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[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33134-33135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16286]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of a Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Enhydra Lutris 
Nereis (Southern Sea Otter) for Review and Comment, and Announcement of 
Public Workshop on the Draft Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and related public workshop.

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[[Page 33135]]

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft revision of the southern sea 
otter recovery plan. This species occurs along the central coast of 
California, from Point Ano Nuevo south to Purisima Point. The Service 
solicits review and comment from the public on this draft revised plan. 
One public workshop will be held.

DATES: Comments on the draft revised recovery plan must be received on 
or before September 24, 1996 to receive consideration by the Service. 
Public hearings will be held in Monterey, California on July 18, 1996, 
from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Public hearings will be held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey, 
1 Golf Course Road, Monterey, California.
    Persons wishing to review the draft revised recovery plan may 
obtain a copy by written request addressed to the Field Supervisor, 
Ventura Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2140 Eastman 
Avenue, Suite 100, Ventura, California 93003, or the Assistant Regional 
Director, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 911 N.E. 
11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181. Written comments and 
materials regarding the plan should be addressed to Mr. Carl Benz at 
the above Ventura, California address. Comments and materials received 
are available upon request for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the above Ventura, California address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Carl Benz at the above Ventura, 
California address (telephone 805-644-1766).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The southern (California) sea otter was listed as threatened in 
1977 under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. It 
is also recognized as a depleted population pursuant to the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act. Reduced range and population size, vulnerability 
to oil spills, and the oil spill risk from coastal tanker traffic were 
the primary reasons for the threatened status. The southern sea otter 
population contains about 2,400 individuals and ranges between Point 
Ano Nuevo south to Purisima Point. Approximately 17, including pups, 
otters are at San Nicolas Island as a result of translocation efforts 
to establish an experimental population. After review of new biological 
information, the Service, with assistance of the Southern Sea Otter 
Recovery Team, drafted for public review and comment a revised recovery 
plan in 1991. After review of public comments on that draft and review 
of new technical information regarding oil spill risk to southern sea 
otters, the Service, with assistance of the Southern Sea Otter Recovery 
Team and technical consultants, has drafted for public review and 
comment a new revised recovery plan.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan 
described. All comments received by the date specified will be 
considered prior to approval of the plan.

Authority

    The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: June 12, 1996.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 96-16286 Filed 6-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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