Designation of Critical Habitat for the Arctic Subspecies of the Ringed Seal
Summary
NOAA Fisheries announces revisions to our December 9, 2014, proposed designation of critical habitat for the Arctic subspecies of the ringed seal (Pusa hispida hispida) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The revised proposed designation comprises an area of marine habitat in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. Based on consideration of national security impacts, we also propose to exclude a particular area north of the Beaufort Sea shelf from the designation. We seek comments on all aspects of the revised proposed critical habitat designation and will consider information received before issuing a final designation. Comments must be received by April 8, 2021 (extended from March 9, 2021).
Three public hearing conference calls on the proposed critical habitat were scheduled in February 2021, as indicated in the Federal Register notice. Learn more about the public hearings »
Federal Register
- Comment Period Extension (86 FR 13517, 03/09/2021)
- Notification of public hearings (86 FR 7686, 02/01/2021)
- Revised Proposed Rule: Reopening of Comment Period (86 FR 1452, 01/08/2021)
- Comment Period Extension (80 FR 5498, 02/02/2015)
- Public Hearings (80 FR 1618, 01/13/2015)
- Corrected Proposed Rule (79 FR 73010, 12/09/2014)
Supporting Materials
- Questions and Answers (2021)
- Draft Economic Analysis Report (2021)
- Map of Proposed Critical Habitat and Proposed Essential Features (2021)
- Map of Proposed Critical Habitat (2021)
- Proposed Critical Habitat Shapefile (zip) (2021)
- References Cited (2021)
- Draft Economic Analysis Report (2014)
- Proposed Critical Habitat Shapefile (zip) (2014)
- References Cited (2014)
- Ringed Seals