[Federal Register: January 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 2)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 465-471]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja99-33]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 227

[Docket No. 981231331-8331-01; I.D. 122898G]

 
Threatened Fish and Wildlife; Listing of the Gulf of Maine/Bay of 
Fundy Population of Harbor Porpoise as Threatened Under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA)

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that listing of the Gulf of Maine/Bay of 
Fundy (GOM/BOF) population of harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, as 
threatened under the ESA is not warranted at this time. Therefore, NMFS 
withdraws the January 7, 1993, proposal to list the GOM/BOF population 
of harbor porpoise as threatened under the ESA. Since publication of 
the proposal to list, additional information regarding the status of 
the GOM/BOF harbor porpoise population, its commercial fishery bycatch 
rate, and management actions implemented to reduce harbor porpoise 
bycatch have become available to justify reevaluation of the factors 
that prompted the original proposed listing.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of this determination or a complete list 
of references should be addressed to the Chief, Marine Mammal Division 
(PR2), Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margot Bohan, F/PR2, NMFS, (301) 713-
2322, Laurie Allen, Northeast Region, NMFS, (978) 281-9291, or Kathy 
Wang, Southeast Region, NMFS, (727) 570-5312.