[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 19 (Monday, February 1, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7686-7687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02055]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223 and 226

[Docket No. 201228-0357 and 201228-0358]
RIN 0648-BC56, 0648-BJ65


Endangered and Threatened Species; Designation of Critical 
Habitat for the Arctic Subspecies of the Ringed Seal and Designation of 
Critical Habitat for the Beringia Distinct Population Segment of the 
Bearded Seal; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notification of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: We, NMFS, will hold three public hearings on both our January 
8, 2021, revised proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the 
threatened Arctic subspecies of the ringed seal (Pusa hispida hispida) 
and our proposed rule 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).

DATES: Public hearing conference calls will be held, convening at 4 
p.m. and concluding no later than 7 p.m. Alaska Standard Time (AKST), 
on each of the following dates: February 23, 2021 (Yukon-Kuskokwim and 
southwest Alaska); February 24, 2021 (Northwest Arctic Borough and 
northern Bering Sea); and February 25, 2021 (North Slope Borough). NMFS 
may close the hearings 15 minutes after the conclusion of public 
testimony and after responding to any clarifying questions from hearing 
participants about the proposed critical habitat designations. For each 
hearing, we encourage participation by members of the public wishing to 
provide oral comments specific to the regions indicated 
parenthetically. However, all hearings are open to all interested 
parties and at each hearing we will accept testimony regarding any area 
or aspect of the proposed critical habitat designations. Written 
comments must be received by March 9, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held by conference calls rather 
than at physical locations. Conference call information for all three 
hearings is the same: Telephone: (800) 201-3962, Conference Code: 
651174.
    You may submit written data, information, or comments regarding the 
revised proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Arctic 
ringed seal, identified by Docket ID NOAA-NMFS-2013-0114, and the 
proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Beringia DPS of the 
bearded seal, identified by Docket ID NOAA-NMFS-2020-0029, by either of 
the following methods:
    <bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov, search for 
the relevant Docket ID indicated above, click the ``Comment Now!'' or 
``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach 
your comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Submit written comments to Jon Kurland, Assistant 
Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Alaska Region NMFS, 
Attn: James Bruschi, 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).

[[Page 7687]]

    The proposed rules and supporting documents are available in the 
dockets for the proposed rules at www.regulations.gov, and on the NMFS 
website at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/designation-critical-habitat-arctic-subspecies-ringed-seal and www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/designation-critical-habitat-beringia-distinct-population-segment-bearded-seal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Olson, NMFS Alaska Region, (907) 
271-2373; or Jon Kurland, NMFS Alaska Region, (907) 586-7638.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On January 8, 2021, NMFS published a revised proposed rule to 
designate critical habitat for the threatened Arctic ringed seal (86 FR 
1452) and a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the 
threatened Beringia DPS of the bearded seal (86 FR 1433) under the ESA. 
Each proposed designation comprises an area of marine habitat in the 
northern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. A particular area north of 
the Beaufort Sea shelf is proposed for exclusion from the proposed 
designation for the Arctic ringed seal based on national security 
impacts. The proposed rules opened a public comment period for each of 
the proposed designations through March 9, 2021, and announced that 
public hearings would be held in Alaska.

Public Hearings

    We will hold three public hearing conference calls to accept oral 
comments on both our revised proposed rule to designate critical 
habitat for the Arctic ringed seal and our proposed rule to designate 
critical habitat for the Beringia DPS of the bearded seal on the dates 
and at the times listed above (see ADDRESSES and DATES). Please see the 
Public Comments Solicited section of the January 8, 2021, proposed 
rules regarding the types of information and data we particularly seek.
    During each public hearing, NMFS will provide a brief opening 
presentation on the proposed critical habitat designations before 
accepting public testimony for the record. The hearings will be 
recorded for the purpose of preparing transcripts of oral comments 
received. Attendees will be asked to identify themselves before joining 
the hearing. Once connected to the call, telephone lines will be 
automatically muted. During the public testimony portion of the 
hearing, to indicate that you would like to offer a comment, press 5*. 
When it is your turn to offer your comment, the moderator will unmute 
your individual line. Commenters will be asked to indicate their full 
name and the identity of any organization on whose behalf they may be 
speaking. In the event that attendance at the public hearings is large, 
the time allotted for each commenter may be limited.
    Anyone wishing to make an oral statement at the public hearing is 
encouraged to also submit a written copy of their statement to us 
during the comment period by either of the methods identified above 
(see ADDRESSES and DATES). There are no limits on the length of written 
comments submitted to us. Written statements and supporting data and 
information submitted during the comment period will be considered with 
the same weight as oral statements provided during the public hearings.
    These public hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. People needing reasonable accommodations to participate 
in these hearings should submit a request as soon as possible, and no 
later than 10 business days before the accommodation is needed, by 
contacting Tammy Olson (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

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

    Dated: January 26, 2021.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-02055 Filed 1-29-21; 8:45 am]
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