E6-13323. Endangered Fish and Wildlife; Proposed Rule to Implement Speed Restrictions to Reduce the Threat of Ship Collisions with North Atlantic Right Whales; Extension of Public Comment Period

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.

SUMMARY:

On June 26, 2006, NMFS proposed regulations to implement speed restrictions on vessels 65 ft (19.8 m) or greater in overall length in certain locations and at certain times of the year along the east coast of the U.S. Atlantic seaboard to reduce the likelihood of deaths and serious injuries to endangered North Atlantic right whales that result from collisions with ships. NMFS is extending the public comment period on the proposed regulations until October 5, 2006.

DATES:

Written comments must be received at the appropriate address or facsimile (fax) number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. local time on October 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments should be sent to: Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division, Attn: Right Whale Ship Strike Strategy, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments may also be sent via email to [e-mail] or to the Federal eRulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov (follow instructions for submitting comments).

Comments regarding the burden-hour estimates, or any other aspect of the collection of information requirements contained in this notice of proposed rulemaking, should also be submitted in writing to the Chief, Marine Mammal Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, and to David Rostker, OMB, by e-mail at [e-mail] or by fax to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gregory Silber, Ph.D., Fishery Biologist, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, at [phone] x152.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On June 26, 2006, NMFS published a Proposed Rule to Implement Speed Restrictions to Reduce the Threat of Ship Collisions with North Atlantic Right Whales (71 FR 36299). That Federal Register notice began NMFS' 60-day public comment period ending on August 25, 2006.

NMFS subsequently received a request by the World Shipping Council to extend the public comment period so that its members and the public can fully review and provide comments on the proposed rule. Due to the size and scope of the proposed rule and accompanying Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the World Shipping Council requested additional time to complete an independent analysis. Since then, NMFS has received other requests to extend the public comment period. In this notice NMFS is extending the public comment period until October 5, 2006, in order to allow adequate time for the World Shipping Council and others to thoroughly review and thoughtfully comment on the proposed rule.

Dated: August 8, 2006.

Samuel D. Rauch, III

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