[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 18, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9691-9692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02728]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Parts 223 and 224
[Docket No. 250212-0015; RTID 0648-XR126]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reclassification
of Pillar Coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) From Threatened to Endangered
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2025, from
President Donald J. Trump, entitled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending
Review,'' published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2025, this
action delays the effective date of the final rule NMFS published in
the Federal Register on December 17, 2024, regarding the
reclassification of the pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) on the
Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Species.
DATES: As of February 18, 2025, the effective date of the final rule
amending 50 CFR parts 223 and 224, that published on December 17, 2024,
at 89 FR 101993, is delayed until March 21, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Manning, NMFS, Office of
Protected Resources, 301-427-8466, lisa.manning@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In early 2021, we announced a 5-year review of multiple Caribbean
coral species, including the pillar coral, D. cylindrus, to determine
whether the listing classifications of these species were still
accurate (86 FR 1091, January 7, 2021). Based on the findings of the 5-
year review, we published a proposed rule to change the classification
of the pillar coral from a threatened to an endangered species (88 FR
59494, August 29, 2023). We solicited peer review of the scientific
information contained in the proposed rule from three independent
experts from the scientific community who have expertise in pillar
coral biology, ecology, conservation, and threats to the species; and
we incorporated their comments prior to publication of the proposed
rule. We requested comments
[[Page 9692]]
on the proposed rule from the public during a 60-day comment period and
held a virtual public hearing on September 26, 2023, at which we also
accepted public comments. On December 17, 2024, we published a final
rule to reclassify the pillar coral (D. cylindrus) from a threatened to
an endangered species on the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered
Species (89 FR 101993). That final rule was based on the information in
the 5-year review, peer reviews, and public comments.
On January 20, 2025, the White House issued a memorandum
instructing Federal agencies to temporarily postpone the effective date
for 60 days after January 20, 2025, of any rules that had published in
the Federal Register but not yet taken effect, for the purpose of
``reviewing any questions of fact, law, and policy that the rules may
raise'' (90 FR 8249, January 28, 2025). In accordance with this
memorandum, this action delays the effective date of the final rule
NMFS published on December 17, 2024, at 89 FR 101993, until March 21,
2025.
List of Subjects
50 CFR Part 223
Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports,
Transportation.
50 CFR Part 224
Administrative practice and procedure, Endangered and threatened
species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Transportation.
Dated: February 12, 2025.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-02728 Filed 2-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P