Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking To Amend the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule

Document 2026-04260 is a Proposed Rule published by the Department of Commerce in the Federal Register on March 4, 2026. NMFS is considering possible deregulatory action to modify and modernize the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule. The goal of this initiative is to reduce unnecessary regulatory and economic burdens on the regulated community by replacing current seasonal speed restrictions with alternative management areas and advanced, technology-based, strike-avoidance measures that maintain or enhance conservation efficacy for the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/04/2026-04260/advance-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking-to-amend-the-north-atlantic-right-whale-vessel-strike.

No. Document 2026-04260 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.