[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 17, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 71523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22821]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 223

[Docket No. 230802-0182]
RIN 0648-BL87


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed 
Protective Regulations for the Threatened Banggai Cardinalfish 
(Pterapogon Kauderni); Extension of 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: We, NMFS, are extending the public comment period by 60 days 
for our proposed rule to promulgate protective regulations for the 
Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). The end of the public 
comment period is extended from October 16, 2023, to December 15, 2023.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule to promulgate 
protective regulations for the Banggai cardinalfish under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA), published on August 15, 2023 (88 FR 
55431), is extended from October 16, 2023, to December 15, 2023. 
Comments received after December 15, 2023, may not be accepted.
    A virtual public hearing on the proposed rule will be held at a 
later date and notice of the date and time of any such hearing will be 
published in the Federal Register not less than 15 days before the 
hearing is held.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2023-0099, 
by Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov and enter 
NOAA-NMFS-2023-0099 in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
    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.) voluntarily submitted by the 
commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    We will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields 
if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments 
will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats 
only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Celeste Stout, NMFS, Office of 
Protected Resources, [email protected], (301) 427-8436; Erin 
Markin, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, [email protected], 
(301) 427-8416.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 15, 2023, NMFS published a 
proposed rule to promulgate protective regulations for the Banggai 
cardinalfish under the ESA (88 FR 55431). In that proposed rule, we 
also announced a 60-day public comment period, and an option to request 
a public hearing. On September 27, 2023, we received a letter 
requesting a public hearing be held as well as a 90-day extension to 
the public comment period. In response, we are extending the public 
comment period by another 60 days, and are accepting public comments 
for the proposed rule through December 15, 2023. Public comments can be 
submitted as described under ADDRESSES. Additionally, the date and time 
of any public hearing will be published in the Federal Register not 
less than 15 days before the hearing is held.

    Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: October 11, 2023.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-22821 Filed 10-12-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P