Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We (NMFS) are issuing this final rule to replace the critical habitat for right whales in the North Atlantic with two new areas. The areas being designated as critical habitat contain approximately 29,763 nm \2\ of marine habitat in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank region (Unit 1) and off the Southeast U.S. coast (Unit 2). We have considered positive and negative economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the critical habitat. We are not excluding any particular area from the final critical habitat. A Biological Source Document provides the basis for our identification of the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species that may require special management considerations or protection. A report was also prepared pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in support of this rule.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 226 [Docket No. 100217099-5999-03] RIN 0648-AY54 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: We (NMFS) are issuing this final rule to replace the critical habitat for right whales in the North Atlantic with two new areas. The areas being designated as critical habitat contain approximately 29,763 nm  2 of marine habitat in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank region (Unit 1) and off the Southeast U.S. coast (Unit 2). We have considered positive and negative economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the critical habitat. We are not excluding any particular area from the final critical habitat. A Biological Source Document provides the basis for our identification of the physical and biological features essential to the conservation of the species that may require special management considerations or protection. A report was also prepared pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in support of this rule. DATES: This rule is effective February 26, 2016. ADDRESSES: The final rule as well as comments and information received, and accompanying documents are available at www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov or by contacting Mark Minton, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. FOR FURTHER INFORM…
Citation: 81 FR 4838
