0648-BC55 201410 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 0600 Department of Commerce DOC Designation of Critical Habitat for the Beringia Distinct Population Segment of the Bearded Seal

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published a final rule to list the Beringia Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the bearded seal as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in December 2012. The ESA requires designation of critical habitat at the time a species is listed as threatened or endangered, or within one year of listing if critical habitat is not then determinable. This rulemaking would designate critical habitat for the Beringia DPS of the bearded seal. The proposed critical habitat designation would be in the northern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas within the current range of the species.

]]> Other Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Long-Term Actions No No 50 CFR 226 16 USC 1531 et seq No NPRM 12/00/2016 Yes Businesses Organizations None No No Yes No Donna Wieting Director, Office of Protected Resources 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 301 427-8400 National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring MD 20910