80_FR_58894 80 FR 58705 - Draft 2015 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

80 FR 58705 - Draft 2015 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 189 (September 30, 2015)

Page Range58705-58707
FR Document2015-24762

NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new information. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2015 SARs.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58705-58707]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24762]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE122


Draft 2015 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional 
marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act. SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, 
Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new 
information. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2015 SARs.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 29, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The 2015 draft SARs are available in electronic form via the 
Internet at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/draft.htm.
    Copies of the Alaska Regional SARs may be requested from Marcia 
Muto, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., 
BIN 15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070.
    Copies of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Regional SARs 
may be requested from Peter Corkeron, Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543.
    Copies of the Pacific Regional SARs may be requested from Jim 
Carretta, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores 
Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037-1508.
    You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2015-0108, by any 
of the following methods:
    Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
    Mail: Send comments or requests for copies of reports to: Chief, 
Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226, Attn: Stock Assessments.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required 
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to 
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF 
file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-427-8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov; Marcia Muto 206- 
526-4026, Marcia.Muto@noaa.gov, regarding Alaska regional stock 
assessments; Peter Corkeron, 508-495-2191, Peter.Corkeron@noaa.gov, 
regarding Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean regional stock 
assessments; or Jim Carretta, 858-546-7171, Jim.Carretta@noaa.gov, 
regarding Pacific regional stock assessments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 117 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 
1361 et seq.) requires NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS) to prepare stock assessments for each stock of marine mammals 
occurring in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States, 
including the Exclusive

[[Page 58706]]

Economic Zone. These reports must contain information regarding the 
distribution and abundance of the stock, population growth rates and 
trends, estimates of annual human-caused mortality and serious injury 
from all sources, descriptions of the fisheries with which the stock 
interacts, and the status of the stock. Initial reports were completed 
in 1995.
    The MMPA requires NMFS and FWS to review the SARs at least annually 
for strategic stocks and stocks for which significant new information 
is available, and at least once every three years for non-strategic 
stocks. The term ``strategic stock'' means a marine mammal stock: (A) 
for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the 
potential biological removal level; (B) which, based on the best 
available scientific information, is declining and is likely to be 
listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
within the foreseeable future; or (C) which is listed as a threatened 
species or endangered species under the ESA. NMFS and the FWS are 
required to revise a SAR if the status of the stock has changed or can 
be more accurately determined. NMFS, in conjunction with the Alaska, 
Atlantic, and Pacific independent Scientific Review Groups (SRGs), 
reviewed the status of marine mammal stocks as required and revised 
reports in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions to incorporate new 
information.
    NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2015 SARs.

Alaska Reports

    In the Alaska region, SARs for 31 Alaska stocks (15 ``strategic'', 
16 ``non-strategic'') were updated. All stocks were reviewed and the 
following stocks were revised for 2015: Steller sea lion, western U.S.; 
northern fur seal, eastern Pacific; bearded seal, Alaska; ringed seal, 
Alaska; beluga whale, Cook Inlet; killer whale, AT1 transient; harbor 
porpoise, Southeast Alaska; harbor porpoise, Gulf of Alaska; harbor 
porpoise, Bering Sea; sperm whale, North Pacific; humpback whale, 
Western North Pacific; humpback whale, Central North Pacific; fin 
whale, Northeast Pacific; right whale, Eastern North Pacific; bowhead 
whale, Western Arctic; harbor seal (12 stocks); ribbon seal, Alaska; 
Pacific white-sided dolphin, Central North Pacific; Dall's porpoise, 
Alaska; and minke whale, Alaska. Information on the remaining Alaska 
region stocks can be found in the final 2014 reports (Allen and 
Angliss, 2015).
    Most revisions to the Alaska SARs included updates of abundance 
and/or mortality and serious injury estimates, including revised 
abundance estimates for the 12 stocks of harbor seals and for the two 
stocks of humpback whales. No changes in stock status occurred.

