Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit, 14226-14227 [E8-5304]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 52 / Monday, March 17, 2008 / Notices
determination that the proposed activity
is ‘‘consistent with the objectives or
purposes’’ of the CZMA, the Secretary
must find that: (1) The proposed activity
furthers the national interest as
articulated in sections 302 or 303 of the
CZMA, in a significant or substantial
manner; (2) the adverse effects of the
proposed activity do not outweigh its
contribution to the national interest,
when those effects are considered
separately or cumulatively; and (3) no
reasonable alternative is available that
would permit the activity to be
conducted in a manner consistent with
enforceable policies of the CCC’s coastal
management program. 15 CFR 930.121.
II. Opportunity for Federal Agency and
Public Comment and Public Hearing
Pursuant to regulation, the public and
interested Federal agencies may submit
any comments on this appeal from April
28, 2008—May 28, 2008. All comments
should be directed in writing to the
NOAA Office of General Counsel for
Ocean Services, 1305 East-West
Highway, Room 6111, Silver Spring, MD
20910 or via e-mail to
gcos.comments@noaa.gov.
Federal regulations also allow for a
public hearing for this appeal, occurring
at the Secretary’s own initiative or upon
request. A request for a public hearing
must be filed with the Secretary within
30 days of the date of this notice’s
publication in the Federal Register.
Such requests should be directed in
writing to the Secretary at the following
address: Thomas Street, staff attorney,
NOAA Office of General Counsel for
Ocean Services, 1305 East-West
Highway, Room 6111, Silver Spring, MD
20910.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
III. Appeal Documents
NOAA intends to provide the public
with access to all publicly available
materials and related documents
comprising the appeal record during
business hours, at the NOAA Office of
General Counsel for Ocean Services. For
additional information about this
appeal, please contact Thomas Street,
Attorney-Advisor, NOAA Office of the
General Counsel, 301–713–2967,
gcos.inquiries@noaa.gov or Stephanie
Campbell, Attorney-Advisor, NOAA
Office of the General Counsel, 301–713–
2967, gcos.inquiries@noaa.gov.
Dated: March 11, 2008.
Joel La Bissonniere,
Assistant General Counsel for Ocean Services.
[Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog No.
11.419 Coastal Zone Management Program
Assistance.]
[FR Doc. E8–5247 Filed 3–14–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–08–P
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:19 Mar 14, 2008
Jkt 214001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XG26
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone off Alaska; Application for an
Exempted Fishing Permit
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of an application
for an exempted fishing permit.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt
of an application for an exempted
fishing permit (EFP) from the Alaska
Groundfish Databank. If granted, this
permit would allow the applicant to
continue the development and testing of
an electronic monitoring system
designed to quantify the amount of
halibut caught and discarded at sea.
This activity is intended to promote the
objectives of the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) by potentially allowing
for an alternative cost effective
estimation of halibut bycatch in the
rockfish fishery. Comments will be
accepted at the April 1–7, 2008, North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) meeting in Anchorage, AK.
DATES: Interested persons may comment
on the EFP application and on the
environmental assessment during the
Council’s April 1–7, 2008, meeting in
Anchorage, AK.
ADDRESSES: The Council meeting will be
held at the Hilton Hotel, 500 West Third
Ave., Anchorage, AK.
Copies of the EFP application and the
basis for a categorical exclusion under
the National Environmental Policy Act
are available by writing to the Alaska
Region, NMFS, P. O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. The
application also is available from the
Alaska Region, NMFS website at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennfier Watson, 907–586–7537 or
jennifer.watson@noaa.gov.
NMFS
manages the domestic groundfish
fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA)
under the FMP. The Council prepared
the FMP under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. Regulations governing the
groundfish fisheries of the BSAI appear
at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679. The FMP
and the implementing regulations at
§§ 600.745(b) and 679.6 authorize
issuance of EFPs to allow fishing that
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
would otherwise be prohibited.
Procedures for issuing EFPs are
contained in the implementing
regulations. NMFS received an
application for an EFP from the Alaska
Groundfish Databank on March 3, 2008.
The purposes of the EFP project are to
continue testing a video-based
electronic monitoring (EM) system that
is designed to quantify the amount of
halibut discarded at sea; to investigate
mechanisms for implementing
regulations for such a system; and to
investigate how EM data can be
integrated into the NMFS catch
accounting system.
Background
NMFS issued a final rule to
implement the Central GOA rockfish
pilot program on November 20, 2006 (71
FR 67210). This program established a
quota based fishery organized around
fishing cooperatives for vessels and
processors with historic participation in
the Central GOA rockfish fisheries.
