[Federal Register: March 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 42)]
[Notices]
[Page 10207-10208]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr03-33]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 013003B]
Marine Mammals: Final 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.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of an Environmental Assessment
(EA), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
to assess the impacts of issuing the International Whaling Commission
(IWC) subsistence quota for bowhead whales to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling
Commission (AEWC) for the years 2003 through 2007. NMFS has identified
a preferred alternative in the EA that will grant the AEWC the IWC
quota of 255 landed bowhead whales, with an annual strike quota of 67
bowhead whales per year for the years 2003 through 2007, where no more
than 15 unused strikes are added to the strike quota for any one year.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the EA may be obtained via the Internet (see
Electronic Access). Copies of the EA may be requested by writing to
Gale Heim,
[[Page 10208]]
NOAA/NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, 13th Floor, 1315 East-West
Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Mark the outside of the envelope with
``Request for Bowhead EA.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Yates or Winnie Chan, 301-713-
2322.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
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://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/overview/mm.html. The
Links'' at http://http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/overview/mm.html. The
link is titled ``Bowhead Whale Environmental Assessment''.
Background
At the 5\th\ Special Meeting of the 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 for 280 whales (255 for Alaska Eskimos
and 25 for Russian natives) over a 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 54\th\ 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. That is, it is very
likely that a catch limit of 102 whales or less would be consistent
with the requirements under IWC regulation.
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 issues 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.
NEPA requires that Federal agencies conduct an environmental
analysis of the effect of their proposed actions on the environment.
Although all quotas under the WCA are issued on an annual basis, NMFS
evaluated the effects of issuing them over a 5-year period. A draft EA
was distributed for public comment on December 9, 2002. The EA analyzed
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.
After reviewing and addressing the comments received, NMFS selected
Alternative 2 as the preferred alternative. NMFS issued a final EA and
Finding of No Significant Impact on February 23, 2003. The Final EA was
prepared in accordance with NEPA, implementing regulations at 40 CFR
parts 1500 through 1508, and NOAA guidelines concerning implementation
of NEPA found in NOAA Administrative Order 216-6.
Dated: February 26, 2003.
Stephen L. Leathery,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-5045 Filed 3-3-03; 8:45 am]
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