80_FR_42602 80 FR 42465 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revisions to the Regulations for Petitions

80 FR 42465 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revisions to the Regulations for Petitions

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

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 137 (July 17, 2015)

Page Range42465-42466
FR Document2015-17580

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, announce the extension of the public comment period on our May 21, 2015, proposed revisions to the regulations concerning petitions under section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42465-42466]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17580]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 424

[Docket Nos. FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0016; DOC 150506429-5586-02; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-BA53; 0648-BF06


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revisions to the 
Regulations for Petitions

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Interior; National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, announce the extension of the public comment period 
on our May 21, 2015, proposed revisions to the regulations concerning 
petitions under section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as 
they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published in the 
Federal Register on May 21, 2015 (80 FR 29286), is extended. We will 
accept comments from all interested parties until September 18, 2015. 
Please note that if you are using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see 
ADDRESSES, below), the deadline for submitting an electronic comment is 
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on that date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In 
the Search box, enter the docket number for the proposed rule, which is 
FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0016. You may submit a comment by clicking on ``Comment 
Now!'' Please ensure that you have found the correct rulemaking before 
submitting your comment.
     U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-HQ-ES-2015-0016; Division of Policy, Performance, and Management 
Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC, 
Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This

[[Page 42466]]

generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us (see Public Comments, below, for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Krofta, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Division of Conservation and Classification, 5275 Leesburg 
Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, telephone 703/358-2171; facsimile 
703/358-1735; or Angela Somma, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910, telephone 301/427-8403. If you use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at 800/877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Comments

    We will accept written comments and information during this 
extended comment period on our proposed revisions to the regulations 
concerning petitions under section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), that was 
published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2015 (80 FR 29286). We 
will consider information we receive from all interested parties on or 
before the close of the comment period (see DATES).
    If you have already submitted comments or information during the 
public comment period that began May 21, 2015, please do not resubmit 
them. We have incorporated them into the public record, and we will 
fully consider them in the preparation of our final rule.
    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.
    If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire 
comment--including any personal identifying information--will be posted 
on the Web site. We will post all hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov as well. If you submit a hardcopy comment 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.

Background

    On May 21, 2015, we published a proposed rule regarding changes to 
the regulations in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 
CFR 424.14 concerning petitions, to improve the content and specificity 
of petitions and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the 
petitions process to support species conservation. Our proposed 
revisions to Sec.  424.14 would clarify and enhance the procedures by 
which the Services will evaluate petitions under section 4(b)(3) of the 
Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3). We proposed to revise the regulations 
pertaining to the petition process to provide greater clarity to the 
public on the petition-submission process, which will assist 
petitioners in providing complete petitions. These revisions would also 
maximize the efficiency with which the Services process petitions, 
making the best use of available resources. These changes would improve 
the quality of petitions through expanded content requirements and 
guidelines, and, in doing so, better focus the Services' energies on 
petitions that merit further analysis.
    The comment period on the May 21, 2015, proposed rule was 
originally scheduled to close on July 20, 2015. We have received 
comments requesting an extension to that date, and we now announce that 
we will accept comments on the proposed revisions to the regulations 
concerning petitions at 50 CFR 424.14 as specified in DATES.

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

    Dated: July 9, 2015.

Signed:
Michael J. Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
    Dated: July 9, 2015.

Signed:
Samuel D. Rauch,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17580 Filed 7-16-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Proposed Rules 42465 remain in effect through December 31, deliver to the canneries in American DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 2015. The closure applies to all U.S. Samoa. purse seine fishing vessels. Fish and Wildlife Service The petition includes further Petition for Rulemaking information on the basis of the request, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Under the Administrative Procedure including information related to the Act, interested persons may petition recommendations of the Governor of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Federal agencies for the issuance, American Samoa’s Fisheries Task Force, Administration amendment, or repeal of a rule. and an ‘‘issue brief’’ with statements In a petition to NMFS dated May 12, about the nature of the issue and how 50 CFR Part 424 2015, Tri Marine requested that NMFS the requested rule(s) would address it. take two actions. First, Tri Marine [Docket Nos. FWS–HQ–ES–2015–0016; DOC In a second letter to NMFS dated May 150506429–5586–02; 4500030113] requested that ‘‘NOAA undertake an 26, 2015, which supplements the May emergency rulemaking with respect to 12, 2015, petition, Tri Marine RIN 1018–BA53; 0648–BF06 the 2015 ELAPS limits for fishing days acknowledged the interim rule Endangered and Threatened Wildlife on the high seas.’’ Second, Tri Marine published May 21, 2015, and amended and Plants; Revisions to the requested that ‘‘NOAA issue a rule exempting from that high seas limit any its request. Tri Marine requested that Regulations for Petitions US flag purse seine vessel which, ‘‘NOAA undertake an emergency rulemaking with respect to the 2015 AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to contract or declaration of (FWS), Interior; National Marine intent, delivers or will deliver at least 50 ELAPS limits for fishing days (both) on Fisheries Service (NMFS), National percent of its catch to tuna processing the high seas and in the US EEZ,’’ and Oceanic and Atmospheric facilities based in American Samoa.’’ further requested that ‘‘NOAA issue a Administration (NOAA), Commerce. At the time of Tri Marine’s initial rule exempting from the ELAPS limits ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of the request, NMFS was preparing to issue any US flag purse seine vessel which, comment period. an interim rule establishing a limit on pursuant to contract or declaration of purse seine fishing effort in the ELAPS intent, delivers or will deliver at least 50 SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and for 2015. As described above, NMFS percent of its catch to tuna processing Wildlife Service and the National established a limit in the ELAPS for facilities based in American Samoa.’’ Marine Fisheries Service, announce the 2015 in an interim rule published May extension of the public comment period See the ADDRESSES section for 21, 2015. Accordingly, the first part of on our May 21, 2015, proposed Tri Marine’s request has been instructions on how to obtain copies of revisions to the regulations concerning addressed. In the interim rule, NMFS the petition. petitions under section 4(b)(3) of the acknowledged that it had received Tri Request for Comments Endangered Species Act of 1973, as Marine’s petition for rulemaking, and amended. Comments previously stated that it will consider and respond NMFS has determined that the submitted need not be resubmitted, as to the petition separately from the petition contains enough information to they will be fully considered in interim rule. enable NMFS to consider its substance. preparation of the final rule. With regard to the second part of Tri NMFS is issuing this notice to solicit DATES: The comment period for the Marine’s request, the petition explains comments on the petitioner’s request. proposed rule published in the Federal that as a result of decisions by the NMFS is particularly interested in Register on May 21, 2015 (80 FR 29286), Republic of Kiribati, U.S. purse seine comments on the nature and severity of is extended. We will accept comments vessels’ access to their traditional the problem identified by the petitioner, from all interested parties until fishing grounds in 2015 has been whether any exigencies exist, and September 18, 2015. Please note that if dramatically reduced, and that the high you are using the Federal eRulemaking whether the petitioner’s requests would seas portion of the ELAPS can be Portal (see ADDRESSES, below), the solve the alleged problem in an efficient expected to be closed to fishing as early deadline for submitting an electronic and fair manner. as June. The petition further states that comment is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on because of the limited fishing grounds Next Steps that date. now available to the American Samoa- ADDRESSES: You may submit comments based purse seine fleet and other factors, NMFS will consider public comments by one of the following methods: including an unusually low tuna price in deciding whether to proceed with the • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// and the higher cost of access to fishing rulemaking(s) requested by Tri Marine. www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, grounds in the region, the ability of Once NMFS decides whether or not to enter the docket number for the American Samoa-based tuna vessels to proceed, or to proceed in part, it will proposed rule, which is FWS–HQ–ES– operate profitably is in serious question, publish a notice of its decision in the 2015–0016. You may submit a comment and the loss of a reliable supply of tuna Federal Register. by clicking on ‘‘Comment Now!’’ Please from these vessels will jeopardize the ensure that you have found the correct Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. ability of the canneries in American rulemaking before submitting your Samoa to compete in world markets. Dated: July 13, 2015. comment. The petition states that under the • U.S. mail: Public Comments mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Samuel D. Rauch III, Convention, American Samoa is Deputy Assistant Administrator for Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–HQ– afforded special treatment as a small Regulatory Programs, National Marine ES–2015–0016; Division of Policy, island developing state or participating Fisheries Service. Performance, and Management territory for purposes of applying [FR Doc. 2015–17571 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am] Programs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife conservation and management measures BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC, of the Commission, and therefore NMFS Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. should develop rules that exempt from We will post all comments on the ELAPS limit those vessels that http://www.regulations.gov. This VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:50 Jul 16, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\17JYP1.SGM 17JYP1

