[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78723-78725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30677]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Parts 223 and 224
[Docket No. 130501429-4999-03]
RIN 0648-XC659
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule To
Revise the Code of Federal Regulations for Species Under the
Jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service; Correction
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendments.
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SUMMARY: This document contains technical corrections for errors in a
rule related to Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for distinct
population segments (DPSs) of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta
caretta). The ``Final Rule to Revise the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) for Species Under the Jurisdiction of the National Marine
Fisheries Service'' revised the CFR tables that list threatened and
endangered species under the ESA. During that process, we incorrectly
revised the descriptions of listed entities for the DPSs of the
loggerhead sea turtle in a manner that differs from the original
listing descriptions. In this document, we correct the descriptions of
the DPSs in the CFR tables. We also add cross-references to recently
designated critical habitat of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of the
loggerhead sea turtle.
DATES: Effective on December 31, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Schultz at (301) 427-8443, or
Angela Somma at (301) 427-8474.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 14, 2014, we, NMFS, issued the ``Final Rule to Revise the
Code of Federal Regulations for Species Under the Jurisdiction of the
National Marine Fisheries Service'' (79 FR 20802) to clarify and update
the descriptions and associated protections for species that are listed
as threatened or endangered under the ESA. These revisions changed the
format and content of the tables, which list and describe threatened
and endangered species under NMFS' jurisdiction at 50 CFR 223.102(e)
and 50 CFR 224.101(h), respectively. For example, the table columns
previously labeled, ``where listed'' are now labeled ``description of
listed entity,'' and the columns labeled, ``critical habitat'' now cite
the specific section in 50 CFR part 226, where the critical habitat
description is found.
During this process, we incorrectly revised the descriptions of the
listed entities for the DPSs of the loggerhead sea turtle. For example,
we changed the description of listed entity from ``Northwest Atlantic
Ocean north of the equator, south of 60[deg] N. Lat., and west of
40[deg] W. Long.,'' to ``loggerhead sea turtles originating from the
Northwest Atlantic Ocean west of 40[deg] W. Long.'' Therefore, this
document amends the tables by correcting the descriptions of listed
entities for the DPSs of the loggerhead sea turtle to reflect the
original listing description published in the CFR. There was one
mistake in the original listing (76 FR 58868, September 22, 2011). The
Southwest Indian Ocean
[[Page 78724]]
DPS includes loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Southwest
Indian Ocean north of the equator, south of 30[deg] N. Lat., east of
20[deg] E. Long., and west of 80[deg] E. Long; the original listing
incorrectly indicated, ``west of 20[deg] E. Long., and east of 80[deg]
E. Long.''
On July 10, 2014, NMFS and USFWS issued separate final rules to
designate critical habitat for marine and terrestrial habitat,
respectively, for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of the loggerhead
sea turtle (79 FR 39855 and 79 FR 39755, respectively). At that time,
we did not update the column labeled ``critical habitat,'' in the table
in 50 CFR 223.102(e) to cross reference these new rules. Therefore,
this document also corrects the table by citing the critical habitat
designations in 50 CFR 226.223 and 50 CFR 17.95(c) in the column of the
table in 50 CFR 223.102(e).
Classification
This correction does not alter or revise in any way the threatened
or endangered species statuses or critical habitat designations for the
DPSs of the loggerhead sea turtle. Therefore, the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive
requirement to provide prior public notice and comment.
Need for Correction
As published, the final regulations contain errors which may prove
to be misleading and need to be clarified.
List of Subjects
50 CFR Part 223
Threatened marine and anadromous species.
50 CFR Part 224
Endangered marine and anadromous species.
Dated: December 22, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
Accordingly, 50 CFR parts 223 and 224 are corrected by making the
following correcting amendments:
PART 223--THREATENED MARINE AND ANADROMOUS SPECIES
0
1. The authority citation for part 223 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; subpart B, Sec. 223.201-202
also issued under 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 5503(d) for
Sec. 223.206(d)(9).
0
2. In Sec. 223.102(e), revise the table entries for ``Sea turtle,
loggerhead (Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead
(South Atlantic Ocean DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (Southeast Indo-
Pacific Ocean DPS)'', and ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (Southwest Indian
Ocean DPS)'' to read as follows:
Sec. 223.102 Enumeration of threatened marine and anadromous species.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
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Species \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Citation(s) for Critical
Description of listing habitat ESA rules
Common name Scientific name listed entity determination(s)
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* * * * * * *
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Sea Turtles \2\
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Sea turtle, loggerhead Caretta caretta Loggerhead sea 76 FR 58868, Sep 17.95(c), 223.205,
(Northwest Atlantic Ocean turtles originating 22, 2011. 226.223 223.206,
DPS). from the Northwest 223.207.
