Notice of Availability of Draft Stock Assessment Reports, 35428-35429 [E7-12561]

Download as PDF 35428 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 124 / Thursday, June 28, 2007 / Notices between NMFS and the Aleut Community. The permit also authorize incidental harassment of Steller sea lions and harbor seals. File No. 1119–1882: The permit issued to the Aleut Community of St. George Island authorizes activities to fulfill their Biosampling, Disentanglement, and Island Sentinel program responsibilities as established under the co-management agreement between NMFS and the Aleut Community. The permit also authorizes incidental harassment of Steller sea lions and harbor seals. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research was prepared to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of awarding grants and issuing permits to facilitate research on these species. Information about the PEIS is available at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ permits/eis/steller.htm. Issuance of the permits for research on Steller sea lions, as required by the ESA, was based on a finding that such permits: (1) were applied for in good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of such endangered species; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. Dated: June 21, 2007. Carrie W. Hubard, Acting Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–12558 Filed 6–27–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA34 Notice of Availability of Draft Stock Assessment Reports National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new information. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:23 Jun 27, 2007 Jkt 211001 NMFS solicits public comments on draft 2007 SARs. DATES: Comments must be received by September 26, 2007. ADDRESSES: The 2007 draft stock assessment reports are available in electronic form via the Internet at https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. Copies of the Alaska Regional SARs may be requested from Robyn Angliss, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE BIN 15700, Seattle, WA 98115–0070. Copies of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Regional SARs may be requested from Gordon Waring, 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. 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 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3226, Attn: Stock Assessments. Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to 301–427–2526 or via email to mmsar.2007@noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Eagle, Office of Protected Resources, 301–713–2322, ext. 105, e-mail Tom.Eagle@noaa.gov; Robyn Angliss 206- 526–4032, e-mail Robyn.Angliss@noaa.gov, regarding Alaska regional stock assessments; Gordon Waring, 508–495–2311, e-mail Gordon.Waring@noaa.gov, regarding Atlantic regional stock assessments; or Jim Carretta, 858–546–7171, e-mail 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. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 strategic stocks and stocks for which significant new information is available, and at least once every 3 years for nonstrategic stocks. 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 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 2007 SARs. Alaska Reports Twelve reports (11 strategic stocks and one non-strategic stock) were revised, and 24 reports were not revised. Most revisions included updates of abundance and mortality estimates and did not indicate a change in status of the affected stocks. The abundance of AT1 killer whales was reduced from eight to seven whales because one animal has not been seen in recent years and is presumed to have died. The ‘‘Status of Stock’’ section of the gray whale, western North Pacific stock, was updated to show that the best available scientific information indicates the stock is within its Optimum Sustainable Population levels. The gray whale stock was estimated to be between 71 percent and 102 percent of its current carrying capacity in 2002. The ‘‘Habitat Concerns’’ sections of the reports for Steller sea lions, western U.S. stock, and northern fur seals, Eastern Pacific stock, were expanded. Threats to the Steller sea lion stock were presented in a draft recovery plan released for public review and comment in May 2006 (71 FR 29919, May 24, 2006), and a summary of these threats was included in the revised SAR. For northern fur seals, the SAR was updated to include recent information, including the overlap in sizes of fish taken by fur seals and by commercial fishing. Atlantic Reports Fifty-six reports (16 strategic and 40 non-strategic) were revised in the Atlantic region, including all reports for marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. Two reports were not revised. Most updates were to include new abundance and mortality estimates and did not change the status of the affected stocks. The status of harbor porpoise, Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy stock, was updated to be strategic because human-caused mortality and serious injury have increased and PBR has decreased since the last mortality and abundance estimates were completed. E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM 28JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 124 / Thursday, June 28, 2007 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Twenty-nine reports (9 strategic and 20 non-strategic) were revised in the Pacific region. Thirty-two reports were not revised. Most revisions included updates of mortality or abundance estimates and did not result in a change in status of the affected stocks. A new stock of false killer whales (Palmyra Atoll) has been added to this year’s reports to reflect the availability of new genetic information for this species in the Pacific Islands Region. Both the Hawaii and Palmyra Atoll false killer whale stocks are included in a single report, labeled the ‘‘Pacific Islands Region Stock Complex’’. The reasons for combining stocks into one species report are to consolidate general text about the species and present all stock-specific abundance and mortality information on false killer whales within waters under the jurisdiction of the United States in a single report. The status of two stocks (California/ Oregon/Washington short-finned pilot whales and California long-beaked common dolphins) has changed from ‘‘not strategic’’ to ‘‘strategic’’. The change resulted from new estimates of abundance, which have decreased for both stocks since the last revision, and updates of incidental fishery mortality levels, which increased for long-beaked common dolphins. The name of the stock previously referred to as ‘‘East North Pacific Humpback Whale’’ has been changed to ‘‘California/Oregon/Washington Humpback Whale’’. Recent genetics information confirms that the stock is demographically independent from other aggregations of humpback whales in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean; therefore, the feeding aggregation is appropriately identified as a separate stock. The new stock identity did not substantially modify the PBR of the stock because, in accordance with NMFS’ guidelines for preparing SARs, the PBR had been estimated by using the abundance of whales in this aggregation. However, the revised abundance estimate is slightly higher, which resulted in a slight increase in PBR. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Pacific Reports Patent and Trademark Office Dated: June 22, 2007. Helen M. Golde, Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–12561 Filed 6–27–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:23 Jun 27, 2007 Jkt 211001 [Docket No. PTO–T–2007–0020] Notice of the Removal of the Paper Search Collection of Registered Marks That Include Design Elements from Trademark Search Library in Arlington, VA United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (‘‘USPTO’’) hereby provides notice of the microfilming and removal of the paper search collection of trademark registrations that include design elements from the USPTO’s Trademark Search Facility in Arlington, Virginia. DATES: Removal of the paper search collection of trademark registrations that include design elements shall be effected beginning no sooner than sixty (60) days from the date of this Notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia C. Lynch, Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks, 571– 272–8742. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Under 35 U.S.C. 41(i), the USPTO must maintain a collection of United States trademark registrations for use by the public in paper, microform, or electronic form. No such obligation exists with regard to trademark application files. The provision authorizing an electronic search collection of registered marks was added by section 4804(d)(1) of the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (‘‘AIPA’’), Title IV, Subtitle B, of Public Law 106–113, 113 Stat. 1501, 1501A–589. Section 4804(d)(2) of the AIPA requires that the USPTO not cease to maintain for use by the public its paper or microform collections of, inter alia, United States trademark registrations, except pursuant to notice and opportunity for public comment, and except where the USPTO Director has first submitted a report to the Committees of the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives detailing a plan to do so. The report must certify that the implementation of the plan will not negatively impact the public, and must include a ‘‘description of the mechanisms in place to ensure the integrity of such collections and the data contained therein, as well as to ensure prompt public access to the most current available information.’’ Id. By PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 35429 letters dated June 7, 2007, the USPTO submitted the requisite certification and report concerning its paper search collection of trademarks including design elements. The report and certification are currently available on the USPTO Web site at https:// www.uspto.gov/main/ newsandnotices.htm and https:// www.uspto.gov/web/trademarks/ reports/reportcongress20070604.htm. The USPTO currently maintains a searchable electronic database of registered marks and marks in pending applications, as well as text and images of marks in abandoned, cancelled and expired records dating back to 1984. Government insignia protected by U.S. law or by Article 6ter of the Paris Convention, and insignia that various federally and state recognized Native American tribes have identified as their official tribal insignia are also included. Trademark examining attorneys have relied exclusively on the electronic database since before 1990. The database available on the USPTO premises is called X-Search, and is accessible to the public at the USPTO’s Public Search Facility in Alexandria, Virginia. On the USPTO Web site, the database is referred to as the Trademark Electronic Search System (‘‘TESS’’). Marks that include design elements are searchable by design codes. A different design coding system is used with the electronic search systems than has been used with the paper collection of trademark registrations. The paper design coding system organizes design marks according to specific designations (such as ‘‘trees,’’ ‘‘grotesque humans’’ or ‘‘circles’’). Since 2001, these paper search designations (‘‘PSD’’) have been used to code registrations, but have not been used to code pending applications. The electronic design coding system is based on the International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (‘‘Vienna Classification’’). The Vienna Classification arises out of a multilateral treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization. It is a numerical classification index that codifies figurative design elements into categories. Each design element in a specific section is assigned a six-digit number. Design marks are coded by identifying the significant design elements and assigning the appropriate codes. The design codes cover all the possible designs that can appear in a trademark, and are used to search design marks. The Vienna Classification codes are applied to incoming applications and have been assigned to existing registrations. E:\FR\FM\28JNN1.SGM 28JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 124 (Thursday, June 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35428-35429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12561]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA34


