FederalRegister I Vol. 55, No. 66 / Thursday,April 5, 1990 / Rules and Regulations 12645

MarineMammalLaboratory,Seattle,WA. 206—526—4045. -

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration

50 CFR Part 227[DocketNo. 900387-00871

Usting of Steller Sea Lions asThreatened Under EndangeredSpecies Act With ProtectiveRegulations

AGENCY: NationalMarine FisheriesService(NMFS). NOAA4 Commerce.ACTIOW. Emergencyinterimrule andrequestfor comments.

SUMMARY: Thenumberof Steller(northern)sealions (Eumetopiasjubatus)observedon certain rookeriesin Alaska declinedby 63%since1985aridby 82%since1960.Thedeclines arespreading topreviouslystableareasandaccelerating. Significantdeclineshavealso occurredon theKuril Islands,USSR.NMFS is listing the Stellersealion asathreatenedspeciesundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct of 1973, 16U.S.C.1531etseq.(ESA) and isestablishingprotectiveregulationsasemergencyinterim measures tobeginthepopulationrecoveryprocess.Commentsarerequestedon whether ornot thespeciesshouldbe listed asendangeredor threatened,possiblecauses ofthe decline,andconservationmeasuresandprotectiveregulationsneededto preventfurtherdeclines.DATES: This emergencyrule is effectiveon April 5, 1990,and expiresonDecember31, 1990.Commentsarerequestedby May 7, 1990.ADDRESSES: Commentsshouldbemailedto Dr. Nancy Foster,Director,Office ofProtectedResourcesandHabitatPrograms(F/PR),NMFS,1335East-WestHighway,Silver Spring,MD20910.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Dr. Charles Karnella,Chief,ProtectedSpeciesManagementDivision, SilverSpring,MD, 301—427—2322,orDr.HowardBraham, Director,National

TheSteller(northern)sealion,Eumetopiasjubatus,rangesfromHokkaido,Japan,throughtheKurilIslandsandOkhotskSea,AleutianIslandsandcentralBeringSea, GulfofAlaska, southeastAlaska,andsouthtocentralCalifornia. Thereis not sufficientinformationto consideranimalsindifferent geographicregionsas separatepopulations.Thecentersof abundanceanddistributionare theGulf of AlaskaandAleutianIslands,respectively.Rookeries (breedingcolonies)arefoundfrom thecentralKuril Islands(46~N.) toAno NuevoIslandCalifornia(37~N.);mostlargerookeriesarein theGulf ofAlaska and AleutianIslands.More than50 Stellersealion rookeriesandagreaternumberof haulout siteshavebeenidentified.

In 1985,68,000animalswerecountedin Alaskafrom KenaiPeninsulato KiskaIsland, comparedto 140,000countedin1956-60.A 1988Status Reportconcludedthatthepopulationsizein 1985wasprobablybelow50%of thehistoricpopulationsizein 1956-60andbelowthelower boundof its optimumsustainablepopulationlevel undertheMarine MammalProtectionAct, 16U.S.C.etseq. (MMPA). A 1989surveyshowed that the number ofobservedanimalsfromKenaito Kiska declinedto25,000animals.This indicatesadeclineof about82% from 1956-60to 1989 in thisarea.Thecountsarenot anestimate oftotal numbersof animalsbut includeonly thoseanimalson thebeach(excludingpups)at thetime of thesurvey.As such,theycanbe usedtoindicatetrendsin abundance,ratherthanestimatingtotal speciesabundance.Copiesof the1988StatusReportand a1989Updateareavailablefrom theADDRESSES listedabove.

Speciesabundanceestimatesduringthelate1970srangedfrom245—290,000adultandjuvenileanimals. Althoughwedo not have currentpopulationestimates,total countsof sealionsduring the1989surveywere about66,000.with declines reportedon theKuril Islands, Aleutian Islands, andtheGulf of Alaska:

AlaskaW& OK andCA... ..

British Columbia ...... ........

SovietUnion ...... ..

