Notice of Availability of Draft Stock Assessment Reports, 40299-40300 [E8-15995]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 135 / Monday, July 14, 2008 / Notices
Iron Ore Benchmark Calculation used to
measure the adequacy of remuneration of
Tata’s purchases of Coal and Iron Ore under
the Captive Mining Rights Program.
Comment 29: Whether the Department
Should Make Adjustments for the Benchmark
Prices of Tata Steel’s Iron Ore and Coal costs
on an equivalent basis.
Comment 30: Whether the TPS Conferred
Benefits upon Tata during the POR.
Comment 31: Whether the SDF Constitutes
a Financial Contribution.
Comment 32: Calculation of the Benefit to
Tata under the EPCGS.
Comment 33: Whether The Department
Should Revise The Manner In Which It
Conducted The ‘‘0.5’’ Percent Test When
Calculating The Benefit Attributable To Tata
Under The EPCGS.
Comment 34: Attribution of Subsidies
Received under the EPCGS.
Comment 35: The Use of Long-Term Prime
Lending Rates as Benchmarks.
Comment 36: Whether The Department
Should Countervail Tata’s Sales Of DFRC
Licenses An Untied Subsidy.
JSW
Comment 37: Whether the Department
Unlawfully Used AFA Rate for JSW.
Comment 38: Whether Assistance Under
The 1993 KIP Is Countervailable.
Comment 39: Whether JSW Purchased
High Grade Iron Ore for Less Than Adequate
Remuneration.
Comment 40: Whether Loan Guarantees
from the GOI Are Countervailable.
Comment 41: Whether JSW Has Captive
Mining Rights.
Comment 42: Whether the EPCGS Is
Countervailable.
Comment 43: Whether DEPS Is
Countervailable.
[FR Doc. E8–15966 Filed 7–11–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Background
RIN 0648–XI43
Notice of Availability of Draft Stock
Assessment Reports
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
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
2008 SARs.
DATES: Comments must be received by
October 14, 2008.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:08 Jul 11, 2008
Jkt 214001
The 2008 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.2008@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:
ADDRESSES:
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 nonstrategic stocks. NMFS and the FWS are
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Frm 00017
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
40299
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 2008 SARs.
Alaska Reports
Nineteen reports (15 strategic stocks
and four non-strategic stocks) were
revised, and 13 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 Potential Biological
Removal (PBR) levels for the following
stocks are proposed to be changed to
‘‘undetermined’’ because the abundance
estimates are based on data that are
more than 8 years old: beluga, Beaufort
Sea; beluga, E. Chukchi Sea; harbor
porpoise, Gulf of Alaska; harbor
porpoise, Bering Sea; harbor porpoise,
Southeast Alaska; humpback whale,
western North Pacific; humpback whale,
central North Pacific.
A ‘‘Habitat Concerns’’ section was
added or substantially updated for all
beluga whale stocks with the exception
of the Cook Inlet stock, for all harbor
porpoise stocks, and for gray whales. As
ice-associated species, beluga whales
(inhabiting the Bering Seas and farther
northward) and gray whales may be
vulnerable to loss of sea ice; however,
there is insufficient supporting
information to predict the types and
magnitudes of impacts to these species
at this time. As inhabitants of nearshore
areas, harbor porpoise may be
vulnerable to habitat modifications
accompanying urban or industrial
development; accordingly, increased
development could have localized
effects on harbor porpoise abundance or
distribution. The gray whale report was
updated to incorporate findings from a
recent paper that used genetics data to
estimate the historical abundance of
gray whales in the Pacific Ocean.
Atlantic Reports
Forty-three reports (11 strategic and
32 non-strategic) were revised in the
Atlantic region, including all reports for
marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico.
Fifteen reports were not revised. Most
updates were minor and did not change
the status of the affected stocks. NMFS
revised the status of beaked whales from
strategic to non-strategic due to the
absence of observed fishery bycatch in
recent years and the lack of confirmed
serious injuries or mortalities due to
E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM
14JYN1
40300
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 135 / Monday, July 14, 2008 / Notices
acoustic trauma as recommended by the
SRG. A new report was added this year
for the Western North Atlantic stock of
rough-toothed dolphins, which is a nonstrategic stock.