Atlantic Ocean
north of the
equator, south of
60[deg] N. Lat.,
and west of 40[deg]
W. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (South Caretta caretta Loggerhead sea 76 FR 58868, Sep NA 223.205,
Atlantic Ocean DPS). turtles originating 22, 2011. 223.206,
from the South 223.207.
Atlantic Ocean
south of the
equator, north of
60[deg] S. Lat.,
west of 20[deg] E.
Long., and east of
67[deg] W. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead Caretta caretta Loggerhead sea 76 FR 58868, Sep NA 223.205,
(Southeast Indo-Pacific turtles originating 22, 2011. 223.206,
Ocean DPS). from the Southeast 223.207
Indian Ocean south
of the equator,
north of 60[deg] S.
Lat., and east of
80[deg] E. Long.;
South Pacific Ocean
south of the
equator, north of
60[deg] S. Lat.,
and west of
141[deg] E. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead Caretta caretta Loggerhead sea 76 FR 58868, Sep NA 223.205,
(Southwest Indian Ocean DPS). turtles originating 22, 2011. 223.206,
from the Southwest 223.207
Indian Ocean north
of the equator,
south of 30[deg] N.
Lat., east of
20[deg] E. Long.,
and west of 80[deg]
E. Long.
* * * * * * *
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\1\ Species includes taxonomic species, subspecies, distinct population segments (DPSs) (for a policy statement,
see 61 FR 4722, February 7, 1996), and evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) (for a policy statement, see 56
FR 58612, November 20, 1991).
\2\ Jurisdiction for sea turtles by the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
National Marine Fisheries Service, is limited to turtles while in the water.
[[Page 78725]]
* * * * *
PART 224--ENDANGERED MARINE AND ANADROMOUS SPECIES
0
3. The authority citation for part 224 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543 and 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
0
4. In Sec. 224.101(h), revise the table entries for ``Sea turtle,
loggerhead (Mediterranean Sea DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (North
Indian Ocean DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (North Pacific Ocean
DPS)'', ``Sea turtle, loggerhead (Northeast Atlantic Ocean DPS)'', and
``Sea turtle, loggerhead (South Pacific Ocean DPS)'' to read as
follows:
Sec. 224.101 Enumeration of endangered marine and anadromous species.
* * * * *
(h) * * *
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Species \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Citation(s) for listing Critical
Description of listed determination(s) habitat ESA rules
Common name Scientific name entity
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* * * * * * *
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Sea Turtles \2\
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Sea turtle, loggerhead Caretta caretta....... Loggerhead sea turtles 76 FR 58868, Sep 22, NA 224.104
(Mediterranean Sea DPS). originating from the 2011
Mediterranean Sea east of
5[deg]36' W. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (North Indian Caretta caretta....... Loggerhead sea turtles 76 FR 58868, Sep 22, NA 224.104
Ocean DPS). originating from the North 2011
Indian Ocean north of the
equator and south of
30[deg] N. Lat.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (North Caretta caretta....... Loggerhead sea turtles 76 FR 58868, Sep 22, NA 224.104
Pacific Ocean DPS). originating from the North 2011
Pacific north of the
equator and south of
60[deg] N. Lat.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (Northeast Caretta caretta....... Loggerhead sea turtles 76 FR 58868, Sep 22, NA 224.104
Atlantic Ocean DPS). originating from the 2011
Northeast Atlantic Ocean
north of the equator,
south of 60[deg] N. Lat.,
and east of 40[deg] W.
Long., except in the
vicinity of the Strait of
Gibraltar where the
eastern boundary is
5[deg]36' W. Long.
Sea turtle, loggerhead (South Caretta caretta....... Loggerhead sea turtles 76 FR 58868, Sep 22, NA 224.104
Pacific Ocean DPS). originating from the South 2011
Pacific south of the
equator, north of 60[deg]
S. Lat., west of 67[deg]
W. Long., and east of
141[deg] E. Long.
* * * * * * *
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\1\ Species includes taxonomic species, subspecies, distinct population segments (DPSs) (for a policy statement, see 61 FR 4722, February 7, 1996), and
evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) (for a policy statement, see 56 FR 58612, November 20, 1991).
\2\ Jurisdiction for sea turtles by the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, is
limited to turtles while in the water.
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[FR Doc. 2014-30677 Filed 12-30-14; 8:45 am]
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