Aloha all,
One of our members, Marjorie Ziegler, has asked me to pass the following Kokua alert along.
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Aloha, everyone. Please attend a public hearing and testify in support of proposed critical habitat for the endangered ‘ilioholoikauaua/Hawaiian monk seal. You can also submit written comments, which must be received on or before August 31, 2011 (see instructions below). The federal government has announced public hearings in Hawai’i about its proposal to designate more than 11,000 square miles of coastal and marine critical habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals. The proposed rule includes beaches and coastal waters on all the main Hawaiian Islands and expand critical habitat in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Critical habitat protection does not close areas, but it does prohibit federal actions that destroy or adversely modify critical habitat.
Mahalo nui loa to KAHEA, the Center for Biological Diversity, and others for speaking out for the monk seal. If you would like to sign a petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service in support of the monk seal, go to CBD’s site http://www.change.org/petitions/speak-up-to-save-hawaiian-monk-seals-2 . For more information on saving the monk seal, go to http://on.fb.me/mwHgmT . Mahalo nui loa!
Public Hearings – Proposed Critical Habitat for the Hawaiian Monk Seal
Moloka’i
Monday, August 8 5:30-8 pm
Mitchell Pauole Center
90 Ainoa Street
Kaunakakai, HI 96748
Maui
Tuesday, August 9 5:30-8 pm
Kihei Community Center
303 E. Lipoa St.
Kihei, HI 96753
Kaua’i
Wednesday, August 10 5:30-8 pm
Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall
4191 Hardy St., Exhibit Hall B
Lihu’e, HI 96766
O’ahu
Thursday, August 11 5:30-8 pm
McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Park
1201 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96814
Hawai’i
Monday, August 15 5:30-8 pm
Mokupapapa Discovery Center
308 Kamehameha Ave., 109
Hilo, HI 96720
Tuesday, August 16 6:30-9 pm
Kahakai Elementary School
76-147 Royal Poinciana Drive
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
Comments on the proposed rule to revise Hawaiian monk seal critical habitat (76 FR 32026; June 2, 2011) received during these hearings will be part of the administrative record. People wishing to make an oral statement for the record at a public hearing are encouraged to provide a written copy of the statement and present it to us at the hearing. In the event that attendance at the public hearings is large, the time allotted for oral statements may be limited. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. There are no limits on the length of written comments submitted to us.
Written comments must be received on or before August 31, 2011:
• Electronic Submissions: Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail or hand-delivery: Submit written comments to:
Regulatory Branch Chief,
Protected Resources Division,
National Marine Fisheries Service,
Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601
Kapi’olani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu,
with PROPOSALS
Federal Register /Vol. 76, No. 135 /Thursday, July 14, 2011 / Proposed Rules 41447
HI, 96814, Attn.: Hawaiian monk seal
proposed critical habitat.
Background documents on the biology of the Hawaiian monk seal, the July 2, 2008, petition requesting revision of its critical habitat, and documents explaining the critical habitat designation process, can be downloaded from
http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_critical_habitat.html or requested by phone or e-mail from the NMFS staff in Honolulu (area code 808) listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Higgins, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, (808) 944–2157; Lance Smith, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, (808) 944–2258; or Marta Nammack, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources (301) 427–8403.
