This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 07/10/2014 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2014-15725, and on FDsys.gov DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2012–0103] [4500030114] RIN 1018-AY71 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Distinct Population Segment of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, designate specific areas in the 1 2 terrestrial environment of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts as critical habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean distinct population segment of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. In total, approximately 1,102 kilometers (685 miles) fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. DATES: This rule is effective on [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF FEDERAL REGISTER PUBLICATION]. ADDRESSES: This final rule and the associated final economic analysis are available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov and http://www.fws.gov/northflorida. Comments and materials we received, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing this rule, are available for public inspection at http://www.regulations.gov. All of the comments, materials, and documentation that we considered in this rulemaking are available by appointment, during normal business hours at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Florida Ecological Services Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). The coordinates, plot points, or both from which the maps are generated are included in the administrative record for this critical habitat designation and are available at http://www.fws.gov/northflorida, at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS– R4–ES–2012–0103, and at the North Florida Ecological Services Office (see FOR 3 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Any additional tools or supporting information that we developed for this critical habitat designation will also be available at the Fish and Wildlife Service website and Field Office listed above, and may also be included in the preamble of this rule and at http://www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about this rule, and information about the final designation in northeastern Florida, contact Jay B. Herrington, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Florida Ecological Services Office, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256; telephone 904–731–3336; facsimile 904-731-3045. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339. For information about the final designation in Alabama, contact Bill Pearson, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alabama Ecological Services Field Office, 1208 Main Street, Daphne, AL 36526; telephone 251–441–5181; facsimile 251– 441–6222. For information about the final designation in southern Florida, contact Craig Aubrey, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Florida Ecological Services Field Office, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960; telephone 772–469–4309; facsimile 772–562–4288. 4 For information about the final designation in northwestern Florida, contact Catherine Philips, Acting Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City Ecological Services Field Office, 1601 Balboa Avenue, Panama City, FL 32405; telephone 850–769–0552; facsimile 850–763–2177. For information about the final designation in Georgia, contact Don Imm, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Coastal Georgia Ecological Services Field Office, 4980 Wildlife Drive, NE, Townsend, GA 31331; telephone 912–832–8739; facsimile 912–832–8744. For information about the final designation in Mississippi, contact Stephen Ricks, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, MS 39123; telephone 601–965– 4900; facsimile 601–965–4340. For information about the final designation in North Carolina, contact Pete Benjamin, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office, Post Office Box 33726, Raleigh, NC 33726; telephone 919–856–4520; facsimile 919–856–4556. For information about the final designation in South Carolina, contact Thomas McCoy, Acting Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Carolina 5 Ecological Services Field Office, 176 Croghan Spur Road, Suite 200, Charleston, SC 29407; telephone 843–727–4707; facsimile 843–727–4218. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Summary Why we need to publish a rule. Under the Endangered Species Act (Act), when we determine that a species is endangered or threatened, we are required to designate critical habitat, to the maximum extent prudent and determinable. Designations of critical habitat can only be completed by issuing a rule. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or Service) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) listed the Northwest Atlantic Ocean distinct population segment (DPS) of the loggerhead sea turtle as threatened on September 22, 2011 (76 FR 58868). The USFWS and NMFS share jurisdiction under the Act for the protection and conservation of sea turtles, including the loggerhead. USFWS has jurisdiction over sea turtles on the land; NMFS has jurisdiction over sea turtles in the water. This rule consists of: A final rule designating areas in the terrestrial environment as critical habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of the loggerhead sea turtle. NMFS will be designating areas in the marine environment as critical habitat for the DPS and, consistent with their distinct authority with respect to such areas, will designate such 6 areas in a separate rulemaking. In this rule, “critical habitat” refers to the areas we are designating in the DPS’s terrestrial environment unless otherwise specified. The areas we are designating in this rule constitute our current best assessment of the areas that meet the definition of critical habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of the loggerhead sea turtle. We are designating: • In total, approximately 1,102 kilometers (km) (685 miles (mi)) of loggerhead sea turtle nesting beaches as critical habitat in the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. These beaches account for 45 percent of an estimated 2,464 km (1,531 mi) of coastal beach shoreline and approximately 84 percent of the documented nesting (numbers of nests) within these six States. The critical habitat is located in Brunswick, Carteret, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender Counties, North Carolina; Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, and Georgetown Counties, South Carolina; Camden, Chatham, Liberty, and McIntosh Counties, Georgia; Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gulf, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia Counties, Florida; Baldwin County, Alabama; and Jackson County, Mississippi. • We are exempting the following Department of Defense (DOD) installations from critical habitat designation because their integrated natural resources management plans (INRMPs) incorporate measures that provide a benefit for the loggerhead sea turtle: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (Onslow Beach), North Carolina, 7 and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Patrick Air Force Base, and Eglin Air Force Base (Cape San Blas), Florida. • Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, we are excluding from critical habitat designation areas in St. Johns, Volusia, and Indian River Counties, Florida, that are covered under a habitat conservation plan (HCP), because the Secretary finds that the benefits of excluding these areas outweigh the benefits of including them in the critical habitat designation. • We are not excluding any additional areas from critical habitat based on economic, national security, or other relevant impacts. We have prepared an economic analysis of the designation of critical habitat. In order to consider economic impacts under 4(b)(2) of the Act, we prepared an economic analysis of the critical habitat designations and related factors. We announced the availability of the draft economic analysis (DEA) in the Federal Register on July 18, 2013 (78 FR 42921), and sought comments from the public. We have incorporated the comments and have completed the final economic analysis (FEA) concurrently with this final determination. Peer review and public comment. We sought comments from four independent specialists to ensure that our designation is based on scientifically sound data and analyses. We requested opinions from these four knowledgeable individuals on our technical assumptions, analysis, and whether or not we had used the best available 8 information. We received responses from three of the peer reviewers. These peer reviewers concurred with our methods and conclusions, and provided additional information, clarifications and suggestions to improve this final rule. Information we received from peer review is incorporated in this final designation. We also considered all comments and information received from the public during the two comment periods and three public hearings. Previous Federal Actions Please refer to the final rule revising the loggerhead sea turtle’s listing from a single worldwide