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DOI/FWS RIN: 1018-AX51 Publication ID: Fall 2011 
Title: Marine Mammals; Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Termination of the Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program and Withdrawal of Experimental Population Status  
Abstract: As a result of Public Law 99-625 (November 7, 1986), we published regulations outlining the Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program to establish an experimental population of southern sea otters off the coast of Southern California. The program's purpose is to provide a hedge against a catastrophic event, such as a major oil spill, that would affect the only existing population. The regulations also included criteria for determining whether the translocation program was a failure, in which case it could be abandoned. After 23 years of trying to establish a viable additional population of southern sea otters, a fundamental change in recovery strategy, and acquisition of additional information from experiences such as the 2010 Gulf oil spill, we are evaluating the translocation program to consider whether it should be terminated and the experimental population status withdrawn, with different management options implemented. 
Agency: Department of the Interior(DOI)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: Undetermined  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 17   
Legal Authority: 15 USC 1531 et seq, Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended    16 USC 1361 et seq, Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended    PL 99-625   
Legal Deadline:
Action Source Description Date
NPRM  Judicial  Settlement agreement.  09/01/2011 
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Notice  10/07/2005  70 FR 58737   
Comment Period End  01/05/2006    
NPRM  08/26/2011  76 FR 53381   
NPRM Comment Period End  10/24/2011    
NPRM Comment Period Reopened  11/04/2011  76 FR 68393   
Comment Period End  11/21/2011    
Final Action  08/00/2012    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: Federal 
Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Don R. Morgan
Chief, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, Ecological Services
Department of the Interior
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
ARLSQ-420, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: ES,
Falls Church, VA 22041-3808
Phone:703 358-2444
Fax:703 358-1735
Email: don_morgan@fws.gov