Atlantic Reports

    In the Atlantic region (including the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 
Mexico, and U.S. territories in the Caribbean), 43 reports for 69 
stocks were updated. Of the updated stocks, 51 stocks are 
``strategic,'' and 18 are ``non-strategic.'' Two common bottlenose 
dolphin stocks, the Gulf of Mexico northern coastal and Gulf of Mexico 
western coastal, changed in status from strategic to non-strategic. 
This change is a technical correction, and not due to a change in 
abundance, PBR, mortality estimates, or ESA listing status.
    All stocks were reviewed and reports for the following strategic 
stocks were revised for 2015: North Atlantic right whale; humpback 
whale, Gulf of Maine; fin whale, Western North Atlantic (WNA); sei 
whale, Nova Scotia; sperm whale, Gulf of Mexico; Bryde's whale, Gulf of 
Mexico; and the following common bottlenose dolphin stocks: WNA 
northern migratory coastal; WNA southern migratory coastal; WNA South 
Carolina (SC)/Georgia (GA) coastal; WNA northern Florida coastal; WNA 
central Florida coastal; Northern NC Estuarine System; Southern NC 
Estuarine System; Northern SC Estuarine System; Charleston Estuarine 
System; Northern GA/Southern SC Estuarine System; Central GA Estuarine 
System; Southern GA Estuarine System; Jacksonville Estuarine System; 
Indian River Lagoon Estuarine System; Gulf of Mexico bay, sound, and 
estuary (27 stocks) Barataria Bay; Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay 
Boudreau; St. Joseph Bay; and Choctawhatchee Bay.
    Reports for the following non-strategic stocks were revised for 
2015: Minke whale, Canadian east coast; Risso's dolphin, WNA; long-
finned pilot whale, WNA; short-finned pilot whale, WNA; short-finned 
pilot whale, Gulf of Mexico; Atlantic white-sided dolphin, WNA; short-
beaked common dolphin, WNA; harbor porpoise, Gulf of Maine/Bay of 
Fundy; harbor seal, WNA; gray seal, WNA; pantropical spotted dolphin, 
Gulf of Mexico; Risso's dolphin, Gulf of Mexico; Atlantic spotted 
dolphin, continental shelf and oceanic; and the following common 
bottlenose dolphin stocks: WNA offshore; Gulf of Mexico continental 
shelf; Gulf of Mexico northern coastal; Gulf of Mexico western coastal; 
and Gulf of Mexico eastern coastal.
    Information on the remaining Atlantic region stocks can be found in 
the final 2014 reports (Waring et al., 2015).
    Most revisions to the Atlantic SARs included updates of abundance 
and/or mortality and serious injury estimates. No changes in stock 
status occurred.

Pacific Reports

    In the Pacific region (waters along the west coast of the United 
States, within waters surrounding the main and Northwest Hawaiian 
Islands, and within waters surrounding U.S. territories in the Western 
Pacific), SARs were revised for 8 stocks under NMFS jurisdiction (5 
``strategic'' and 3 ``non-strategic'' stocks).
    All stocks were reviewed and reports for the following strategic 
stocks were revised for 2015: Hawaiian monk seal; Southern Resident 
killer whale; false killer whale, Main Hawaiian Islands Insular; false 
killer whale, Hawaii Pelagic; and blue whale, Eastern North Pacific. 
Reports for the following non-strategic stocks were revised for 2015: 
false killer whale, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; Bryde's whale, 
Eastern Tropical Pacific; and Northern fur seal, California. 
Information on the remaining Pacific region stocks can be found in the 
final 2014 reports (Carretta et al., 2015).
    New abundance estimates are available for three stocks in the 
Pacific Islands region (Hawaiian monk seal, Hawaii Pelagic and 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands false killer whales) and two U.S. west 
coast stocks (Southern Resident killer whale and California northern 
fur seal). The stock range and boundaries of the three Hawaiian stocks 
of false killer whales were recently reevaluated based on new 
information on the occurrence and movements of each stock. The three 
stocks have partially overlapping ranges. No changes in stock status 
occurred.
    A stock assessment report for the Eastern Tropical Pacific stock of 
Bryde's whale has been reinstated into the Pacific reports in response 
to a regular and increasing presence of this species in southern 
California waters. The Eastern Tropical Pacific Bryde's whale report 
last appeared in the Pacific stock assessments in 2007.
    The genus of Hawaiian monk seal has been changed from Monachus to 
Neomonachus to reflect new genetic and skull morphology data.
    The report for Eastern North Pacific blue whales includes new 
information on historic whaling removals, the population's status 
relative to carrying capacity, and risk of ship strikes to the 
population.