Extensive revision was made to the
report on the Atlantic coastal stocks of
bottlenose dolphins. The revisions
incorporate new information on
structure and migratory pattern, which
indicate a second (southern) migratory
stock that inhabits waters off the coast
of NC and VA in summer and migrates
to areas off the coasts of SC to northern
FL during winter. The revised report
excludes dolphins inhabiting bays,
sounds, and estuaries from the coasts
and does not contain stock-specific
mortality estimates. A separate report
for the bay, sound, estuary stocks and
stock-specific mortality estimates are
expected to appear in revisions for 2009.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Pacific Reports
Revisions for 2008 include 27 Pacific
marine mammal stocks under NMFS
jurisdiction, including nine ‘‘strategic’’
stocks and 18 ‘‘non-strategic’’ stocks
(see summary table). Thirty-seven
reports were not revised. New
abundance estimates are available for 20
stocks, including five endangered
species of large whales, the Hawaiian
monk seal, and southern resident killer
whales.
False killer whales in the Hawaii
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) have
been divided into two separate stocks
based upon recent sighting and genetic
data indicating that false killer whales
within 25–75 nmi of the main Hawaiian
Islands are demographically
independent of false killer whales
further offshore. Accordingly, the 2008
draft SAR recognizes Hawaii pelagic
and Hawaii insular stocks within the
Hawaii EEZ. As included since the 2007
final SAR, there is a third stock of false
killer whales found in the EEZ
surrounding Palmyra Atoll. The Hawaii
pelagic stock is a strategic stock, and the
other two stocks are non-strategic.
The status of one U.S. west coast
cetacean stock (’California long-beaked
common dolphin’) has changed from
‘‘strategic’’ to ‘‘non-strategic’’, based on
new estimates of abundance, a revised
PBR, and updates of incidental fishery
mortality levels. A SAR for the Eastern
Tropical Pacific stock of Bryde’s whale
will no longer be prepared, as
recommended by the Pacific SRG,
because whales of this stock rarely enter
U.S. waters; however, the SAR for the
Hawaiian stock of Bryde’s whales will
be retained in the 2008 and subsequent
reports.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:08 Jul 11, 2008
Jkt 214001
Dated: July 8, 2008.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–15995 Filed 7–11–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[Docket No. 080612761–8762–01]
Draft of the Education Strategic Plan
for NOAA: Engaging Educators,
Students and the Public To Meet
NOAA’s Mission Goals
Education Council, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for public comment.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
revising its Education Strategic Plan
(Plan). NOAA recently received broad
legislative authority from Congress
through the America COMPETES Act to
develop, support, promote, and
coordinate education activities to
enhance public awareness and
understanding of the ocean, coastal,
Great Lakes, and atmospheric science.
The draft Plan establishes goals for
NOAA education for the next twenty
years as specified by the America
COMPETES Act. NOAA encourages all
stakeholders and users to review the
Plan and provide comments.
DATES: Comments on this draft Plan
must be received by 5 p.m. EDT on
August 29, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The draft Plan will be
available on the following Web site
https://www.oesd.noaa.gov/
draft_ed_plan.html.
Comments should be submitted
electronically by e-mailing to
Education.Plan@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Storck, Education Analyst, NOAA
Office of Education, Phone: 202–482–
2226, e-mail: Steve.Storck@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout its two-hundred year
history, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
has imparted scientific knowledge of the
Earth’s natural systems to benefit
society. During this time, education was
guided by the vision of leadership, the
findings of researchers, the mandates of
legislation for programs within NOAA,
and to respond to the needs of society.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
In 2007, Congress officially
recognized the role of education in
NOAA with the passage of the America
COMPETES Act (Pub. L. 110–69). This
legislation mandates NOAA to
‘‘conduct, develop, support, promote,
and coordinate formal and informal
educational activities at all levels to
enhance public awareness and
understanding of ocean, coastal, Great
Lakes, and atmospheric science and
stewardship by the general public and
other coastal stakeholders, including
underrepresented groups in ocean and
atmospheric science and policy careers.
In conducting those activities, the
Administrator shall build upon the
educational programs and activities of
the agency.
The Administrator, appropriate
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration programs, ocean
atmospheric science and education
experts, and interested members of the
public shall develop a science education
plan setting forth education goals and
strategies for the Administration, as well
as programmatic actions to carry out
such goals and priorities over the next
20 years, and evaluate and update such
plan every 5 years.’’
In support of these priorities, the
legislation provides a mandate for the
entire NOAA community to advance
education efforts, focus them,
coordinate them, and engage a broad
community of partners in creating an
environmentally literate society and a
skilled workforce of scientists, managers
and administrators in support of a
sustainable economic future.
NOAA is revising its Education
Strategic Plan as specified in the
America COMPETES Act.
The Plan was developed through a
collaborative effort led by educators
across NOAA to guide the
implementation of this new mandate
and to advance the long standing
educational mission of the agency.
NOAA welcomes all comments on the
content of the draft Plan and requests
comments on any inconsistencies
perceived within the Plan, and possible
omissions of important topics or issues.