Participating cooperatives are given
quotas of various rockfish and nonrockfish species as well as sufficient
halibut prohibited species quota (PSC)
to conduct those fisheries. With the
exception of halibut PSC, all quota
harvested by catcher vessels must be
landed at a participating processor
where quota accounting takes place.
Halibut PSC must be discarded at-sea
and halibut catch is estimated by at-sea
observers. In order to credibly account
for halibut discard, and to ensure that
the discard of other quota species does
not occur, NMFS required that observer
coverage be increased from 30 to 100%
when the program was implemented.
Industry is concerned that costs
associated with full observer coverage
are high relative to the increased
revenue of the program. Further, NMFS
believes that wherever possible quota
catch should be accounted for based on
a full census of catch. This is not
possible for halibut PSC under the
current system. To address these
concerns Alaska Groundfish Databank
developed, in conjunction with NMFS
staff, an alternative approach to manage
shoreside rockfish fisheries that could
include the use of EM to replace a
portion of the required observer
coverage.
The EM system is designed to ensure
that nothing other than halibut is
discarded at sea, and to quantify the
amount of halibut discarded. Cameras
designed to give an overview of the
entire deck are installed to ensure that
discard only occurs in a single specified
location. Other cameras, focused on the
specified location, photograph each
halibut as it is discarded. All data from
E:\FR\FM\17MRN1.SGM
17MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 52 / Monday, March 17, 2008 / Notices
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
the cameras, as well as location
information from an onboard GPS
system, is recorded to disk for review at
the end of each trip. Following
completion of each trip the data are
analyzed to ensure that unauthorized
discard did not take place and to
estimate the length of each halibut
discarded. In 2007, NMFS issued an
EFP to conduct research into the
viability of this system on a single
vessel. While a final report on this
project has not been completed, a
preliminary review of the data would
indicate that the system is effective at
accomplishing these goals. This EFP
would continue that research on a larger
number of vessels fishing under nonexperimental conditions and would
focus on issues associated with
implementation rather than on a
technical or scientific assessment of the
EM system itself.
To continue testing the EM system,
exemptions would be necessary from
regulations for observer coverage.
Among the goals of this project are to
determine the extent to which crew
behavior changes when an observer is
present and to attempt to mimic a
regulatory environment in which a
portion of the observer coverage is
replaced by an EM system. In order to
investigate these issues in a cost
effective manner that ensures
participation in the EFP fishery, it will
be necessary to reduce observer
coverage levels for vessels participating
in the project to the pre-rockfish pilot
program levels of 30%. Because
participating vessels will be monitored
electronically, such a reduction is not
expected to change actual fishing
behavior, trip duration, or the amount of
fish harvested.
The activities proposed to be
conducted under the EFP are not
expected to have a significant impact on
the human environment as detailed in
the categorical exclusion issued for this
action (see ADDRESSES).
In accordance with § 679.6, NMFS has
determined that the proposal warrants
further consideration and has forwarded
the application to the Council to initiate
consultation. The Council will consider
the EFP application during its April 1–
7, 2008, meeting, which will be held at
the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska.
The applicant has been invited to
appear in support of the application.
Public Comments
Interested persons may comment on
the application at the April 2008
Council meeting during public
testimony. Information regarding the
meeting is available at the Council’s
website at https://www.fakr.noaa.gov/
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:19 Mar 14, 2008
Jkt 214001
npfmc/council.htm. Copies of the
application and categorical exclusion
are available for review from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 12, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–5304 Filed 3–14–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Revised Draft Framework for
Developing the National System of
Marine Protected Areas and Response
to Comments
NOAA, Department of
Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of availability and
solicitation of public comments on the
Revised Draft Framework for
Developing the National System of
Marine Protected Areas.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NOAA and the Department of
the Interior (DOI) jointly propose the
Revised Draft Framework for
Developing the National System of
Marine Protected Areas (Revised Draft
Framework), as required by Executive
Order 13158 on Marine Protected Areas
(MPAs). This Revised Draft Framework
provides overarching guidance for
collaborative efforts among federal,
state, tribal and local governments and
stakeholders to develop an effective
National System of MPAs (National
System) from existing sites, build
coordination and collaborative efforts,
and identify ecosystem-based gaps in
the protection of significant natural and
cultural resources for possible future
action by the nation’s MPA authorities.