[[Page 58707]]


    Dated: September 25, 2015.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-24762 Filed 9-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Notices                                           58705

                                                  data; reference methods; and                               The goals of the workshop are to                   7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN 15700,
                                                  documentary standards—that will                         discuss working group progress and                    Seattle, WA 98115–0070.
                                                  enable interoperability and                             plans with the broad consortium,                         Copies of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico,
                                                  reproducibility. At this workshop the                   develop a timeline of deliverables for                and Caribbean Regional SARs may be
                                                  working groups will collaboratively                     metrology products to be produced by                  requested from Peter Corkeron,
                                                  develop work products.                                  each working group, and collaboratively               Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166
                                                  DATES: The Synthetic Biology Standards                  design and draft relevant documents.                  Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543.
                                                  Consortium (SBSC)—Planning and                             The SBSC Planning and Progress                        Copies of the Pacific Regional SARs
                                                  Progress Workshop will be held on                       Workshop will be held on Tuesday,                     may be requested from Jim Carretta,
                                                  Tuesday, November 3, 2015 from 9:00                     November 3, 2015 from 9:00 a.m.–5:00                  Southwest Fisheries Science Center,
                                                  a.m.–5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.                            p.m. Pacific time. The workshop will be               8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA
                                                  ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at                  held at the Quadrus Conference Center,                92037–1508.
                                                  the Quadrus Conference Center, 2400                     2400 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA                      You may submit comments, identified
                                                  Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.                   94025. To register, go to http://                     by NOAA–NMFS–2015–0108, by any of
                                                  To register, go to http://                              jimb.stanford.edu/sbsc-registration.                  the following methods:
                                                  jimb.stanford.edu/sbsc-registration.                    There is no registration fee. Space is                   Electronic Submissions: Submit all
                                                  There is no registration fee. Space is                  limited so please register early. For                 electronic public comments via the
                                                  limited so please register early. For                   additional meeting details, including                 Federal eRulemaking Portal http://
                                                  additional meeting details, including                   travel and parking information, visit                 www.regulations.gov.
                                                  travel and parking information, visit                   http://jimb.stanford.edu/sbsc-1115-                      Mail: Send comments or requests for
                                                  http://jimb.stanford.edu/sbsc-1115-                     workshop.                                             copies of reports to: Chief, Marine
                                                  workshop.                                                  There is no cost for participating in              Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
                                                                                                          the consortium or the workshop. No                    Division, Office of Protected Resources,
                                                  further information contact Matthew                     proprietary information will be shared                National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315
                                                  Munson, Sarah Munro, and Marc Salit                     at the workshop.                                      East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
                                                  by email at sbsc@nist.gov.                                Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c).                20910–3226, Attn: Stock Assessments.
                                                                                                                                                                   Instructions: All comments received
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A robust                     Richard Cavanagh,                                     are a part of the public record and will
                                                  metrology infrastructure for the field of               Acting Associate Director for Laboratory              generally be posted to http://
                                                  synthetic biology will enable                           Programs.                                             www.regulations.gov without change.
                                                  coordination of labor and reuse of
                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2015–24734 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am]           All Personal Identifying Information (for
                                                  materials, driving economic growth.
                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 3510–13–P                                example, name, address, etc.)
                                                  Metrology products—standards,
                                                                                                                                                                voluntarily submitted by the commenter
                                                  including reference materials; reference
                                                                                                                                                                may be publicly accessible. Do not
                                                  data; reference methods; and                            DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                  documentary standards—can enable                                                                              submit Confidential Business
                                                  business-to-business transactions at                                                                          Information or otherwise sensitive or
