[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 120 (Thursday, June 21, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 33209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15649]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 216

[Docket No. 000720213-1140-02; I.D 062000C]
RIN 0648-AO40


Marine Mammals; Subsistence Taking of Northern Fur Seals; Harvest 
Estimates

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

ACTION: Final estimates of annual fur seal subsistence needs.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the regulations governing the subsistence taking 
of northern fur seals, NMFS publishes final annual estimates of fur 
seal subsistence needs for 2000 through 2002 on the Pribilof Islands, 
Alaska. These estimates are the same as for the previous 3-year period. 
NMFS estimates that the subsistence needs are 1,645-2000 seals on St. 
Paul and 300-500 seals on St. George.

DATES: Effective July 20, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Cormany, (907) 271-3024; Michael 
Payne, (907) 586-7235; or Tom Eagle, (301) 713-2322, ext. 105.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subsistence harvest of northern fur 
seals, Callorhinus ursinus, by Alaska Native residents of the Pribilof 
Islands, Alaska, is governed by regulations found in 50 CFR part 216, 
subpart F, Taking for Subsistence Purposes. These regulations require 
NMFS to publish every 3 years a summary of the harvest in the preceding 
3 years and a discussion of the number of fur seals expected to be 
taken over the next 3 years to satisfy the subsistence requirements of 
residents of the Pribilof Islands (St. Paul and St. George). After a 
30-day comment period, NMFS must publish a final notification of the 
expected annual harvest levels for the next 3 years.
    On August 9, 2000 (65 FR 48669), NMFS published the summary of the 
1997-1999 fur seal harvests and provided a 30-day comment period on 
proposed estimates of subsistence needs for the years 2000 through 
2002. No comments were received on the proposed estimates or on draft 
Environmental Assessment. Final expected annual harvest levels for 2000 
through 2002 are 1,645-2000 seals on St. Paul Island and 300-500 seals 
on St. George Island. Background information related to these estimates 
was included in the proposed harvest estimates on August 9, 2000.

Classification

National Environmental Policy Act

    Pursuant to section 102 (2) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act, NMFS prepared an Environmental Assessment to accompany this action 
and a Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the effects of 
the action on the human environment.

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rule has been determined to be not a significant rule under 
E.O. 12866. The Chief Counsel for Regulation, Department of Commerce, 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this action would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. No comments were 
received regarding the economic impact of this rule. Therefore, the 
requirements to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis are not 
applicable, and none was prepared.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This action does not require the collection of information.

Executive Order 13132-Federalism

    This action does not contain policies with federalism impacts 
sufficient to warrant preparation of a federalism assessment under E.O. 
13132 because this action does not have substantial direct effects on 
the states, on the relationship between the national government and the 
states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Nonetheless, NMFS worked closely with 
local governments in the Pribilof Islands to prepare these estimates of 
subsistence needs.

Executive Order 13084-Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments

    E.O. 13084 requires that if NMFS issues a regulation that 
significantly or uniquely affects the communities of Indian tribal 
governments and imposes substantial direct compliance costs on those 
communities, NMFS must consult with those governments, or the Federal 
government must provide the funds necessary to pay the direct 
compliance costs incurred by the tribal governments. This action does 
not impose substantial direct compliance costs on the communities of 
Indian tribal governments. Accordingly, the requirements of section 
3(b) of E.O. 13084 do not apply to this action.
    Nonetheless, NMFS took several steps to work with affected tribal 
governments to prepare and implement the action. These steps included 
discussions on subsistence needs and mechanisms to ensure that the 
harvest is conducted in a non-wasteful manner. NMFS and the Tribal 
Government of St. Paul are negotiating a cooperative agreement pursuant 
to section 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act to govern future 
harvests.

    Dated: June 15, 2001.
William T. Hogarth,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-15649 Filed 6-20-01; 8:45 am]
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