MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION — Annual Report for 1992 
12 May 
13 May 
15 May 
15 May 
15 May 
18 May 
26 May 
27 May 
28 May 
5 June 
8 June 
Recovery Plan; noting a number of uncertainties concerning the nature of proposed actions in the draft 
plan; restating an earlier recommendation that the Service prepare a second draft revision of the plan 
and circulate it to the Commission and others for review; and requesting that, if the Service does not 
intend to follow this recommendation, it immediately advise the Commission of the reason(s) why it 
has chosen not to do so. 
Interior, commenting to the Minerals Management Service on the notice of intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement on Lease Sale 153 in St. George Basin, Alaska; and recommending, 
among other things, that the statement identify and assess the possible cumulative effects of drilling, 
gas development, and other human activities that may affect marine mammals and their habitat; and 
that the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Fish 
and Wildlife Service be contacted to (1) obtain the best available information on the different marine 
mammal food species, feeding areas, and breeding grounds; (2) identify additional research and 
monitoring programs needed to assess and detect effects of oil exploration in St. George Basin on 
these species; and (3) develop a “notice to lessees” describing what must be done to comply with the 
provision of the Marine Mammal Protection Act pertaining to the incidental take of marine mammals. 
National Science Foundation, commenting to the Division of Polar Programs on a draft discussion 
paper for the Group of Experts on Environmental Monitoring; noting that, in some cases, the draft 
suggests objectives that are not consistent with the objectives of environmental monitoring as set forth 
in the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty; forwarding a redraft of several 
sections; and recommending that the paper clearly reflect and build upon the relevant provisions of the 
Protocol. 
Commerce, modification of scientific research permit, Scott D. Kraus. 
Commerce, modification of scientific research permit, Susan H. Shane. 
Commerce, commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on a proposed rule to remove the 
eastern North Pacific (California) gray whale population from the endangered species list; noting that 
the Commission does not recommend delisting of the gray whale; further noting that significant 
progress towards recovery has been made; and recommending that the Service (1) describe proposed 
programs to monitor the effects of human activities and development in preferred feeding and breeding 
areas and migration routes; (2) conduct a more comprehensive assessment of present and foreseeable 
threats to breeding lagoons, feeding grounds, and other biologically important areas; (3) in cooperation 
with the Department of State, pursue negotiations with the Governments of Mexico, Canada, and the 
former Soviet Union to conclude an agreement on protecting gray whales and their habitat; (4) 
undertake a more complete review of jeopardy opinions issued pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act; and (5) continue to undertake additional research recommended by the International 
Whaling Commission in its report on the 1990 Comprehensive Assessment of gray whales. 
Commerce, public display permit, Zoo Parquesan. 
Commerce, modification of scientific research permit, Alaska Fisheries Science Center. 
Commerce, scientific research permit, Alaska Fisheries Science Center. 
Commerce, modification of scientific research permit, Bruce R. Mate. 
Commerce, scientific research permit, James H.W. Hain. 
Commerce, commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on observer data for high seas 
driftnet fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean; noting that the level of observer coverage has been 
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