Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the Nashville Crayfish From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, 59732-59734 [2020-20158]

Download as PDF 59732 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 185 / Wednesday, September 23, 2020 / Proposed Rules khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews Under the CAA, the Administrator is required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions of the Act and applicable federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, the EPA’s role is to approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Act. Accordingly, this proposed action merely proposes to approve state law as meeting federal requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law. For that reason, this proposed action: • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Orders 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and 13563 (76 FR 3821, January 21, 2011); • Is not an Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 3, 2017) regulatory action because SIP approvals are exempted under Executive Order 12866; • Does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.); • Is certified as not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); • Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4); • Does not have federalism implications as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999); • Is not an economically significant regulatory action based on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997); • Is not a significant regulatory action subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001); • Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act; and • Does not provide the EPA with the discretionary authority to address disproportionate human health or environmental effects with practical, appropriate, and legally permissible methods under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). In addition, the SIP is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Sep 22, 2020 Jkt 250001 or in any other area where the EPA or an Indian tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has jurisdiction. In those areas of Indian country, the rule does not have tribal implications and will not impose substantial direct costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic compounds. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Dated: August 28, 2020. John Busterud, Regional Administrator, Region IX. [FR Doc. 2020–19587 Filed 9–22–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2018–0062; FXES11130900000–189–FF0932000] RIN 1018–BD02 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the Nashville Crayfish From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period and announcement of public hearing. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), proposed to remove the Nashville crayfish (Orconectes shoupi) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List). This determination is based on the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicate that the threats to the species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We announced a 60-day public comment period on the proposed rule, ending January 27, 2020. We now reopen the public comment period on the proposed rule to allow all interested parties additional time to comment on the proposed rule. Comments SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule. We also announce a public informational meeting and public hearing on the proposed rule. DATES: Written comments: The comment period on the proposed rule that published November 26, 2019 (84 FR 65098), is reopened. We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before October 23, 2020. Please note that comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date, and comments submitted by U.S. mail must be postmarked by that date to ensure consideration. Public informational meeting and public hearing: On October 8, 2020, we will hold a public informational meeting from 6 to 7 p.m., Central Time, followed by a public hearing from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Central Time. ADDRESSES: Availability of documents: You may obtain copies of the November 26, 2019, proposed rule and associated documents on the internet at https:// www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2018–0062. Written comments: You may submit written comments by one of the following methods: (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS–R4–ES–2018–0062, which is the docket number for the proposed rule. Then, click on the Search button. On the resulting page, in the Search panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed Rule box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on ‘‘Comment Now!’’ Please ensure you have found the correct document before submitting your comments. If your comments will fit in the provided comment box, please use this feature of https:// www.regulations.gov, as it is most compatible with our comment review procedures. If you attach your comments as a separate document, our preferred file format is Microsoft Word. If you attach multiple comments (such as form letters), our preferred format is a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R4–ES–2018–0062, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041– 3803. E:\FR\FM\23SEP1.SGM 23SEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 185 / Wednesday, September 23, 2020 / Proposed Rules We request that you send comments only by the methods described above. We will post all comments on https:// www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see Public Comments, below, for more information). Public informational meeting and public hearing: The public informational meeting and the public hearing will be held virtually using the Zoom platform. See Public Hearing, below, for more information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Andrews, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office, 446 Neal Street St., Cookeville, TN 38506; telephone 931–528–6481. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On November 26, 2019, we published a proposed rule (84 FR 65098) to remove the Nashville crayfish from the List (i.e., ‘‘delist’’ the species). The proposed rule had a 60-day public comment period, ending January 27, 2020. During the comment period for the proposed rule, we received a request for a public hearing. We are, therefore, reopening the comment period for 30 days on our proposed rule to delist the Nashville crayfish (see DATES, above) to hold a public informational meeting and a public hearing and to allow the public an additional opportunity to provide comments on the proposed rule. For a description of previous Federal actions concerning the Nashville crayfish, please refer to the November 26, 2019, proposed rule (84 FR 65098). khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS Public Comments We will accept comments and information during this reopened comment period on our proposed rule to delist the Nashville crayfish. We will consider information and recommendations from all interested parties. We intend that any final action resulting from the proposal will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available and will be as accurate and as effective as possible. Our final determination will take into consideration all comments and any additional information we receive during all comment periods on the proposed rule. Therefore, the final decision may differ from the November 26, 2019, proposed rule (84 FR 65098), based on our review of all information we receive during the comment periods. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Sep 22, 2020 Jkt 250001 For example, we may conclude that the species should remain listed as an endangered species instead of being removed from the List, or we may conclude that the species should be reclassified as a threatened species. Such final decisions would be a logical outgrowth of the proposal, as long as we: (a) Base the decisions on the best scientific and commercial data available after considering all of the relevant factors; (2) do not rely on factors Congress has not intended us to consider; and (3) articulate a rational connection between the facts found and the conclusions made, including why we changed our conclusion. If you already submitted comments or information on the November 26, 2019, proposed rule (84 FR 65098), please do not resubmit them. Any such comments are incorporated as part of the public record of the rulemaking proceeding, and we will fully consider them in the preparation of our final determination. Comments should be as specific as possible. Please include sufficient information with your submission (such as scientific journal articles or other publications) to allow us to verify any scientific or commercial information you assert. Please note that submissions merely stating support for, or opposition to, the action under consideration without providing supporting information, although noted, will not be considered in making a determination, as section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act directs that determinations as to whether any species is an endangered species or a threatened species must be made ‘‘solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available.’’ You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the methods described in ADDRESSES. You may also provide your comments through verbal testimony during the public hearing (see DATES, ADDRESSES, and Public Hearing in this document). If you submit information via https:// www.regulations.gov, your entire submission—including your personal identifying information—will be posted on the website. If your submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy submissions on https://www.regulations.gov. Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be available for public inspection PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 59733 on https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2018–0062. Public Hearing We have scheduled a public informational meeting and public hearing on our November 26, 2019, proposed rule to delist the Nashville crayfish (84 FR 65098). We will hold the public informational meeting and public hearing on the date and at the times listed above under Public informational meeting and public hearing in DATES. We are holding the public informational meeting and public hearing via the Zoom online video platform and via teleconference so that participants can attend remotely. For security purposes, registration is required. To listen and view the meeting and hearing via Zoom, listen to the meeting and hearing by telephone, or provide oral public comments at the public hearing by Zoom or telephone, you must register. For information on how to register, or if you encounter problems joining Zoom the day of the meeting, visit https:// www.fws.gov/cookeville/. Registrants will receive the Zoom link and the telephone number for the public informational meeting and public hearing. If applicable, interested members of the public not familiar with the Zoom platform should view the Zoom video tutorials (https:// support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/ 206618765-Zoom-video-tutorials) prior to the public informational meeting and public hearing. The public hearing will provide interested parties an opportunity to present verbal testimony (formal, oral comments) regarding the November 26, 2019, proposed rule to delist the Nashville crayfish (84 FR 65098). While the public informational meeting will be an opportunity for dialogue with the Service, the public hearing is not; it is a forum for accepting formal verbal testimony. In the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may be limited. Therefore, anyone wishing to make an oral statement at the public hearing for the record is encouraged to provide a prepared written copy of their statement to us through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, U.S. mail, or hand-delivery (see ADDRESSES, above). There are no limits on the length of written comments submitted to us. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement at the public hearing must register before the hearing (https://www.fws.gov/cookeville/). The use of a virtual public hearing is consistent with our regulations at 50 CFR 424.16(c)(3). E:\FR\FM\23SEP1.SGM 23SEP1 59734 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 185 / Wednesday, September 23, 2020 / Proposed Rules Reasonable Accommodation khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS The Service is committed to providing access to the public informational meeting and public hearing for all participants. Closed captioning will be available during the public informational meeting and public hearing. Further, a full audio and video recording and transcript of the public hearing will be posted online at https:// www.fws.gov/cookeville/ after the hearing. Participants will also have access to live audio during the public informational meeting and public hearing via their telephone or computer VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Sep 22, 2020 Jkt 250001 speakers. Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations to participate in the meeting and/or hearing should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 5 business days prior to the date of the meeting and hearing to help ensure availability. An accessible version of the Service’s public informational meeting presentation will also be posted online at https://www.fws.gov/cookeville/ prior to the meeting and hearing (see DATES, above). See https://www.fws.gov/ cookeville/ for more information about reasonable accommodation. PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 Authors The primary authors of this document are the Ecological Services staff of the Southeast Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Aurelia Skipwith, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2020–20158 Filed 9–22–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P E:\FR\FM\23SEP1.SGM 23SEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59732-59734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20158]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2018-0062; FXES11130900000-189-FF0932000]
RIN 1018-BD02


