[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 2, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27085]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 2, 1994]


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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]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F