[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 236 (Monday, December 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72919-72920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31027]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 112102A]


Marine Mammals: Draft Environmental Assessment of Issuing a 
Bowhead Whale Subsistence Quota to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission 
for the Years 2003 through 2007

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment(EA); 
request for written comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of a Draft EA, in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA), to assess the impacts 
of issuing a subsistence quota for bowhead whales to the Alaska Eskimo 
Whaling Commission (AEWC) for the years 2003 through 2007. The Draft EA 
considers four alternatives regarding the issuance of a quota to the 
AEWC, and NMFS has identified a preferred alternative. NMFS is 
soliciting comments and information to facilitate this analysis.

DATES: Comments and information must be postmarked by January 8, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Chief, Marine Mammal 
Division (F/PR2), Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 13th Floor, 1315 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. Please mark the outside of the envelope with ``Comments on 
Bowhead Whale Analysis.'' Comments will not be accepted if submitted 
via e-mail or Internet. Copies of the EA may be obtained over the 
internet at the Office of Protected Resources Marine Mammal website 
under ``Quick Information Links'' at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/overview/mm.html. The link is titled ``Bowhead Whale Draft 
Environmental Assessment''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Yates or Winnie Chan, NMFS 
Office of Protected Resources, 301-713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the 5\th\ Special Meeting of the 
International Whaling Commission (IWC) held in October, 2002 the 
Commission approved a 5-year aboriginal subsistence quota for the take 
of Western arctic bowhead whales. The quota allows for a combined total 
of up to 280 whales to be landed in the years 2003 through 2007 by 
Alaskan Eskimos and Russian natives. For each of these years, the 
number of bowhead whales struck shall not exceed 67, except that any 
unused portion of a strike quota from any year shall be carried forward 
and added to the strike quota of any subsequent year, provided that no 
more than 15 strikes shall be added to the strike quota for any one 
year.
    The basis for the quota was a joint request by the Russian 
Federation and the United States, showing that the needs of both 
countries' Native groups could be met with an annual average of 56 
landed bowhead whales (or a total of 255 for the Alaska Eskimos and 25 
for the Chukotka people over the 5-year period). The annual strike 
limits and quotas for whales are determined at the beginning of each 
year after consultation with the Russian government.
    At the 54th annual meeting of the IWC, held in May, 2002 the 
Scientific Committee reiterated its previous advice for the Bering-
Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales, i.e., that it is very 
likely that a catch limit of 102 whales or less would be consistent 
with the requirements of the Schedule.
    The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, under 
which the IWC operates, is implemented domestically through the Whaling 
Convention Act (WCA). Under the WCA, NMFS proposes to issue a share of 
the IWC bowhead quota to the AEWC.
    Alaska Eskimos have been taking bowhead whales for at least 2,000 
years. Alaska Native subsistence hunters take less than one percent of 
the population of bowhead whales per year. Since 1977, the number of 
takes has ranged between 14 and 75 per year, depending in part on 
changes in management strategy and in part on higher estimates of 
bowhead whale abundance in recent years (NMFS Alaska Marine Mammal 
Stock Assessments, 2001).
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that Federal 
agencies conduct an environmental analysis of the effect of their 
proposed actions on the environment. While quotas under the WCA are 
issued on an annual basis, NMFS is evaluating the effects of issuing 
them over a 5-year period. Accordingly, NMFS prepared a draft EA that 
evaluated the following four alternatives:
    Alternative 1 - Grant the AEWC a quota of 255 landed bowhead whales 
over 5 years (2003 through 2007), with an annual strike quota of 67 
bowhead whales per year, where no unused strikes are added to the 
strike quota for any one year.
    Alternative 2 - Grant the AEWC a quota of 255 landed bowhead whales 
over 5 years (2003 through 2007), with an annual strike quota of 67 
bowhead whales per year, where no more than 15 unused strikes are added 
to the strike quota for any one year.
    Alternative 3 - Grant the AEWC a quota of 255 landed bowhead whales 
over 5 years (2003 through 2007), with an annual strike quota of 67 
bowhead whales per year, where, for unused strikes, up to 50 percent of 
the annual strike limit is added to the strike quota for any one year.
    Alternative 4 (No Action) - Do not grant the AEWC a quota.
    NMFS has selected Alternative 2 as the preferred alternative.
    The Draft EA was prepared in accordance with NEPA and implementing 
regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508 and NOAA guidelines 
concerning implementation of NEPA found in NOAA Administrative Order 
216-6.

Information Solicited

    To ensure that NMFS' review is comprehensive and based on the best 
available information, NMFS is soliciting information and comments from 
any interested party concerning issuing a bowhead whale quota to the 
AEWC of 255 landed whales over 5 years (2003 through 2007). NMFS is 
particularly interested in information on the affected environment or 
environmental consequences of issuing a quota. NMFS requests that data, 
information, and comments be accompanied by (1) supporting 
documentation, and (2) the name, address, and affiliation of person 
submitting data. Written comments should be sent to Chief of the Marine

[[Page 72920]]

Mammal Division within NMFS' Office of Protected Resources (see 
ADDRESSES).

    Dated: December 3, 2002.
Laurie K. Allen,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-31027 Filed 12-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S