Peer Reviewer Comment

I have read the Federal Register Notice and I don't have any substantial comments. I thought you did an excellent job summarizing the state of knowledge on the biology and natural history of sea otters and you provided good justification for the PCEs and their spatial arrangement. Subdividing the SW Alaska DPS for management purposes seems reasonable given its large geographical area. Because my local knowledge of sea otters in this region is somewhat limited, however, I don't feel that I have the necessary expertise to critically evaluate whether the 5 units proposed as critical habitat are the most efficient and appropriate way to subdivide the DPS . I do not have a professional opinion of the social and legal aspects of the document (i.e., Effects of Critical Habitat designation, Exemptions and Exclusions, Application of Section 4(b)(2), etc). In sum, I think the Federal Register Notice is quite accurate and comprehensive with respect to the biology and natural history of the northern sea otter in SW Alaska. I enjoyed reading it. Regards, Dan