[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 62698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25623]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081202A]


New Information Indicates Fine-scaled Stock Structure for Harbor 
Seals in Alaska

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

ACTION: Notice of information; request for comments; reopening comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: On August 26, 2002, NMFS announced that new information is 
available that indicates fine-scaled stock structure of harbor seals in 
Alaska. NMFS invited the public to submit additional information or 
viewpoints related to harbor seal stock structure in Alaska. In 
response to a request from the public, NMFS is reopening the comment 
period for 14 days.

DATES: Comments must be received before close of business on October 
22, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be forwarded to P. Michael Payne, Assistant 
Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, Alaska Regional Office, 
NMFS, Juneau, Alaska 99802.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaja Brix, Alaska Regional Office, 
NMFS, Juneau, Alaska, (907) 586-7824; or Thomas Eagle, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, Silver Spring, MD, (301) 713-2322, ext. 105.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    The original notice of availability and a map of the areas in 
Alaska where seal groupings appear discrete may be found at 
www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources.

Background

    NMFS issued a notice (67 FR 54792, August 26, 2002) that new 
information indicates that stock structure of harbor seals in Alaska 
may be more finely scaled than is currently recognized in marine mammal 
stock assessment reports compiled pursuant to section 117 of the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act. NMFS also advised in that notice that it is 
evaluating harbor seal stock structure through a co-management process 
with the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission. NMFS solicited 
additional information and viewpoints from the public that it should 
consider throughout the evaluation of harbor seal stock structure.
    The Alaska Department of Fish and Game requested that NMFS extend 
the comment period for 2 weeks. In response to this request, NMFS is 
reopening the comment period for 2 weeks.

    Dated: October 2, 2002.
Chris Mobley,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources,National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-25623 Filed 10-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S