                                                                                                          National Oceanic and Atmospheric                      protected information.
                                                  scale. The intent of the NIST-hosted                    Administration
                                                  Synthetic Biology Standards                                                                                      NMFS will accept anonymous
                                                  Consortium (SBSC) is to collectively                                                                          comments (enter N/A in the required
                                                                                                          RIN 0648–XE122
                                                  establish infrastructure to support a                                                                         fields, if you wish to remain
                                                  fully integrated global synthetic biology               Draft 2015 Marine Mammal Stock                        anonymous). You may submit
                                                  enterprise. NIST will provide standards                 Assessment Reports                                    attachments to electronic comments in
                                                  development support for some                                                                                  Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or
                                                                                                          AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                    Adobe PDF file formats only.
                                                  consortium activities, as well as
                                                                                                          Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  facilitation and technical leadership.
                                                     The SBSC has been convened as a                      Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                    Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected
                                                  standards setting consortium focused on                 Commerce.                                             Resources, 301–427–8402,
                                                  the shared standards development                        ACTION: Notice; request for comments.                 Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov; Marcia
                                                  needs of consortium members. It will                                                                          Muto 206- 526–4026, Marcia.Muto@
                                                                                                          SUMMARY:   NMFS reviewed the Alaska,                  noaa.gov, regarding Alaska regional
                                                  provide a forum for collaborative work
                                                                                                          Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine                 stock assessments; Peter Corkeron, 508–
                                                  through the formation of technical
                                                                                                          mammal stock assessment reports                       495–2191, Peter.Corkeron@noaa.gov,
                                                  standards-setting working groups.
                                                                                                          (SARs) in accordance with the Marine                  regarding Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and
                                                  Successful working groups will be
                                                                                                          Mammal Protection Act. SARs for                       Caribbean regional stock assessments; or
                                                  organized around a clear vision of
                                                                                                          marine mammals in the Alaska,                         Jim Carretta, 858–546–7171,
                                                  specific metrology products that will
                                                                                                          Atlantic, and Pacific regions were                    Jim.Carretta@noaa.gov, regarding
                                                  enable interoperability and
                                                                                                          revised according to new information.                 Pacific regional stock assessments.
                                                  reproducibility.
                                                     Examples of metrology products                       NMFS solicits public comments on the
                                                                                                                                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  include a reference material such as a                  draft 2015 SARs.
                                                  standard proteome set from whole cell                   DATES: Comments must be received by                   Background
                                                                                                          December 29, 2015.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  lysates to be used as a benchmark for                                                                            Section 117 of the Marine Mammal
                                                  mass spectroscopy; reference data such                  ADDRESSES: The 2015 draft SARs are                    Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361
                                                  as a DNA watermark repository; a                        available in electronic form via the                  et seq.) requires NMFS and the U.S. Fish
                                                  reference method for DNA sequence                       Internet at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/                 and Wildlife Service (FWS) to prepare
                                                  verification; and a documentary                         pr/sars/draft.htm.                                    stock assessments for each stock of
                                                  standard for minimum information                          Copies of the Alaska Regional SARs                  marine mammals occurring in waters
                                                  standards for biological protocol                       may be requested from Marcia Muto,                    under the jurisdiction of the United
                                                  interoperability.                                       Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS,                States, including the Exclusive


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                                                  58706                   Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Notices

