Public Hearings and Listening Sessions on Proposed Rule for 10 Species of Giant Clams

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public input on a proposed rule to list five species of giant clams as endangered and five species of giant clams as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The public is invited to learn more and provide comments on the proposed rule during a series of public hearings and listening sessions in September and October 2024.

Hearing & Listening Session Details

Six public hearings will be conducted in-person and one hearing will be conducted online as a Webex meeting at the dates and times listed below. The hearings will begin with a brief presentation by NOAA Fisheries that provides an overview of the proposed ESA listing determination for 10 species of giant clams. After the presentation but before public comments, there will be a question and answer session during which members of the public may ask NOAA Fisheries staff clarifying questions about the proposed rule. Following the question and answer session, members of the public will have the opportunity to provide oral comments on the record regarding the proposed listing determination. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to submit written comments at the hearings.

Additionally, in advance of the first public hearing in American Samoa and the public hearings on Guam and Saipan, CNMI, we will hold three listening sessions 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. Following a brief presentation by NOAA Fisheries that provides an overview of the proposed ESA listing determination for 10 species of giant clams, participants will have an opportunity to ask clarifying questions, voice concerns about the proposed rule, or share additional information regarding giant clams, which NOAA Fisheries staff will address to the extent practicable. All discussions that occur during the listening session will be manually recorded in summary notes and will be addressed in the final rule preamble.

In-Person Hearings & Listening Sessions

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Rex Lee Auditorium, Utulei, Eastern District, American Samoa

• 12:30 p.m. SST – Doors open for listening session
• 1:00-4:00 p.m. SST – Listening session
   
• 5:30 p.m. SST – Doors open for public hearing
• 6 p.m. SST – Presentation/Questions and Answers
• 7 p.m. SST – Oral comments

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Tradewinds Hotel, Tafuna, Western District, American Samoa

• 5:30 p.m. SST – Doors open for public hearing
• 6 p.m. SST – Presentation/Questions and Answers
• 7 p.m. SST – Oral comments

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Tinian Elementary School, San Jose, Tinian, CNMI

• 5:30 p.m. ChST – Doors open for public hearing
• 6 p.m. ChST – Presentation/Questions and Answers
• 7 p.m. ChST – Oral comments

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Department of Commerce, Songsong Village, Rota, CNMI

• 5:30 p.m. ChST – Doors open for public hearing
• 6 p.m. ChST – Presentation/Questions and Answers
• 7 p.m. ChST – Oral comments

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Pacific Islands Club Guam, Tumon, Guam

• 12:30 p.m. ChST – Doors open for listening session
• 1:00-4:00 p.m. ChST – Listening session
   
• 5:30 p.m. ChST – Doors open for public hearing
• 6 p.m. ChST – Presentation/Questions and Answers
• 7 p.m. ChST – Oral comments

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Crowne Plaza Resort, Garapan, Saipan, CNMI

• 12:30 p.m. ChST – Doors open for listening session
• 1:00-4:00 p.m. ChST – Listening session
   
• 5:30 p.m. ChST – Doors open for public hearing
• 6 p.m. ChST – Presentation/Questions and Answers
• 7 p.m. ChST – Oral comments

Virtual Hearing

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

• 7 p.m. EDT – Presentation/Questions and Answers
• 8 p.m. EDT – Oral comments

The virtual hearing will be conducted as a Webex meeting. You can join the meeting in several ways: using a web browser; the Webex desktop app (app installation required); a mobile app on a phone (app installation required); or a phone (audio only), as specified below:

• Join online: Webex
  • Webinar number: 2820 450 2543
  • Webinar password: rV5ttXEcT77 (78588932 when dialing from a phone or video system)
• Join by phone: (415) 527-5035
  • Access code: 282 045 02543

Submitting Comments

In addition to the hearings, comments can be provided online or via mail. All comments must be received by October 23, 2024.

• Online: Submit electronic comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal
• Mail: John Rippe, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Questions?

Please contact John Rippe, (301) 427-8467, NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources.