The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has announced specific dates and locations for four public hearings in Alaska, one each in Nome, Anchorage, Kotzebue, and Barrow, on NMFS’ proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Arctic subspecies (Phoca hispida hispida) of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida) under the Endangered Species Act which was published in the Federal Register on December 9, 2014. NMFS has also announced that a hearing will be held in Bethel, AK.
The specific date and location for the hearing in Bethel, AK, will be announced in a subsequently. The dates and locations for the other four hearings are as follows:
1. Nome: January 28, 2015, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Old St. Joe’s, 407 Bering Street, Nome, AK.
2. Anchorage: February 2, 2015, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Z. J. Loussac Public Library, Wilda Marston Theatre, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK.
3. Kotzebue: February 17, 2015, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Northwest Arctic Borough Assembly Chambers, 163 Lagoon Street, Kotzebue, AK.
4. Barrow: February 23, 2015, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Inupiat Heritage
Center, 5421 North Star Street, Barrow, AK.
