The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has published a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Arctic subspecies (Phoca hispida hispida) of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida) under the U.S. Endangered Species. In this publication NMFS announced that the public comment period would close on March 9, 2015.
Since then, NMFS has extended the comment period through March 31, 2015, to provide additional time for the public to submit comments. NMFS has also announced the specific date and location for a public hearing on the proposal in Bethel, AK, on February 26, 2015, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public hearing will be held at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center, 420 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway, Bethel, AK 99559.
Click here for Federal Register notice of these actions.