53,0004,0006,0003,000

60,000

12646 FederalRegister I Vol. 55, No. 66 / Thursday, April 5. 1990 / Rules and Regulations

DesignationUnderthe MMPABasedon the1988StatusReport,

NMFS intendedto prepareaproposedruleto designatetheSteller sealions inAlaskaasdepleted under theMMPAandpublishedanAdvanceNoticeofProposedRulemaking(53FR 16299,May6, 1988).Most commentsexpressedstrongconcernthat adepletiondesignation forSteller sealionswouldseriouslycurtailor possiblyendcommercialfishing, especially trawlfishing, in thesealion’s range becauseincidentaltake of depletedstockswasprohibitedby theNMPA.

In October1988,theMMPA wasamendedto includeanewsection114 toreplacemostearlierprovisionsforgrantingincidential takeauthoritytocommercialfishermenwith an interimexemptionsystemvalid until October1.1093.Thepurposeof thenewsystemwasto provide betterinformationoninteractions betweencommercialfisheriesandmarinemammalsandallowscommercialfishing operationstocontinuewhether ornot depletedstocksorstocksof unknownstatusweretaken.Information collectedduringtheexemptionperiodwill be usedin thedevelopmentof along-termprogramgoverningthetakingof marinemammalsassociatedwith commercialfishing afterOctober1, 1993.

Petitionfor ListingOnNovember21, 1989,the

EnvironmentalDefenseFundand17otherenvironmentalorganizationspetitionedNMFS for anemergency rulelistingall populationsof Steller sealionsin Alaskaasendangeredandto initiatearulemakingto makethatemergencylistingpermanent.Undersection4 of theESA, NMFS determinedthat thepetitionpresentedsubstantialinformationindicatingtheactionmaybewarrantedandrequestedcomments (February22,1990, 55 FR 6301).Commentsreceivedinresponseto thatnoticeandthisemergencyrulewill beconsideredindeterminingwhetherthespeciesshouldbe propoFedfor listing asendangeredorthreatened.

Summaryof FactorsAffecting theSpecies

An endangeredspecies isany specieswhich is in danger ofextinctionthroughoutall or asignificantportionofits rangeandathreatenedspeciesis anyspecieswhich is likely to becomeanendangered species withintheforeseeablefurturethroughoutall or asignificantportion of its range.Speciesmaybedeterminedto beendangeredorthreateneddue to one ormoreof the fivefactorsdescribedin section4(a)(1)of

theESA. Thesefactorsasthey apply toSteller sealions are asfollows:

A. Thepresentor threateneddestruction, modification,or curtailmentofits habitator range.Steller sealionsbreedon islandsin theNorthPacificOceangenerallyfar fromhumanhabitations.Although rookeryspaceavailability couldbe alimiting factor forthis species.there isno evidenceofrookeryhabitatcurtailment.In fact,asthenumberof animals continuestodecline, rookeriesarebeing abandonedand availablerookeryspace isincreasing.

The feedinghabitats ofStellersealions in Alaskamay havechanged.Stateof Alaskabiologistsfound thatpopulations in theGulf ofAlaskaduringthe1980shad slowergrowthrates,poorerphysicalfitness (lowerweights,smallergirth),and loweredbirth rates.Somedatashowahigh negativecorrelation betweenthe amountofwalleyepollock caughtand sealionabundance trends in theeasternAleutians and centralGulf of Alaska.Itis possiblethatareductioninavailability of pollock, themostimportantpreyspeciesin mostareas,isacontributingfactorin thedeclinein thenumberof Steller sealions in westernandcentralAlaska.

B. Overutilizationfor commercial,recreationaLscientific, oreducationalpurposes.Between1963—72,over45,000Stellersealion pups werecommerciallyharvestedin the eastern AleutianIslands andGulf of Alaska.Thisharvestmay explain declines seen in theseareasthroughthe1970s.Smallsubsistenceharvestsof Stellersea lionsoccurin Alaska but are not ofsufficientmagnitudeto contribute to the overalldecline.A smallnumberhas also beentakenfor public display andscientificresearchpurposes.

