[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 118 (Thursday, June 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33396-33397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16101]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 060697A]
Marine Mammals; Pinniped Removal Authority
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed extension of Letter of Authorization and request for
public comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits public comments on a request from the State of
Washington and a proposal by NMFS to extend a Letter of Authorization
for the lethal removal of individually identifiable California sea
lions that are having significant negative impact on the status and
recovery of winter steelhead that migrate through the Ballard Locks in
Seattle, WA. This action is authorized under Section 120 of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 21, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to William Stelle, Jr.,
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle,
WA 98115, or to Michael Payne, Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of
Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Scordino (206) 526-6143, or Tom
Eagle (301) 713-2322.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 120(b) of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act, NMFS issued a 3-year Letter of Authorization
(LOA) that is valid through June 30, 1997, to the Washington Department
of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for the lethal removal of California sea
lions that are having significant negative impact on the status and
recovery of winter steelhead that migrate through the Ballard Locks in
Seattle, WA. Information on Washington's application for lethal
removal, the process for considering the application which included
formation of a Pinniped-Fishery Task Force, and the terms and
conditions of the LOA issued to WDFW was published in the Federal
Register on August 2, 1994 (59 FR 39325), September 27, 1994 (59 FR
49234), January 19, 1995 (60 FR 3841), August 15, 1995 (60 FR 42146),
March 26, 1996 (61 FR 13153), and August 26, 1996 (61 FR 43737).
Background information on the sea lion-steelhead conflict at the
Ballard Locks and findings on the environmental consequences of
issuance of the LOA are provided in two Environmental Assessments
prepared by NMFS in 1995 and 1996 (see ADDRESSES).
No lethal removals were conducted during the 3-year authorization.
In 1995, one sea lion (#17) was captured on January 25 and held in
temporary captivity until June 7. Two other sea lions (#87 and #225)
were captured late in the season and translocated out to the Strait of
San Juan de Fuca and released. In 1996, three sea lions (#17, #45, and
#225) were captured and placed in permanent captivity for public
display. No sea lions were removed, either temporarily or permanently,
from the Ballard Locks area in 1997.
[[Page 33397]]
The State of Washington has requested that NMFS extend the LOA for
an additional 8 years (with a new expiration date of June 30, 2005)
citing a need to manage the problem of sea lion predation on winter
steelhead beyond the current expiration date of June 30, 1997. WDFW
requested an 8-year extension so that it encompasses approximately two
complete steelhead life cycles which WDFW believes is the minimum time
necessary to determine whether their efforts to recover the steelhead
population have succeeded. WDFW is not requesting any modifications to
the terms and conditions of the LOA other than the extension to June
30, 2005. WDFW made its request after considering the deliberations of
the Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force (Task Force). The Task
Force met in September 1996 and submitted a report to NMFS that
recommends that the LOA be extended because insufficient time had
passed to evaluate the success of management actions at Ballard Locks.
The Task Force opinions on the extension ranged from no extension to a
period of 8 years (two steelhead cycles) with the majority of the Task
Force favoring an extension of 4 years (one steelhead cycle) to June
30, 2001. Copies of the Task Force report and the letter from WDFW
requesting the extension are available (see ADDRESSES).
NMFS is proposing to extend the LOA and seeks public comments on
extending the LOA for a period of 4 to 8 years. Pending a final
decision on the State's request, NMFS has provided an interim extension
to the current LOA through September 30, 1997. This interim extension
will not result in lethal removal of sea lions because the terms and
conditions of the current LOA would allow lethal removal only between
January 1 and May 30 of any year. After consideration of public
comments, NMFS will decide whether to extend the LOA beyond September
30, 1997, and for what period of time. Notice of the final decision
will be published in the Federal Register.
Dated: June 13, 1997.
Hilda Diaz-Soltero,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-16101 Filed 6-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