42466 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Proposed Rules generally means that we will post any public record, and we will fully clarity to the public on the petition- personal information you provide us consider them in the preparation of our submission process, which will assist (see Public Comments, below, for more final rule. petitioners in providing complete information). You may submit your comments and petitions. These revisions would also FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: materials by one of the methods listed maximize the efficiency with which the Douglas Krofta, U.S. Fish and Wildlife in ADDRESSES. We request that you send Services process petitions, making the Service, Division of Conservation and comments only by the methods best use of available resources. These Classification, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls described in ADDRESSES. changes would improve the quality of If you submit a comment via http:// petitions through expanded content Church, VA 22041–3803, telephone www.regulations.gov, your entire requirements and guidelines, and, in 703/358–2171; facsimile 703/358–1735; comment—including any personal doing so, better focus the Services’ or Angela Somma, National Marine identifying information—will be posted energies on petitions that merit further Fisheries Service, Office of Protected on the Web site. We will post all analysis. Resources, 1315 East–West Highway, hardcopy comments on http:// Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone The comment period on the May 21, www.regulations.gov as well. If you 301/427–8403. If you use a 2015, proposed rule was originally submit a hardcopy comment that telecommunications device for the deaf scheduled to close on July 20, 2015. We includes personal identifying (TDD), call the Federal Information have received comments requesting an information, you may request at the top Relay Service (FIRS) at 800/877–8339. of your document that we withhold this extension to that date, and we now SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: information from public review. announce that we will accept comments However, we cannot guarantee that we on the proposed revisions to the Public Comments regulations concerning petitions at 50 will be able to do so. We will accept written comments and CFR 424.14 as specified in DATES. information during this extended Background Authority: The authority for this action is comment period on our proposed On May 21, 2015, we published a the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as revisions to the regulations concerning proposed rule regarding changes to the amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). petitions under section 4(b)(3) of the regulations in title 50 of the Code of Dated: July 9, 2015. Endangered Species Act of 1973, as Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 424.14 Signed: amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), concerning petitions, to improve the Michael J. Bean, that was published in the Federal content and specificity of petitions and Register on May 21, 2015 (80 FR 29286). to enhance the efficiency and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. We will consider information we effectiveness of the petitions process to receive from all interested parties on or support species conservation. Our Dated: July 9, 2015. before the close of the comment period proposed revisions to § 424.14 would Signed: (see DATES). clarify and enhance the procedures by Samuel D. Rauch, If you have already submitted which the Services will evaluate Deputy Assistant Administrator for comments or information during the petitions under section 4(b)(3) of the Regulatory Programs, National Marine public comment period that began May Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3). We proposed Fisheries Service. 21, 2015, please do not resubmit them. to revise the regulations pertaining to [FR Doc. 2015–17580 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am] We have incorporated them into the the petition process to provide greater BILLING CODE 4310–55–3510–22–P mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:50 Jul 16, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\17JYP1.SGM 17JYP1


Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:21:00
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:21:00
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule; extension of the comment period.
DatesThe comment period for the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2015 (80 FR 29286), is extended. We will accept comments from all interested parties until September 18, 2015. Please note that if you are using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see
ContactDouglas Krofta, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation and Classification, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803, telephone 703/358-2171; facsimile 703/358-1735; or Angela Somma, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone 301/427-8403. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800/877-8339.
FR Citation80 FR 42465 
RIN Number1018-BA53 and 0648-BF06
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