C. Disease orpredation.Sharks,killerwhales and brown bears are known topreyon Stellersealion pups.Mortalityfrom sharks and bears are notconsidered to besignificant.When sealion abundance washigh, the level ofmortality from killer whales wasprobably notsignificantbut as sealionnumbersdecline this mortalitymayexacerbatethe decline in certain areas.

Disease resultingin reproductivefailure ordeathcouldbe asourceofincreasedmortality inStellersealionpopulations, butit probablydoesnotexplain themassivedeclines innumbers.Antibodies totwo typesofpathologicalbacteria(LeptospiroandChiamydia)and onemarinecalicivirus(SanMiguel SeaLion Virus) werefoundin the blood ofStellersealions inAlaska.LeptospiresandSan Miguelsea

lion virusesmay be associatedwithreproductive failuresanddeathsinCalifornia sealions andNorthPacificfur seals.Chlamydiahasnot beenstudied previouslyin sealions, but isknownfrom studiesof Pribilof Islandfurseals.None of theseagentsis thoughttobeasignificantcauseof mortality inSteller sealions.

D. Theinadequacyofexistingregulatorymechanisms.Someprotectionfor theSteller sealion isprovided underMMPA which prohibitsthetakingof Steller sealions withcertainexceptionsincludinganinterimexemptionfor commercialfishing. Once1,350Steller sealions have beenkilledincidentalto commercialfishing, section114 of theMMPA requiresNMFS toprescribeemergencyregulationstoprevent tothe maximumextentpracticableanyfurther taking.Intentionallethal takes areprohibited.In addition,section114(g)of theMMPAprovidesthat regulationsmaybeprescribedto preventtakingof a marinemammalspecies in acommercialfisheryif it is determinedthattheincidentaltakingof themarinemammalin thatfisheryis having or will likely have asignificantadverseimpacton thatmarinemammalpopulationstock.TheMMPA alsorequiresNMFS to prepareaconservationplanfor Steiler sealionsby December31, 1990.

E. Other natural ormanmadefactorsaffecting its continued existence.Stellersealionsaretakenincidentaltocommercialfishing operationsin theGulf ofAlaskaandtheBering Sea.

Between1973—1988,U.S. observersonforeignandjoint venturevesselsoperatingin theseareasreported3,661marinemammalstaken.Steller sealionsaccountedfor 90%of this observedtotal.Basedon these observed takes and anextrapolationof total tonnageof fishcaughtover thistime period,the totalnumber ofStellersealions incidentallykilled by theforeignandjoint venturecommercialtrawl fisheriesduring1973—1988 is an estimated14,000.However,since1965 thelevel andrateof observedincidentaltakehasdecreasedto thepoint where, byitself, it is not sufficientto accountfor themostrecentlyobserved declines.Incidencesoffishermen shootingadultStellersealions at rookeries,haul out sites,andinthe waternear boats have beenreported,but themagnitudeof thissourceof mortality is unknown.

Observer programsunder theMMPA,andfor thegroundfishfisheriesofAlaskaundertheMagnuson FisheryConservationandManagementAct of1976,asamended,16 U.S.C.1801et seq.(MagnusonAct), will assistNMFS in

FederalRegister /VoI. 55, No. 66 I Thursday,April 5, 1990 I Rules and Regulations

determiningwhethertheincidentaltakeof Stellersealions duringcommercialfishing operationsor otherobservableactivitiesarefactorsin thedeclinein thenumberof theseanimalsin Alaska.

Reasons forEmergencyDetermination

As discussedabove,thenumberofSteller sealions observedon certainrookeriesin Alaskadeclinedby 63%since1985andby 82%since1960.Thedeclinesarespreadingto previouslystableareas andaccelerating.Thedeclinehas spreadfrom theeasternAleutian Islands, where the declinebeganin the early1970s,eastto the Gulfof Alaska,and west to thepreviouslystable centralAleutianIslands.Significantdeclines have also occurredon the Kuril Islands,USSR.Theratesofdecline inthe easternAleutian Islandsand the westernGulf of Alaska areincreasing.The cause(s)of thesedeclines have notbeendetermined,andessential research iscontinuing.

