[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30772-30773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14530]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE10


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Change in Listing 
Status of Steller Sea Lion

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is reclassifying the 
Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) population segment west of 
144 deg. W. longitude (a line near Cape Suckling, AK) as endangered and 
the remainder of the Steller sea lion population will remain threatened 
on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. This measure, 
authorized by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), corresponds 
with a determination to reclassify this species based on biological 
information indicating that there are two distinct population segments, 
as authorized under the Act, by the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) which has jurisdiction for this species.

DATES: Effective June 4, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. LaVerne Smith, Chief, Division of 
Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (703/358-2171).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Reorganization Plan No. 4 
of 1970, the NMFS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
Department of Commerce, is responsible for the decisions regarding the 
Steller sea lion under the Act. Under section 4(a)(2) of the Act, NMFS 
must decide whether a species under its jurisdiction should be 
classified as endangered or threatened. The FWS is responsible for the 
actual addition of a species and changes in reclassification to the 
List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in 50 CFR 17.11(h).
    The NMFS published its determination for a reclassification of the 
Steller sea lion on May 5, 1997 (62 FR 24345). Accordingly, the FWS is 
now making this change to the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife. This change is effective as of June 4, 1997, as indicated in 
the NMFS's determination. Because this action of the FWS is 
nondiscretionary, and in view of the public comment period provided by 
NMFS on the proposed listing (October 4, 1995; 60 FR 51968), the FWS 
finds that good cause exists to omit the notice and public comment 
procedures of 5 U.S.C. 553(b).

National Environmental Policy Act

    The FWS has determined that an Environmental Assessment, as defined 
under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
need not be prepared in connection with regulations adopted pursuant to 
section 4(a) of the Act, as amended. A notice outlining the FWS's 
reasons for this determination was published in the Federal Register on 
October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244).

Required Determinations

    The Service has examined this regulation under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 and found it to contain no information collection 
requirements.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, and Transportation.

Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations is amended as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500, unless otherwise noted.

    2. Section 17.11(h) is amended by removing the existing entry for 
Sea-lion, Stellar (=northern) and by adding the following entries, in 
alphabetical order under MAMMALS, to the List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife, to read as follows:


Sec. 17.11  Endangered and threatened wildlife.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

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                       Species                                                 Vertebrate                                                               
------------------------------------------------------                      population where                                         Critical   Special 
                                                         Historic range       endangered or         Status          When listed      habitat     rules  
           Common name              Scientific name                            threatened                                                               
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             MAMMALS                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                        
                 *                  *                  *                    *                    *                  *                  *                
Sea-lion, Steller (=northern)...  Eumetopias jubatus.  U.S.A. (AK, CA,     Entire, except the  T                384E, 408, 614....     226.12     227.12
                                                        OR, WA), Canada,    population                                                                  
                                                        Russia, North       segment west of                                                             
                                                        Pacific Ocean.      144 deg. W. Long.                                                           

[[Page 30773]]

                                                                                                                                                        
    Do..........................  ......do...........  ......do..........  Population segment  E                384E, 408, 614....     226.12         NA
                                                                            west of 144 deg.                                                            
                                                                            W. Long..                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                        
                 *                  *                  *                    *                    *                  *                  *                
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    Dated: January 27, 1997.
John G. Rogers,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 97-14530 Filed 6-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P