CRD seeks public comment on NOAA’s Proposed Rule to Amend North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Coastal Resources Division (CRD) is accepting public comment on a request for review of a federal consistency submission from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources proposing amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule (“speed rule”).

The proposed action includes:

1. Modifying the boundaries and timing seasonal speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (renamed as Seasonal Speed Zones or SSZs) to better align with areas characterized by elevated collision-related mortality risk;
2. Creating a Dynamic Speed Zone (DSZ) program to implement temporary mandatory speed restrictions when whales are known to be present outside active SSZs;
3. Extending the size threshold of regulated vessels to include most vessels 35 ft (10.7 m) or greater in length; and
4. Updating the speed rule’s safety deviation provision. See 87 FR 46921 (August 1, 2022).

The proposed amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule can be viewed or downloaded from the NOAA Fisheries website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendments-north-atlantic-right-whale-vessel-strike-reduction-rule, including a link to the August 1, 2022, Federal Register Notice at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/08/01/2022-16211/amendments-to-the-north-atlantic-right-whale-vessel-strike-reduction-rule.

CRD will accept written comments on the proposal until 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15, 2024. Written comments should be mailed to Kelie Moore, Federal Consistency Coordinator, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA 31520 or emailed to crd.comments@dnr.ga.gov. Please put “North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule” in the subject line. All comments will be considered in developing the state’s consistency response. Notice of the decision regarding this matter will be provided upon request.

View the official public notice here.

About the Coastal Resources Division

The mission of the Coastal Resources Division is to balance coastal development and protection of the coast’s natural assets, socio-cultural heritage and recreational resources for the benefit of present and future generations.