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
Federal Register, Volume 79 Issue 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2014)
Federal Register Volume 79, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2014)
Rules and Regulations
Pages 78723-78725
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing 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 60deg N. Lat., and west of 40deg W. Long.,'' to ``loggerhead sea turtles originating from the Northwest Atlantic Ocean west of 40deg 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 30deg N. Lat., east of 20deg E. Long., and west of 80deg E. Long; the original listing incorrectly indicated, ``west of 20deg E. Long., and east of 80deg 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
Threatened marine and anadromous species.
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
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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
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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
60deg N. Lat.,
and west of 40deg
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
60deg S. Lat.,
west of 20deg E.
Long., and east of
67deg 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 60deg S.
Lat., and east of
80deg E. Long.;
South Pacific Ocean
south of the
equator, north of
60deg S. Lat.,
and west of
141deg 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 30deg N.
Lat., east of
20deg E. Long.,
and west of 80deg
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
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PART 224--ENDANGERED MARINE AND ANADROMOUS SPECIES
0
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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
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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
5deg36' 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
30deg 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
60deg 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 60deg N. Lat.,
and east of 40deg W.
Long., except in the
vicinity of the Strait of
Gibraltar where the
eastern boundary is
5deg36' 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 60deg
S. Lat., west of 67deg
W. Long., and east of
141deg 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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