[Federal Register: October 19, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 203)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 53195-53197]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19oc01-45]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 223

[Docket No.010723187-1241-02, I.D. 061101I]
RIN 0648-AP33

 
Threatened Fish and Wildlife; Status Review of the Gulf of Maine/
Bay of Fundy Population of Harbor Porpoise under the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA)

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

ACTION: Notice of final determination and response to comments; notice 
of availability of final harbor porpoise status review; removal from 
candidate species list.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has completed a 
status review of the Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy (GOM/BOF) stock of 
harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Based on analysis of the best 
scientific and commercial data available, as required by the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA), NMFS determined that listing this stock of harbor 
porpoise as threatened or endangered is not warranted at this time. In 
addition, based on the current status of the GOM/BOF stock, NMFS is 
removing this stock from the ESA candidate species list. This notice 
also announces the availability of the final status review.

DATES: This determination was made on September 28, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final report of the status review can be 
obtained from: NMFS, Marine Mammal Division, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910; or NMFS, Northeast Region, One Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Hanson, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-713-2322 ext. 101; or Kim Thounhurst, Northeast Region, 
978-281-9138. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, 
excluding Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    The final report of the status review on the GOM/BOF population of 
harbor porpoise is accessible by the Internet at http://
www.nero.nmfs.gov/porptrp/.