[Federal Register: July 20, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 139)]
[Notices]
[Page 41206-41207]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jy06-29]
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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 SSLRP@noaa.gov. 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
shane.capron@noaa.gov; or Kaja Brix at 907-586-7235, e-mail
kaja.brix@noaa.gov.
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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