National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration January 30, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We (NMFS) announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Caribbean electric ray (Narcine bancroftii) as threatened or endangered under the ESA. We find that the petition and information readily available in our files present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. We will conduct a status review of the species to determine if the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information pertaining to this species from any interested party.

This notice announces receipt by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of a petition for rulemaking to exclude federally- maintained dredged entrance channels and pilot boarding areas (and the immediately adjacent waters) for ports from New York to Jacksonville from vessel speed restrictions to reduce fatal vessel collisions with North Atlantic right whales. NMFS is also requesting comments on the petition and will consider all comments when determining whether to proceed with the suggested rulemaking.