Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals, 26374 [E8-10380]

Download as PDF 26374 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 91 / Friday, May 9, 2008 / Notices ETP by Spanish-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating under Spanish jurisdiction. Dated: May 5, 2008. James W. Balsiger, Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–10379 Filed 5–8–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XG42 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding renewal. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant Administrator) has renewed the affirmative finding for the Republic of Ecuador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This affirmative finding will allow yellowfin tuna harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP) by Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating under Ecuadorian jurisdiction to be imported into the United States. The affirmative finding was based on review of documentary evidence submitted by the Republic of Ecuador and obtained from the InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the U.S. Department of State. The renewal is effective from April 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802–4213; phone 562–980–4000; fax 562–980–4018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows the entry into the United States of yellowfin tuna harvested by purse seine vessels in the ETP under certain conditions. If requested by the harvesting nation, the Assistant Administrator will determine whether to make an affirmative finding based upon documentary evidence provided by the government of the harvesting jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:01 May 08, 2008 Jkt 214001 nation, the IATTC, or the Department of State. The affirmative finding process requires that the harvesting nation is meeting its obligations under the IDCP and obligations of membership in the IATTC. Every 5 years, the government of the harvesting nation must request an affirmative finding and submit the required documentary evidence directly to the Assistant Administrator. On an annual basis, NMFS will review the affirmative finding and determine whether the harvesting nation continues to meet the requirements. A nation may provide information related to compliance with IDCP and IATTC measures directly to NMFS on an annual basis or may authorize the IATTC to release the information to NMFS to annually renew an affirmative finding determination without an application from the harvesting nation. An affirmative finding will be terminated, in consultation with the Secretary of State, if the Assistant Administrator determines that the requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no longer being met or that a nation is consistently failing to take enforcement actions on violations, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the IDCP. As a part of the affirmative finding process set forth in 50 CFR 216.24(f), the Assistant Administrator considered documentary evidence submitted by the Republic of Ecuador or obtained from the IATTC and the Department of State and has determined that Ecuador has met the MMPA’s requirements to receive an annual affirmative finding renewal. After consultation with the Department of State, the Assistant Administrator issued the Republic of Ecuador’s annual affirmative finding renewal, allowing the continued importation into the United States of yellowfin tuna and products derived from yellowfin tuna harvested in the ETP by Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating under Ecuadorian jurisdiction. Ecuador’s affirmative finding will remain valid through March 31, 2010, subject to subsequent annual reviews by NMFS. Dated: May 5, 2008. James W. Balsiger, Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–10380 Filed 5–8–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XH74 Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for an incidental take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). This document serves to notify the public of the availability for comment of a revised draft environmental assessment (EA) before a final decision on whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact and the permit is made by NMFS. The draft EA is revised to reflect a permit extension from five years to ten years. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. DATES: Written comments on the application and draft EA must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific time on May 23, 2008. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the application should be sent to Kristine Petersen, Salmon Recovery Division, 1201 N.E. Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to: UCRFisheriesEA.nwr@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following identifier: Comments on UCR recreational fisheries. Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (503) 872–2737. Requests for copies of the permit application should be directed to the Salmon Recovery Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232. The documents are also available on the Internet at www.nwr.noaa.gov. Comments received will also be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours by calling (503) 230–5409. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristine Petersen at (503) 230–5409. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is relevant to the following species and evolutionarily significant E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM 09MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 91 (Friday, May 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 26374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10380]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG42


Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding renewal.

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

SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant 
Administrator) has renewed the affirmative finding for the Republic of 
Ecuador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This affirmative 
finding will allow yellowfin tuna harvested in the eastern tropical 
Pacific Ocean (ETP) in compliance with the International Dolphin 
Conservation Program (IDCP) by Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels or 
purse seine vessels operating under Ecuadorian jurisdiction to be 
imported into the United States. The affirmative finding was based on 
review of documentary evidence submitted by the Republic of Ecuador and 
obtained from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and 
the U.S. Department of State.

DATES: The renewal is effective from April 1, 2008, through March 31, 
2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regional Administrator, Southwest 
Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 
90802-4213; phone 562-980-4000; fax 562-980-4018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows the 
entry into the United States of yellowfin tuna harvested by purse seine 
vessels in the ETP under certain conditions. If requested by the 
harvesting nation, the Assistant Administrator will determine whether 
to make an affirmative finding based upon documentary evidence provided 
by the government of the harvesting nation, the IATTC, or the 
Department of State.
    The affirmative finding process requires that the harvesting nation 
is meeting its obligations under the IDCP and obligations of membership 
in the IATTC. Every 5 years, the government of the harvesting nation 
must request an affirmative finding and submit the required documentary 
evidence directly to the Assistant Administrator. On an annual basis, 
NMFS will review the affirmative finding and determine whether the 
harvesting nation continues to meet the requirements. A nation may 
provide information related to compliance with IDCP and IATTC measures 
directly to NMFS on an annual basis or may authorize the IATTC to 
release the information to NMFS to annually renew an affirmative 
finding determination without an application from the harvesting 
nation.
    An affirmative finding will be terminated, in consultation with the 
Secretary of State, if the Assistant Administrator determines that the 
requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no longer being met or that a 
nation is consistently failing to take enforcement actions on 
violations, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the IDCP.
    As a part of the affirmative finding process set forth in 50 CFR 
216.24(f), the Assistant Administrator considered documentary evidence 
submitted by the Republic of Ecuador or obtained from the IATTC and the 
Department of State and has determined that Ecuador has met the MMPA's 
requirements to receive an annual affirmative finding renewal.
    After consultation with the Department of State, the Assistant 
Administrator issued the Republic of Ecuador's annual affirmative 
finding renewal, allowing the continued importation into the United 
States of yellowfin tuna and products derived from yellowfin tuna 
harvested in the ETP by Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels or purse 
seine vessels operating under Ecuadorian jurisdiction. Ecuador's 
affirmative finding will remain valid through March 31, 2010, subject 
to subsequent annual reviews by NMFS.

    Dated: May 5, 2008.
James W. Balsiger,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-10380 Filed 5-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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