Maine Mammals; Stock Assessment Reports

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Maine Mammals; Stock Assessment Reports

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Interior.

ACTION: Extension of comment period on draft stock assessments and

Potential Biological Removal (PBR) workshop report.

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SUMMARY: The Service is extending the comment period on the stock

assessments for Service marine mammal species and the 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 assessments for Service species and

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

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft stock assessments for Service species

and PBR workshop report are available from the Division of Fish and

Wildlife Management Assistance, Fish and Wildlife Service, Room 820-

ARLSQ, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203, Telephone (703) 358-

1718.

Comments on the draft stock assessment for polar bears, Pacific

walrus, and northern sea otters in Alaska, along with comments on the

report of the PBR workshop, should be sent to Dave McGillivary,

Supervisor, Office of Marine Mammals Management, Fish and Wildlife

Service, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; FAX: (907) 786-

3816.

Comments on the draft stock assessments for West Indian manatees,

along with comments on the report of the PBR workshop, should be sent

to Robert Turner, Manatee Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620

South Point Drive, South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida 32216; FAX:

(904) 232-2404.

Comments on the draft stock assessments for the California sea

otter, and the northern sea otter in Washington State, along with

comments on the report of the PBR workshop, should be sent to Carl

Benz, Sea Otter Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2140 Eastman

Avenue, Suite 100, Ventura, California 93003; FAX: (818) 904-6288.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeff Horwath in the Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Fish and

Wildlife Management Assistance, Arlington, Virginia at (703) 358-1718.

For information about the Alaska marine mammals identified in the

ADDRESSES Section above, contact Dave McGillivary at (907) 786-3800.

For information about West Indian manatees as identified in the

ADDRESSES Section above, contact Robert Turner at (904) 232-2580. For

information about California sea otters, and northern sea otters in

Washington State as identified in the ADDRESSES Section above, contact

Carl Benz at (805) 644-1766.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 23, 1994, the Service published a

Federal Register notice announcing the availability of draft stock

assessments for Service species (i.e., polar bear, Pacific walrus,

northern sea otter in Alaska, West Indian manatees, California sea

otter, and northern sea otter in Washington State) and the PBR workshop

report (59 FR 43353). The stock assessments are required under new

Section 117 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act as amended in 1994

(Pub. L. 103-238). A summary of the draft stock assessments specifying

geographical range, regional designation, minimum abundance estimate,

PBR level, estimated annual average human-caused mortality, and whether

or not the stock would be regarded as strategic or nonstrategic was

included in the Federal Register notice. The PBR workshop, composed of

National Marine Fisheries Service and Service scientists, was convened

to develop an initial approach for promoting consistent national

interpretation of parameters to be used in draft stock assessments,

including the calculation of PBR levels.

The initial comment period for draft stock assessments for Service

species and PBR workshop was scheduled to end on November 21, 1994. In

response to concern that the public comment period was inadequate,

given the scope of the issues surrounding the stock assessments and the

PBR workshop reports, the Service hereby extends the comment period and

welcomes comments received by December 1, 1994. Subsequent to the close

of the extended period, the Service will provide copies of public

comments to members of the Alaska, Pacific, and Atlantic Scientific

Review Groups, as appropriate, for their consideration prior to the

next scheduled meeting of these groups.

Comments must be received in the appropriate office as identified

in the ADDRESSES Section above by December 1, 1994, to be fully

considered. Therefore, those submitting comments close to that date

should FAX their comments or call to ensure receipt of their comments.

Dated: November 8, 1994.

Mollie H. Beattie,

Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 94-28230 Filed 11-15-94; 8:45 am]

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