Draft Biological Report for the Designation of Marine Critical Habitat for Six Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas (ID461)

Description: Under the Endangered Species Act, NMFS is required to designate critical habitat using the best available scientific data. This draft report uses the best available data on green turtles’ marine habitat use in waters under U.S. jurisdiction to identify areas that meet the definition of critical habitat. This report underwent peer-review. The draft report will be published on NMFS’ website when the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register.

ID: ID461 Info. Type: ISI

Start date of Peer Review: 4/1/2022

Estimated Initial Dissemination Date: 7/18/2023

Actual Dissemination Date of peer review report and final work product:

Contact Person: Jennifer Schultz

Review Type: Individual letters

Expected Number of Peer Reviewers: 8-14

Peer Reviewers will be selected by: National Marine Fisheries Service

Will the public, including scientific or professional societies, be asked to nominate
potential peer reviewers?
No.

Will there be opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be
peer reviewed?
Yes.

How: The proposed rule to designate critical habitat for green turtle DPSs will be published in the Federal Register announcing a public comment period. Electronic copies of the proposed rule (and the reports that support the rule) will be available upon publication at http://www.regulations.gov.

When: Public comments will be received within 90 days of publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register.

Will the agency provide significant and relevant public comments to the peer reviewers before they conduct their review? No.

Primary disciplines or expertise needed in the review: Green sea turtle marine habitat use.

Comments on Peer Review:
Draft Green Turtle CH Biological Report July 15 2022
Peer Review TOR Responses

Charge statement: Peer Review TOR

Peer review report and final work product: Not yet available