[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 13518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04825]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223 and 226

[Docket No. 210303-0034]
RIN 0648-BJ65


Endangered and Threatened Species; Designation of Critical 
Habitat for the Beringia Distinct Population Segment of the Bearded 
Seal; Extension of Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS hereby extends the public comment period by 30 days for 
the proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on January 8, 
2021, to designate critical habitat for the threatened Beringia 
distinct population segment (DPS) of the Pacific bearded seal 
subspecies (Erignathus barbatus nauticus) under the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA). The end of the public comment period is extended from March 
9, 2021, to April 8, 2021.

DATES: The comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking 
published at 86 FR 1433, and corrected at 86 FR 7242, is extended by 30 
days to April 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit data, information, or comments regarding the 
proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Beringia DPS of the 
bearded seal, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2020-0029, by either of the 
following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter 
NOAA-NMFS-2020-0029 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Jon Kurland, Assistant 
Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Alaska Region NMFS, 
Attn: Records Office, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99082-1668.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments sent by any other 
method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end 
of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    The proposed rule and supporting documents are at 
www.regulations.gov, and on the NMFS website at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/designation-critical-habitat-beringia-distinct-population-segment-bearded-seal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Olson, NMFS Alaska Region, (907) 
271-2373; or Jon Kurland, NMFS Alaska Region, (907) 586-7638.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 8, 2021, NMFS published a 
proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Beringia 
DPS of the bearded seal under the ESA (86 FR 1433; corrected at 86 FR 
7242). The proposed designation comprises an area of marine habitat in 
the northern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. The proposed rule 
opened a 60-day public comment period to end on March 9, 2021. NMFS 
received two requests to extend the comment period in order to provide 
additional time to prepare comments in a thorough manner. We considered 
the requests and concluded that we can accommodate a 30-day extension 
of the comment period for the proposed rule without significantly 
delaying the completion of the final rule. We are therefore extending 
the comment period for the proposed rule by 30 days to April 8, 2021.

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

    Dated: March 3, 2021.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-04825 Filed 3-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P