NMFS concludes thattheStellersealion should be listed as athreatenedspecieson anemergencyinterimbasisand believes thatimmediateimplementationof theprotectivemeasures ofthe ESAwill aid recoveryefforts.

AvailableConservationMeasures

Conservationmeasuresfor speciesthat are listed as endangered orthreatenedunderthe ESAincluderecognition,recoveryactions.implementationof certain protectivemeasures,anddesignationandprotectionof critical habitat.Section7(a) of theESA requires Federalagenciesto carryout programsfor theconservation ofendangeredandthreatenedspecies. Section7(b) requiresthateachFederalagencyinsurethatanyactionauthorized, funded,orcarriedoutby the agencyis not likely to jeopardizethecontinuedexistenceof alistedspeciesor resultin thedestructionoradversemodificationof its criticalhabitat.

In thecase ofthe Stellersealion,Federalactions mostlikely to affect thisspeciesincludeapprovalandimplementationofFisheryManagementPlansandregulationsundertheMagnusonAct, permittedactivitiesassociatedwith timber,mineral,andoildevelopmenton land nearrookeriesandhaulout sites,andleasingactivitiesassociatedwith oil andgasexplorationanddevelopmenton theOuterContinentalShelf.

In addition, thefollowing emergencyconservationmeasuresarebeingimplementedby NMFS to facilitaterecoveryof theStellersealion:

A. Management Actions1.Monitoring incidental take in

fisheries.Undertheinterim exemptionsystemestablishedby the1988MMPAamendments,all CategoryI fisheriesaresubject to20—35%observercoverage.Similarly, almostall Federally-licensedvesselsin groundfishfisheries offAlaskawill carry observers.Allgroundfishvesselsover125 feet inlengthandall foreignvesselswill carryobserversat all times.Eachgroundfishvessel of60—125feet in lengthwill carryobserversduring30%of its operationsineachthree-monthperiod.Theseobserverprograms,togetherwithestimatesof fishing effort,will be usedto makemonthly estimatesof thelevelof incidentalkill of Steller sealions inobservedfisheries.NMFS mayalsoestablishadditionalobserverprogramsin otherfisheries undertheauthorityinthis emergencyrule. TheseactionswillallowNMFS tomonitoraquotaorcatchlimit for Steller sealions.

2. Enforcement.NMFS intends toaggressivelyenforce theseregulations,especiallyas theyrelateto intentional,lethaltakesof Steller sealions.Enforcementresourceswill be provided,to theextentpossible.to coverareasandseasonswhereSteller sealions aremostvulnerable,to initiate anactiveTIP/RewardProgram,and topromotepublicawareness.

3. Establishmentofa RecoveryProgram.NMFS is establishingaRecoveryTeamto providerecommendationson furtherconservationmeasures.Membersof theNorth PacificFisheryManagementCouncil,theMarineMammalCommission,stateagencies,andotherprominentscientists andenvironmentalistswill beinvited toparticipatein developingandimplementinga recoveryprogram.ThePacificStatesMarineFisheriesCommission,in emergencyconsultationwith interestedparties.held aworkshopon February21—22 to identify andassessadditionalpossibleactionsthatmight beundertakenon anemergencybasis.

B. ProtectiveRegulations1. Prohibit shootingnear sealions.

Although theMMPA prohibitsintentionallethaltake ofSteller sealions in thecourseof commercialfishing, fishermenhavenot beenprohibitedfrom harassingsealions thatareinterferingwith theirgear orcatchby shootingat or nearthem.Since thesepracticesmay resultin inadvertentmortalities,NMFS is prohibitingshootingat or nearSteller sealions.

