NEW *Public Comment Period extended to February 19, 2025. See FR notice here.
NMFS will hold seven public hearings and three listening sessions related to their proposed rule to list five species of giant clams as endangered and five species of giant clams as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). On July 25, 2024, NOAA Fisheries announced a proposed rule (89 FR 60498) to list five species of giant clams (Hippopus porcellanus, Tridacna derasa, T. gigas, T. mbalavuana, and T. squamosina) as endangered and one species of giant clam (H. hippopus) as threatened under the ESA due to their extinction risk, as assessed under section 4(a)(1) of the ESA. NMFS also proposed to list four additional species of giant clams (T. crocea, T. maxima, T. noae, and T. squamosa) as threatened under the ESA. They are proposed to be listed due to the similarity of appearance of products derived from these species (e.g., meat, worked shell products, and pearls) to those derived from the six aforementioned species. In that notification, NMFS proposed to extend all of the ESA section 9 prohibitions to H. hippopus. We also proposed to issue a protective regulation under section 4(d) of the ESA to prohibit the import and export of derivative parts and products of T. crocea, T. maxima, T. noae, and T. squamosa into and from the UnitedStates and its Territories.
In advance of the first public hearing in American Samoa and the public hearings on Guam and Saipan, CNMI, NMFS will hold three listening sessions to bring together resource managers, policymakers, and members of the public to share information about the potential impact of the proposed listing determination in the U.S. Pacific Island Territories from the perspectives of the local community. The listening sessions will be held on the following dates and times. Times are given in Chamorro Standard Time (ChST) and Samoa Standard Time (SST).
• American Samoa, Tutuila: A public listening session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at the Rex H. Lee Auditorium. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. SST.
• Guam: A public listening session is scheduled for Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at Pacific Islands Club Guam. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. ChST.
• CNMI, Saipan: A public listening session is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2024, at Crowne Plaza Resort. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. ChST.
The listening sessions are intended to provide a forum for members of the local community to share information about the potential impact in the U.S. Pacific Island Territories of the proposed ESA listing determination and the additional potential regulatory measures identified in our proposal.
Six public hearings will be conducted in-person and one hearing will be conducted online as a Webex meeting:
• American Samoa, Tutuila #1: A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at the Rex H. Lee Auditorium. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. SST, the informational meeting will begin at 6 p.m. SST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m.SST.
• American Samoa, Tutuila #2: A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, September 5, 2024, at the Tradewinds Hotel. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. SST, the informational meeting will begin at 6 p.m. SST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. SST.
• CNMI, Tinian: A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Tinian Elementary School. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. ChST, the informational meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST.
• CNMI, Rota: A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, September 12, 2024, at the Department of Commerce, Rota. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. ChST, the informational meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST.
• Guam: A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at Pacific Islands Club Guam. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. ChST, the informational meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST.
• CNMI, Saipan: A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2024, at Crowne Plaza Resort. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. ChST, the informational meeting will begin at 6 p.m. ChST, and the public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. ChST.
• One virtual hearing is scheduled for the following time and date: the informational meeting will begin on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 7 p.m. EDT, and the public hearing will begin at 8 p.m. EDT; Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 12 p.m. SST, and the public hearing will begin at 1 p.m. SST; Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 9 a.m. ChST, and the public hearing will begin at 10 a.m. ChST. Join the webinar via this link: https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/j.php?MTID=m62351f6b3e964c7a1b91f6e8bc59a208. Webinar number: 2820 450 2543
Webinar password: rV5ttXEcT77 (78588932 when dialing from a phone or video system). Join by phone: +1–415–527–5035 Access code: 282 045 02543.
For more information and the Federal Register click here.