[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69101-69102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9454]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110706B]


Endangered and Threatened Species; Recovery Plans; Proposed 
Recovery Plan for Southern Resident Killer Whales

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), announce the 
availability for public review of the Proposed Recovery Plan (Plan) for 
Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus Orca). NMFS is requesting 
review and comment on the Plan from the public and all interested 
parties.

DATES: Written comments and information must be received by February 
27, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Plan may be reviewed and/or copied at NMFS, 
Protected Resources Division, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 
98115. The Plan is available on-line on the NMFS web site http://www.nwr.noaa.gov. Comments should be submitted by mail to Chief, 
Protected Resources Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, 
Portland, OR 97232 or by sending an e-mail message to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynne Barre, NOAA/NMFS, Northwest 
Region, (206) 526-4745.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as 
amended (15 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that NMFS develop and 
implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival of 
threatened and endangered species under its jurisdiction, unless it is 
determined that such plans would not result in the conservation of the 
species. NMFS announced the endangered listing of the Southern Resident 
killer whale distinct population segment (DPS) on November 18, 2005 (70 
FR 69903). Prior to the ESA listing, NMFS designated the Southern 
Resident killer whale population as a depleted stock under the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) on May 29, 2003 
(68 FR 31980). At the time of the designation, we announced our 
intention to develop a conservation plan.
    We held a series of public meetings and technical workshops to 
gather input from Federal Government agency representatives, state and 
tribal co-managers, Canadian officials, orca advocacy groups, non-
governmental organizations, researchers, whale watch industry, and 
concerned citizens. We circulated a preliminary draft conservation plan 
for public review on March 14, 2005. We received comments on the 
preliminary draft, and made revisions in response to the comments. We 
subsequently published a Notice of Availability of a Proposed 
Conservation Plan in the Federal Register on October 3, 2005 (70 FR 
57565), opening a public comment period. We received comments on the 
proposed conservation plan and have addressed them in the proposed 
recovery plan. In addition to addressing the comments, we have 
incorporated ESA elements into the plan, including discussions of the 
five ESA listing factors, critical habitat, section 7, and ESA recovery 
criteria. We also included new research results and references that 
have become available since the proposed conservation plan was 
released.

The Plan

    The ESA requires that recovery plans incorporate (1) objective, 
measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination 
that the species is no longer threatened or endangered; (2) site-
specific management actions necessary to achieve the plan's goals; and 
(3) estimates of time required and costs to implement recovery actions. 
NMFS' goal is to restore the endangered Southern Resident DPS to the 
point where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems and no longer need the protections of the ESA.
    The Plan provides background on the natural history of killer 
whales, population trends and the potential threats to their viability. 
The Plan lays out a recovery strategy to address the potential threats 
based on the best available science and includes recovery goals and 
criteria. The Plan is not a regulatory action, but presents guidance 
for use by agencies and interested parties to assist in the recovery of 
Southern Resident killer whales. The Plan identifies substantive 
actions needed to achieve recovery by addressing the threats to the 
species. The program also links management actions to an active 
research program for filling data gaps, and monitoring activities to 
assess effectiveness. The Plan incorporates an adaptive management 
framework by which Plan actions and other elements will evolve and 
adapt to information gained as a result of research and monitoring. 
Recovery of Southern Resident killer whales is a long-term effort and 
will require cooperation and coordination of Federal, state, tribal and 
local government agencies, and the community.
    We request comments on the Proposed Recovery Plan for Southern 
Resident Killer Whales with this notice. NMFS will consider substantive 
comments and information provided during the public comment period in 
the course of finalizing this Plan.


[[Page 69102]]


    Dated: November 22, 2006.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-9454 Filed 11-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S