2.Establish BufferZones.NMFS isestablishingabufferzoneof 3 nautical

12647

miles aroundthe principleStellersealion rookeriesin theGulf of AlaskaandtheAleutianIslands.RookeriesinsoutheasternAlaska, eastof 141~Wlongitude,havenot experiencedthedeclinesreportedin centralandwesternAlaskaandno bufferzonesareestablishedfor theseareas.Novesselsareallowedto operatewithin the 3-milebufferzonesduringtheperiodof thisemergencyrule. Similarly, no personmayapproachon landcloserthanone-half(½)mile orwithin sightof thelistedSteller sealion rookeries.OnMarmotIsland,no personmay approachcloserthanone andone-half(1½)milesfromtheeasternshore.MarmotIslandhastraditionallybeenthemostimportantSteller sealion rookeryin Alaskaandtheeasternbeachesareusedthroughouttheyearby Steller sealions.

Thepurposesof thebuffer zonesincluderestrictingtheopportunitiesforindividuals to shoot at sealions andfacilitating enforcementof thisrestriction;reducing thelikelihood ofinteractionswith sealions,suchasaccidentsor incidentaltakingsin theseareaswhereconcentrationsof theseanimalsareexpectedto behigh;minimizing distrubancesandinterference withsealion behavior,especiallyat puppingandbreedingsites;and, avoidingor minimizing otherrelated adverseaffects.Exceptionsareprovidedfor emergencysituationsandnavigationaltransit ofcertainpassagewaysand straits.Furthermore,amechanismis providedto allowtheRegional Director, withtheconcurrenceof theAssistantAdministrator,toprovideexemptions forcertainactivities.All exemptionsmustbeinwriting andobtainedin advance oftheactivity. In orderto beeligible for anexemption,theactivity mustnot haveasignificant adverseimpacton sealions,theactivity musthave beenconductedhistorically or traditionally in the bufferzones,andtheremustbeno feasiblyavailableandacceptable alternativetoor sitefor theactivity.

An exceptionis includedin theregulationsfor conductingresearchonSteller sealions providedthattheresearchis authorizedby ascientificpermit issuedundertheMMPA. Becausethis is an emergencyactionandNMFSdoesnot wantto delayvaluableresearch,NMFSis not requiringaseparate researchpermitunder theESA.

3. EstablishIncidentalKill Quota.WhentheMMPA wasamendedin 1988to require emergencyregulationsonce1,350Steller sealions wereincidentallykilled in anyyear,thepopulationnumberswerebased,in part, on 1985data.In four studyareasin Alaska,

12648 FederalRegister I Vol. 55, No. 66 / Thursday, April5, 1990 / Rules and Regulations

Steller sea lions declined byanaverageof 63%from 1965to 1989.Therefore, asan emergencyinterimmeasureNMFSbelievesthat theincidentalkilling ofmorethan675Stellersealions onanannualbasisshould beprohibitedinAlaskan watersandadjacentareasoftheU.S.ExclusiveEconomicZone(EEZ)west of141 W longitude.The mostseriousdeclinesin numbersof Stellersealions haveoccurredin this area.Asdiscussedabove,in associationwiththis quota,NMFSis instituting a moreefficient monitoringsystem.If NMFSdeterminesandpublishesnoticethat675Steilersealionshavebeenkilled in thisareaduring1990,it will beunlawful tokill anyadditional Steller sealion.Animals killedduring 1990prior to thepublicationof this emergencyrulewillbecountedagainstthis quota.NMFSmay issueemergencyrules to allocatethequotaamongvariousfisheries,establishclosedareas,or takeotheractionto ensurethatcommercialfishingoperationsdo no exceedthe quota.

Critical Habitat

The ESA requiresthatcritical habitatbe specifiedto themaximumextentprudentand determinable atthe timethe species is proposed forlisting. NMFSintendsto propose criticalhabitatat theearliestpossible date as a part of thepermanentrulemaking.NMFS willconsiderphysicalandbiological factorsessentialtothe conservation of thespecies thatmayrequirespecialmanagementconsideration orprotection.Thesehabitatrequirementsincludebreedingrookeries, hauioutsites,feedingareasand nutritionalrequirements. Indescribingcriticalhabitat,NMFS will take intoconsiderationterrestrial habitatsadjacentto rookeriesandtheirneedforprotectionfrom developmentandotheruses, such aslogging ormining.

