Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the Threatened Indo-Pacific Corals, Public Hearings, 88587-88588 [2023-28261]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 245 / Friday, December 22, 2023 / Notices Connection Information You can attend the meeting online using a computer, tablet, or smart phone; or by phone only. Connection information will be posted online at: https://meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/ Details/3027. Public Comment Public comment letters will be accepted and should be submitted electronically to https:// meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/Details/ 3027. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 18, 2023. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–28216 Filed 12–21–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Docket No.: 231120–0274] RIN 0648–BJ52 Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the Threatened Indo-Pacific Corals, Public Hearings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public hearings. AGENCY: We, NMFS, will hold seven public hearings related to our proposed rule to designate critical habitat for five threatened corals in U.S. waters in the Indo-Pacific (Acropora globiceps, Acropora retusa, Acropora speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, and Isopora crateriformis) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). DATES: Please see Public Hearings in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for date information. Comments on the proposed rule (88 FR 83644, November 30, 2023) must be received by February 28, 2024. Comments received after this date may not be accepted. ADDRESSES: The addresses for the venues of the in-person hearings and instructions for joining the virtual hearing are provided below. • Guam Public Hearing: Lotte Hotel Guam, 185 Gun Beach Road, Tamuning, 96913 Guam. • Saipan Public Hearing: Crowne Plaza Resort, Coral Tree Ave., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI 96950. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Dec 21, 2023 Jkt 262001 • Tinian Public Hearing: Tinian Elementary School, 8th Avenue, San Jose, Tinian, CNMI 96952. • Rota Public Hearing: Northern Marianas College Rota Campus, Song Song Village, Rota, CNMI 96951. • Tutuila Public Hearing #1: Tradewinds Hotel, Tafuna, Western District, American Samoa 96799. • Tutuila Public Hearing #2: Rex H. Lee Auditorium, Utulei, Eastern District, American Samoa 96799. • Virtual Hearing: This hearing will be conducted as a Webex meeting. You may join the Webex meeting using a web browser, the Webex desktop app (app installation required), a mobile app on a phone (app installation required), or audio-only using just a phone call, as specified below. Æ To join the hearing, click on the link https://noaanmfsmeets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/ j.php?MTID=mce25d9e1660a3b 2fcd5133fb38aaac55. Æ Webinar number (access code): 2763 694 3109 Webinar password: kPRDGpXS246 (57734797 from phones and video systems). Æ Join from a mobile device (attendees only) +1–415–527–5035, 27636943109# 57734797#. You may submit comments verbally or in writing at the public hearings, or in writing by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2016-01310070, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Lance Smith, Protected Resources Division, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, NOAA Inouye Regional Center, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. Instructions: You must submit comments by one of the previously described methods to ensure that we receive, document, and consider them. Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to https://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 88587 fields if you wish to remain anonymous). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Smith, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, at lance.smith@ noaa.gov or 808–725–5131. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On November 30, 2023, NMFS proposed to designate critical habitat for five Indo-Pacific corals listed as threatened under the ESA within U.S. waters in Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, the Pacific Remote Island Area (PRIA) and Papaha¯naumokua¯kea Marine National Monument (MNM) in Hawai’i (88 FR 83644). The five species are Acropora globiceps, A. retusa, A. speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, and Isopora crateriformis. Proposed coral critical habitat consists of substrate and water column habitat characteristics essential for the reproduction, recruitment, growth, and maturation of the listed corals. Proposed critical habitat consists of 16 island units. There are four units in American Samoa (Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega, Ta¯‘u, Rose Atoll), eight in CNMI (Rota, Aguijan, Tinian, Saipan, Alamagan, Pagan, Maug Islands, Uracas), two in PRIA (Palmyra and Johnston Atolls), one in Guam, and one in Papaha¯naumokua¯kea MNM (Lalo, also known as French Frigate Shoals). Between one and five listed corals occur within each unit. The following areas were deemed ineligible for proposed critical habitat because they are within areas covered by final Department of Defense Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans that are likely to benefit listed corals: parts of Guam, parts of Tinian, all of Farallon de Medinilla, and all of Wake Atoll (88 FR 83644, November 30, 2023). Critical habitat protections apply only to Federal actions under section 7 of the ESA; activities that are not funded, authorized, or carried out by a Federal agency are not subject to these protections. The proposed rule and other materials prepared in support of this action, including maps showing the proposed critical habitat, are available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ action/proposed-rule-designate-criticalhabitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals. We are accepting public comments on the proposed rule through a 90-day public comment period, which ends on February 28, 2024 (see ADDRESSES for instructions on how to submit a public comment). E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM 22DEN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 88588 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 245 / Friday, December 22, 2023 / Notices Public Hearings Public hearings on the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the five threatened Indo-Pacific corals will be held on the following dates in the evening hours of the affected jurisdictions (Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), American Samoa, Hawai‘i). Times are given in Chamorro Standard Time (ChST), Samoa Standard Time (SST), and Hawai‘i Standard Time (HST). For the six in-person hearings, doors will open at 5:30 p.m. local time, an information meeting by NOAA Fisheries staff will begin at 6 p.m. local time, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. local time, as specified below. For the virtual hearing, an information meeting by NOAA Fisheries staff will begin at 6 p.m. HST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. HST. Addresses for the venues of the in-person hearings and instructions for joining the virtual hearing are provided under ADDRESSES. • Guam: A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the Lotte Hotel Guam. