[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65472-65473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31263]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110701B]


Marine Mammals; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for Issuing a Bowhead Whale Subsistence Quota to the Alaska 
Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) for the years 2003 through 2007

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA); 
request for written comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intention to prepare an EA, in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act, to assess the impacts of 
issuing a subsistence quota for bowhead whales to the AEWC for the 
years 2003 through 2007. NMFS solicits comments and information to 
facilitate this analysis.

DATES: Comments and information must be postmarked by January 31, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Chief, Marine Mammal 
Division (F/PR2), Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 13th Floor, 1315 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. Please mark the outside of the envelope with ``Comments on 
Bowhead Whale Analysis.'' Comments will not be accepted if submitted 
via e-mail or Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Hanson Menashes, NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources, 301-713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At its 1997 annual meeting, the 
International Whaling Commission (IWC) approved a 5-year quota for the 
aboriginal take of the Western arctic stock of bowhead whales. The 
quota allows for a combined total of up to 280 whales to be landed in 
the years 1998 through 2002 by Alaskan 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, showing that the needs of both 
countries' Native groups could be met with an annual average of 56 
landed bowhead whales (or a total of 255 for the Alaska Eskimos and 25 
for the Chukotka people over the 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 52nd annual meeting of the IWC, held in June and July of 
2000, the IWC Scientific Committee proposed a structure for block 
quotas for the bowhead whale aboriginal subsistence hunt to be used as 
part of the Scientific Committee's proposed revisions to the Aboriginal 
Whaling Management Plan. This structure calls for five-year blocks with 
an inter-annual carry-over allowance of up to 50 percent of unused 
strikes, including strikes from the previous quota block (IWC/52/AS7). 
The Commission agreed with the proposal from the Scientific Committee 
in the context of trials.
    At the 53rd IWC annual meeting, held in July of 2001, the 
Commission agreed with the Scientific Committee's recommendations with 
respect to carry-over. The Scientific Committee also noted that if, 
under a recommended Strike Limit Algorithm, current aboriginal 
subsistence need is met, then a revised Schedule paragraph might 
specify a block strike limit quota with an annual cap on strikes. The 
Scientific Committee also reiterated its 1999 advice for the Bering-
Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales, i.e., that it is very 
likely that a catch limit of 102 whales or less would be consistent 
with the requirements of the Schedule (IWC/53/4, Report of the 
Scientific Committee).
    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 77 per year, depending in part on 
changes in management strategy and in part on higher estimates of 
bowhead whale abundance in recent years (NMFS Alaska Marine Mammal 
Stock Assessments, 2000).
    The IWC's 54th annual meeting is scheduled for May of 2002. NMFS is 
preparing an EA on issuing a quota to the AEWC for a subsistence hunt 
on bowhead whales for the years 2003 through 2007 in the event that the 
IWC renews a 5-year aboriginal subsistence quota for bowhead whales. 
NMFS will evaluate the following four alternatives:
    Alternative 1--Grant the AEWC a quota that meets the documented 
need of Alaskan Eskimos for 255 landed whales over 5 years (2003 
through 2007), with an annual strike quota of 67

[[Page 65473]]

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 that meets the documented 
need of Alaskan Eskimos for 255 landed 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 that meets the documented 
need of Alaskan Eskimos for 255 landed 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.

Information Solicited

    To ensure that the review is comprehensive and based on the best 
available information, NMFS is soliciting information and comments from 
any interested party concerning issuing a bowhead whale quota to the 
AEWC of 255 landed whales over 5 years (2003 through 2007). NMFS is 
particularly interested in information on the affected environment or 
environmental consequences of issuing a quota. It is requested that 
data, information, and comments be accompanied by (1) supporting 
documentation, and (2) the name, address, and affiliation of person 
submitting data. Following publication of the draft EA, NMFS will 
solicit additional public input.

    Dated: December 14, 2001.
Rebecca J. Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-31263 Filed 12-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S