National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
Extension of public comment period on proposed rule.
This notice extends for 45 days the public comment period on a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American green sturgeon, as published on September 8, 2008, and corrected on October 7, 2008.
The deadline for comments on the proposed rule will be extended from November 7, 2008, to December 22, 2008. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on December 22, 2008.
You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by RIN 0648–AX04, by any of the following methods:
• Electronic submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
• Fax: 1–562–980–4027, Attention: Melissa Neuman.
• Mail: Submit written comments to the Chief, Protected Resources Division, Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 650 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814–4706.
Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to
Melissa Neuman, NMFS, Southwest Region (562) 980–4115, or Lisa Manning, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources (301) 713–1401.
The Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American green sturgeon (
Under section 7 of the ESA, Federal agencies are required to insure that any actions they carry out, authorize, or fund do not destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. A wide range of agency actions may be subject to the ESA section 7 consultation process including, but not limited to: the installation and operation of hydropower dams; the installation and operation of water diversions; in-water construction or alterations; dredging operations and disposal of dredge material; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit activities and activities generating non-point source pollution (e.g., agricultural runoff); power plant operations; operations of liquefied natural gas projects; tidal or wave energy projects; discharges from desalination plants; commercial shipping (e.g., discharges, oil spills); aquaculture; bottom trawl fisheries; and habitat restoration activities.
The deadline for comments on the proposed rule was November 7, 2008. This extension of the comment period until December 22, 2008, is in response to requests made by the public. We solicit additional information and comments from the public concerning this proposed rule, including information and comments on the biological basis supporting the proposed rule; the benefits of the proposed critical habitat designation to the Southern DPS of green sturgeon; and the economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the proposed designation.