This draft Plan is being issued for
comment only and is not intended for
interim use. For any shortcoming noted
within the draft Plan, please propose
specific remedies. Suggested changes
will be incorporated where appropriate,
and a final Plan will be posted on the
NOAA Web site.
Please follow the format guidance for
preparing and submitting comments.
Using the format guidance will facilitate
the processing of comments and assure
that all comments are appropriately
considered.
E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM
14JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 135 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40299-40300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15995]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XI43
Notice of Availability of Draft 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 (MMPA). SARs for marine mammals in the
Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new
information. NMFS solicits public comments on draft 2008 SARs.
DATES: Comments must be received by October 14, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The 2008 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.2008@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
2008 SARs.
Alaska Reports
Nineteen reports (15 strategic stocks and four non-strategic
stocks) were revised, and 13 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 Potential
Biological Removal (PBR) levels for the following stocks are proposed
to be changed to ``undetermined'' because the abundance estimates are
based on data that are more than 8 years old: beluga, Beaufort Sea;
beluga, E. Chukchi Sea; harbor porpoise, Gulf of Alaska; harbor
porpoise, Bering Sea; harbor porpoise, Southeast Alaska; humpback
whale, western North Pacific; humpback whale, central North Pacific.
A ``Habitat Concerns'' section was added or substantially updated
for all beluga whale stocks with the exception of the Cook Inlet stock,
for all harbor porpoise stocks, and for gray whales. As ice-associated
species, beluga whales (inhabiting the Bering Seas and farther
northward) and gray whales may be vulnerable to loss of sea ice;
however, there is insufficient supporting information to predict the
types and magnitudes of impacts to these species at this time. As
inhabitants of nearshore areas, harbor porpoise may be vulnerable to
habitat modifications accompanying urban or industrial development;
accordingly, increased development could have localized effects on
harbor porpoise abundance or distribution. The gray whale report was
updated to incorporate findings from a recent paper that used genetics
data to estimate the historical abundance of gray whales in the Pacific
Ocean.
Atlantic Reports
Forty-three reports (11 strategic and 32 non-strategic) were
revised in the Atlantic region, including all reports for marine
mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. Fifteen reports were not revised. Most
updates were minor and did not change the status of the affected
stocks. NMFS revised the status of beaked whales from strategic to non-
strategic due to the absence of observed fishery bycatch in recent
years and the lack of confirmed serious injuries or mortalities due to
[[Page 40300]]
acoustic trauma as recommended by the SRG. A new report was added this
year for the Western North Atlantic stock of rough-toothed dolphins,
which is a non-strategic stock.
Extensive revision was made to the report on the Atlantic coastal
stocks of bottlenose dolphins. The revisions incorporate new
information on structure and migratory pattern, which indicate a second
(southern) migratory stock that inhabits waters off the coast of NC and
VA in summer and migrates to areas off the coasts of SC to northern FL
during winter. The revised report excludes dolphins inhabiting bays,
sounds, and estuaries from the coasts and does not contain stock-
specific mortality estimates. A separate report for the bay, sound,
estuary stocks and stock-specific mortality estimates are expected to
appear in revisions for 2009.
Pacific Reports
Revisions for 2008 include 27 Pacific marine mammal stocks under
NMFS jurisdiction, including nine ``strategic'' stocks and 18 ``non-
strategic'' stocks (see summary table). Thirty-seven reports were not
revised. New abundance estimates are available for 20 stocks, including
five endangered species of large whales, the Hawaiian monk seal, and
southern resident killer whales.
False killer whales in the Hawaii Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
have been divided into two separate stocks based upon recent sighting
and genetic data indicating that false killer whales within 25-75 nmi
of the main Hawaiian Islands are demographically independent of false
killer whales further offshore. Accordingly, the 2008 draft SAR
recognizes Hawaii pelagic and Hawaii insular stocks within the Hawaii
EEZ. As included since the 2007 final SAR, there is a third stock of
false killer whales found in the EEZ surrounding Palmyra Atoll. The
Hawaii pelagic stock is a strategic stock, and the other two stocks are
non-strategic.
The status of one U.S. west coast cetacean stock ('California long-
beaked common dolphin') has changed from ``strategic'' to ``non-
strategic'', based on new estimates of abundance, a revised PBR, and
updates of incidental fishery mortality levels. A SAR for the Eastern
Tropical Pacific stock of Bryde's whale will no longer be prepared, as
recommended by the Pacific SRG, because whales of this stock rarely
enter U.S. waters; however, the SAR for the Hawaiian stock of Bryde's
whales will be retained in the 2008 and subsequent reports.
Dated: July 8, 2008.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-15995 Filed 7-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