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. ChST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST. • CNMI, Saipan: A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the Crowne Plaza Resort. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. ChST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST. • CNMI, Tinian: A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at the Tinian Elementary School. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. ChST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST. • CNMI, Rota: A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 25, 2024, at the Northern Marianas College. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. ChST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST. • American Samoa, Tutuila #1: A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the Tradewinds Hotel. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. SST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. SST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. SST. • American Samoa, Tutuila #2: A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at the Rex H. Lee Auditorium. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. SST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. SST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. SST. • A virtual hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 2024. The VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Dec 21, 2023 Jkt 262001 information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. HST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. HST. Six of the public hearings will be conducted in-person and the final hearing will be conducted online as a Webex meeting, as specified in ADDRESSES above. The hearings will begin with a brief presentation by NMFS that gives an overview of critical habitat under the ESA and a summary of proposed coral critical habitat in Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, PRIA, and Papaha¯naumokua¯kea MNM. After the presentation but before public comments, there will be a question and answer session during which members of the public may ask NMFS staff clarifying questions about the proposed coral critical habitat. Following the question and answer session, members of the public will have the opportunity to provide oral comments on the record regarding the proposed coral critical habitat. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to submit written comments at the hearings. Written comments may also be submitted at any time during the relevant public comment period as described above (see DATES and ADDRESSES). All oral comments will be recorded, transcribed, and added to the public comment record for this proposed rule. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. Dated: December 19, 2023. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–28261 Filed 12–21–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Procurement List; Additions and Deletions Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Additions to and deletions from the Procurement List. AGENCY: This action adds service(s) to the Procurement List that will be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities, and deletes product(s) and service(s) from the Procurement List previously furnished by such agencies. DATES: Date added to and deleted from the Procurement List: January 21, 2024. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, 355 E Street SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20024. ADDRESSES: For further information or to submit comments contact: Michael R. Jurkowski, Telephone: (703) 785–6404, or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additions On 9/22/2023, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice of proposed additions to the Procurement List. This notice is published pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 8503 (a)(2) and 41 CFR 51– 2.3. After consideration of the material presented to it concerning capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the service(s) and impact of the additions on the current or most recent contractors, the Committee has determined that the service(s) listed below are suitable for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 8501–8506 and 41 CFR 51–2.4. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. The action will not result in any additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities other than the small organizations that will furnish the service(s) to the Government. 2. The action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish the service(s) to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 8501–8506) in connection with the service(s) proposed for addition to the Procurement List. End of Certification Accordingly, the following service(s) are added to the Procurement List: Service(s) Service Type: Enterprise Services Center Support Mandatory for: NASA, NASA Shared Services Center, Stennis Space Center, MS Designated Source of Supply: InspiriTec, Inc., Philadelphia, PA Contracting Activity: NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM 22DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88587-88588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28261]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No.: 231120-0274]
RIN 0648-BJ52


Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the 
Threatened Indo-Pacific Corals, Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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

SUMMARY: We, NMFS, will hold seven public hearings related to our 
proposed rule to designate critical habitat for five threatened corals 
in U.S. waters in the Indo-Pacific (Acropora globiceps, Acropora 
retusa, Acropora speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, and Isopora 
crateriformis) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

DATES: Please see Public Hearings in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
for date information. Comments on the proposed rule (88 FR 83644, 
November 30, 2023) must be received by February 28, 2024. Comments 
received after this date may not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: The addresses for the venues of the in-person hearings and 
instructions for joining the virtual hearing are provided below.
