Center for Biological Diversity filed 3 comments on this docket between Mar 29, 2021 and Feb 28, 2024. 2 other organizations filed here. The comment window closed 881d ago.
Please see the attached comments and supporting references submitted on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity. A list of references we are submitting is also attached. Thank you for considering our comments and concerns.
Filed on regulations.gov — full text not in the inline record.
Filed on regulations.gov — full text not in the inline record.
On November 27, 2020, we, NMFS, published in the Federal Register a proposal to designate 17 island units of critical habitat in the Pacific Islands Region for 7 Indo-Pacific coral species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Based on public comments and new information regarding the interpretation of the records of the listed corals and application to critical habitat, a substantial revision of the proposed rule is warranted. Accordingly, we are withdrawing the 2020 proposed rule and publishing this new proposed rule. We propose to designate critical habitat for five of the seven coral species that were addressed in the 2020 proposed rule: Acropora globiceps, Acropora retusa, Acropora speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, and Isopora crateriformis. Proposed critical habitat includes 16 island units encompassing approximately 251 square kilometers (km2; 97 square miles, mi2) of marine habitat. Several areas are ineligible for critical habitat because of final Department of Defense Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans that we have determined will benefit the listed corals. We have considered economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the proposed designations, but are not proposing to exclude any areas from the critical habitat designations due to anticipated impacts.
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