Two public hearings are scheduled as indicated in the Federal Register notice on proposed coral critical habitat in the U.S. Pacific Islands. They will be conducted virtually on Webex, starting with a public information meeting followed by a public hearing.
For more information, read the Federal Register notice and supporting documents
You may join the Webex public information meetings and public hearings using a web browser, the Webex desktop app (app installation required), a mobile app (app installation required), or a phone call (audio only), as specified below. After you click on the link, you will be asked to register by providing your name and email, and indicating whether you would like to provide a public comment.
Hearing Information
General information about proposed coral critical habitat is available on our webpage. It will also be displayed at the Webex meetings starting 30 minutes before the start times noted above, during which time NOAA Fisheries staff will be available to answer questions via the Webex Chat function.
The hearings will begin with a brief presentation by NOAA Fisheries that gives an overview of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act and a summary of proposed coral critical habitat in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Area.
After the presentation but before public comments, there will be a question and answer session during which members of the public may ask NOAA Fisheries staff questions via video about the proposed coral critical habitat. Following the question and answer session, members of the public will have the opportunity to provide oral comments, on the record, regarding the proposed coral critical habitat.
Please note that once the public hearings begin, NOAA Fisheries staff will no longer be able to answer questions.
Members of the public will also have the opportunity to submit written comments at the hearings. Written comments may also be submitted at any time during the relevant public comment period, as described below under “How to Comment on Proposed Coral Critical Habitat.” All oral comments will be recorded, transcribed, and added to the public comment record for this proposed rule. For more information, please contact Lance Smith at the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office: lance.smith@noaa.gov or 808-725-5131.
How to Comment on Proposed Coral Critical Habitat
Submit comments by March 26, 2021
- Submit comments online
- Submit comments at the public hearings. See hearing details below.
- If you have questions, please contact Lance Smith at lance.smith@noaa.gov or (808) 725-5131.
More Information