99-8905. Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Endangered and Threatened Fish and Wildlife; Cook Inlet Beluga Whales

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 68 (Friday, April 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 17347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8905]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 032399A]


Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; 
Endangered and Threatened Fish and Wildlife; Cook Inlet Beluga Whales

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petitions.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of two petitions to list the Cook 
Inlet population of beluga whales under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) and one petition to designate the population as depleted under 
the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). NMFS also announces that it 
has determined that the petitioned actions may be warranted.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the petitions should be addressed to 
Chief, Marine Mammal Division (PR2), Office of Protected Resources, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Division Chief, Protected Resources 
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, [phone]; Brad Smith/
Barbara Mahoney, Protected Resources Management Division, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, [phone]; or Margot Bohan/Dean Wilkinson, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407) contains provisions for interested 
parties to petition for a species or stock to be designated as 
``depleted'' (16 U.S.C. 1383(b)). Section 4 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531-
1543) and 50 CFR part 424 contain provisions allowing interested 
parties to petition for a species (including any subspecies or, in the 
case of vertebrates, a distinct population segment which interbreeds 
when mature) to be listed as threatened or endangered. If a petition 
presents substantial information, a review is conducted to determine if 
a species should be designated as depleted or listed as endangered or 
threatened. Determinations are made based on the best available 
scientific data.

Petitions Received

    On January 21, 1999, NMFS received a petition from the State of 
Alaska to designate the Cook Inlet beluga stock as depleted. On March 
3, 1999, NMFS received a petition, on behalf of Joel Blatchford, a 
Native Alaskan beluga hunter, the Alaska Center for the Environment, 
the Alaska Community Action on Toxics, the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, 
the Center of Biological Diversity, the Center for Marine Conservation, 
the National Audubon Society, and the Trustees for Alaska to list Cook 
Inlet belugas as endangered under the ESA on an emergency basis. On 
March 10, 1999, NMFS received another petition from the Animal Welfare 
Institute to change the status of Cook Inlet beluga whales to depleted 
under the MMPA and endangered under the ESA.

Presentation of Substantial Information

    NMFS has determined that each of these petitions presents 
substantial information indicating that the petitioned action may be 
warranted. A copy of the petitions and information submitted with the 
petitions is available upon request (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS recently commenced a review of the status of the Cook Inlet 
population of beluga whales, in collaboration with the Alaska Beluga 
Whale Committee and the Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Council. The agency 
solicited information and public comments in conjunction with the 
status review to ensure that the review is complete and is based on the 
best available information. Completion of the status review is expected 
in early April. NMFS will evaluate the merits of listing of the Cook 
Inlet beluga whale as threatened or endangered under the ESA based on 
the findings of this status review. NMFS will also evaluate the merits 
of designating the Cook Inlet beluga whale as depleted under the MMPA 
based on this review.

    Dated: April 2, 1999.
Andrew A. Rosenberg,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-8905 Filed 4-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F