|
|
Making Your Views Known On Marine Mammal Regulation
|
NMFS Reopens Comment Period for Stellar Sea Lion
On August 31, 2010, the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service published Federal Register notice that NMFS has reopened the comment period on its initiation of the 5-year review period for the eastern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Steller Sea Lion under the Endangered Species Act. NMFS extended the public comment period for an additional 45 days, to October 14, 2010.
The eastern DPS of the Steller Sea Lion is currently listed as threatened under the ESA.
A 5-year review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the ESA listing classification of a species is accurate and it is based on the best scientific and commercial data. The categories of information that NMFS will review for the Stellar Sea Lion include: (A) species biology, including, but not limited to, population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics; (B) habitat conditions, including, but not limited to, amount, distribution, and suitability; (C) conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the species; (D)
status and trends of threats; and (E) other new information, data, or corrections, including, but not limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of erroneous information contained in the list, and improved analytical methods.
The eastern DPS of the Steller Sea Lion is listed as a Distinct Population Segment of a vertebrate taxon. During its review, NMFS will also consider application of the DPS policy for vertebrate taxa. DPS is defined in the February 7, 1996, Policy Regarding the Recognition of Distinct
Vertebrate in Population Segments (61 FR 4722). For a population to be listed under the ESA as a DPS, three elements are considered: (1) the discreteness of the population segment in relation to the remainder of the species to which it belongs; (2) the significance of the population segment to the species to which it belongs; and (3) the DPS's conservation status in relation to the ESA's standards for listing (i.e., is the population segment endangered or threatened?). DPSs of vertebrate species, as well as subspecies of all listed species, may be proposed for separate reclassification or for removal from the list.
NMFS is extending the comment period on its initiation of the Stellar sea Lion review because NMFS original notice provided the wrong the email address and fax number to which comments and information should be sent.
Click here to read NMFS' Federal Register notice
|
OCS Scientific Committee Meets to Review BOEM Plans and Actions
The Outer Continental Shelf Scientific Committee, of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, will hold a Plenary Session on September 14-16, 2010, at the Embassy Suites Dulles North in Ashburn, Virginia.
A copy of the meeting agenda may be requested from BOEM by e-mailing Ms. Carolyn Beamer at carolyn.beamer@boemre.gov. Other inquiries concerning the OCS SC meeting should be addressed to Dr. James Kendall, Executive Secretary to the OCS SC, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, 381 Elden Street, Mail Stop 4043, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817, or by calling (703) 787-1656 or via e-mail at james.kendall@boemre.gov.
The OCS Scientific Committee will provide advice on the feasibility, appropriateness, and scientific value of the OCS Environmental Studies Program to the Secretary of the Interior through the Director of the BOEM. The Scientific committee will review the relevance of the research and data being produced to meet BOEM scientific information needs for decision making and may recommend changes in scope, direction, and emphasis.
On September 14, the Director of BOEM will address the Committee on the general status of
BOEM and its activities. There will be a presentation from NOAA on the Natural Resource
Damage Assessment process and on USGS science with respect to the Deepwater Horizon incident. The NRD assessment may include harm to marine mammals.
On Wednesday, September 15, the Committee will meet in discipline breakout sessions (i.e., biology/ecology, physical sciences, and social sciences) to review the specific studies plans of BOEM regional offices for Fiscal Years 2011-2013.
On Thursday, September 16, the Committee will meet in plenary session for reports of the individual discipline breakout sessions of the previous day and to continue with Committee business.
The meetings are open to the public. Approximately 30 visitors can be accommodated on a first-come-first-served basis at the plenary session.
|
|
