Public Hearings on Proposed Critical Habitat in the U.S. Pacific Islands For Five Reef Corals Listed Under the Endangered Species Act

On November 30, 2023, NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for five coral species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To provide information to the public and solicit comments on the proposed rule, we are holding seven public hearings during the public comment period. Six hearings will be conducted in-person and one virtually on Webex:

Guam

Tuesday, January 16, 2024–Lotte Hotel Guam 

• 5:30 p.m. Chamorro Standard Time (ChST)–Doors open
• 6 p.m. ChST–Information meeting
• 7 p.m. ChST–Public hearing

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Thursday, January 18, 2024–Crowne Plaza Resort, Saipan 

• 5:30 pm ChST–Doors open
• 6 p.m. ChST–Information meeting
• 7 p.m. ChST–Public hearing

Tuesday, January 23, 2024–Tinian Elementary School, Tinian

• 5:30 p.m. ChST–Doors open 
• 6 p.m. ChST–Information meeting
• 7 p.m. ChST–Public hearing

Thursday, January 25, 2024–Northern Marianas College, Rota

• 5:30 p.m. ChST–Doors open
• 6 p.m. ChST–Information meeting
• 7 p.m. ChST–Public hearing

American Samoa

Thursday, January 18, 2024–Tradewinds Hotel, Tutuila

• 5:30 p.m. Samoa Standard Time (SST)–Doors open
• 6 p.m. SST–Information meeting
• 7 p.m. SST–Public hearing

Tuesday, January 23, 2024–Rex H. Lee Auditorium, Tutuila

• 5:30 p.m. SST–Doors open
• 6 p.m. SST–Information meeting
• 7 p.m. SST–Public hearing

Virtual Hearing

Wednesday, February 7, 2024–Webex

• 6 p.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time (HST)–Information meeting
• 7 p.m. HST–Public hearing 

This hearing will be conducted as a Webex meeting. You may join the Webex meeting using a web browser, the Webex desktop app (app installation required), a mobile app on a phone (app installation required), or a phone call (audio only), as specified below.

• To join the hearing, click on the link: https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/j.php?MTID=mce25d9e1660a3b2fcd5133fb38aaac55
• Webinar number (access code): 2763 694 3109
• Webinar password: kPRDGpXS246 (57734797 from phones and video systems)
• Join from a mobile device (attendees only) +1-415-527-5035, 27636943109# 57734797#

Hearing Information

NOAA Fisheries staff will start the hearings with a brief overview of critical habitat under the ESA and a summary of proposed coral critical habitat in Guam, CNMI, American Samoa, the Pacific Remote Islands Area, and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The public may ask NOAA Fisheries staff clarifying questions about the proposed coral critical habitat during a question and answer session taking place after the presentation but before public comments.

Following the question and answer session, members of the public will have the opportunity to provide oral comments on the record regarding the proposed coral critical habitat. In addition, you may submit written comments at the hearings. All oral comments will be recorded, transcribed, and added to the public comment record for this proposed rule. 

You can also submit written comments at any time during the relevant public comment period as described on our webpage. 

Please contact Lance Smith (lance.smith@noaa.gov) at (808)-725-5131 from the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office for more information.