United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States National Archives and Records Administration Office of the Federal Register author aut Government Organization text government publication eng FR Regulatory Information 2015_register executive 2015-02-24 article Proposed Rules D09002ee1c8584d8d D09002ee1c8584e2b United States Department of Commerce originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration originator org United States Government Agency or Subagency We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), announce a 12-month finding on a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity to revise the critical habitat designation for the Southern Resident killer whale (Orcinus orca) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In November 2006 we issued a final rule designating approximately 2,560 square miles (6,630 square km) of inland waters of Washington State as critical habitat for the Southern Resident killer whale DPS. The January 2014 petition requests we revise this critical habitat to include Pacific Ocean marine waters along the West Coast of the United States that constitute essential foraging and wintering areas for Southern Resident killer whales. Additionally, the petition requests that we adopt as a primary constituent element (PCE), for both currently designated critical habitat and the proposed revised critical habitat, protective in-water sound levels. The ESA defines a process for responding to petitions to revise critical habitat. We have reviewed the public comments and best available information on Southern Resident killer whale habitat use and as the next step in the response to the petition process defined in the ESA, this 12-month determination describes how we intend to proceed with the requested revision. 80 FR 9682 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2015-02-24/2015-03378 2015-03378 fr24fe15-21 RIN 0648-XD23 3510-22-P Docket No. 140407321-5096-02 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2015-02-24/2015-03378 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-02-24/html/2015-03378.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-02-24/pdf/2015-03378.pdf 6 p. 9682 9687 80 FR 9682 Title 50 Part 226 50 CFR Part 226 RIN 0648-XD23 Listing Endangered or Threatened Species; 12-Month Finding on a Petition To Revise the Critical Habitat Designation for the Southern Resident Killer Whale Distinct Population Segment; Federal Register Vol. 80, Issue PRORULE 2015-03378 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Docket No. 140407321-5096-02 3510-22-P 2015-03378 Notice of 12-month finding.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), announce a 12-month finding on a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity to revise the critical habitat designation for the Southern Resident killer whale (Orcinus orca) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In November 2006 we issued a final rule designating approximately 2,560 square miles (6,630 square km) of inland waters of Washington State as critical habitat for the Southern Resident killer whale DPS. The January 2014 petition requests we revise this critical habitat to include Pacific Ocean marine waters along the West Coast of the United States that constitute essential foraging and wintering areas for Southern Resident killer whales. Additionally, the petition requests that we adopt as a primary constituent element (PCE), for both currently designated critical habitat and the proposed revised critical habitat, protective in-water sound levels. The ESA defines a process for responding to petitions to revise critical habitat. We have reviewed the public comments and best available information on Southern Resident killer whale habitat use and as the next step in the response to the petition process defined in the ESA, this 12-month determination describes how we intend to proceed with the requested revision.

The finding announced in this document was made on February 24, 2015. Lynne Barre, NMFS West Coast Region, (206) 526-4745; or Dwayne Meadows, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, (301) 427-8403. Listing Endangered or Threatened Species: 12-Month Finding on a Petition To Revise the Critical Habitat Designation for the Southern Resident Killer Whale Distinct Population Segment , http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/news/features/killer_whale_report/index.cfm http://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=1756 http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/marine_mammals/killer_whale/esa_status.html www.regulations.gov Vol. 80, no. 36 Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration 2015-02-24 continuing daily deposited born digital 404 p. Table of Contents: AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: KF70.A2 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2015-02-24 P0b002ee18b32f962 0097-6326 0042-1219 0364-1406 769-004-00000-9 000582072 f:fr24fe15 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2015-02-24 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-02-24/pdf/FR-2015-02-24.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-02-24/xml/FR-2015-02-24.xml fdlp 9591 9983 DGPO 2015-02-24 2024-06-25 FR-2015-02-24 machine generated eng FR FR-2015-02-24 80 36