Pacific Fishery Management Council; Extension of Public Scoping Period for Intersector Groundfish Allocations, 76447-76448 [E5-7847]
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bjneal on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 27, 2005 / Notices
access to historic Chinook salmon
spawning and rearing habitat.
2. Harvest: The Plan reviews the
history and effects of commercial and
recreational harvest on Puget Sound
Chinook and notes that harvest today is
managed under the following major
management forums: the Pacific Salmon
Commission, the Pacific Fisheries
Management Council, and the Federal
court proceedings of U.S. v.
Washington. Current management
objectives emphasize survival and
recovery of wild salmon populations.
3. Hatcheries: The Plan reviews risks
to the listed ESU from hatchery
production, which include genetic
effects that reduce fitness and survival,
ecological effects such as competition
and predation, facility effects on passage
and water quality, mixed stock fishery
effects, and masking the true status of
naturally produced fish. The Plan
describes recent efforts toward hatchery
reform and refers to the Chinook
Hatchery Resource Management Plan
and NMFS’ Chinook Hatchery and
Genetic Management Plans for actions
to help recover natural populations and
reconfigure production-based hatchery
programs to minimize impacts on
natural populations.
4. Additional Factors: The Plan
reviews the following additional factors
that affect Puget Sound salmon: global
climate change, fluctuating ocean
cycles, and marine mammal
interactions. These considerations
further support recovery actions to
protect and restore local habitat
conditions as a buffer against largerscale changes.
5. Integration across all the Hs
(Habitat, Harvest, Hatcheries): The Plan
states that recovery will depend on
integrating actions that address habitat,
harvest, and hatcheries and working
together to adjust approaches and
actions over time as population
conditions change. The Plan calls for
advancing the work on all-H integration
in the first years of plan
implementation.
The Plan identifies substantive
actions needed to achieve recovery by
addressing the threats to the species.
The Plan also incorporates an adaptive
management framework by which Plan
actions and other elements will evolve
and adapt to information gained as a
result of monitoring and evaluation. The
Plan anticipates that future actions will
be influenced by additional analysis of
costs and effectiveness of recovery
actions to maximize efficiency.
The long-term goal is to achieve
viable salmonid populations, i.e. to
achieve self-sustaining populations of
Puget Sound Chinook salmon in terms
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of abundance, productivity, spatial
distribution, and diversity.
Because of the complexity and extent
of the changes necessary to reach the
recovery targets and the technical and
policy uncertainties associated with the
long term, policymakers chose to focus
on developing a ten-year work plan
within the context of the overall
recovery need, while recognizing that
recovery could take much longer. Since
the existing 22 independent Puget
Sound Chinook salmon populations are
currently at high risk of extinction, the
short-term goal is to improve conditions
for all the populations and to get on a
trajectory toward recovery early in
implementation. Additional goals in
this timeframe include implementing
and evaluating the set of short-term
strategies and priority actions identified;
gaining a preliminary view of the status
and trends of important recovery
indicators; and making mid-course
corrections as needed. In ten years,
watershed and regional leaders will put
forward the next set of strategies and
actions toward achieving the long-term
goal.
An implementation schedule is
incorporated into the Plan. The first step
involves further coordination among the
Shared Strategy, local watershed groups,
and various decision makers and
responsible entities to develop an
adaptive management and monitoring
program that is integrated at the
watershed and regional level.
Public Comments Solicited
NMFS solicits written comments on
the proposed Recovery Plan, including
the Shared Strategy Plan and the
Supplement. The Supplement states
NMFS’ assessment of the Shared
Strategy Plan’s relationship to ESA
requirements for recovery plans and
specifies recovery (de-listing) criteria for
the ESU. The Supplement also explains
the agency’s intent to use the Shared
Strategy Plan to guide and prioritize
Federal recovery actions in the ESU and
to ultimately adopt the Shared Strategy
Plan as a final ESA recovery plan for the
ESU. All substantive comments received
by the date specified above will be
considered prior to NMFS’ decision
whether to endorse the Plan as a final
recovery plan. Additionally, NMFS will
provide a summary of the comments
and responses and notice of the final
Plan. NMFS seeks comments
particularly in the following areas: (1)
the analysis of limiting factors and
threats; (2) the recovery strategies and
measures; (3) the criteria for removing
the ESU from the Federal list of
endangered and threatened wildlife and
plants; and (4) meeting the ESA
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76447
requirement for estimates of time and
cost to implement recovery actions by
soliciting implementation schedules.
Authority
The authority for this action is section
4(f) of the Endangered Species Act (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: December 20, 2005.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Division of Endangered Species, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5–7852 Filed 12–23–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 111505A]
Pacific Fishery Management Council;
Extension of Public Scoping Period for
Intersector Groundfish Allocations
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Extension of public scoping
period for an environmental impact
statement (EIS); request for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS and the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Pacific Council)
announce their intent to extend the
public scoping period for an EIS in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969 to analyze proposals to allocate
groundfish among various sectors of the
non-tribal Pacific Coast groundfish
fishery.
