[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 139 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41206-41207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11554]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 051106A]


Endangered and Threatened Species: Extension of Public Comment 
Period on Draft Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: In May 2006, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
announced the availability for public review of the draft revised 
recovery plan (plan) for the western and eastern distinct population 
segments (DPS) of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). NMFS is 
extending the public comment period on the recovery plan until 
September 1, 2006.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received by close of 
business on September 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Kaja Brix, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Protected Resources Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: 
Ellen Walsh, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802. Comments may also be 
submitted by (1) E-mail to [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
the following document identifier: Sea Lion Recovery Plan. E-mail 
comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes; (2) 
hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 W. 9th Street, Juneau, AK; 
or (3) Facsimile (fax) to 907-586-7012. Interested persons may obtain 
the plan for review from the above address or on-line from the NMFS 
Alaska Region website: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Capron at 907-271-6620, e-mail 
[email protected]; or Kaja Brix at 907-586-7235, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 24, 2006, NMFS published a notice of availability (NOA) of 
the plan for the western and eastern DPSs of Steller sea lions (71 FR 
29919). The plan contains (1) A comprehensive review of Steller sea 
lion status and ecology, (2) a review of previous conservation actions, 
(3) a threats assessment, (4) biological and recovery criteria for 
downlisting and delisting, (5) actions necessary for the recovery of 
the species, and (6) estimates of time and cost to recovery. With the 
publication of the NOA, NMFS announced a 60-day public comment period 
ending on July 24, 2006.
    NMFS has received a request by the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) to extend the public comment period so that its 
Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) can fully review and provide 
comments on the plan. Due to the size and scope of the plan, the SSC 
will not be able to provide its comments to the Council until late 
August. The Council will then be able to finalize the comments and 
provide them to NMFS by September 1. Comments from the SSC and Council 
will be valuable to the recovery planning process especially with 
regard to the threats assessment and the development of recovery 
criteria. In this notice NMFS is extending the public comment period 
until September 1, 2006, in order to allow adequate time for the SSC 
and others to thoroughly review and thoughtfully comment on the plan.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.


[[Page 41207]]


    Dated: July 14, 2006.
Marta Nammack,
Acting Division Chief, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-11554 Filed 7-19-06; 8:45 am]
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