Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rice's Whale, Public Hearing and Extension of Public Comment Period, 62522-62523 [2023-19643]

Download as PDF 62522 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 12, 2023 / Proposed Rules (b) The State plan shall be developed by the State entity in collaboration with APS programs. (c) The State plan shall be updated at least every five years but as frequently as every three years. (d) The State plan shall contain an assurance that all policies and procedures described herein will be developed and adhered to by the State APS system; (e) State plans will be reviewed and approved by the Director of the Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services. Any State dissatisfied with the final decision of the Director of the Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services may appeal to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging within 30 calendar days of the date of the Director of the Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services’ final decision and will be afforded the opportunity for a hearing. If the State is dissatisfied with the final decision of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, it may appeal to the Assistant Secretary for Aging within 30 calendar days of the date of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging’s decision. Dated: September 6, 2023. Xavier Becerra, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services. [FR Doc. 2023–19516 Filed 9–11–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4154–01–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Parts 224 and 226 [Docket No. 230906–0211] RIN 0648–BL86 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rice’s Whale, Public Hearing and Extension of Public Comment Period National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public hearing, extension of comment period. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1 AGENCY: We, NMFS, have rescheduled a public hearing related to the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Rice’s whale under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We are also extending the public comment period for this proposed rule to October 6, 2023. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:03 Sep 11, 2023 Jkt 259001 A virtual public hearing on the proposed rule will be held online on September 28, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). The proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Rice’s whale under the ESA was published on July 24, 2023 (88 FR 47453), and provided for a public comment period to September 22, 2023. The comment period is now extended to October 6, 2023. Comments must be received by October 6, 2023. Comments received after this date may not be accepted. ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be conducted as a virtual meeting, and any member of the public can join by internet or phone regardless of location. You may join the virtual meeting using a web browser, a mobile app on a phone (app installation required), or—to listen only—using just a phone call, as specified at this link: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ riceswhale#conservationmanagement. You may submit comments verbally at the public hearing. You may also submit comments in writing by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https:// www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA– NMFS–2023–0028. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, 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 https://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. NMFS 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 portable document format (PDF) formats only. Details on the virtual public hearing will be made available on our website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ species/riceswhale#conservation management. The Endangered Species DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Act Critical Habitat Report, geographic information system (GIS) data, and maps that were prepared to support the development of this proposed rule are available on our website at: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ riceswhale#conservationmanagement. Previous rulemaking documents related to the listing of the species can also be obtained electronically on our website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ species/rices-whale#conservation management. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Grant Baysinger, NMFS Southeast Region, (727) 551–5790; or Lisa Manning, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, (301) 427–8466. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 24, 2023, NMFS published a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the endangered Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) under the ESA (88 FR 47453). In that notice, we also announced a 60-day public comment period, two virtual public hearings to be held on August 24, 2023 and August 30, 2023, and an option to request an additional public hearing made in writing by September 7, 2023. On August 24, 2023, we held a virtual public hearing. On August 28, 2023, we canceled the public hearing scheduled for August 30, 2023, ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s expected landfall. We have now rescheduled that public hearing to September 28, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), as described in this notice. To accommodate this second public hearing and provide additional time needed to submit public comments following the disruptions stemming from Hurricane Idalia, we are also extending the public comment period to October 6, 2023. Public Hearing The public hearing on September 28, 2023, will be conducted online as a virtual meeting, as specified in ADDRESSES above. More detailed instructions for joining the virtual meeting are provided on our web page (see https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ species/riceswhale#conservation management). The hearing will begin with a brief presentation by NMFS that will give an overview of the proposed critical habitat designation under the ESA. After the presentation, there will be a question and answer session during which members of the public may ask NMFS staff questions about the proposed rule. Following the question and answer session, members of the public will have the opportunity to provide oral comments on the record regarding the proposed rule. In order to E:\FR\FM\12SEP1.SGM 12SEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 12, 2023 / Proposed Rules lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1 ensure all participants have an opportunity to speak during the hearing, the time allotted for individual oral comments may be limited. Therefore, anyone wishing to make an oral statement at the public hearing for the record is encouraged to prepare a written copy of their comments. All oral comments will be recorded and added to the public comment record for this proposed rule. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:03 Sep 11, 2023 Jkt 259001 Written comments may also be submitted during the public comment period as described under DATES and ADDRESSES. 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, PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 62523 by contacting Grant Baysinger (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: September 6, 2023. Samuel D. Rauch, III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–19643 Filed 9–11–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\12SEP1.SGM 12SEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 12, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62522-62523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19643]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 224 and 226