                                                  Economic Zone. These reports must                       mortality and serious injury estimates,                 Information on the remaining Atlantic
                                                  contain information regarding the                       including revised abundance estimates                 region stocks can be found in the final
                                                  distribution and abundance of the stock,                for the 12 stocks of harbor seals and for             2014 reports (Waring et al., 2015).
                                                  population growth rates and trends,                     the two stocks of humpback whales. No                   Most revisions to the Atlantic SARs
                                                  estimates of annual human-caused                        changes in stock status occurred.                     included updates of abundance and/or
                                                  mortality and serious injury from all                                                                         mortality and serious injury estimates.
                                                  sources, descriptions of the fisheries                  Atlantic Reports                                      No changes in stock status occurred.
                                                  with which the stock interacts, and the                    In the Atlantic region (including the              Pacific Reports
                                                  status of the stock. Initial reports were               Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and
                                                  completed in 1995.                                                                                               In the Pacific region (waters along the
                                                                                                          U.S. territories in the Caribbean), 43                west coast of the United States, within
                                                     The MMPA requires NMFS and FWS
                                                                                                          reports for 69 stocks were updated. Of                waters surrounding the main and
                                                  to review the SARs at least annually for
                                                  strategic stocks and stocks for which                   the updated stocks, 51 stocks are                     Northwest Hawaiian Islands, and within
                                                  significant new information is available,               ‘‘strategic,’’ and 18 are ‘‘non-strategic.’’          waters surrounding U.S. territories in
                                                  and at least once every three years for                 Two common bottlenose dolphin stocks,                 the Western Pacific), SARs were revised
                                                  non-strategic stocks. The term ‘‘strategic              the Gulf of Mexico northern coastal and               for 8 stocks under NMFS jurisdiction (5
                                                  stock’’ means a marine mammal stock:                    Gulf of Mexico western coastal, changed               ‘‘strategic’’ and 3 ‘‘non-strategic’’
                                                  (A) for which the level of direct human-                in status from strategic to non-strategic.            stocks).
                                                  caused mortality exceeds the potential                  This change is a technical correction,                   All stocks were reviewed and reports
                                                  biological removal level; (B) which,                    and not due to a change in abundance,                 for the following strategic stocks were
                                                  based on the best available scientific                  PBR, mortality estimates, or ESA listing              revised for 2015: Hawaiian monk seal;
                                                  information, is declining and is likely to              status.                                               Southern Resident killer whale; false
                                                  be listed as a threatened species under                    All stocks were reviewed and reports               killer whale, Main Hawaiian Islands
                                                  the Endangered Species Act (ESA)                        for the following strategic stocks were               Insular; false killer whale, Hawaii
                                                  within the foreseeable future; or (C)                   revised for 2015: North Atlantic right                Pelagic; and blue whale, Eastern North
                                                  which is listed as a threatened species                 whale; humpback whale, Gulf of Maine;                 Pacific. Reports for the following non-
                                                  or endangered species under the ESA.                    fin whale, Western North Atlantic                     strategic stocks were revised for 2015:
                                                  NMFS and the FWS are required to                        (WNA); sei whale, Nova Scotia; sperm                  false killer whale, Northwestern
                                                  revise a SAR if the status of the stock                 whale, Gulf of Mexico; Bryde’s whale,                 Hawaiian Islands; Bryde’s whale,
                                                  has changed or can be more accurately                   Gulf of Mexico; and the following                     Eastern Tropical Pacific; and Northern
                                                  determined. NMFS, in conjunction with                   common bottlenose dolphin stocks:                     fur seal, California. Information on the
                                                  the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific                       WNA northern migratory coastal; WNA                   remaining Pacific region stocks can be
                                                  independent Scientific Review Groups                    southern migratory coastal; WNA South                 found in the final 2014 reports (Carretta
                                                  (SRGs), reviewed the status of marine                   Carolina (SC)/Georgia (GA) coastal;                   et al., 2015).
                                                  mammal stocks as required and revised                   WNA northern Florida coastal; WNA                        New abundance estimates are
