Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2004 / Notices 5863

above, we may delist a species only if 

the best scientific and commercial data 

available substantiate that it is neither 

endangered nor threatened. The 

petitioner provided no scientific or 

commercial data to substantiate that the 

southern sea otter is extinct, has 

recovered, or that the original data used 

to classify the southern sea otter as 

threatened were in error. 

Information in our files, and other 

information available to us, does not 

support a finding that delisting of the 

southern sea otter should be considered 

at this time. We recently published a 

final revised recovery plan for the 

southern sea otter (Service 2003), which 

reviews the current status of the species. 

Continuing threats to the southern sea 

otter include disease, exposure to 

environmental contaminants, 

intentional take (shooting), and 

potential entanglement in fishing gear. 

Oil spills, which could occur at any 

time, threaten the southern sea otter 

with catastrophic decimation or 

localized extinction (Service 2003). The 

recovery plan gives recovery criteria for 

the southern sea otter and states that the 

species will be considered for delisting 

under the ESA when the average 

population level over a 3-year period 

exceeds 3,090 animals. The most recent 

spring survey recorded 2,505 southern 

sea otters (U.S. Geological Survey, 

unpublished data), and the latest 

available 3-year running average (for 

2002) is only 2,268 animals. 

Finding 

We have reviewed the petition and its 

supporting documentation, information 

in our files, and other available 

information. We find that there is not 

substantial information indicating that 

delisting of the southern sea otter may 

be warranted. 

Information Solicited 

When we find that there is not 

substantial information indicating that 

the petitioned action may be warranted, 

initiation of a status review is not 

required by the ESA. However, we 

regularly assess the status of species 

listed as threatened or endangered and 

welcome any information concerning 

the status of the southern sea otter. You 

may submit any information at any time 

to the Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish 

and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES). 

References Cited

Riedman, M.L. and J.A. Estes. 1990. The sea 

otter (Enhydra lutris): behavior, ecology, 

and natural history. U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Biol. Rep. 90(14). 126 pp. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Final 

Revised Recovery Plan for the Southern 

Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis). Portland, 

Oregon. xi + 165 pp. 

U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources 

Division. 2003. Spring 2003 mainland 

California sea otter survey results. 

Memorandum from B. Hatfield dated 9 

June 2003. 

Wilson, D. E., M. A. Bogan, R. L. Brownell, 

Jr., A. M. Burdin, and M. K. Maminov. 

1991. Geographic variation in sea otters, 

Enhydra lutris. J. Mamm., 72(1):22–36.

Author 

The primary author of this document 

is Lilian Carswell, Fish and Wildlife 

Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife 

Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority: The authority for this action is 

the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as 

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: November 14, 2003. 

Steve Williams, 

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 04–2558 Filed 2–5–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training 

Administration 

[TA–W–53,890] 

Arrow Terminals, Allquipps, PA; Notice 

of Termination of Investigation 

Pursuant to section 221 of the Trade 

Act of 1974, as amended, an 

investigation was initiated on December 

29, 2004, in response to a petition filed 

by the United Steelworkers of America 

on behalf of workers at Arrow 

Terminals, Allquippa, Pennsylvania. 

The petitioner has requested that the 

petition be withdrawn. Consequently, 

further investigation in this case would 

serve no purpose, and the investigation 

has been terminated.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 12th day of 

January, 2004. 

Richard Church, 

Certifying Officer, Division of Trade 

Adjustment Assistance.

[FR Doc. 04–2613 Filed 2–5–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–30–P

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training 

Administration 

[TA–W–53,781] 

Bes-Tex Fabrics, Inc., New York, NY; 

Notice of Termination of Investigation 

Pursuant to section 221 of the Trade 

Act of 1974, as amended, an 

investigation was initiated on December 

11, 2003 in response to a petition filed 

by a company official on behalf of 

workers of Bes-Tex Fabrics, Inc., New 

York, New York. 

The investigation revealed that the 

subject firm did not separate or threaten 

to separate a significant number or 

proportion of workers as required by 

section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974. 

Significant number or proportion of the 

workers means that at least three 

workers in a firm with a workforce of 

fewer than 50 workers would have to be 

affected. Separations by the subject firm 

did not meet this threshold level; 

consequently the investigation has been 

terminated.

Signed at Washington, DC this 12th day of 

January 2004. 

Linda G. Poole, 

Certifying Officer, Division of Trade 

Adjustment Assistance.

[FR Doc. 04–2601 Filed 2–5–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–30–P

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training 

Administration 

[TA–W–53,927] 

Dixie Chips, Inc., Evergreen, AL; 

Notice of Termination of Investigation 

Pursuant to section 221 of the Trade 

Act of 1974, as amended, an 

investigation was initiated on January 2, 

2004 in response to a worker petition 

filed by a company official on behalf of 

workers at Dixie Chips, Inc., Evergreen, 

Alabama. 

The petitioning group of workers is 

covered by an earlier petition filed on 

December 29, 2003 (TA–W–53,906) that 

is the subject of an ongoing 

investigation for which a determination 

has not yet been issued. Further 

investigation in this case would 

duplicate efforts and serve no purpose; 

therefore the investigation under this 

petition has been terminated.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 8th day of 

January, 2004. 

Richard Church, 

Certifying Officer, Division of Trade 

Adjustment Assistance.

[FR Doc. 04–2598 Filed 2–5–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–30–P