Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, 11886-11887 [08-930]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 44 / Wednesday, March 5, 2008 / Notices
small numbers of certain species of
marine mammals. While behavioral and
avoidance reactions may be made by
these species in response to the
resultant noise from the airguns, these
behavioral changes are expected to have
a negligible impact on the affected
species and stocks of marine mammals.
While the number of potential
incidental harassment takes will depend
on the distribution and abundance of
marine mammals in the area of seismic
operations, the number of potential
harassment takings is estimated to be
relatively small in light of the
population sizes (see Tables 3, 4, and 5).
NMFS anticipates the actual take of
individuals to be even lower than the
numbers depicted in the tables, because
those numbers do not reflect either the
implementation of the mitigation
numbers or the fact that some animals
likely will avoid the sound at levels
lower than those expected to result in
harassment.
In addition, no take by death and/or
injury is anticipated, and the potential
for temporary or permanent hearing
impairment will be avoided through the
incorporation of the mitigation
measures described in this document.
Proposed Authorization
NMFS proposes to issue an IHA to L–
DEO for a marine seismic survey project
in the ETP in April–August 2008,
provided the previously mentioned
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements are incorporated.
Dated: February 28, 2008.
Helen Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–4237 Filed 3–4–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Gray’s Reef National Marine
Sanctuary
Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to initiate
public scoping.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
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The
National Marine Sanctuaries Act
(NMSA), 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.,
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) to designate discrete areas of
the marine environment as national
marine sanctuaries to protect their
special conservation, recreational,
ecological, historical, cultural,
archaeological, scientific, educational,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
(ONMS) is preparing a draft
VerDate Aug<31>2005
environmental impact statement to
consider the establishment of a research
(control) area in Gray’s Reef National
Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS). Activities
are restricted within research areas in
order to facilitate better understanding
of resources and environmental
processes. This notice announces the
beginning of public scoping pursuant to
the National Environmental Policy Act.
The public scoping process, including
public scoping meetings, is intended to
solicit information and comments on
the range and significance of issues
related to the establishment of a
research area at Gray’s Reef. The results
of this scoping process will assist
NOAA in formulating alternatives for
the draft environmental impact
statement for the proposed research
area. This notice contains times, dates,
and locations for scoping meetings.
DATES: Comments will be considered if
received by April 21, 2008.
Scoping meetings will be held at:
(1) March 18, 2008, Camden Public
Library, 6–8 p.m.
(2) March 20, 2008, Armstrong Center,
6–8 p.m.
(3) March 24, 2008, Statesboro
Regional Library, 6–8 p.m.
(4) March 25, 2008, Stevens Wetlands
Education Center, 6–8 p.m.
(5) March 27, 2008, Best Western Sea
Island Inn, 6–8 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
sent to Gray’s Reef NMS (Research
Area), 10 Ocean Science Circle,
Savannah, GA 31411; or by facsimile to
912/598–2367; or to
grnms.researcharea@noaa.gov.
Scoping meetings will be held at:
(1) Camden Public Library, 1410
Highway 40 East, Kingsland, Georgia
31548.
(2) Armstrong Center, 13040 Abercorn
St., Savannah, Georgia 31419.
(3) Statesboro Regional Library, 124
South Main St., Statesboro, Georgia
30458.
(4) Stevens Wetlands Education
Center, 600 Cedar St., Richmond Hill,
Georgia 31324.
(5) Best Western Sea Island Inn, 1015
Bay St., Beaufort, South Carolina 29902.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Becky Shortland (912) 598–2381 or
Becky.Shortland@noaa.gov.
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or esthetic qualities. The NMSA is
administered by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) through the Office of National
Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS).
The concept of a research (control)
area within Gray’s Reef National Marine
Sanctuary has been under discussion for
several years. The concept was first
raised in 1999 during the early stages of
the GRNMS Management Plan review
process at public scoping meetings and
was raised again during public research
workshops.
Subsequently, the Gray’s Reef
Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC), with
the approval of the Sanctuary
superintendent, formed a research area
working group (RAWG) to further
consider the concept. The Advisory
Council’s recommendation to
investigate the concept of a marine
research area was adopted by GRNMS as
a research and monitoring strategy for
the Management Plan which was
released in 2006.
The RAWG comprised representative
constituents of Gray’s Reef including:
researchers, academics, conservation
groups, recreational anglers and divers,
educators, commercial fishing, law
enforcement and sanctuaries
representatives. The working group met
initially in May 2004, and then
periodically over the course of a year, to
discuss the concept in detail. The
working group employed a consensusdriven, constituent-based process to
address the concept of a marine research
area. All participants discussed at
length all issues, considerations,
priorities and concerns for each step of
the process.