                                                  reports in the Alaska, Atlantic, and                    central Florida coastal; Northern NC                  available for three stocks in the Pacific
                                                  Pacific regions to incorporate new                      Estuarine System; Southern NC                         Islands region (Hawaiian monk seal,
                                                  information.                                            Estuarine System; Northern SC                         Hawaii Pelagic and Northwestern
                                                     NMFS solicits public comments on                     Estuarine System; Charleston Estuarine                Hawaiian Islands false killer whales)
                                                  the draft 2015 SARs.                                    System; Northern GA/Southern SC                       and two U.S. west coast stocks
                                                                                                          Estuarine System; Central GA Estuarine                (Southern Resident killer whale and
                                                  Alaska Reports
                                                                                                          System; Southern GA Estuarine System;                 California northern fur seal). The stock
                                                     In the Alaska region, SARs for 31                                                                          range and boundaries of the three
                                                  Alaska stocks (15 ‘‘strategic’’, 16 ‘‘non-              Jacksonville Estuarine System; Indian
                                                                                                          River Lagoon Estuarine System; Gulf of                Hawaiian stocks of false killer whales
                                                  strategic’’) were updated. All stocks                                                                         were recently reevaluated based on new
                                                  were reviewed and the following stocks                  Mexico bay, sound, and estuary (27
                                                                                                          stocks) Barataria Bay; Mississippi                    information on the occurrence and
                                                  were revised for 2015: Steller sea lion,                                                                      movements of each stock. The three
                                                  western U.S.; northern fur seal, eastern                Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau; St.
                                                                                                          Joseph Bay; and Choctawhatchee Bay.                   stocks have partially overlapping
                                                  Pacific; bearded seal, Alaska; ringed                                                                         ranges. No changes in stock status
                                                  seal, Alaska; beluga whale, Cook Inlet;                    Reports for the following non-strategic            occurred.
                                                  killer whale, AT1 transient; harbor                     stocks were revised for 2015: Minke                      A stock assessment report for the
                                                  porpoise, Southeast Alaska; harbor                      whale, Canadian east coast; Risso’s                   Eastern Tropical Pacific stock of Bryde’s
                                                  porpoise, Gulf of Alaska; harbor                        dolphin, WNA; long-finned pilot whale,                whale has been reinstated into the
                                                  porpoise, Bering Sea; sperm whale,                      WNA; short-finned pilot whale, WNA;                   Pacific reports in response to a regular
                                                  North Pacific; humpback whale,                          short-finned pilot whale, Gulf of                     and increasing presence of this species
                                                  Western North Pacific; humpback                         Mexico; Atlantic white-sided dolphin,                 in southern California waters. The
                                                  whale, Central North Pacific; fin whale,                WNA; short-beaked common dolphin,                     Eastern Tropical Pacific Bryde’s whale
                                                  Northeast Pacific; right whale, Eastern                 WNA; harbor porpoise, Gulf of Maine/                  report last appeared in the Pacific stock
                                                  North Pacific; bowhead whale, Western                   Bay of Fundy; harbor seal, WNA; gray                  assessments in 2007.
                                                  Arctic; harbor seal (12 stocks); ribbon                 seal, WNA; pantropical spotted dolphin,                  The genus of Hawaiian monk seal has
                                                  seal, Alaska; Pacific white-sided                       Gulf of Mexico; Risso’s dolphin, Gulf of              been changed from Monachus to
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  dolphin, Central North Pacific; Dall’s                  Mexico; Atlantic spotted dolphin,                     Neomonachus to reflect new genetic
                                                  porpoise, Alaska; and minke whale,                      continental shelf and oceanic; and the                and skull morphology data.
                                                  Alaska. Information on the remaining                    following common bottlenose dolphin                      The report for Eastern North Pacific
                                                  Alaska region stocks can be found in the                stocks: WNA offshore; Gulf of Mexico                  blue whales includes new information
                                                  final 2014 reports (Allen and Angliss,                  continental shelf; Gulf of Mexico                     on historic whaling removals, the
                                                  2015).                                                  northern coastal; Gulf of Mexico                      population’s status relative to carrying
                                                     Most revisions to the Alaska SARs                    western coastal; and Gulf of Mexico                   capacity, and risk of ship strikes to the
                                                  included updates of abundance and/or                    eastern coastal.                                      population.


