[Federal Register: December 9, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 236)]
[Notices]
[Page 72919-72920]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09de02-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 112102A]
Marine Mammals: Draft Environmental Assessment of Issuing a
Bowhead Whale Subsistence Quota to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission
for the Years 2003 through 2007
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment(EA);
request for written comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of a Draft EA, in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA), to assess the impacts
of issuing a subsistence quota for bowhead whales to the Alaska Eskimo
Whaling Commission (AEWC) for the years 2003 through 2007. The Draft EA
considers four alternatives regarding the issuance of a quota to the
AEWC, and NMFS has identified a preferred alternative. NMFS is
soliciting comments and information to facilitate this analysis.
DATES: Comments and information must be postmarked by January 8, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Chief, Marine Mammal
Division (F/PR2), Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service, 13th Floor, 1315 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD
20910. Please mark the outside of the envelope with ``Comments on
Bowhead Whale Analysis.'' Comments will not be accepted if submitted
via e-mail or Internet. Copies of the EA may be obtained over the
internet at the Office of Protected Resources Marine Mammal website
under ``Quick Information Links'' at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/overview/mm.html.
The link is titled ``Bowhead Whale Draft
Environmental Assessment''.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Yates or Winnie Chan, NMFS
Office of Protected Resources, 301-713-2322.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the 5\th\ Special Meeting of the
International Whaling Commission (IWC) held in October, 2002 the
Commission approved a 5-year aboriginal subsistence quota for the take
of Western arctic bowhead whales. The quota allows for a combined total
of up to 280 whales to be landed in the years 2003 through 2007 by
Alaskan Eskimos and Russian natives. For each of these years, the
number of bowhead whales struck shall not exceed 67, except that any
unused portion of a strike quota from any year shall be carried forward
and added to the strike quota of any subsequent year, provided that no
more than 15 strikes shall be added to the strike quota for any one
year.
The basis for the quota was a joint request by the Russian
Federation and the United States, showing that the needs of both
countries' Native groups could be met with an annual average of 56
landed bowhead whales (or a total of 255 for the Alaska Eskimos and 25
for the Chukotka people over the 5-year period). The annual strike
limits and quotas for whales are determined at the beginning of each
year after consultation with the Russian government.
At the 54th annual meeting of the IWC, held in May, 2002 the
Scientific Committee reiterated its previous advice for the Bering-
Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales, i.e., that it is very
likely that a catch limit of 102 whales or less would be consistent
with the requirements of the Schedule.
The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, under
which the IWC operates, is implemented domestically through the Whaling
Convention Act (WCA). Under the WCA, NMFS proposes to issue a share of
the IWC bowhead quota to the AEWC.
Alaska Eskimos have been taking bowhead whales for at least 2,000
years. Alaska Native subsistence hunters take less than one percent of
the population of bowhead whales per year. Since 1977, the number of
takes has ranged between 14 and 75 per year, depending in part on
changes in management strategy and in part on higher estimates of
bowhead whale abundance in recent years (NMFS Alaska Marine Mammal
Stock Assessments, 2001).
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that Federal
agencies conduct an environmental analysis of the effect of their
proposed actions on the environment. While quotas under the WCA are
issued on an annual basis, NMFS is evaluating the effects of issuing
them over a 5-year period. Accordingly, NMFS prepared a draft EA that
evaluated the following four alternatives:
Alternative 1 - Grant the AEWC a quota of 255 landed bowhead whales
over 5 years (2003 through 2007), with an annual strike quota of 67
bowhead whales per year, where no unused strikes are added to the
strike quota for any one year.
Alternative 2 - Grant the AEWC a quota of 255 landed bowhead whales
over 5 years (2003 through 2007), with an annual strike quota of 67
bowhead whales per year, where no more than 15 unused strikes are added
to the strike quota for any one year.
Alternative 3 - Grant the AEWC a quota of 255 landed bowhead whales
over 5 years (2003 through 2007), with an annual strike quota of 67
bowhead whales per year, where, for unused strikes, up to 50 percent of
the annual strike limit is added to the strike quota for any one year.
Alternative 4 (No Action) - Do not grant the AEWC a quota.
NMFS has selected Alternative 2 as the preferred alternative.
The Draft EA was prepared in accordance with NEPA and implementing
regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508 and NOAA guidelines
concerning implementation of NEPA found in NOAA Administrative Order
216-6.
Information Solicited
To ensure that NMFS' review is comprehensive and based on the best
available information, NMFS is soliciting information and comments from
any interested party concerning issuing a bowhead whale quota to the
AEWC of 255 landed whales over 5 years (2003 through 2007). NMFS is
particularly interested in information on the affected environment or
environmental consequences of issuing a quota. NMFS requests that data,
information, and comments be accompanied by (1) supporting
documentation, and (2) the name, address, and affiliation of person
submitting data. Written comments should be sent to Chief of the Marine
[[Page 72920]]
Mammal Division within NMFS' Office of Protected Resources (see
ADDRESSES).
Dated: December 3, 2002.
Laurie K. Allen,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-31027 Filed 12-6-02; 8:45 am]
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