[Docket No. 230906-0211]
RIN 0648-BL86


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of 
Critical Habitat for the Rice's Whale, Public Hearing and Extension of 
Public Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing, extension of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: We, NMFS, have rescheduled a public hearing related to the 
proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Rice's whale under 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We are also extending the public 
comment period for this proposed rule to October 6, 2023.

DATES: A virtual public hearing on the proposed rule will be held 
online on September 28, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight 
Time).
    The proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Rice's 
whale under the ESA was published on July 24, 2023 (88 FR 47453), and 
provided for a public comment period to September 22, 2023. The comment 
period is now extended to October 6, 2023. Comments must be received by 
October 6, 2023. Comments received after this date may not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be conducted as a virtual meeting, 
and any member of the public can join by internet or phone regardless 
of location. You may join the virtual meeting using a web browser, a 
mobile app on a phone (app installation required), or--to listen only--
using just a phone call, as specified at this link: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/riceswhale#conservationmanagement.
    You may submit comments verbally at the public hearing. You may 
also submit comments in writing by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and 
enter NOAA-NMFS-2023-0028. Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the 
required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Protected Resources Division, NMFS, Southeast Regional 
Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, 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 
https://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. NMFS 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 portable document format (PDF) formats 
only.
    Details on the virtual public hearing will be made available on our 
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/riceswhale#conservationmanagement. The Endangered Species Act Critical 
Habitat Report, geographic information system (GIS) data, and maps that 
were prepared to support the development of this proposed rule are 
available on our website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/riceswhale#conservationmanagement. Previous rulemaking documents 
related to the listing of the species can also be obtained 
electronically on our website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/rices-whale#conservationmanagement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Grant Baysinger, NMFS Southeast 
Region, (727) 551-5790; or Lisa Manning, NMFS Office of Protected 
Resources, (301) 427-8466.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 24, 2023, NMFS published a proposed 
rule to designate critical habitat for the endangered Rice's whale 
(Balaenoptera ricei) under the ESA (88 FR 47453). In that notice, we 
also announced a 60-day public comment period, two virtual public 
hearings to be held on August 24, 2023 and August 30, 2023, and an 
option to request an additional public hearing made in writing by 
September 7, 2023. On August 24, 2023, we held a virtual public 
hearing. On August 28, 2023, we canceled the public hearing scheduled 
for August 30, 2023, ahead of Hurricane Idalia's expected landfall. We 
have now rescheduled that public hearing to September 28, 2023, from 3 
p.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), as described in this notice. To 
accommodate this second public hearing and provide additional time 
needed to submit public comments following the disruptions stemming 
from Hurricane Idalia, we are also extending the public comment period 
to October 6, 2023.

Public Hearing

    The public hearing on September 28, 2023, will be conducted online 
as a virtual meeting, as specified in ADDRESSES above. More detailed 
instructions for joining the virtual meeting are provided on our web 
page (see https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/riceswhale#conservationmanagement). The hearing will begin with a brief 
presentation by NMFS that will give an overview of the proposed 
critical habitat designation under the ESA. After the presentation, 
there will be a question and answer session during which members of the 
public may ask NMFS staff questions about the proposed rule. Following 
the question and answer session, members of the public will have the 
opportunity to provide oral comments on the record regarding the 
proposed rule. In order to

[[Page 62523]]

ensure all participants have an opportunity to speak during the 
hearing, the time allotted for individual oral comments may be limited. 
Therefore, anyone wishing to make an oral statement at the public 
hearing for the record is encouraged to prepare a written copy of their 
comments. All oral comments will be recorded and added to the public 
comment record for this proposed rule.
    Written comments may also be submitted during the public comment 
period as described under DATES and ADDRESSES.

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 Grant Baysinger 
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

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

    Dated: September 6, 2023.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-19643 Filed 9-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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