Classification

SincetheAssistantAdministratorforFisheries,NOAA. has determinedthatthepresent situationposes asignificantrisk to thewell-beingof Steller sealionpopulations,emergencyregulationscanbeissuedundersection4(b)(7)of theESA. TheAssistantAdministratorfindsthat reasonsjustifying promulgationofthis ruleon anemergencybasis make itimpracticableandcontrary to thepublicinterestto providenoticeandopportunity forprior commentor todelay for 30 days itseffectivedateundersection533(b)and(dJ of theAdministrative ProcedureAct.

Section4(b){1) of theESA restrictstheinformation whichmaybe consideredwhen assessingspeciesfor listing. Basedon this limitation andtheopinion inPacificLegalFoundationv. Andrus,675F.2d 829 (6thdr., 1981),NMFS hascategoricallyexcludedall listingactionsundertheESAfrom environmentalassessmentrequirementsof the NationalEnvironmentalPolicy Act (48FR 4413—23, February6, 1984).

As noted in theConferencereport onthe1982amendments to theESA,economicconsiderationshavenorelevance todeterminationsregardingthestatusof species.Therefore,theeconomicanalysisrequirementsofExecutiveOrder12291,theRegulatoryFlexibility Act, andthePaperworkReductionAct are not applicable tothelising process.

List of Subjects in50 CFR Part227

EndangeredandThreatenedspecies,Exports,Imports,Marine mammals,Transportation.

Dated:April 2, 1990.

William W. Fox,Jr.,AssistantAdministratorforFisheries.

PART227—EAMENDED]

1. Theauthority citation forpart227continuesto readasfollows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C.1531etseq.

2. Section227.4is amendedby addinga new paragraph(f) from April 5, i990throughDecember3, 1990,to readasfollows:

§ 227.4 EnumeratIonofthreatenedspecies.* * * * *

(11 Steller (northern)sealion(Eumetopiasjubatus).

3. Section227.12 isaddedto supbartBfrom April 5, 1990,throughDecember3,1990,to readasfollows:

§ 227.12 Stettersea lion.(a)Prohibitions—(1)No dischargeof

firearms.Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(b) of this section,no personsubjectto thejurisdiction of theUnitedStatesmaydischargeafirearmat ornearaStellersealion. A firearm is anyweapon,suchasapistol or rifle,capableof firing amissileusing anexplosivecharge as apropellant.

(2) Noapproachin bufferareas.Exceptas provided inparagraph(b) ofthis section;

(1) No owneror operator of a vesselmay allow the vessel to approach within3 nauticalmilesof aSteller sealionrookerysite listedin paragraph(a)(3)ofthis section;

(ii) Noperson mayapproachon landnot privately owned within one-halfstatutorymile orwithin sight of a Stellersealion rookerysite listed in paragraph(a)(3)of this section,whichever isgreater,excepton Marmot Island;and

(iii) No personmay approachon landnot privatelyownedwithin oneandone-halfstatutorymiles orwithin sightof theeasternshoreof MarmotIsland,includingtheStellersealion rookerysite listedin paragraph(a){3) of thissection,whichever isgreater.

(3) Listedsealion rookerysites.Listed Stellersealion rookerysitesconsist of therookeriesin theAleutianIslandsandtheGulf of AlaskalistedinTable1.

TABLE 1.—LISTED STELLER SEA LION ROOKERY SITES 1

Outer ISugartoafI.Marmot I....Chinkof I...~ I

From To NOAAchart NotesLat. Long. Let Long.

