LIHU‘E — The extended comment period for changes proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on critical habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal expires Friday.
The current critical habitat for monk seals was established in 1988, and mostly includes areas in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
The proposed rules revise the monk seal’s critical habitat by extending the current designation in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands out to a 500-meter depth contour, including Sand Island at Midway Islands. The proposed new rules also designate six new areas in the main Hawaiian Islands.
Critical habitat is a term defined in Section 3 of the Endangered Species Act, and refers to areas that contain habitat features essential for the survival and recovery of a listed species, and also to areas that might require special management considerations or protections, according to NOAA.
Critical habitat areas can include areas occupied by the species and areas that the species is not currently using, but will need to use for its population to grow and recover. Critical habitat areas might require special management, such as protection from development, and are only officially designated following a public comment period.
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service published a proposed rule in the federal register on June 2, proposing to revise critical habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal under the Endangered Species Act.
As part of that proposal, the marine fisheries service provided a 90-day comment period, ending Aug. 31. After receiving requests from the public, officials decided to reopen the public comment period, beginning Nov. 7 and ending this Friday.
Written comments about the proposed rule can be submitted to www.regulations.gov or mailed to Regulatory Branch Chief, Protected Resources Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814, Attn.: Hawaiian monk seal proposed critical habitat.
Comments sent to any other address or individuals, or received after the end of the comment period, will not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted at www.regulations.gov without changes. Thus, all personal Information voluntarily submitted might become publicly accessible.
The marine fisheries service accepts anonymous comments from those who enter “NA” in the required fields.
Visit www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_critical_habitat.html to download all documents related to the proposed rules.
