Proposed rule; notice of 6-month extension of the deadline for a final critical habitat determination.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on June 2, 2011, proposing to revise critical habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and requesting information related to the proposed action. This document announces a 6-month extension of the deadline for a final determination on the proposed rule. Based on comments received during the public comment period, we find that substantial disagreement exists regarding the sufficiency and accuracy of the data and analyses used to support the scope of the proposed critical habitat designation in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Accordingly, we are extending the deadline for the final revision to critical habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal an additional 6 months to further analyze data and consider concerns raised by State, Federal, and other entities, and better inform our determinations for the final revision of Hawaiian monk seal critical habitat under the ESA.
DATES: A final revision will be made no later than December 2, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The proposed rule, maps, and other materials relating to this proposal can be found on the NFMS Pacific Island Region's Web site at http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_critical_habitat.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Higgins, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, (808) 944-2157; Lance Smith, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, (808) 944-2258; or Dwayne Meadows, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources (301) 427-8403.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On June 2, 2011, we published a proposed rule to revise critical
habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) by
extending the current designation in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
(NWHI) out to the 500-meter (m) depth contour and including Sand Island
at Midway Islands; and by designating six new areas in the main
Hawaiian Islands (MHI), pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species
Act (ESA) (76 FR 32044; June 2, 2011). We received public comments in
response to the proposed rule from June 2, 2011 through January 6,
2012. Comments were received, through electronic submissions, letters
and oral testimonies from public hearings held in Kaunakakai, Molokai;
Kihei, Maui; Lihue, Kauai; Honolulu, Oahu; Hilo, Hawaii; and in Kailua
Kona, Hawaii.
Several commenters, including the Hawaii Department of Land and
Natural Resources; the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management
Council; the State of Hawaii's House Committee on Water, Land, and
Ocean Resources; and the State of Hawaii's Senate Committee on Water,
Land, and Housing, have strongly criticized the scope of the proposed
critical habitat designation. In particular comments focused on the
sufficiency of the analysis and the accuracy of the description of the
six physical or biological features that are identified as essential
for the conservation of the species, as well as whether the areas
proposed are appropriate for designation. Additionally, comments
suggested that our identification of essential features and the science
upon which they are based, did not rely on the best available science
to support the delineation of the proposed designation. We have
considered these comments, and we find that substantial disagreement
exists over the identification of the essential features that support
the scope of the proposed designation of critical habitat in the Main
Hawaiian Islands, and whether these features are essential for the
conservation of the species.
Extension of Critical Habitat Revision Determination
The ESA, section 4(b)(6), requires that we take one of three
actions within 1 year of a proposed revision to critical habitat: (1)
Finalize the proposed revision; (2) withdraw the proposed revision; or
(3) extend the final revision to critical habitat by not more than 6
months. Section 4(b)(6)(B)(i) allows a 6-month extension of the 1-year
deadline for a final revision if there is substantial disagreement
regarding the sufficiency or accuracy of the available data relevant to
the revision for the purposes of soliciting additional data.
We have received multiple comments on the scope of the designation
and the sufficiency or accuracy of the available data used to support
this proposed rulemaking. In particular, commenters raised questions
regarding the foraging ecology of Hawaiian monk seals in the main
Hawaiian Islands and whether the areas proposed for designation address
the foraging needs and preferences in this habitat. The State of
Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted a comment
disagreeing with the identified physical and biological features and
describing an alternative approach for considering foraging areas for
this designation. We are presently working with the State to obtain
further information regarding the data and analysis they used to
support their evaluation of foraging areas. Additionally, the Western
Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council submitted a comment
disagreeing with the delineation of areas used by monk seals for
foraging in the main Hawaiian Islands. NMFS has released just over 20
GPS-equipped cellular transmitter tags on seals in the main Hawaiian
Islands in the past two years; we believe that further analysis of this
data will provide additional information bearing on this dispute and
may be sufficient to resolve it.
As a result of these comments, NMFS is extending the final revision
to critical habitat for 6 months pursuant to section 4(b)(6)(B)(i). An
additional 6 months will allow us to further evaluate the data used by
the State, as well as analyze information received from GPS-equipped
cellular transmitter tags in the main Hawaiian Islands. To ensure that
the final rule is based solely on the best available scientific
information, it is essential to resolve the substantial disagreement
regarding the identification and analysis of the essential features
which support the scope of the designation; therefore, we conclude that
a 6-month extension of the final revision to critical habitat for the
Hawaiian monk seal is warranted.
Although not a basis for the extension, we will also use this
period to further evaluate all comments received regarding the
potential economic impacts of the proposed designation.
In consideration of the disagreement surrounding the scope of this
proposed designation, we extend the timeline for the final designation
for an additional 6 months (until December 2, 2012) to resolve the
disagreement.
Classification
Regulatory Planning and Review (E.O. 12866)
This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of E.O. 12866. A draft Economic Analysis report and draft ESA section
4(b)(2) report (NMFS, 2010b) were prepared to support the exclusion
process under section 4(b)(2) of the ESA and our consideration of
alternatives to this rulemaking as required under E.O. 12866. The draft
Economic Analysis report (ECONorthwest, 2010) and draft ESA section
4(b)(2) report (NMFS, 2010b) are available on the Pacific Islands
Region Web site at http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_critical_habitat.html.