The following recommendations were
developed by the working group and
were referred to the SAC. After
reviewing and considering the
recommendations, the SAC adopted and
submitted them to NOAA GRNMS:
Recommendation #1
Significant research questions exist at
Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
that can only be addressed by
establishing a control (research) area.
Therefore, the research area concept
should be further explored by NOAA
through a public review process.
Recommendation #2
As many appropriate tools as feasible,
especially a GIS (Geographic
Information Systems, geographic and
spatial analysis software) site evaluation
tool and a RAWG should be used to
investigate a research area with proper
siting criteria.
E:\FR\FM\05MRN1.SGM
05MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 44 / Wednesday, March 5, 2008 / Notices
Recommendation #3
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Diversity of habitat with emphasis on
high relief habitat should be the primary
siting criterion. The RAWG should be
maintained to support NOAA GRNMS
in consideration of these various criteria
(e.g., habitat, size, existing research and
monitoring sites, bottom fishing data) in
developing proposed options for a draft
environmental impact statement.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Recommendation #4
Minimizing impacts to user
communities including fishing, diving,
research, and resource management
should be a priority under the research
area concept. Non-bottom impinging
activities should not be viewed as
conflicting with the primary objectives
of a proposed research area. Based on
the recommendations of the Advisory
Council, NOAA has concluded that the
research area concept should be further
explored through a public review
process. In the upcoming DEIS, NOAA
will likely develop a range of
alternatives for the creation of a research
area, including a no-action alternative. If
this action results in the creation of a
research area in the GRNMS, a
companion management plan for the
research area will serve as a supplement
to the 2006 GRNMS Final Management
Plan/Final Environmental Impact
Statement.
By this notice, NOAA announces the
initiation of scoping for the proposed
research area in Gray’s Reef National
Marine Sanctuary. Scoping is the initial
process intended to solicit information
and comments on the range and
significance of issues related to the
proposed action. The results of this
scoping process will assist NOAA in
formulating alternatives for a draft
environmental impact statement for the
proposed research area.
NOAA encourages the public and
interested parties to submit (via mail,
e-mail, or fax) comments and to attend
the public scoping meetings in March.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog
Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program)
Dated: February 26, 2008.
John H. Dunnigan,
Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and
Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 08–930 Filed 3–4–08; 8:45 am]
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Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; Public Meetings
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council will convene a
public meeting of the Ad Hoc
Recreational Red Snapper Advisory
Panel (AP).
DATES: The meeting will convene at 9
a.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 and
conclude no later than 5 p.m. on
Wednesday, March 26, 2008.
ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at
the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel,
64 S. Water St., Mobile, AL 36602;
telephone: (251) 438–4000.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 2203
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa,
FL 33607.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven Atran, Population Dynamics
Statistician; Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council; telephone: (813)
348–1630.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At this
meeting, the AP will prioritize the goals
and objectives for the recreational red
snapper fishery that were developed in
earlier meetings as well as the list of
ideas for managing the recreational red
snapper fishery that was previously
developed. The AP will select ideas
from its list for further development,
and will begin the initial work of
developing those ideas into possible
management action. The AP will also
discuss the possible formation of
working groups for the task of
developing discussion papers on the
ideas to be developed. In addition, the
AP will receive several presentations
providing an overview on marine
protected areas, a review of party boat
and charter boat catch data, a discussion
of educational materials on proper
venting and dehooking, and clarification
on referendum requirements pertaining
to possible changes in the red snapper
allocation.
Although other issues not on the
agenda may come before the panel for
discussion, in accordance with the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act,
those issues may not be the subject of
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11887
formal panel action during this meeting.
Panel action will be restricted to those
issues specifically identified in the
agenda listed as available by this notice.
A copy of the agenda can be obtained
by calling 813–348–1630.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina
Trezza at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at
least 5 working days prior to the
meeting.
Dated: February 29, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–4181 Filed 3–4–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN: 0648–XG06
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery
Management Council’s (Council)
Herring Oversight Committee will meet
to consider actions affecting New
England fisheries in the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ).
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at 9:30
a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring
Street, Portland, ME 04101; telephone:
(207) 775–2311.
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. Review Council actions for 2008
priority-setting and discuss issues to be
addressed in Amendment 4 to the
Atlantic Herring Fishery Management
Plan (FMP).
2. Identify goals and objectives for
Amendment 4 to the Herring FMP
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11886-11887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-930]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to initiate public scoping.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA)
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) is preparing a draft
environmental impact statement to consider the establishment of a
research (control) area in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
(GRNMS). Activities are restricted within research areas in order to
facilitate better understanding of resources and environmental
processes. This notice announces the beginning of public scoping
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. The public scoping
process, including public scoping meetings, is intended to solicit
information and comments on the range and significance of issues
related to the establishment of a research area at Gray's Reef. The
results of this scoping process will assist NOAA in formulating
alternatives for the draft environmental impact statement for the
proposed research area. This notice contains times, dates, and
locations for scoping meetings.