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the 
Nashville Crayfish From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period and announcement of 
public hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), proposed to 
remove the Nashville crayfish (Orconectes shoupi) from the Federal List 
of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List). This determination is 
based on the best available scientific and commercial data, which 
indicate that the threats to the species have been eliminated or 
reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets 
the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species under 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We announced a 
60-day public comment period on the proposed rule, ending January 27, 
2020. We now reopen the public comment period on the proposed rule to 
allow all interested parties additional time to comment on the proposed 
rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be 
fully considered in preparation of the final rule. We also announce a 
public informational meeting and public hearing on the proposed rule.

DATES: 
    Written comments: The comment period on the proposed rule that 
published November 26, 2019 (84 FR 65098), is reopened. We will accept 
comments received or postmarked on or before October 23, 2020. Please 
note that comments submitted electronically using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 
p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date, and comments submitted by U.S. 
mail must be postmarked by that date to ensure consideration.
    Public informational meeting and public hearing: On October 8, 
2020, we will hold a public informational meeting from 6 to 7 p.m., 
Central Time, followed by a public hearing from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Central 
Time.

ADDRESSES: 
    Availability of documents: You may obtain copies of the November 
26, 2019, proposed rule and associated documents on the internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2018-0062.
    Written comments: You may submit written comments by one of the 
following methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-R4-ES-2018-0062, 
which is the docket number for the proposed rule. Then, click on the 
Search button. On the resulting page, in the Search panel on the left 
side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed 
Rule box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking 
on ``Comment Now!'' Please ensure you have found the correct document 
before submitting your comments. If your comments will fit in the 
provided comment box, please use this feature of https://www.regulations.gov, as it is most compatible with our comment review 
procedures. If you attach your comments as a separate document, our 
preferred file format is Microsoft Word. If you attach multiple 
comments (such as form letters), our preferred format is a spreadsheet 
in Microsoft Excel.
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments 
Processing, Attn: FWS-R4-ES-2018-0062, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

[[Page 59733]]

    We request that you send comments only by the methods described 
above. We will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov. This 
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us (see Public Comments, below, for more information).
    Public informational meeting and public hearing: The public 
informational meeting and the public hearing will be held virtually 
using the Zoom platform. See Public Hearing, below, for more 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Andrews, Field Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office, 
446 Neal Street St., Cookeville, TN 38506; telephone 931-528-6481. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 26, 2019, we published a proposed rule (84 FR 65098) to 
remove the Nashville crayfish from the List (i.e., ``delist'' the 
species). The proposed rule had a 60-day public comment period, ending 
January 27, 2020. During the comment period for the proposed rule, we 
received a request for a public hearing. We are, therefore, reopening 
the comment period for 30 days on our proposed rule to delist the 
Nashville crayfish (see DATES, above) to hold a public informational 
meeting and a public hearing and to allow the public an additional 
opportunity to provide comments on the proposed rule.
    For a description of previous Federal actions concerning the 
Nashville crayfish, please refer to the November 26, 2019, proposed 
rule (84 FR 65098).

