Marine Mammals

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072894C]

Marine Mammals

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Extension of comment period on draft stock assessments and

Potential Biological Removal (PBR) workshop reports.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the comment period on its stock assessments

and PBR workshop report in consideration of the complexity of the

issues surrounding both the stock assessments and the PBR workshop

report.

DATES: Comments on the draft stock assessment reports and the report of

the PBR workshop must be received by December 1, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of

Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226; Fax: (301) 713-0376.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas C. Eagle with the Office of

Protected Resources at (301) 713-2319.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 9, 1994, NMFS published a Federal

Register notice announcing the availability of draft stock assessment

reports and PBR workshop reports (59 FR 40527). The stock assessment

reports are required under the new section 117 of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act Amendments of 1994 (Public Law 103-238). A summary of

the stock assessment reports, specifying geographical range, regional

designation, minimum abundance estimate, PBR, and estimated human-

caused mortality for each stock, was followed by a designation of

strategic or nonstrategic. The PBR workshop, consisting of NMFS and

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists, was convened to develop an

initial approach for promoting consistent national interpretation of

parameters to be used in draft stock assessment reports, including the

calculation of PBR.

The initial comment period for NMFS draft stock assessment and PBR

workshop reports was scheduled to end on November 7, 1994. In response

to concern that the public comment period was inadequate, given the

scope of the issues surrounding the assessments and the workshop

reports, NMFS extends the comment period and welcomes comments received

by December 1, 1994. Comments must be received in the Office of

Protected Resources by December 1 to be fully considered. Therefore,

those submitting comments close to that date should fax their comments

or call to ensure their comments arrived via mail.

Dated: October 26, 1994.

William W. Fox, Jr.,

Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries

Service.

[FR Doc. 94-27085 Filed 11-01-94; 8:45 am]

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