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                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Notices                                                58707

                                                    Dated: September 25, 2015.                            Code of the Federal Regulations (CFR                  review all timely submitted written
                                                  Donna S. Wieting,                                       102–3.150).                                           comments or statements with the
                                                  Director, Office of Protected Resources,                   Purpose of the Meeting: The Advisory               subcommittee Chairperson, and ensure
                                                  National Marine Fisheries Service.                      Committee on Arlington National                       the comments are provided to all
                                                  [FR Doc. 2015–24762 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am]             Cemetery is an independent Federal                    members of the subcommittee before the
                                                  BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                                                                                          advisory committee chartered to provide               meeting. Written comments or
                                                                                                          the Secretary of the Army independent                 statements received after this date may
                                                                                                          advice and recommendations on                         not be provided to the subcommittee
                                                                                                          Arlington National Cemetery, including,               until its next meeting. Pursuant to 41
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE                                   but not limited to, cemetery                          CFR 102–3.140d, the Committee is not
                                                                                                          administration, the erection of                       obligated to allow the public to speak;
                                                  Department of the Army                                  memorials at the cemetery, and master                 however, interested persons may submit
                                                                                                          planning for the cemetery. The                        a written statement or a request to speak
                                                  Advisory Committee on Arlington                         Secretary of the Army may act on the                  for consideration by the subcommittee.
                                                  National Cemetery Remember                              committee’s advice and                                After reviewing any written statements
                                                  Subcommittee Meeting                                    recommendations. The primary purpose                  or requests submitted, the subcommittee
                                                                                                          of the Remember Subcommittee is to                    Chairperson and the Designated Federal
                                                  AGENCY:  Department of the Army, DoD.
                                                                                                          review and provide recommendations                    Officer may choose to invite certain
                                                  ACTION:Notice of open subcommittee                      on preserving and caring for the marble               submitters to present their comments
                                                  meeting.                                                components of the Tomb of the                         verbally during the open portion of this
                                                                                                          Unknown Soldier (TUS), including                      meeting or at a future meeting. The
                                                  SUMMARY:    The Department of the Army
                                                                                                          addressing the cracks in the large                    Designated Federal Officer in
                                                  is publishing this notice to announce
                                                                                                          marble sarcophagus, the adjacent marble               consultation with the subcommittee
                                                  the following Federal advisory
                                                                                                          slabs, and the disposition of the dye                 Chairperson, may allot a specific
                                                  committee meeting of the Remember
                                                                                                          block already gifted to the Army.                     amount of time for submitters to present
                                                  Subcommittee of the Advisory                               Proposed Agenda: The Subcommittee                  their comments verbally.
                                                  Committee on Arlington National                         will review the status of all pending
                                                  Cemetery (ACANC). The meeting is                        commemorative monument requests.                      Brenda S. Bowen,
                                                  open to the public. For more                               Public’s Accessibility to the Meeting:             Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
                                                  information about the Committee and                     Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR                  [FR Doc. 2015–24778 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  the Remember Subcommittee, please                       102–3.140 through 102–3.165, and the                  BILLING CODE 3710–08–P
                                                  visit http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/                 availability of space, this meeting is
                                                  AboutUs/FocusAreas.aspx.                                open to the public. Seating is on a first-
                                                  DATES: The Remember Subcommittee                        come basis. The Arlington National                    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
                                                  will meet from 09:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.                 Cemetery conference room is fully
                                                  on Wednesday, October 14, 2015.                         handicapped accessible. For additional                Department of the Army
                                                  ADDRESSES: Arlington National                           information about public access                       Army Science Board Partially Closed
