Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Proposed Rules 4711 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 224 

[Docket No. 250108–0009] 

RIN 0648–BI88 

North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel 

Strike Reduction Rule 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal. 

SUMMARY: NMFS withdraws a proposed 

rule published in the Federal Register 

on August 1, 2022 to amend the North 

Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena 

glacialis) vessel speed regulations. 

NMFS withdraws this proposed rule in 

light of numerous and ongoing requests 

from the public for further opportunity 

to review and engage with the Agency 

on the proposal. NMFS’s existing vessel 

speed regulations remain in effect. 

DATES: The National Marine Fisheries 

Service is withdrawing the proposed 

rule published August 1, 2022 (87 FR 

46921) as of January 16, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: The August 1, 2022 

proposed rule, and the comments 

received, are available at https://

www.regulations.gov, Docket No. 

NOAA–NMFS–2022–0022. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Caroline Good, NMFS Office of 

Protected Resources, caroline.good@

noaa.gov, 301–427–8402. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The proposed rule (87 FR 46921, 

August 1, 2022) was intended to further 

reduce the likelihood of mortalities and 

serious injuries to endangered North 

Atlantic right whales from vessel 

collisions, which are impeding the 

species’ recovery and are a primary 

factor in an ongoing Unusual Mortality 

Event. The proposed rule would have 

expanded the size class of regulated 

vessels subject to applicable vessel 

speed restrictions, enlarged the 

boundaries and extended the timing of 

seasonal speed zones, introduced 

mandatory dynamic (i.e., temporary) 

speed zones when right whales were 

known to be present outside of active 

seasonal zones, clarified language 

related to enforcement of the rule, and 

updated the safety deviation provision 

and reporting requirements. 

NMFS received approximately 90,000 

public comments on the proposed rule. 

The comments received addressed many 

different aspects of the rule and 

reflected views on all sides of the issues 

addressed. Despite its best efforts, 

NMFS does not have sufficient time to 

finalize this regulation in this 

Administration due to the scope and 

volume of public comments. NMFS 

hereby withdraws the August 2022 

proposed rule and terminates this 

rulemaking proceeding. NMFS’ existing 

North Atlantic right whale vessel speed 

regulations (50 CFR 224.105) remain in 

effect. 

Withdrawal of the proposed rule does 

not preclude NMFS from taking future 

action, including but not limited to 

initiating a new rulemaking, to address 

ongoing lethal right whale vessel strikes. 

If, in the future, NMFS decides it is 

appropriate to issue regulations on this 

topic, NMFS will do so via a new 

rulemaking, in accordance with the 

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 

551 et seq. 

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

1361 et seq. 

Dated: January 8, 2025. 

Samuel D. Rauch, III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2025–00718 Filed 1–15–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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