Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Proposed Rule To Designate Critical Habitat for the Central America, Mexico, and Western North Pacific Distinct Population Segments of Humpback Whales, 65346 [2019-25759]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25759]



[[Page 65346]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223, 224, and 226

[Docket No. 191121-0087]
RIN 0648-BI06


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Proposed Rule To 
Designate Critical Habitat for the Central America, Mexico, and Western 
North Pacific Distinct Population Segments of Humpback Whales

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

ACTION: Extension of public comment period; notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the extension of the public comment period on 
the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Central 
America, Mexico, and Western North Pacific distinct population segments 
(DPSs) of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). We also announce 
that an additional public hearing will be held on this proposed rule.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of comments is extended to January 31, 
2020. A public hearing will be held on January 6, 2020, from 4 p.m. to 
7 p.m. (local time) in Petersburg, Alaska.

ADDRESSES: You may submit data, information, or written comments on the 
proposed rule, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2019-0066, and on the 
supplemental documents by the following methods:
    Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic comments via the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0066, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
    Mail: Submit written comments to Endangered Species Division, 
Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 
East West Highway (SSMC3), Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: Humpback 
Whale Critical Habitat Proposed Rule.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method than the above 
(except if provided during a public hearing), to any other address or 
individual, or received after the end of the comment period, might not 
be considered by NMFS. 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, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. 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.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing will be held on January 6, 2020, 
in the Petersburg Borough Assembly Chambers, 12 South Nordic Drive, 
Petersburg, Alaska 99833.
    Supporting Documents: Documents supporting this proposed rule, 
which include a Draft Biological Report (NMFS 2019a), a Draft Economic 
Analysis (IEc 2019a), and a Draft Section 4(b)(2) Report (NMFS 2019b), 
are available on the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= NOAA-NMFS-2019-0066.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Manning, NMFS, Office of 
Protected Resources, 301-427-8466.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 9, 2019, we published a proposed rule to designate 
critical habitat for the endangered Western North Pacific DPS, the 
endangered Central America DPS, and the threatened Mexico DPS of 
humpback whales under the ESA (84 FR 54354). Areas proposed as critical 
habitat include specific marine areas located off the coasts of 
California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Based on consideration of 
national security and economic impacts, we also have proposed to 
exclude multiple areas from the designation for each DPS. The deadline 
for submission of public comments on this proposed rule and the 
supporting documents was originally scheduled for December 9, 2019. 
Following receipt of several requests, we are extending the deadline 
for submission of public comments to January 31, 2020. This extension 
will help ensure that the proposed rule and supporting documents 
undergo thorough and robust review.

Public Hearings

    A series of five public hearings was announced in the Federal 
Register on October 17, 2019 (84 FR 55530). In response to several 
requests, we are scheduling a sixth public hearing in Petersburg, 
Alaska, on January 6, 2020. See DATES and ADDRESSES sections for 
further details. We will be offering remote access to this hearing via 
a webinar. For instructions on how to access this hearing remotely, 
please contact Lisa Manning (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    The public hearing will begin with a brief presentation by NMFS to 
provide an overview of critical habitat under the ESA and a summary of 
the proposed critical habitat designations for humpback whales. 
Following the presentation, members of the public will have the 
opportunity to provide oral comments on the record regarding the 
proposed designations. Members of the public will also have the 
opportunity to submit written comments at the hearing. Written comments 
may also be submitted at any time during the public comment period; see 
ADDRESSES section for more details. Note that 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, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the commenter will be publicly accessible.

Reasonable Accommodations

    People needing accommodations so that they may attend and 
participate at the public hearing should submit a request for 
reasonable accommodations as soon as possible, and no later than 7 
business days prior to the hearing date, by contacting Lisa Manning 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

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

    Dated: November 21, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25759 Filed 11-26-19; 8:45 am]
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