[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 70678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32777]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 216

[Docket No. 990922260-9260-01; I.D. 083199E]
RIN 0648-AM84


Designation of the Cook Inlet, Alaska, Stock of Beluga Whale as 
Depleted Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Response to 
Petitions

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments; extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: On October 19, 1999, NMFS proposed to designate the Cook Inlet 
beluga whales as depleted under the MMPA. In response to requests from 
the public, NMFS is extending the comment period for 30 days.

DATES: Comments and information must be received by January 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Chief, Marine Mammal 
Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Payne, NOAA/NMFS, Alaska 
Region, (907) 586-7235, or Brad Smith, NOAA/NMFS, Alaska Region, 
Anchorage Field Office, (907) 271-5006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 19, 1999, NMFS proposed to 
designate the Cook Inlet, Alaska, stock of beluga whales as depleted 
under the MMPA (64 FR 56298). Subsequently, NMFS received several 
requests from the public to extend the comment period for an additional 
30 days to allow the public more time to review and comment on the 
proposed designation. NMFS agrees that an additional 30 days for public 
comments is warranted and extends the comment period through January 
19, 2000.

    Dated: December 13, 1999.
Andrew A. Rosenberg,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-32777 Filed 12-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F