0648-BF98 202304 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 0600 Department of Commerce DOC Approach Regulations for Humpback Whales in Hawaii Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act

These regulations would maintain existing humpback approach regulations. The purpose of the rule is to protect humpback whales from forms of "take" as defined under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and its implementing regulations. The National Marine Fisheries Service established approach regulations for humpback whales under the Endangered Species Act in 1995; corresponding Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations are necessary and appropriate to ensure that humpback whales in Hawaii continue to receive protections from activities that result in take in the event that humpback whales are no longer protected under the Endangered Species Act. These final Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations are virtually the same as existing Endangered Species Act regulations, and are not expected to impact the whale watching industry.

]]> Substantive, Nonsignificant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No 50 CFR 216 16 U.S.C. 1372 et seq. 16 U.S.C. 1382 et seq. No Interim Final Rule 09/08/2016 81 FR 62010 Interim Final Rule Effective 10/11/2016 Interim Final Rule Comment Period End 11/07/2016 Final Action 06/00/2023 No No None No No No No Kim Damon-Randall Director, Office of Protected Resources 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 301 427-8400 kimberly.damon-randall@noaa.gov 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring MD 20910