project Limits'' indicated 
in Hydrographic Surveys for Agat and Agana Small Boat Harbors on USACE 
Honolulu District Civil Works' website); the seawall breakwaters, and 
areas lying between the Federal Project Limits and seawall breakwaters; 
all other channels, turning basins, and berthing areas that are 
periodically dredged or maintained, and 25 m radius of substrate around 
each of the AToN bases.
    (iii) Critical habitat does not include artificial substrates, 
including but not limited to: The USCG-managed 32 fixed and floating 
AToNs; USACE-managed seawalls (Asquiroga Bay Shoreline Protection 
Project and marine components of the Namo River Flood Control project, 
as described on USACE Honolulu District Civil Works' website); 
Territory-managed boat ramps, including at Agana, Merizo, Seaplane Ramp 
in Apra Harbor, Umatac, and Agat; all other AToNs, seawalls, wharves, 
docks, boat ramps, moorings, pipes, wrecks, and other artificial 
structures.
    (10) Areas not included in critical habitat on Rota.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include managed areas, including but 
not limited to: The USACE-managed Rota Harbor and navigation channel 
(areas within ``Federal Project Limits'' indicated in Hydrographic 
Surveys for the Rota Harbor on USACE Honolulu District Civil Works' 
website); the seawall breakwaters, areas lying between the Federal 
Project Limits and seawall breakwaters, and a 25 m radius of substrate 
around each of the AToN bases.
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include artificial substrates, 
including but not limited to: The two USCG-managed fixed AToNs; the 
Territory-managed boat ramp at Rota Harbor; all other AToNs, seawalls, 
wharves, docks, boat ramps, moorings, pipes, wrecks, and other 
artificial structures.
    (11) Critical habitat does not include any managed areas or 
artificial substrates on Aguijian.
    (12) Areas not included in critical habitat on Tinian and Tatsumi 
Reef.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include the Tinian MLA Submerged 
Lands.
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include managed areas, including but 
not limited to: Tinian Harbor and navigation channel as shown on NOAA 
Navigation Chart 81067, the seawall breakwater, and a 25 m radius of 
substrate around each of the AToN bases.
    (iii) Critical habitat does not include artificial substrates, 
including but not limited to: The six USCG-managed fixed AToNs, the 
Territory-managed boat ramp at Tinian Harbor, all other AToNs, 
seawalls, wharves, docks, boat ramps, moorings, pipes, wrecks, and 
other artificial structures.
    (13) Areas not included in critical habitat on Saipan and Garapan 
Bank.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include the Commonwealth Ports 
Authority harbors, basins, and navigation channels, their seawall 
breakwaters; all other channels, turning basins, berthing areas that 
are periodically dredged or maintained, and a 25 m radius of substrate 
around each of the AToN bases.
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include artificial substrates, 
including but not limited to: The 15 USCG-managed fixed AToNs, 
Territory-managed boat ramps at Smiling Cove (Garapan), Sugar Dock 
(Chalan Kanoa), Tanapag, Fishing Base (Garapan), and Lower Base 
(Tanapag); and all other AToNs, seawalls, wharves, docks, boat ramps, 
moorings, pipes, wrecks, and other artificial structures.
    (14) Critical habitat does not include any managed areas or 
artificial substrates on Anatahan, Pagan, Maug Islands and Supply Reef, 
or Howland Island.
    (18) Areas not included in critical habitat on Palmyra Atoll.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include managed areas, including but 
not limited to: The main channel into the lagoon, dredged area in the 
central lagoon, and other channels and areas that are periodically 
dredged or maintained.
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include artificial substrates, 
including but not limited to: Seawalls, wharves, docks, boat ramps, 
moorings, pipes, wrecks, and other artificial structures.
    (16) Critical habitat does not include any managed areas or 
artificial substrates on Kingman Reef.
    (17) Areas not included in critical habitat on Johnston Atoll.
    (i) Critical habitat does not include managed areas, including but 
not limited to: The main channel around Johnston Island, and other 
dredged channels and areas.
    (ii) Critical habitat does not include artificial substrates, 
including but not limited to: Seawalls, wharves, docks, boat ramps, 
moorings, pipes, wrecks, and other structures.
    (18) Critical habitat does not include managed areas or artificial 
substrates Jarvis Island.
    (e) Areas excluded from critical habitat. Pursuant to ESA section 
4(b)(2), the following areas are excluded from critical habitat:
    (1) On Guam, the marine component of the Navy's complex of 
overlying Surface Danger Zones off of Ritidian Point, delineated from 
point 144[deg]51'18'' W, 13[deg]39'5'' S on the shoreline to point 
144[deg]51'27'' W, 13[deg]39'34'' S at 40 m depth, then along the 40 m 
depth contour to point 144[deg]53'1'' W, 13[deg]39'8'' S, then to point 
144[deg]52'49'' W, 13[deg]38'38'' S on the shoreline, then along the 
shoreline back to the original point of 144[deg]51'18'' W, 
13[deg]39'5'' S on the shoreline.
    (2) On Saipan, Naval anchorage berths off the west coast known as 
L-62 (circle with radius approximately 366 m around center point 
15[deg]11'4.9194'' N 145[deg]39'41.7594'' E), L-32 (circle with radius 
approximately 366 m around center point 15[deg]12'13.6794'' N 
145[deg]41'33.3594'' E), L-44 (circle with radius approximately 366 m 
around center point 15[deg]11'40.1994'' N 145[deg]40'37.5594'' E), L-47 
(circle with radius approximately 366 m around center point 
15[deg]11'27.2394'' N 145[deg]41'30.1194'' E), L-19 (circle with radius 
approximately 366 m around center point 15[deg]12'53.64'' N 
145[deg]40'53.3994'' E), and M-16 (circle with radius approximately 488 
m around center point 15[deg]12'36'' N 145[deg]39'34.9194'' E).
    (f) Critical habitat maps. Maps of the 17 units of proposed Indo-
Pacific coral critical habitat.
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[FR Doc. 2020-21226 Filed 11-25-20; 8:45 am]
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