Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Petition Finding and Proposed Rule To List the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus, 7381-7382 [07-723]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 31 / Thursday, February 15, 2007 / Proposed Rules
7381
FIGURE 8.—AVERAGE FIRST-YEAR COMPLIANCE COSTS AS A PERCENT OF REVENUE
Average firstyear cost
Average
revenue
A
B
Type
Cost as a
percent of
revenue
(percent)
A/B
Regional .......................................................................................................................................
Local ............................................................................................................................................
S & T ............................................................................................................................................
Small Transit ................................................................................................................................
Chemical Manufacturer, 10–19 FTE ...........................................................................................
Chemical Wholesaler, 10–19 FTE ...............................................................................................
Agricultural Wholesaler, 10–19 FTE ............................................................................................
$5,761
767
769
245
71,693
71,693
71,693
$45,483,871
3,121,019
3,137,255
590,000
18,637,676
6,184,695
6,062,925
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.04
0.38
1.16
1.18
Source: TSA Calculations.
7.5 Identification of Duplication,
Overlap, and Conflict With Other Rules
TSA has no knowledge of any
duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting
Federal rules.
7.6
Preliminary Conclusion
Based on this preliminary analysis,
TSA has not determined if the
rulemaking would have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities under section
605(b) of the RFA (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
The agency requests comment on all
aspects of this analysis. TSA will
publish a Final Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis for the Final Rule.
Issued in Arlington, Virginia, on February
12, 2007.
Mardi Ruth Thompson,
Deputy Chief Counsel for Regulations.
[FR Doc. 07–715 Filed 2–13–07; 10:44 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018–AV19
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; 12-Month Petition Finding
and Proposed Rule To List the Polar
Bear (Ursus maritimus) as Threatened
Throughout Its Range
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public
informational meetings and public
hearings.
erjones on PRODPC74 with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
locations and times of combined public
meetings that have been scheduled to:
(1) Provide information on the 12-month
petition finding and proposed rule to
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:53 Feb 14, 2007
Jkt 211001
list the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) as
threatened throughout its range, and (2)
Receive verbal public comments on that
proposal.
DATES: The meeting dates are:
1. March 1, 2007, 7 to 10 p.m.,
Anchorage, AK.
2. March 5, 2007, 6 to 9 p.m.,
Washington, DC.
3. March 7, 2007, 5 to 10 p.m.,
Barrow, AK.
We will accept written comments
until April 9, 2007. If you wish to
submit written comments, follow the
directions in our January 9, 2007,
proposed regulation (72 FR 1064).
ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
1. Anchorage—Wilda Marston
Theatre, Z.J. Loussac Library, 3600
Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503.
2. Washington, DC—Department of
the Interior (Sidney Yates Auditorium),
1849 C St., NW., Washington, DC 20240.
3. Barrow—Inupiat Heritage Center
(Multipurpose Room), Barrow, AK
99723.
Cathy Rezabeck, Regional Outreach
Coordinator, 1011 East Tudor Rd., MS–
101, Anchorage, AK 99503 (telephone
907/786–3351). Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–
8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For
information concerning the Washington,
D.C., meeting, please contact Valerie
Fellows, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20240 (telephone
202/208–5634).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We will
hold a combined public informational
meeting and public hearing at the
following locations: Anchorage, Alaska;
Barrow, Alaska; and Washington, DC. In
each location, the public informational
meeting will precede the public hearing.
All meetings will include a 30-minute
presentation on the Service’s status
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
review of the polar bear followed by a
30-minute question and answer period
on the status review. We invite the
public to provide oral testimony during
the public hearing.
Background
On January 9, 2007, we published a
proposed rule (72 FR 1064) to list the
polar bear as threatened on the Federal
List of Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife in 50 CFR 17.11(h). Because of
the wide geographic scope of the
proposal and heightened public interest,
we have scheduled public informational
meetings and public hearings at three
locations.
Our purpose for holding these public
informational meetings is to provide
additional opportunities for the public
to gain information and ask questions
about our proposal. These informational
sessions should assist interested parties
in preparing substantive comments,
which we will accept until close of
business (5 p.m.) Alaska Local Time on
April 9, 2007. The public hearings will
be the only method for the public to
verbally present comments and data for
entry into the public record of this
rulemaking and for our consideration
during our final decision. Anyone
wishing to make an oral comment or
statement for the record at a public
hearing listed above is encouraged (but
not required) to also provide a written
copy of the statement and present it to
us at the hearing. Oral and written
statements receive equal consideration.
In the event there is a large attendance,
the time allotted for oral statements may
be limited.
Comments and data can also be
submitted in writing or electronically,
as described in the January 9, 2007,
proposal, and at: https://alaska.fws.gov/
fisheries/mmm/polarbear/issues.htm.
Public Comments Solicited
We intend that any final action
resulting from the proposed rule will be
E:\FR\FM\15FEP1.SGM
15FEP1
7382
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 31 / Thursday, February 15, 2007 / Proposed Rules
as accurate and as effective as possible.