                                                  Cemetery Welcome Center, Conference                     procedures, contact Ms. Renea Yates,                  Meeting Notice
                                                  Room, Arlington National Cemetery,                      the subcommittee’s Designated Federal
                                                  Arlington, VA 22211.                                    Officer, at the email address or                      AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
                                                                                                          telephone number listed in the FOR                    ACTION:Notice of a partially closed
                                                                                                          FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.                  meeting; Correction.
                                                  Renea Yates; Designated Federal Officer
                                                                                                            Written Comments and Statements:
                                                  for the committee and the Remembrance                                                                         SUMMARY:  Pursuant to the Federal
                                                                                                          Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.105(j) and
                                                  Subcommittee, in writing at Arlington                                                                         Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the
                                                                                                          102–3.140 and section 10(a)(3) of the
                                                  National Cemetery, Arlington VA 22211,                                                                        Government in the Sunshine Act of
                                                                                                          Federal Advisory Committee Act, the
                                                  or by email at renea.c.yates.civ@                                                                             1976 and title 41 of the Code of Federal
                                                                                                          public or interested organizations may
                                                  mail.mil, or by phone at 1–877–907–                                                                           Regulations, the Department of the
                                                                                                          submit written comments or statements
                                                  8585.                                                   to the subcommittee, in response to the               Army announces a meeting of the Army
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     Due to                   stated agenda of the open meeting or in               Science Board.
                                                  circumstances beyond the control of the                 regard to the subcommittee’s mission in               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  Designated Federal Officer and the                      general. Written comments or                          Army Science Board, Designated
                                                  Department of Defense, the Advisory                     statements should be submitted to Ms.                 Federal Officer, 2530 Crystal Drive,
                                                  Committee on Arlington National                         Renea Yates, the subcommittee’s                       Suite 7098, Arlington, VA 22202; LTC
                                                  Cemetery was unable to provide public                   Designated Federal Officer, via                       Stephen K. Barker, the committee’s
                                                  notification, as required by 41 CFR 102–                electronic mail, the preferred mode of                Designated Federal Officer (DFO), at
                                                  3.150(a), of its scheduled meeting of the               submission, at the address listed in the              (703) 545–8652 or email:
                                                  Remember Subcommittee on October                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT                       stephen.k.barker.mil@mail.mil, or Mr.
                                                  14, 2015. Accordingly, the Advisory                     section. Each page of the comment or                  Paul Woodward at (703) 695–8344 or
                                                  Committee Management Officer for the                    statement must include the author’s                   email: paul.j.woodward2.civ@mail.mil.
                                                  Department of Defense, pursuant to 41                   name, title or affiliation, address, and              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Due to
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  CFR 102–3.150(b), waives the 15-                        daytime phone number. Written                         circumstances beyond the control of the
                                                  calendar day notification requirement.                  comments or statements being                          Designated Federal Officer and the
                                                  This subcommittee meeting is being                      submitted in response to the agenda set               Department of Defense, the U.S. Army
                                                  held under the provisions of the Federal                forth in this notice must be received by              Science Board was unable to provide
                                                  Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5                       the Designated Federal Officer at least               public notification of its meeting of
                                                  U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the                      seven business days prior to the meeting              October 6, 2015, as required by 41 CFR
                                                  Sunshine in the Government Act of                       to be considered by the subcommittee.                 102–3.150(a). Accordingly, the Advisory
                                                  1976 (U.S.C. 552b, as amended) and 41                   The Designated Federal Officer will                   Committee Management Officer for the


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Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:31:13
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:31:13
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice; request for comments.
DatesComments must be received by December 29, 2015.
ContactShannon Bettridge, Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8402, [email protected]; Marcia Muto 206- 526-4026, [email protected], regarding Alaska regional stock assessments; Peter Corkeron, 508-495-2191, [email protected], regarding Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean regional stock assessments; or Jim Carretta, 858-546-7171, [email protected], regarding Pacific regional stock assessments.
FR Citation80 FR 58705 
RIN Number0648-XE12

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