Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, NMFS, designate critical habitat for five threatened Caribbean coral species, Orbicella annularis, O. faveolata, O. franksi, Dendrogyra cylindrus, and Mycetophyllia ferox, pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Twenty-eight mostly overlapping specific occupied areas containing physical features essential to the conservation of these coral species are designated as critical habitat. These areas contain approximately 16,830 square kilometers (km\2\; 6,500 square miles (mi\2\)) of marine habitat. We have considered economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of designating these areas as critical habitat, and we exclude one area from the designations due to anticipated impacts on national security.
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 Parts 223 and 226 [Docket No. 230726-0177] RIN 0648-BG26 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: We, NMFS, designate critical habitat for five threatened Caribbean coral species, Orbicella annularis, O. faveolata, O. franksi, Dendrogyra cylindrus, and Mycetophyllia ferox, pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Twenty-eight mostly overlapping specific occupied areas containing physical features essential to the conservation of these coral species are designated as critical habitat. These areas contain approximately 16,830 square kilometers (km 2 ; 6,500 square miles (mi 2 )) of marine habitat. We have considered economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of designating these areas as critical habitat, and we exclude one area from the designations due to anticipated impacts on national security. DATES: This rule becomes effective September 8, 2023. ADDRESSES: The final rule, maps, and Final Information Report can be found on the NMFS website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​action/​final-rule-designate-critical-habitat-threatened-caribbean-corals . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Moore, NMFS, SERO, 727-824-5312, Jennifer.Moore@noaa.gov ; Celeste Stout, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8436, Celeste.Stout@noaa.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY I…
Citation: 88 FR 54026