Public scoping meetings will be
announced in the Federal Register at a
later date. Written comments will be
accepted at the Pacific Council office
through May 24, 2006. Written and oral
comments will be accepted at the
Pacific Council meeting in Foster City,
CA from Sunday June 11 through
Friday, June 16, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
on issues and alternatives, identified by
111505A by any of the following
methods:
• E-mail:
##GFAllocationEIS.nwr@noaa.gov.
Include [111505A and enter ‘‘Scoping
Comments’’ in the subject line of the
message.
• Fax: 503–820–2299.
• Mail: Dr. Donald McIsaac, Pacific
Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE.
Ambassador Pl., Suite 200, Portland, OR
97220.
DATES:
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76448
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 27, 2005 / Notices
• Written and oral comment at the
June 11–16, 2006, Pacific Council
meeting: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1221
Chess Drive, Foster City, CA 94404.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
John DeVore, Pacific Fishery
Management Council, phone: 503–820–
2280, fax: 503–820–2299 and email:
john.devore@noaa.gov; or Ms. Yvonne
de Reynier NMFS, Northwest Region,
phone: 206–526–6129, fax: 206–526–
6426 and e-mail:
yvonne.dereynier@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
This Federal Register document is
available on the Government Printing
Office’s Web site at: https://
www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
Scoping and Public Involvement
Description of the Proposal
The proposed action with a
description of the proposal was
published in the Federal Register on
November 21, 2005 (70 FR 70054).
bjneal on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Preliminary Identification of
Environmental Issues
A principal objective of this scoping
and public input process is to identify
potentially significant impacts to the
human environment that should be
analyzed in depth in the intersector
allocation EIS. Concomitant with
identification of those impacts to be
analyzed in depth is identification and
elimination from detailed study of
issues that are not significant or which
have been covered in prior
environmental reviews. This narrowing
is intended to allow greater focus on
those impacts that are potentially most
significant. Impacts on the following
components of the biological and
physical environment will be evaluated:
(1) Essential fish habitat and
ecosystems; (2) protected species listed
under the Endangered Species Act and
Marine Mammal Protection Act and
their habitat; and (3) the fishery
management unit, including target and
non-target fish stocks. Socioeconomic
impacts are also considered in terms of
the effect changes will have on the
following groups: (1) Those who
participate in harvesting the fishery
resources and other living marine
resources (for commercial, subsistence,
or recreational purposes); (2) those who
process and market fish and fish
products; (3) those who are involved in
allied support industries; (4) those who
rely on living marine resources in the
management area; (5) those who
consume fish products; (6) those who
benefit from non-consumptive use (e.g.,
wildlife viewing); (7) those who do not
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use the resource, but derive benefit from
it by virtue of its existence, the option
to use it, or the bequest of the resource
to future generations; (8) those involved
in managing and monitoring fisheries;
and (9) fishing communities. Analysis of
the effects of the alternatives on these
groups will be presented in a manner
that allows the identification of any
disproportionate impacts on low income
and minority segments of the identified
groups, impacts on small entities, and
cumulative impacts. Additional
comment is sought on other types of
impacts that should be considered or
specific impacts to which particular
attention should be paid within these
categories.
Scoping is an early and open process
for identifying the scope of notable
issues related to proposed alternatives
(including status quo and other
alternatives identified during the
scoping process). A principal objective
of the scoping and public input process
is to identify a reasonable set of
alternatives that, with adequate
analysis, sharply define critical issues
and provide a clear basis for
distinguishing among those alternatives
and selecting a preferred alternative.
The public scoping process provides the
public with the opportunity to comment
on the range of alternatives. The scope
of the alternatives to be analyzed should
be broad enough for the Pacific Council
and NMFS to make informed decisions
on whether an alternative should be
developed and, if so, how it should be
designed, and to assess other changes to
the FMP and regulations necessary for
the implementation of the alternative.
Written comments will be accepted at
the Pacific Council office through May
24, 2006 (see ADDRESSES). Written and
oral comments will be accepted at the
Pacific Council meeting in Foster City,
CA from Sunday June 11 through
Friday, June 16, 2006 (see ADDRESSES).
Public scoping meetings will be
announced in the Federal Register at a
later date and posted on the Pacific
Council Web site.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 20, 2005.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5–7847 Filed 12–23–05; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 121905C]
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; committee meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery
Management Council’s (Council)
Habitat/MPA Committee will meet to
consider actions affecting New England
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ).
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Wednesday, January 11, 2006, at 9 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Best Western Mystic, 9 Whitehall
Avenue, Mystic, CT 06355; telephone:
(860) 536–4281.