     Guam Public Hearing: Lotte Hotel Guam, 185 Gun Beach Road, 
Tamuning, 96913 Guam.
     Saipan Public Hearing: Crowne Plaza Resort, Coral Tree 
Ave., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI 96950.
     Tinian Public Hearing: Tinian Elementary School, 8th 
Avenue, San Jose, Tinian, CNMI 96952.
     Rota Public Hearing: Northern Marianas College Rota 
Campus, Song Song Village, Rota, CNMI 96951.
     Tutuila Public Hearing #1: Tradewinds Hotel, Tafuna, 
Western District, American Samoa 96799.
     Tutuila Public Hearing #2: Rex H. Lee Auditorium, Utulei, 
Eastern District, American Samoa 96799.
     Virtual Hearing: This hearing will be conducted as a Webex 
meeting. You may join the Webex meeting using a web browser, the Webex 
desktop app (app installation required), a mobile app on a phone (app 
installation required), or audio-only using just a phone call, as 
specified below.
    [cir] To join the hearing, click on the link https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/j.php?MTID=mce25d9e1660a3b2fcd5133fb38aaac55.
    [cir] Webinar number (access code): 2763 694 3109 Webinar password: 
kPRDGpXS246 (57734797 from phones and video systems).
    [cir] Join from a mobile device (attendees only) +1-415-527-5035, 
27636943109# 57734797#.
    You may submit comments verbally or in writing at the public 
hearings, or in writing by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NOAA-NMFS-2016-0131-0070, complete the 
required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Lance Smith, Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 
Pacific Islands Regional Office, NOAA Inouye Regional Center, 1845 Wasp 
Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
    Instructions: You must submit comments by one of the previously 
described methods to ensure that we receive, document, and consider 
them. Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or 
individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be 
considered. All comments received are a part of the public record and 
will generally be posted to https://www.regulations.gov without change. 
All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required 
fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Smith, NMFS, Pacific Islands 
Regional Office, at [email protected] or 808-725-5131.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On November 30, 2023, NMFS proposed to designate critical habitat 
for five Indo-Pacific corals listed as threatened under the ESA within 
U.S. waters in Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, the Pacific Remote Island 
Area (PRIA) and Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument 
(MNM) in Hawai'i (88 FR 83644). The five species are Acropora 
globiceps, A. retusa, A. speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, and Isopora 
crateriformis. Proposed coral critical habitat consists of substrate 
and water column habitat characteristics essential for the 
reproduction, recruitment, growth, and maturation of the listed corals.
