NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it will hold a series of public hearings and listening sessions regarding its proposal to list ten species of giant clams found in the western Pacific as endangered (5)) and threatened (5) under the Endangered Species Act. Comments on the proposed rule are due by Wednesday, Oct. 23.
Public hearings will be held in American Samoa (Sept. 4 and 5), the Northern Mariana Islands (Sept. 10, 12, and 19), and Guam (Sept. 17), with a virtual hearing to be held on Oct. 2, with listening sessions to be held in American Samoa (Sept. 4), Guam (Sept. 17), and the Northern Mariana Islands (Sept. 19).
Public hearings will include a brief NMFS presentation on the proposed ESA listing, a Q&A session, and a public comment period, while listening sessions will provide an opportunity for resource managers, policymakers, and the public to share information about the potential impact of the proposed listing from the perspective of the local community.