Therefore, we request comments or
information from the public, other
concerned governmental agencies, the
scientific community, industry, or any
other interested party concerning the
proposed rule. We particularly seek
comments concerning:
(1) Information on taxonomy,
distribution, habitat selection
(especially denning habitat), food
habits, population density and trends,
habitat trends, and effects of
management on polar bears;
(2) Information on the effects of sea
ice change on the distribution and
abundance of polar bears and their
principal prey over the short and long
term;
(3) Information on the effects of other
potential listing factors, including oil
and gas development, contaminants,
ecotourism, hunting, and poaching, on
the distribution and abundance of polar
bears and their principal prey over the
short and long term;
(4) Information on regulatory
mechanisms and management programs
for polar bear conservation, including
mitigation measures related to oil and
gas exploration and development,
hunting conservation programs, antipoaching programs, and any other
private, tribal, or governmental
conservation programs that benefit polar
bears;
(5) The specific physical and
biological features to consider, and
specific areas that may meet the
definition of critical habitat and that
should or should not be considered for
a proposed critical habitat designation
as provided by section 4 of the
Endangered Species Act;
(6) Information relevant to whether
any populations of the species may
qualify as distinct population segments;
and
(7) The data and studies referred to
within the proposal.
Author
The author of this notice is Charles S.
Hamilton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
Authority
erjones on PRODPC74 with PROPOSALS
The authority for this notice is the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: February 2, 2007.
Mamie A. Parker,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 07–723 Filed 2–13–07; 11:21 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:53 Feb 14, 2007
Jkt 211001
[Docket No. 070122014–7014–01; I.D.
011907A]
fax 727–824–5309, e-mail
Michael.Barnette@noaa.gov), Ellen
Keane (ph. 978–281–9300 x6526, fax
978–281–9394, e-mail
Ellen.Keane@noaa.gov), or Tanya
Dobrzynski (ph. 301–713–2322, fax
(301) 427–2522, e-mail
Tanya.Dobrzynski@noaa.gov).
RIN 0648–AV04
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 223
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife;
Sea Turtle Conservation Requirements
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed
rulemaking; request for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS issues this advance
notice of proposed rulemaking to
announce that it is considering
amendments to the regulatory
requirements for turtle excluder devices
(TEDs). Specific changes NMFS is
considering include increasing the size
of the TED escape opening currently
required in the summer flounder
fishery; requiring the use of TEDs in the
flynet, whelk, calico scallop, and MidAtlantic sea scallop trawl fisheries; and
moving the current northern boundary
of the Summer Flounder Fishery-Sea
Turtle Protection Area off Cape Charles,
Virginia, to a point farther north. The
objective of the proposed measures
would be to effectively protect all life
stages and species of sea turtle in
Atlantic trawl fisheries where they are
vulnerable to incidental capture and
mortality. NMFS is seeking public
comment on these potential
amendments to the TED regulations.
NMFS is also soliciting public comment
on the need for, and development and
implementation of, other methods to
reduce bycatch of sea turtles in any
commercial or recreational fishery in
the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico where
sea turtle conservation measures do not
currently exist.
DATES: Comments will be accepted
through March 19, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on this
action and requests for literature cited
should be addressed to Michael
Barnette, Southeast Regional Office,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg,
FL 33701. Comments may also be sent
via fax to 727–824–5309, via email to
0648–AV04@noaa.gov, or to the Federal
eRulemaking portal: https://
www.regulations.gov (follow
instructions for submitting comments).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Barnette (ph. 727–824–5312,
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Background
All sea turtles that occur in U.S.
waters are listed as either endangered or
threatened under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (ESA). The Kemp’s
ridley (Lepidochelys kempii),
leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) are
listed as endangered. Loggerhead
(Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia
mydas) turtles are listed as threatened,
except for breeding populations of green
turtles in Florida and on the Pacific
coast of Mexico, which are listed as
endangered. Incidental capture of sea
turtles in fisheries (bycatch) is a primary
factor hampering the recovery of sea
turtles in the Atlantic Ocean and the
Gulf of Mexico.
To address this factor
comprehensively, NMFS has initiated a
Strategy for Sea Turtle Conservation and
Recovery in Relation to Atlantic Ocean
and Gulf of Mexico Fisheries (Strategy).
The Strategy is a gear-based approach to
addressing sea turtle bycatch. Certain
types of fishing gear are more prone to
the incidental capture of sea turtles than
others, depending on the design of the
gear, the way the gear is fished, and/or
the time and area within which it is
fished. An evaluation of sea turtle
interactions by gear type provides a
more comprehensive assessment of
fishery impacts across fishing sectors as
well as across state, federal, and
regional boundaries. Through this
strategy, NMFS seeks to address sea
turtle bycatch across jurisdictional
boundaries and fisheries for gear types
that have the greatest impact on sea
turtle populations.
Through the Strategy and based on
documented sea turtle-fishery
interactions, NMFS has identified trawl
gear as a priority for reducing sea turtle
bycatch. Trawling is a method of fishing
that involves actively towing a net
through the water behind one or more
boats. Because trawl gear is towed, it
has the capability to incidentally
capture sea turtles and other species
that are not the intended target of the
fishery. The likelihood of incidental
capture is inherent in the basic design
of trawls, regardless of the specific
fishery. Trawl fisheries with
documented observer coverage or
E:\FR\FM\15FEP1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 31 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7381-7382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-723]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AV19
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Petition
Finding and Proposed Rule To List the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) as
Threatened Throughout Its Range
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public informational meetings and
public hearings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
locations and times of combined public meetings that have been
scheduled to: (1) Provide information on the 12-month petition finding
and proposed rule to list the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) as
threatened throughout its range, and (2) Receive verbal public comments
on that proposal.
DATES: The meeting dates are:
1. March 1, 2007, 7 to 10 p.m., Anchorage, AK.
2. March 5, 2007, 6 to 9 p.m., Washington, DC.
3. March 7, 2007, 5 to 10 p.m., Barrow, AK.
We will accept written comments until April 9, 2007. If you wish to
submit written comments, follow the directions in our January 9, 2007,
proposed regulation (72 FR 1064).
ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
1. Anchorage--Wilda Marston Theatre, Z.J. Loussac Library, 3600
Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503.
2. Washington, DC--Department of the Interior (Sidney Yates
Auditorium), 1849 C St., NW., Washington, DC 20240.
3. Barrow--Inupiat Heritage Center (Multipurpose Room), Barrow, AK
99723.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Rezabeck, Regional Outreach
Coordinator, 1011 East Tudor Rd., MS-101, Anchorage, AK 99503
(telephone 907/786-3351). Persons who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For
information concerning the Washington, D.C., meeting, please contact
Valerie Fellows, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240 (telephone 202/208-
5634).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We will hold a combined public informational
meeting and public hearing at the following locations: Anchorage,
Alaska; Barrow, Alaska; and Washington, DC. In each location, the
public informational meeting will precede the public hearing. All
meetings will include a 30-minute presentation on the Service's status
review of the polar bear followed by a 30-minute question and answer
period on the status review. We invite the public to provide oral
testimony during the public hearing.
Background
On January 9, 2007, we published a proposed rule (72 FR 1064) to
list the polar bear as threatened on the Federal List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife in 50 CFR 17.11(h). Because of the wide geographic
scope of the proposal and heightened public interest, we have scheduled
public informational meetings and public hearings at three locations.
Our purpose for holding these public informational meetings is to
provide additional opportunities for the public to gain information and
ask questions about our proposal. These informational sessions should
assist interested parties in preparing substantive comments, which we
will accept until close of business (5 p.m.) Alaska Local Time on April
9, 2007. The public hearings will be the only method for the public to
verbally present comments and data for entry into the public record of
this rulemaking and for our consideration during our final decision.
Anyone wishing to make an oral comment or statement for the record at a
public hearing listed above is encouraged (but not required) to also
provide a written copy of the statement and present it to us at the
hearing. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. In
the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral
statements may be limited.
Comments and data can also be submitted in writing or
electronically, as described in the January 9, 2007, proposal, and at:
https://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/issues.htm.
Public Comments Solicited
We intend that any final action resulting from the proposed rule
will be
[[Page 7382]]
as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we request
comments or information from the public, other concerned governmental
agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested
party concerning the proposed rule. We particularly seek comments
concerning:
(1) Information on taxonomy, distribution, habitat selection
(especially denning habitat), food habits, population density and
trends, habitat trends, and effects of management on polar bears;
(2) Information on the effects of sea ice change on the
distribution and abundance of polar bears and their principal prey over
the short and long term;
(3) Information on the effects of other potential listing factors,
including oil and gas development, contaminants, ecotourism, hunting,
and poaching, on the distribution and abundance of polar bears and
their principal prey over the short and long term;
(4) Information on regulatory mechanisms and management programs
for polar bear conservation, including mitigation measures related to
oil and gas exploration and development, hunting conservation programs,
anti-poaching programs, and any other private, tribal, or governmental
conservation programs that benefit polar bears;
(5) The specific physical and biological features to consider, and
specific areas that may meet the definition of critical habitat and
that should or should not be considered for a proposed critical habitat
designation as provided by section 4 of the Endangered Species Act;
(6) Information relevant to whether any populations of the species
may qualify as distinct population segments; and
(7) The data and studies referred to within the proposal.
Author
The author of this notice is Charles S. Hamilton, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
Authority
The authority for this notice is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: February 2, 2007.
Mamie A. Parker,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 07-723 Filed 2-13-07; 11:21 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
