[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 102 (Friday, May 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 30697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10668]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 031105D]


Endangered Fish and Wildlife; Marine Mammal Protection Act; Draft 
Conservation Plan for the Cook Inlet Stock of Beluga Whales; Reopening 
of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft conservation plan; reopening of 
public comment period.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reopening the comment period for the draft 
conservation plan for Cook Inlet beluga whales. The initial comment 
period ended May 16, 2005. The draft conservation plan is intended to 
promote the conservation and recovery of these whales so they are no 
longer considered depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

DATES: Written comments and information must be received by June 27, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft conservation plan may be reviewed and/or 
copied at NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 222 W. 7th Ave., (room 
517), Anchorage, AK 99513; or at the NMFS Alaska Regional Office, 
Protected Resources Division, 709 W. 9th St., P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802. It is available on the Internet at the following address: 
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/whales/beluga.htm.
    Comments on the draft conservation plan should be sent to the above 
addresses or may be submitted by email to the following address: [email protected]. Please identify electronic comments with the subject 
line: Beluga Whale Conservation Plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaja Brix, NOAA/NMFS, Alaska Region, 
(907)586-7235, or Brad Smith, NOAA/NMFS, Alaska Region, Anchorage Field 
Office, (907)271-5006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 16, 2005, NMFS announced the 
availability of a draft conservation plan for Cook Inlet beluga whales 
for public review and comment (70 FR 12853). The comment period for the 
draft plan ended May 16, 2005. During the comment period, several 
parties requested additional time to review the document and develop 
comments. Pursuant to these requests, NMFS is reopening the comment 
period for the draft plan for an additional 30-day period.

    Dated: May 23, 2005.
P. Michael Payne,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-10668 Filed 5-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S