Atkins I —

Chemabura I..._.Pinnacle RockClubbing Rks(N).Clubbing Rks(S).SeaLion Rks._~Ugamak L

Akutar I

59’20.5N58~53.ON58’1~30N55’47.5 N56’02.O N55’03.5 N54’47.5 N54~46ON54’43.O N54’42.O N55’28.O N5414.O N5497.5 N54’OS.S N

1 50’23.O W1 5202.OW151’48.OW155’33.5 WI 56~41.0 W15998.5 W159’31.0W161’46.OW162’26.5 W162~26.5W163’12.OW16448.0W165’34.OWt66’OO.0 W

51’21.0N

58’09.5 N65’48.5 N56’01.5 N

54’45.5 N

54’t3.0 N54’te.O N54’05.5 N

I50’24.5 W

151’52.0W155’43.0 W156.44.0W

15933.5W

164’48.0W165’31.0Wt66’05.0W

1668116580165801658016013165401654016540165401654016520165201652016520

S quadrantwhole island.SE quadrantS quadrantS quadrant.whole island.SE corner.whole island.whole island.whole island.whole island.E end of island.BiHings Head BightSW corner, Cape Morgan.

FederalRegister / Vol. 55, No. 66 / Thursday,April 5, 1990 / Rulesand Regulations 12649

TABLE 1.—LISTED STELLER SEA LION ROOKERY SITES ‘—Continued

IslandFrom To

hAAc a.

NotesLat. Long. Lat. Long.

Bogoslot IOgchul I

53’56.0N53~00.ON

16802.0W168’24.0 W

1650016500

whole island.whole island.

Adugak IYunaskaI ..

52’54.5N5242.0N

169’09.5 W170’38.5 W 52’41.0N 170’34.5 W

1650016500

whole island.NE end.

SeguamI 52’21.0N 172’35.OW 52’21.0N 17233.0W 16480 N coast,SaddlendgePt.Agligadalt IKasatochiI

52°06.25N52’10.0 N

17254.0W175’31.0 W 5210.5N 175’29.0 W

1648016480

whole island.N half of island.

Adak I 51 ‘36.0N 1 76’55.5W 51 ‘38.0 N 1 76’59.0 W 16460 SWpoint, Cape Yakak.Gramprock 51’29.0 N 178~20.5W 16460 whole island.Tag IUlak I

5133.5N51’20.0N

178~34.5W17857.0W 5118.5N 178~59.5W

1646016460

whole island.SEcorner, Hasgox Pt.

Sernisopochnoi 5158.5N 179’45.5 E 51~57.0N 17946.0E 16440 E quadrant, Pochnoi Pt.Semisopochnoi 52~01.5N 179’37.5 E 52’01.5 N 17939.0E 16440 N quadrant, Petrel Pt.Amchitka I 51’23.5N 179’26.0 E 51’22.0 N 179’23.0 E 16440 East Cape.Amchitka I 51’32.5N 178’50.0 E 16440 Column Rocks.Ayugadak PtKiska I

51’45.5 N51’56.5 N

178’24.5 E177’lg.OE 51’58.0N 177’20.5 E

1644016440

SE coast of Rat I.W central, Lief Cove.

Kiska I 51’53.0N 177’13.0E 51’54.0N 177’14.O E 16440 Cape St. Stephen.I Each site extends from the first coordinates listed for latitude and longitude along the shoreline at mean lower low water to the second coordinates listed; or, if

only one set of coordinates is listed, the site extends around the entire shoreline of the island at mean lower low water.

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12662 FederalRegister/ Vol. 55, No. 66 / Thursday,April 5, 1990 / Rules and Regulations

(4) Quota.—IftheAssistantAdministrator determines and publishesnotice that675 Stellersealions havebeen killedincidentallyin the courseofcommercialfishing operationsinAlaskanwatersandadjacentareasofthe U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ)west of141’ W longitudeduring the1990calendaryear, then itwill beunlawful tokill any additionalStellerSealion inthis area.In orderto monitorthis quota,theNMFSAlaskaRegionaldirectormayrequiretheplacement ofanobserveronanyfishing vessel.TheAssistantAdministratormayissueemergencyrulesto allocatethequotaamongvariousfisheries,establishclosedareas,or takeotheractionto ensurethatcommercialfishing operationsdo notexceedthis quota.