    Proposed critical habitat consists of 16 island units. There are 
four units in American Samoa (Tutuila, Ofu-Olosega, Ta`u, Rose Atoll), 
eight in CNMI (Rota, Aguijan, Tinian, Saipan, Alamagan, Pagan, Maug 
Islands, Uracas), two in PRIA (Palmyra and Johnston Atolls), one in 
Guam, and one in Papahanaumokuakea MNM (Lalo, also known as French 
Frigate Shoals). Between one and five listed corals occur within each 
unit. The following areas were deemed ineligible for proposed critical 
habitat because they are within areas covered by final Department of 
Defense Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans that are likely 
to benefit listed corals: parts of Guam, parts of Tinian, all of 
Farallon de Medinilla, and all of Wake Atoll (88 FR 83644, November 30, 
2023).
    Critical habitat protections apply only to Federal actions under 
section 7 of the ESA; activities that are not funded, authorized, or 
carried out by a Federal agency are not subject to these protections. 
The proposed rule and other materials prepared in support of this 
action, including maps showing the proposed critical habitat, are 
available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/proposed-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-indo-pacific-corals. We are 
accepting public comments on the proposed rule through a 90-day public 
comment period, which ends on February 28, 2024 (see ADDRESSES for 
instructions on how to submit a public comment).

[[Page 88588]]

Public Hearings

    Public hearings on the proposed rule to designate critical habitat 
for the five threatened Indo-Pacific corals will be held on the 
following dates in the evening hours of the affected jurisdictions 
(Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), 
American Samoa, Hawai`i). Times are given in Chamorro Standard Time 
(ChST), Samoa Standard Time (SST), and Hawai`i Standard Time (HST). For 
the six in-person hearings, doors will open at 5:30 p.m. local time, an 
information meeting by NOAA Fisheries staff will begin at 6 p.m. local 
time, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. local time, as 
specified below. For the virtual hearing, an information meeting by 
NOAA Fisheries staff will begin at 6 p.m. HST, and the public hearing 
will begin at 7 p.m. HST. Addresses for the venues of the in-person 
hearings and instructions for joining the virtual hearing are provided 
under ADDRESSES.
     Guam: A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, January 
16, 2024, at the Lotte Hotel Guam. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. ChST, 
the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the public 
hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST.
     CNMI, Saipan: A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, 
January 18, 2024, at the Crowne Plaza Resort. Doors will open at 5:30 
p.m. ChST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the 
public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST.
     CNMI, Tinian: A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, 
January 23, 2024, at the Tinian Elementary School. Doors will open at 
5:30 p.m. ChST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and 
the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST.
     CNMI, Rota: A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, 
January 25, 2024, at the Northern Marianas College. Doors will open at 
5:30 p.m. ChST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and 
the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST.
     American Samoa, Tutuila #1: A public hearing is scheduled 
for Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the Tradewinds Hotel. Doors will 
open at 5:30 p.m. SST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. 
SST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. SST.
     American Samoa, Tutuila #2: A public hearing is scheduled 
for Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at the Rex H. Lee Auditorium. Doors will 
open at 5:30 p.m. SST, the information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. 
SST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. SST.
     A virtual hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 
2024. The information meeting will begin at 6 p.m. HST, and the public 
hearing will begin at 7 p.m. HST.
    Six of the public hearings will be conducted in-person and the 
final hearing will be conducted online as a Webex meeting, as specified 
in ADDRESSES above. The hearings will begin with a brief presentation 
by NMFS that gives an overview of critical habitat under the ESA and a 
summary of proposed coral critical habitat in Guam, CNMI, American 
Samoa, PRIA, and Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea MNM. After the 
presentation but before public comments, there will be a question and 
answer session during which members of the public may ask NMFS staff 
clarifying questions about the proposed coral critical habitat.
    Following the question and answer session, members of the public 
will have the opportunity to provide oral comments on the record 
regarding the proposed coral critical habitat. Members of the public 
will also have the opportunity to submit written comments at the 
hearings. Written comments may also be submitted at any time during the 
relevant public comment period as described above (see DATES and 
ADDRESSES). All oral comments will be recorded, transcribed, and added 
to the public comment record for this proposed rule.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: December 19, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-28261 Filed 12-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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