Notice of Availability of Draft Stock Assessment Reports

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

ACTION:  Notice of availability; 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 (MMPA). SARs for marine mammals in the 
Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new 
information. NMFS solicits public comments on draft 2007 SARs.

DATES:  Comments must be received by September 26, 2007.

ADDRESSES:  The 2007 draft stock assessment reports are available in 
electronic form via the Internet at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/.
    Copies of the Alaska Regional SARs may be requested from Robyn 
Angliss, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE 
BIN 15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070.
    Copies of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Regional SARs may be 
requested from Gordon Waring, 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.
    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. Comments may 
also be sent via facsimile (fax) to 301-427-2526 or via email to 
mmsar.2007@noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Tom Eagle, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-713-2322, ext. 105, e-mail Tom.Eagle@noaa.gov; Robyn 
Angliss 206- 526-4032, e-mail Robyn.Angliss@noaa.gov, regarding Alaska 
regional stock assessments; Gordon Waring, 508-495-2311, e-mail 
Gordon.Waring@noaa.gov, regarding Atlantic regional stock assessments; 
or Jim Carretta, 858-546-7171, e-mail 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. 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 3 years for non-strategic stocks. 
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 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 
2007 SARs.

Alaska Reports

    Twelve reports (11 strategic stocks and one non-strategic stock) 
were revised, and 24 reports were not revised. Most revisions included 
updates of abundance and mortality estimates and did not indicate a 
change in status of the affected stocks. The abundance of AT1 killer 
whales was reduced from eight to seven whales because one animal has 
not been seen in recent years and is presumed to have died.
    The ``Status of Stock'' section of the gray whale, western North 
Pacific stock, was updated to show that the best available scientific 
information indicates the stock is within its Optimum Sustainable 
Population levels. The gray whale stock was estimated to be between 71 
percent and 102 percent of its current carrying capacity in 2002.
    The ``Habitat Concerns'' sections of the reports for Steller sea 
lions, western U.S. stock, and northern fur seals, Eastern Pacific 
stock, were expanded. Threats to the Steller sea lion stock were 
presented in a draft recovery plan released for public review and 
comment in May 2006 (71 FR 29919, May 24, 2006), and a summary of these 
threats was included in the revised SAR. For northern fur seals, the 
SAR was updated to include recent information, including the overlap in 
sizes of fish taken by fur seals and by commercial fishing.

Atlantic Reports

    Fifty-six reports (16 strategic and 40 non-strategic) were revised 
in the Atlantic region, including all reports for marine mammals in the 
Gulf of Mexico. Two reports were not revised. Most updates were to 
include new abundance and mortality estimates and did not change the 
status of the affected stocks. The status of harbor porpoise, Gulf of 
Maine/Bay of Fundy stock, was updated to be strategic because human-
caused mortality and serious injury have increased and PBR has 
decreased since the last mortality and abundance estimates were 
completed.

[[Page 35429]]

Pacific Reports

    Twenty-nine reports (9 strategic and 20 non-strategic) were revised 
in the Pacific region. Thirty-two reports were not revised. Most 
revisions included updates of mortality or abundance estimates and did 
not result in a change in status of the affected stocks.
    A new stock of false killer whales (Palmyra Atoll) has been added 
to this year's reports to reflect the availability of new genetic 
information for this species in the Pacific Islands Region. Both the 
Hawaii and Palmyra Atoll false killer whale stocks are included in a 
single report, labeled the ``Pacific Islands Region Stock Complex''. 
The reasons for combining stocks into one species report are to 
consolidate general text about the species and present all stock-
specific abundance and mortality information on false killer whales 
within waters under the jurisdiction of the United States in a single 
report.
    The status of two stocks (California/Oregon/Washington short-finned 
pilot whales and California long-beaked common dolphins) has changed 
from ``not strategic'' to ``strategic''. The change resulted from new 
estimates of abundance, which have decreased for both stocks since the 
last revision, and updates of incidental fishery mortality levels, 
which increased for long-beaked common dolphins.
    The name of the stock previously referred to as ``East North 
Pacific Humpback Whale'' has been changed to ``California/Oregon/
Washington Humpback Whale''. Recent genetics information confirms that 
the stock is demographically independent from other aggregations of 
humpback whales in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean; therefore, the 
feeding aggregation is appropriately identified as a separate stock. 
The new stock identity did not substantially modify the PBR of the 
stock because, in accordance with NMFS' guidelines for preparing SARs, 
the PBR had been estimated by using the abundance of whales in this 
aggregation. However, the revised abundance estimate is slightly 
higher, which resulted in a slight increase in PBR.

    Dated: June 22, 2007.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-12561 Filed 6-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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