(b)Exceptions.—(1)Permittedactivities.—Paragraph(a) of thissectiondoes notapply to anyactivity

authorizedby a scientificresearchpermit issuedundertheprovisionsoftheMarineMammal ProtectionAct of1972 (16U.S.C.1361 etseq.)andimplementingregulations(50 CFR§ 216.31)thatauthorizesthe takingofSteller sealions.

(2) Official activities—Paragraph(a)of this sectiondoesnot prohibit orrestrictaFederal,stateor localgovernmentofficial, orhis or herdesignee,who is actingin thecourseofofficial duties:

(i) FromtakingaStellersealion in ahumanemanner,if the takingis for:

(A) The protection or welfare of theanimal;

(B) Theprotection ofthepublic healthandwelfare;or

(C) Thenonlethalremovalof nuisanceanimals; or

(ii) From enteringthebufferareastoperformactivities thatarenecessaryfor

national defense ortheperformanceofotherlegitimategovernmentalresponsibilities.

(3) SubsistencetakingsbyAlaskanatives.—Paragraph(a) of this sectiondoesnot prohibit orrestrict thetakingofStellersealions permitted under section10(e)of the Act.

(4) Navigationaltransit.—Paragraph(a)(2) of this sectiondoesnot prohibitavesselin transitfrompassing throughalisted strait, narrows,or passagewayifthevesselmaintainstheminimumspecifieddistancefrom the rookerysite.Thelisting of astrait,narrow orpassagewaydoesnot indicatethatthearea issafe fornavigation.The listedstraits, narrowsandpassagewaysinclude the following and any othersimilarareaslistedby theRegionalDirector:

Rookery Strait, narrows, or pass

Sugarloaf Island Between Sugarloaf Island and East or West Amatuli Islands or between East and West Amatuli Islands 0.5 nauticalmiles (n.m.)

Chowiet Island Between chowiet Island and Kateekuk. Anawik, Kiliktagik, or SukIif Islands 0.5 n.m.Clubbing RocksSea Lion Rock

Between Clubbing Rocks and Chernl IslandBetween Amak Island and Sea Lion Rock

2.0 n.m.1.0 n.m.

Ugamak IslandAkutan Island

Ugamak Strait between Ugamak Island and Tigalda IslandAkutan Pass between cape Morgan and Unalga Island

1.0 n.m.1.0 n.m.

Ogchul IslandOgchul IslandAdugak IslandTag IslandUlak IslandAmchitka Island

Between Ogchul Island and Vsendof IslandBetween Ogchul Island and Umnak IslandBetween Adugak Island and Idaliuk PointSkagul Pass between Skagul Island and Oglluga IslandBetween Hasgox Point and Amatignak IslandBetween Column Rocks and Amchitka Island

0.5 n.m.1.0 n.m.1.0 n.m.2.0 n.m.1.0 n.m.5.0 n.m.

(5)Emergencysituations.—Paragraph(a)(2)of this section doesnot applytoanemergencysituationin whichcompliancewith thatprovisionpresentsa threatto the health,safety,or life of aperson orpresentsa significantthreattothe vessel orproperty.

(6) Exemptions.—Paragraph(a)(2) ofthis sectiondoes not apply to anactivityauthorizedby apriorpublishedorwritten exemption.With theconcurrenceof theAssistantAdministrator,theAlaskaRegional

Directormaypublishin theFederalRegisteror issueawritten exemptionauthorizing activitiesthatotherwiseareprohibitedunderparagraph(a)(2)of thissection.An exemptionmaybegrantedonly if the activity will not haveasignificant adverseimpacton Steller sealions, theactivity hasbeenconductedhistoricallyor traditionally in thebufferzones,andthereis no feasiblyavailableandacceptable alternativeto or sitefortheactivity.

(c) Penalties.—(1)Any personwhoviolatesthis sectionortheEndangeredSpeciesAct is subjectto thepenaltiesspecifiedin section11 of the Act, andany other penalties provided by law.

(2) Any vessel usedin violation of thissectionor theEndangeredSpeciesAct issubjectto forfeitureundersection11(e)(4)(B)of theAct.[FR Doc.90—7924Filed4—3—90; 8:45 am)BILLING CODE 3510-22-M