[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-19629] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: August 11, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 227 [Docket No. 921232-2332; I.D. 092192B] Threatened Fish and Wildlife; Listing of the Gulf of Maine Population of Harbor Porpoise as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the comment period on the proposed rule to list Gulf of Maine (GME) harbor porpoise to allow public comment on the population status of harbor porpoise following the receipt of new data and information on the 1990-93 bycatch rates. DATES: Comments must be received by September 11, 1994. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Director, Office of Protected Resources, 1335 East-West Highway, Room 8268, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Payne or Margot Bohan, 301/ 713-2322. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 7, 1993 (58 FR 3108), NMFS proposed to designate the GME population of harbor porpoise as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The final determination on the proposed rule to list harbor porpoise was extended at 58 FR 59230 on November 8, 1993, to allow for analysis of the 1993 bycatch data prior to final determination. At that time, NMFS also stated that it would reopen the comment period following completion of these analyses. NMFS reopened the comment period on the proposed rule on July 15, 1994 (59 FR 36158) to allow for public review and comment on the 1993 bycatch estimates, as well as on the 1990-92 estimates that were adjusted following comments received at a February 1994 workshop on the status of harbor porpoise in the GME. The final 1990-93 bycatch estimates considered those harbor porpoise that are taken in the gillnets, but fall out of the net as the nets are being hauled onto the vessel, and as a result have not been included in bycatch estimates to date. These bycatch estimates and proceedings from a February 1994 harbor porpoise workshop were made available upon request. The New England Harbor Porpoise Working Group (HPWG) met on July 21, 1994, along with staff from the NMFS/Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) to discuss this information. The HPWG membership consists of gillnet fishermen throughout New England coastal states, NMFS and NEFMC representatives, environmental organizations, and several biologists from non-governmental organizations who have studied the biology and fishery-interaction issues of harbor porpoise throughout the GME since 1990. During the meeting of the HPWG, they recommended that the revised bycatch estimates should be more fully explained so that public review and comment could provide more meaningful input to NMFS prior to the final determination. In response to the HPWG's recommendation the NEFSC is preparing a document which will address these concerns and which will become available in early August 1994. The HPWG further stated that if the public process was to be effective, more time would be needed for fishermen and other interested parties to consider the forthcoming information. Given that the comment period on the proposed rule is scheduled to close on August 11, 1999 and that this would not allow enough time to allow for public review of the document being prepared by the NEFSC, NMFS hereby extends the present comment period until September 11, 1994. NMFS intends that this will be the final comment period on the proposed rule. Dated: August 8, 1994. William W. Fox, Jr., Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 94-19629 Filed 8-10-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F