Overview
Title
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-Year Review for the Arctic, Okhotsk, Baltic, and Ladoga Subspecies of the Ringed Seal; Extension of Information Request Period
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The people in charge of ocean animals in the U.S. are asking for extra time to gather more information about certain types of seals to decide how to protect them better. They want everyone to have until March to send in any helpful details.
Summary AI
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has extended the deadline for submitting information related to a 5-year review of certain subspecies of ringed seals. Originally set to end on January 26, 2021, the information request period is now open until March 26, 2021. This extension comes after receiving requests for additional time to gather relevant data. The review covers the Arctic, Okhotsk, Baltic, and Ladoga subspecies of the ringed seal and is conducted under the Endangered Species Act.
Abstract
NMFS hereby extends the information request period on the notice of initiation of a 5-year review of the Arctic (Pusa hispida hispida), Okhotsk (Pusa hispida ochotensis), Baltic (Pusa hispida botnica), and Ladoga (Pusa hispida ladogensis) subspecies of the ringed seal under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document at hand is a notice from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Department of Commerce. The notice officially announces an extension for the period during which the public can submit information regarding a specific 5-year review process. This review involves the Arctic, Okhotsk, Baltic, and Ladoga subspecies of the ringed seal, which are under evaluation as part of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The public now has until March 26, 2021, instead of the previous deadline of January 26, 2021, to submit necessary information and data.
Summary of the Notice
The NMFS originally began this review on November 27, 2020, and set out to gather data over a 60-day period. The extension to March 26, 2021, comes in response to two requests to allow more time for compiling thorough and relevant information. Interested parties are encouraged to provide submissions through specified channels, such as the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal or by mailing physical documents.
Significant Issues or Concerns
Complex Language and Accessibility: The document uses formal and technical language, which may present a barrier to full comprehension by the general public. References to legal citations and detailed document retrieval processes cater more to a specialized audience.
Submission Process Constraints: The defined methods for submitting information may not be easily accessible for all individuals. Not everyone is familiar with using federal e-rulemaking portals or comfortable with mailing physical submissions, possibly limiting broader public participation.
Lack of Outcome Details: The notice does not provide information on the potential results or consequences of this 5-year review, leaving stakeholders uncertain about how this review might influence policies or conservation efforts related to the ringed seal subspecies.
Evaluation Criteria Omission: There is no information on how submitted data will be evaluated, which might lead to uncertainty among those submitting information regarding what specific content or data is considered valuable.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
The notice primarily impacts groups involved in wildlife conservation, environmental policy, and stakeholders related to marine ecosystems, such as fishing or shipping industries, by providing them with additional time to submit pertinent information. By extending the submission deadline, the NMFS has allowed these stakeholders a better opportunity to participate in the protection strategies for these endangered subspecies.
Public Attentiveness:
The extended deadline gives the general public, particularly those interested in marine life conservation, a longer window to participate in the review process. However, without clear guidance on what constitutes valuable information, the quality and utility of the public input could vary widely.
Stakeholder Engagement:
For those directly involved with or affected by regulations surrounding the ringed seal subspecies, the extension provides valuable time to compile more comprehensive data. These stakeholders will likely benefit from engaging with the NMFS to strengthen the protection efforts for these animals. However, they might also face challenges due to the document's lack of transparency regarding evaluation criteria and expected outcomes.
Overall, while this notice effectively communicates the extension of time for public input, it falls short in offering clarity on the review process and implications of the findings, which could be crucial for fully engaging and informing all affected parties.
Issues
• The notice does not specify any particular spending amounts or financial budget, making it difficult to assess potential wasteful spending.
• The language used in the document is mostly formal and technical, potentially making it difficult for a general audience to fully understand, particularly the references to legal citations and document retrieval instructions.
• The document omits details on the potential outcomes or implications of the 5-year review for the ringed seal subspecies, which might be important for stakeholders.
• The process for submitting information, including using the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal or mail, might not be accessible or straightforward for all interested parties, potentially limiting public participation.
• There is no information provided about the criteria for evaluating the submissions, which might lead to uncertainty among participants about what kind of information is useful.