[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 179 (Friday, September 16, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 56925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20058]



[[Page 56925]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 224

[Docket No. 220912-0190]
RIN 0648-BI88


Amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike 
Reduction Rule; Extension of Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On August 1, 2022, NMFS published proposed amendments to the 
North Atlantic right whale vessel strike reduction rule, with a 60-day 
comment period ending on September 30, 2022. In response to multiple 
requests for an extension, NMFS is announcing an extension of the 
public comment period by an additional 30 calendar days ending on 
October 31, 2022.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments on the proposed rule 
published on August 1, 2022, at 87 FR 46921, is extended from September 
30, 2022, until October 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2022-0022, by electronic submission. Submit all electronic 
public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2022-0022 in the Search box. 
Click the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields and enter or 
attach your comments. You may submit comments on supporting materials 
via the same electronic submission process, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2022-0022.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous). The Draft Environmental Assessment, and the Draft 
Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
prepared in support of this proposed rule, are available via the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov/ or obtained via email from the 
person listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caroline Good, [email protected], 
301-427-8402.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On August 1, 2022, NMFS published proposed changes to the North 
Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) vessel speed regulations to 
further reduce the likelihood of mortalities and serious injuries to 
endangered right whales from vessel collisions, which are a leading 
cause of the species' decline and a primary factor in an ongoing 
Unusual Mortality Event. The proposed rule would: (1) modify the 
spatial and temporal boundaries of current speed restriction areas 
referred to as Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs), (2) include most 
vessels greater than or equal to 35 ft (10.7 m) and less than 65 ft 
(19.8 m) in length in the size class subject to speed restriction, (3) 
create a Dynamic Speed Zone framework to implement mandatory speed 
restrictions when whales are known to be present outside active SMAs, 
and (4) update the speed rule's safety deviation provision.
    NMFS has received multiple requests for extension of the 60-day 
comment period and multiple requests to maintain the comment period 
scheduled to close on September 30, 2022. Having considered the 
requests, NMFS is extending the comment period for the proposed rule 
for an additional 30 days to provide further opportunity for public 
comment. This extension provides a total of 90 days for public input.
    Changes to the speed regulations are proposed to reduce vessel 
strike risk based on a coast-wide collision mortality risk assessment 
and updated information on right whale distribution, vessel traffic 
patterns, and vessel strike mortality and serious injury events. 
Changes to the existing vessel speed regulation are essential to 
stabilize the ongoing right whale population decline and prevent the 
species' extinction. As such, we encourage members of the public to 
submit comments as soon as possible to allow NMFS sufficient time to 
review, consider and incorporate submitted information.

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

    Dated: September 12, 2022.
Samuel D Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-20058 Filed 9-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P