Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, NMFS, propose a regulation under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to establish mandatory time-area closures of Hawaiian spinner dolphins' essential daytime habitats at five selected sites in the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). These regulatory measures are intended to reduce take of Hawaiian spinner dolphins from occurring in inshore marine areas at essential daytime habitats, and where high levels of disturbance from human activities are most prevalent. During designated times, unless subject to an exception as described in this rule, these regulatory measures would prohibit any person or vessel, on or below the surface, to enter, cause to enter, solicit to enter, or remain within any of the five time-area closures, for the purpose of preventing take of Hawaiian spinner dolphins in areas identified as important essential daytime habitats for spinner dolphins that have high levels of human disturbance. The proposed mandatory time-area closures would occur from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in areas of Kealakekua Bay, H[omacr]naunau Bay, Kauhak[omacr] Bay (Ho`okena), and Makako Bay on Hawai`i Island, and La Perouse Bay on Maui.
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 216 [Docket No. 210901-0174] RIN 0648-BK04 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comment. SUMMARY: We, NMFS, propose a regulation under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to establish mandatory time-area closures of Hawaiian spinner dolphins' essential daytime habitats at five selected sites in the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). These regulatory measures are intended to reduce take of Hawaiian spinner dolphins from occurring in inshore marine areas at essential daytime habitats, and where high levels of disturbance from human activities are most prevalent. During designated times, unless subject to an exception as described in this rule, these regulatory measures would prohibit any person or vessel, on or below the surface, to enter, cause to enter, solicit to enter, or remain within any of the five time-area closures, for the purpose of preventing take of Hawaiian spinner dolphins in areas identified as important essential daytime habitats for spinner dolphins that have high levels of human disturbance. The proposed mandatory time-area closures would occur from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in areas of Kealakekua Bay, Hōnaunau Bay, Kauhakō Bay (Ho`okena), and Makako Bay on Hawai`i Island, and La Perouse Bay on Maui. DATES: Comments on this proposal must be receiv…
Citation: 86 FR 53844
