80 FR 34594 - Endangered and Threatened Species; Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) as Endangered or Threatened and Revision of Current Listings; Public Hearings; Extension of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 116 (June 17, 2015)

On March 23, 2015, we (NMFS and USFWS, or the Services) published a proposed rule to revise the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas; hereafter referred to as the green turtle) listings under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We proposed to remove the current range- wide listing and, in its place, list eight distinct population segments (DPSs) as threatened and three as endangered. We opened a public comment period that lasted through June 22, 2015, announced a public hearing in Honolulu, Hawaii, and solicited requests for additional public hearings. With this document, we announce additional public hearings in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and American Samoa. To allow adequate time for comments after the last public hearing, we extend the public comment period through July 27, 2015.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34594-34595]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14906]



[[Page 34594]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223 and 224

RIN 0648-XB089
[Docket No. 120425024-5503-03]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Identification and Proposed 
Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles 
(Chelonia mydas) as Endangered or Threatened and Revision of Current 
Listings; Public Hearings; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce; United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS), Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and public hearing 
schedule.

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

SUMMARY: On March 23, 2015, we (NMFS and USFWS, or the Services) 
published a proposed rule to revise the green sea turtle (Chelonia 
mydas; hereafter referred to as the green turtle) listings under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). We proposed to remove the current range-
wide listing and, in its place, list eight distinct population segments 
(DPSs) as threatened and three as endangered. We opened a public 
comment period that lasted through June 22, 2015, announced a public 
hearing in Honolulu, Hawaii, and solicited requests for additional 
public hearings. With this document, we announce additional public 
hearings in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 
(CNMI), and American Samoa. To allow adequate time for comments after 
the last public hearing, we extend the public comment period through 
July 27, 2015.

DATES: Public hearings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., with 
informational open houses starting at 5:30 p.m. as follows: in Pago 
Pago, American Samoa on July 6, 2015; in Saipan, CNMI on July 13, 2015; 
and in Mangilao, Guam on July 15, 2015. The comment period for the 
proposed rule published on March 23, 2015 (80 FR 15271), has been 
extended. Comments and information regarding this proposed rule must be 
received by close of business on July 27, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2012-0154, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
    1. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2012-0154,
    2. Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, 
and
    3. Enter or attach your comments.

OR

     Mail: Submit written comments to Green Turtle Proposed 
Listing Rule, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13535, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
or Green Turtle Proposed Listing Rule, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
North Florida Ecological Services Office, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 
200, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

OR

     Public hearing: Interested parties may provide oral or 
written comments at one of the public hearings detailed below, to be 
held at: the Lecture Hall of the American Samoa Community College, Pago 
Pago, American Samoa; the Multi-Purpose Center, Beach Road (Route 30), 
Susupe, Saipan, CNMI 96950; the Multi-Purpose Room at the School of 
Business and Public Administration, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 
96923.
    Instructions: 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 by the Services. All comments received will be 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. The Services will accept 
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to 
remain anonymous). The proposed rule is available electronically at 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/green.htm and http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/seaturtles/turtle%20factsheets/green-sea-turtle.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Schultz, NMFS (ph. 301-427-
8443, email [email protected]), or Ann Marie Lauritsen, USFWS 
(ph. 904-731-3032, email [email protected]). Persons who use a 
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, and 
7 days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The green turtle is currently listed under the ESA as a threatened 
species globally, with the exception of the Florida and Mexican Pacific 
coast breeding populations, which are listed as endangered. On March 
23, 2015 (80 FR 15271), the Services published a proposed rule to 
revise these listings because we find that the green turtle is composed 
of 11 distinct population segments (DPSs) that qualify as ``species'' 
for listing under the ESA. We proposed to remove the current range-wide 
listing and, in its place, list eight DPSs as threatened and three as 
endangered. We proposed to list the Central West Pacific DPS (including 
green turtles originating from Guam and CNMI) and the Central South 
Pacific DPS (including green turtles originating from American Samoa) 
as endangered. We also proposed to apply existing protective 
regulations to the DPSs and to continue the existing critical habitat 
designation (i.e., waters surrounding Culebra Island, Puerto Rico) in 
effect for the North Atlantic DPS. We solicited comments on these 
proposed actions; we indicated that comments must be received by June 
22, 2015.
    We received several requests for additional public hearings. In 
response to the requests, by this notice we announce that we will host 
additional public hearings in Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa, and 
extend the public comment period through July 27, 2015. Previously 
submitted comments do not need to be resubmitted.

Public Hearings

    The Services will hold a public hearing in Pago Pago, American 
Samoa. Interested parties may provide oral or written comments at this 
hearing, which will be held on July 6, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m., with an 
informational open house starting at 5:30 p.m., at Lecture Hall of the 
American Samoa Community College.
    The Services will hold a public hearing in Saipan, CNMI. Interested 
parties may provide oral or written comments at this hearing, which 
will be held on July 13, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m., with an informational 
open house starting at 5:30 p.m., at the Multipurpose Center, Beach 
Road, Call Box 1007, Saipan, CNMI 96950.

[[Page 34595]]

    The Services will hold a public hearing in Mangilao, Guam. 
Interested parties may provide oral or written comments at this 
hearing, which will be held on July 15, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m., with an 
informational open house starting at 5:30 p.m., at the Multi-Purpose 
Room of the School of Business and Public Administration, University of 
Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96923.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
accommodations should be directed to Jennifer Schultz (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) as soon as possible, but no later than 7 business 
days prior to the hearing date.

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

    Dated: June 5, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    Dated: June 10, 2015.
Gary Frazer,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-14906 Filed 6-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P