Council address: New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul
J. Howard, Executive Director, New
England Fishery Management Council;
telephone: (978) 465–0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items
of discussion in the committee’s agenda
are as follows:
1. The Committee will continue work
on elements of the Essential Fish
Habitat (EFH) Omnibus Amendment 2
including, but not limited to: review
and refinement of EFH designations and
consideration of Habitat Areas of
Particular Concern.
2. The Committee will discuss issues
relevant to the Ecosystems Pilot Project,
including:
• A presentation on the interface of
coastal pollution and marine fisheries
productivity
• A review the Stakeholder Workshop
results
• Future directions for the Pilot
Project
3. There will be a closed session to
consider Habitat Advisory Panel
membership.
4. The Committee may consider other
topics at their discretion.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76447-76448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7847]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 111505A]
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Extension of Public Scoping
Period for Intersector Groundfish Allocations
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Extension of public scoping period for an environmental impact
statement (EIS); request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific
Council) announce their intent to extend the public scoping period for
an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
of 1969 to analyze proposals to allocate groundfish among various
sectors of the non-tribal Pacific Coast groundfish fishery.
DATES: Public scoping meetings will be announced in the Federal
Register at a later date. Written comments will be accepted at the
Pacific Council office through May 24, 2006. Written and oral comments
will be accepted at the Pacific Council meeting in Foster City, CA from
Sunday June 11 through Friday, June 16, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, on issues and alternatives,
identified by 111505A by any of the following methods:
E-mail: ##GFAllocationEIS.nwr@noaa.gov. Include [111505A
and enter ``Scoping Comments'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: 503-820-2299.
Mail: Dr. Donald McIsaac, Pacific Fishery Management
Council, 7700 NE. Ambassador Pl., Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220.
[[Page 76448]]
Written and oral comment at the June 11-16, 2006, Pacific
Council meeting: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1221 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA
94404.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John DeVore, Pacific Fishery
Management Council, phone: 503-820-2280, fax: 503-820-2299 and email:
john.devore@noaa.gov; or Ms. Yvonne de Reynier NMFS, Northwest Region,
phone: 206-526-6129, fax: 206-526-6426 and e-mail:
yvonne.dereynier@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
This Federal Register document is available on the Government
Printing Office's Web site at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
Description of the Proposal
The proposed action with a description of the proposal was
published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2005 (70 FR 70054).
Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues
A principal objective of this scoping and public input process is
to identify potentially significant impacts to the human environment
that should be analyzed in depth in the intersector allocation EIS.
Concomitant with identification of those impacts to be analyzed in
depth is identification and elimination from detailed study of issues
that are not significant or which have been covered in prior
environmental reviews. This narrowing is intended to allow greater
focus on those impacts that are potentially most significant. Impacts
on the following components of the biological and physical environment
will be evaluated: (1) Essential fish habitat and ecosystems; (2)
protected species listed under the Endangered Species Act and Marine
Mammal Protection Act and their habitat; and (3) the fishery management
unit, including target and non-target fish stocks. Socioeconomic
impacts are also considered in terms of the effect changes will have on
the following groups: (1) Those who participate in harvesting the
fishery resources and other living marine resources (for commercial,
subsistence, or recreational purposes); (2) those who process and
market fish and fish products; (3) those who are involved in allied
support industries; (4) those who rely on living marine resources in
the management area; (5) those who consume fish products; (6) those who
benefit from non-consumptive use (e.g., wildlife viewing); (7) those
who do not use the resource, but derive benefit from it by virtue of
its existence, the option to use it, or the bequest of the resource to
future generations; (8) those involved in managing and monitoring
fisheries; and (9) fishing communities. Analysis of the effects of the
alternatives on these groups will be presented in a manner that allows
the identification of any disproportionate impacts on low income and
minority segments of the identified groups, impacts on small entities,
and cumulative impacts. Additional comment is sought on other types of
impacts that should be considered or specific impacts to which
particular attention should be paid within these categories.
Scoping and Public Involvement
Scoping is an early and open process for identifying the scope of
notable issues related to proposed alternatives (including status quo
and other alternatives identified during the scoping process). A
principal objective of the scoping and public input process is to
identify a reasonable set of alternatives that, with adequate analysis,
sharply define critical issues and provide a clear basis for
distinguishing among those alternatives and selecting a preferred
alternative. The public scoping process provides the public with the
opportunity to comment on the range of alternatives. The scope of the
alternatives to be analyzed should be broad enough for the Pacific
Council and NMFS to make informed decisions on whether an alternative
should be developed and, if so, how it should be designed, and to
assess other changes to the FMP and regulations necessary for the
implementation of the alternative.
Written comments will be accepted at the Pacific Council office
through May 24, 2006 (see ADDRESSES). Written and oral comments will be
accepted at the Pacific Council meeting in Foster City, CA from Sunday
June 11 through Friday, June 16, 2006 (see ADDRESSES). Public scoping
meetings will be announced in the Federal Register at a later date and
posted on the Pacific Council Web site.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 20, 2005.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E5-7847 Filed 12-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
