2021-04825. Endangered and Threatened Species; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Beringia Distinct Population Segment of the Bearded Seal; Extension of Public Comment Period

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

NMFS hereby extends the public comment period by 30 days for the proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2021, to designate critical habitat for the threatened Beringia distinct population segment (DPS) of the Pacific bearded seal subspecies (Erignathus barbatus nauticus) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The end of the public comment period is extended from March 9, 2021, to April 8, 2021.

DATES:

The comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking published at 86 FR 1433, and corrected at 86 FR 7242, is extended by 30 days to April 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit data, information, or comments regarding the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Beringia DPS of the bearded seal, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2020-0029, by either of the following methods:

• Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2020-0029 in the Search box. Click on the “Comment” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to Jon Kurland, Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Records Office, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99082-1668.

Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. All comments received are 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), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter “N/A” in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

The proposed rule and supporting documents are at www.regulations.gov,, and on the NMFS website at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​action/​designation-critical-habitat-beringia-distinct-population-segment-bearded-seal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tammy Olson, NMFS Alaska Region, [phone]; or Jon Kurland, NMFS Alaska Region, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On January 8, 2021, NMFS published a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Beringia DPS of the bearded seal under the ESA (86 FR 1433; corrected at 86 FR 7242). The proposed designation comprises an area of marine habitat in the northern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. The proposed rule opened a 60-day public comment period to end on March 9, 2021. NMFS received two requests to extend the comment period in order to provide additional time to prepare comments in a thorough manner. We considered the requests and concluded that we can accommodate a 30-day extension of the comment period for the proposed rule without significantly delaying the completion of the final rule. We are therefore extending the comment period for the proposed rule by 30 days to April 8, 2021.

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

Dated: March 3, 2021.

Samuel D. Rauch III,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.