[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5385-5386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2794]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 110796I]


Taking of Endangered and Threatened Marine Mammals Incidental to 
Commercial Fishing Operations; Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

ACTION: Notice of denial of application for a small take exemption.

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[[Page 5386]]

SUMMARY: On October 17, 1996, the Director of the Massachusetts 
Division of Marine Fisheries submitted to NMFS an application for a 
general incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
for northern right whales incidental to commercial fishing activities 
within Massachusetts' territorial waters and a small take authorization 
for the same species and activity under the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act (MMPA). For the reasons discussed in this document, that 
application has been denied.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the application, letter, and/or Federal Register 
notices mentioned in this document may be obtained by writing to 
Michael Payne, Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-2337, or by telephoning one of the contacts 
listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kenneth R. Hollingshead or Victoria Cornish, NMFS (301) 713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On December 5, 1996 (61 FR 64500), NMFS noted that the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts (Massachusetts) had submitted an application under the 
MMPA for a small take of northern right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) 
incidental to commercial fishing activities within Massachusetts, 
territorial waters, in particular Cape Cod Bay, during the months of 
February through May. This application was in response to an order 
dated September 24, 1996, in Strahan v. Linnon wherein the presiding 
District Court judge ordering Massachusetts to apply, under the MMPA, 
for a small take of northern right whales. In its letter, Massachusetts 
also requested a general incidental take permit for the northern right 
whale under either section 7(b)(4) or section 10(a)(1)(b) of the ESA. 
NMFS stated in that Federal Register notice that while the Agency does 
not consider the application to be complete in either its discussion of 
the interaction, or planned mitigation, and while it does not plan to 
begin processing the application until it is complete and Massachusetts 
has submitted its Take Reduction Plan (TRP) for northern right whales, 
NMFS was offering the public an advance opportunity to review and 
comment on the application and the issues. However, no comments were 
received during the 30-day comment period.

Issues

    For a discussion of the issues, please refer to the notice of 
receipt of the application (61 FR 64500, December 5, 1996).

Determination

    On January 28, 1997, in a letter to Massachusetts, NMFS determined 
that it was not appropriate to consider authorizing the State's 
potential incidental take of right whales by commercial fishing through 
a permit application process. NMFS may issue authorizations for the 
incidental taking of endangered and threatened species under section 
101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA upon its own initiative to fishers operating 
in commercial fisheries if negligible impact findings can be made. NMFS 
may revaluate determinations under this provision if there is a 
significant change in the information used in making the original 
determinations. NMFS also reevaluates its negligible impact 
determinations after 3 years, as required by statute.
    In making negligible impact determinations, NMFS considers the 
serious injury and mortality from all commercial fishery operations. On 
August 31, 1995 (60 FR 45399), NMFS stated that it was unable to make a 
negligible impact determination with respect to impacts of commercial 
fisheries on right whales. Although Massachusetts has developed a TRP 
since the August 1995 notice was issued, NMFS has concluded that no 
significant new information has been submitted to cause the Agency to 
reconsider this determination. Since NMFS cannot make a negligible 
impact determination, an incidental take authorization under section 
101(a)(5)(E) is not appropriate.
    In regard to Massachusetts' application for an incidental take 
permit under section 7(b)(4) of the ESA, NMFS does not consider it 
appropriate for a state or private party to apply for an Incidental 
Take Statement under section 7(b)(4) of the ESA as this section applies 
only to Federal actions. Issuance of a section 101(a)(5)(E) permit is 
considered a Federal action, however, and would be subject to 
consultation. If appropriate, a section 7 Incidental Take Statement 
would be issued in association with this consultation. Therefore, an 
incidental take permit under section 10 is determined to be 
unnecessary. While NMFS has determined that the Massachusetts 
application for an incidental take under section 7 or 10 is 
inappropriate, NMFS has encouraged Massachusetts to provide information 
regarding state fishing activities that would be useful in conducting 
appropriate consultations.
    Accordingly, for the reasons stated above, on January 28, 1997, 
NMFS informed Massachusetts that it was inappropriate to proceed, as 
requested by Massachusetts, to process MMPA and ESA applications.

    Dated: January 30, 1997.
Patricia A. Montanio,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-2794 Filed 2-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M