Public Comments

    We will accept comments and information during this reopened 
comment period on our proposed rule to delist the Nashville crayfish. 
We will consider information and recommendations from all interested 
parties. We intend that any final action resulting from the proposal 
will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available and 
will be as accurate and as effective as possible. Our final 
determination will take into consideration all comments and any 
additional information we receive during all comment periods on the 
proposed rule. Therefore, the final decision may differ from the 
November 26, 2019, proposed rule (84 FR 65098), based on our review of 
all information we receive during the comment periods. For example, we 
may conclude that the species should remain listed as an endangered 
species instead of being removed from the List, or we may conclude that 
the species should be reclassified as a threatened species. Such final 
decisions would be a logical outgrowth of the proposal, as long as we: 
(a) Base the decisions on the best scientific and commercial data 
available after considering all of the relevant factors; (2) do not 
rely on factors Congress has not intended us to consider; and (3) 
articulate a rational connection between the facts found and the 
conclusions made, including why we changed our conclusion.
    If you already submitted comments or information on the November 
26, 2019, proposed rule (84 FR 65098), please do not resubmit them. Any 
such comments are incorporated as part of the public record of the 
rulemaking proceeding, and we will fully consider them in the 
preparation of our final determination.
    Comments should be as specific as possible. Please include 
sufficient information with your submission (such as scientific journal 
articles or other publications) to allow us to verify any scientific or 
commercial information you assert. Please note that submissions merely 
stating support for, or opposition to, the action under consideration 
without providing supporting information, although noted, will not be 
considered in making a determination, as section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act 
directs that determinations as to whether any species is an endangered 
species or a threatened species must be made ``solely on the basis of 
the best scientific and commercial data available.''
    You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods 
listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the 
methods described in ADDRESSES. You may also provide your comments 
through verbal testimony during the public hearing (see DATES, 
ADDRESSES, and Public Hearing in this document).
    If you submit information via https://www.regulations.gov, your 
entire submission--including your personal identifying information--
will be posted on the website. If your submission is made via a 
hardcopy that includes personal identifying information, you may 
request at the top of your document that we withhold this information 
from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so. We will post all hardcopy submissions on https://www.regulations.gov.
    Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting 
documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be 
available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov at Docket 
No. FWS-R4-ES-2018-0062.

Public Hearing

    We have scheduled a public informational meeting and public hearing 
on our November 26, 2019, proposed rule to delist the Nashville 
crayfish (84 FR 65098). We will hold the public informational meeting 
and public hearing on the date and at the times listed above under 
Public informational meeting and public hearing in DATES. We are 
holding the public informational meeting and public hearing via the 
Zoom online video platform and via teleconference so that participants 
can attend remotely. For security purposes, registration is required. 
To listen and view the meeting and hearing via Zoom, listen to the 
meeting and hearing by telephone, or provide oral public comments at 
the public hearing by Zoom or telephone, you must register. For 
information on how to register, or if you encounter problems joining 
Zoom the day of the meeting, visit https://www.fws.gov/cookeville/. 
Registrants will receive the Zoom link and the telephone number for the 
public informational meeting and public hearing. If applicable, 
interested members of the public not familiar with the Zoom platform 
should view the Zoom video tutorials (https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-video-tutorials) prior to the public 
informational meeting and public hearing.
    The public hearing will provide interested parties an opportunity 
to present verbal testimony (formal, oral comments) regarding the 
November 26, 2019, proposed rule to delist the Nashville crayfish (84 
FR 65098). While the public informational meeting will be an 
opportunity for dialogue with the Service, the public hearing is not; 
it is a forum for accepting formal verbal testimony. In the event there 
is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may be 
limited. Therefore, anyone wishing to make an oral statement at the 
public hearing for the record is encouraged to provide a prepared 
written copy of their statement to us through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal, U.S. mail, or hand-delivery (see ADDRESSES, above). There are 
no limits on the length of written comments submitted to us. Anyone 
wishing to make an oral statement at the public hearing must register 
before the hearing (https://www.fws.gov/cookeville/). The use of a 
virtual public hearing is consistent with our regulations at 50 CFR 
424.16(c)(3).

[[Page 59734]]

Reasonable Accommodation

    The Service is committed to providing access to the public 
informational meeting and public hearing for all participants. Closed 
captioning will be available during the public informational meeting 
and public hearing. Further, a full audio and video recording and 
transcript of the public hearing will be posted online at https://www.fws.gov/cookeville/ after the hearing. Participants will also have 
access to live audio during the public informational meeting and public 
hearing via their telephone or computer speakers. Persons with 
disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations to participate in the 
meeting and/or hearing should contact the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least 5 business days prior to the date 
of the meeting and hearing to help ensure availability. An accessible 
version of the Service's public informational meeting presentation will 
also be posted online at https://www.fws.gov/cookeville/ prior to the 
meeting and hearing (see DATES, above). See https://www.fws.gov/cookeville/ for more information about reasonable accommodation.

Authors

    The primary authors of this document are the Ecological Services 
staff of the Southeast Regional Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Authority

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

Aurelia Skipwith,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-20158 Filed 9-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.