DATES: Comments will be considered if received by April 21, 2008.
Scoping meetings will be held at:
(1) March 18, 2008, Camden Public Library, 6-8 p.m.
(2) March 20, 2008, Armstrong Center, 6-8 p.m.
(3) March 24, 2008, Statesboro Regional Library, 6-8 p.m.
(4) March 25, 2008, Stevens Wetlands Education Center, 6-8 p.m.
(5) March 27, 2008, Best Western Sea Island Inn, 6-8 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Gray's Reef NMS (Research
Area), 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA 31411; or by facsimile to
912/598-2367; or to grnms.researcharea@noaa.gov.
Scoping meetings will be held at:
(1) Camden Public Library, 1410 Highway 40 East, Kingsland, Georgia
31548.
(2) Armstrong Center, 13040 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia 31419.
(3) Statesboro Regional Library, 124 South Main St., Statesboro,
Georgia 30458.
(4) Stevens Wetlands Education Center, 600 Cedar St., Richmond
Hill, Georgia 31324.
(5) Best Western Sea Island Inn, 1015 Bay St., Beaufort, South
Carolina 29902.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Shortland (912) 598-2381 or
Becky.Shortland@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA),
16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq., authorizes the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) to designate discrete areas of the marine environment as
national marine sanctuaries to protect their special conservation,
recreational, ecological, historical, cultural, archaeological,
scientific, educational, or esthetic qualities. The NMSA is
administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) through the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS).
The concept of a research (control) area within Gray's Reef
National Marine Sanctuary has been under discussion for several years.
The concept was first raised in 1999 during the early stages of the
GRNMS Management Plan review process at public scoping meetings and was
raised again during public research workshops.
Subsequently, the Gray's Reef Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC),
with the approval of the Sanctuary superintendent, formed a research
area working group (RAWG) to further consider the concept. The Advisory
Council's recommendation to investigate the concept of a marine
research area was adopted by GRNMS as a research and monitoring
strategy for the Management Plan which was released in 2006.
The RAWG comprised representative constituents of Gray's Reef
including: researchers, academics, conservation groups, recreational
anglers and divers, educators, commercial fishing, law enforcement and
sanctuaries representatives. The working group met initially in May
2004, and then periodically over the course of a year, to discuss the
concept in detail. The working group employed a consensus-driven,
constituent-based process to address the concept of a marine research
area. All participants discussed at length all issues, considerations,
priorities and concerns for each step of the process.
The following recommendations were developed by the working group
and were referred to the SAC. After reviewing and considering the
recommendations, the SAC adopted and submitted them to NOAA GRNMS:
Recommendation 1
Significant research questions exist at Gray's Reef National Marine
Sanctuary that can only be addressed by establishing a control
(research) area. Therefore, the research area concept should be further
explored by NOAA through a public review process.
Recommendation 2
As many appropriate tools as feasible, especially a GIS (Geographic
Information Systems, geographic and spatial analysis software) site
evaluation tool and a RAWG should be used to investigate a research
area with proper siting criteria.
[[Page 11887]]
Recommendation 3
Diversity of habitat with emphasis on high relief habitat should be
the primary siting criterion. The RAWG should be maintained to support
NOAA GRNMS in consideration of these various criteria (e.g., habitat,
size, existing research and monitoring sites, bottom fishing data) in
developing proposed options for a draft environmental impact statement.
Recommendation 4
Minimizing impacts to user communities including fishing, diving,
research, and resource management should be a priority under the
research area concept. Non-bottom impinging activities should not be
viewed as conflicting with the primary objectives of a proposed
research area. Based on the recommendations of the Advisory Council,
NOAA has concluded that the research area concept should be further
explored through a public review process. In the upcoming DEIS, NOAA
will likely develop a range of alternatives for the creation of a
research area, including a no-action alternative. If this action
results in the creation of a research area in the GRNMS, a companion
management plan for the research area will serve as a supplement to the
2006 GRNMS Final Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement.
By this notice, NOAA announces the initiation of scoping for the
proposed research area in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
Scoping is the initial process intended to solicit information and
comments on the range and significance of issues related to the
proposed action. The results of this scoping process will assist NOAA
in formulating alternatives for a draft environmental impact statement
for the proposed research area.
NOAA encourages the public and interested parties to submit (via
mail, e-mail, or fax) comments and to attend the public scoping
meetings in March.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary
Program)
Dated: February 26, 2008.
John H. Dunnigan,
Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 08-930 Filed 3-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-M