The document further provides the
guiding principles, key definitions,
goals, and objectives for the National
System, based on the breadth of input
received from MPA stakeholders and
governmental partners around the
nation over the past several years. The
intent of this document is to summarize
and respond to comments received on
the initial draft document during the
September 2006 through February 2007
public comment period, and solicit
additional public input on the proposed
Revised Draft Framework in order to
develop a final document that meets the
nation’s interests in the National
System. The Revised Draft Framework
incorporates significant modifications
based on due consideration of all
PO 00000
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14227
comments and recommendations
received on the initial draft document.
At the end of the comment period on
this Revised Draft Framework, NOAA
will publish the final Framework, again
with consideration of input received.
DATES: Comments must be received
before 11:59 p.m. EDT, April 16, 2008.
ADDRESSES: All comments regarding the
Revised Draft Framework should be
submitted to Joseph Uravitch, National
MPA Center, N/ORM, NOAA, 1305 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland
20910. Comments sent via e-mail should
be sent to mpa.comments@noaa.gov,
and all comments sent by fax should be
sent to 301–713–3110. E-mail and fax
comments should state ‘‘Revised Draft
Framework Comments’’ in the subject
line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please direct all questions and requests
for additional information concerning
the Revised Draft Framework, as well as
for paper copies of the document to:
Lauren Wenzel, NOAA, at 301–713–
3100, or via e-mail at
mpa.comments@noaa.gov. E-mail
requests should state either ‘‘Question’’
or ‘‘Paper Copy Request’’ in the subject
line. An electronic copy of the Revised
Draft Framework is available for
download at https://www.mpa.gov/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s (NOAA) National
Marine Protected Areas Center (MPA
Center), in cooperation with the
Department of the Interior (DOI), has
developed this Revised Draft Framework
for Developing the National System of
MPAs (Revised Draft Framework) to
meet requirements under Executive
Order 13158 on Marine Protected Areas.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit
additional input and comments on the
Revised Draft Framework from
governments and stakeholders in order
to ensure that the final document
represents the diversity of the nation’s
interests in the marine environment and
MPAs. The Revised Draft Framework
incorporates significant modifications
based on due consideration of
comments and recommendations
received on the initial draft document
during the September 2006 through
February 2007 public comment period.
Increasing impacts on the world’s
oceans from development, overfishing, a
changing climate, and natural events are
straining the health of coastal, Great
Lakes, and marine ecosystems. Impacts
to these intricately balanced
environments include declining fish
populations, degradation of coral reefs
and other vital habitats, threats to rare
or endangered species, and loss of
E:\FR\FM\17MRN1.SGM
17MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 52 (Monday, March 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14226-14227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5304]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG26
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Application
for an Exempted Fishing Permit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of an application for an exempted fishing
permit.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of an application for an
exempted fishing permit (EFP) from the Alaska Groundfish Databank. If
granted, this permit would allow the applicant to continue the
development and testing of an electronic monitoring system designed to
quantify the amount of halibut caught and discarded at sea. This
activity is intended to promote the objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) by
potentially allowing for an alternative cost effective estimation of
halibut bycatch in the rockfish fishery. Comments will be accepted at
the April 1-7, 2008, North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council)
meeting in Anchorage, AK.
DATES: Interested persons may comment on the EFP application and on the
environmental assessment during the Council's April 1-7, 2008, meeting
in Anchorage, AK.
ADDRESSES: The Council meeting will be held at the Hilton Hotel, 500
West Third Ave., Anchorage, AK.
Copies of the EFP application and the basis for a categorical
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act are available by
writing to the Alaska Region, NMFS, P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802,
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. The application also is available from the
Alaska Region, NMFS website at https://www.fakr.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennfier Watson, 907-586-7537 or
jennifer.watson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the domestic groundfish
fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) under the FMP. The Council
prepared the FMP under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Regulations governing the groundfish fisheries of the
BSAI appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679. The FMP and the implementing
regulations at Sec. Sec. 600.745(b) and 679.6 authorize issuance of
EFPs to allow fishing that would otherwise be prohibited. Procedures
for issuing EFPs are contained in the implementing regulations. NMFS
received an application for an EFP from the Alaska Groundfish Databank
on March 3, 2008. The purposes of the EFP project are to continue
testing a video-based electronic monitoring (EM) system that is
designed to quantify the amount of halibut discarded at sea; to
investigate mechanisms for implementing regulations for such a system;
and to investigate how EM data can be integrated into the NMFS catch
accounting system.
Background
NMFS issued a final rule to implement the Central GOA rockfish
pilot program on November 20, 2006 (71 FR 67210). This program
established a quota based fishery organized around fishing cooperatives
for vessels and processors with historic participation in the Central
GOA rockfish fisheries. Participating cooperatives are given quotas of
various rockfish and non-rockfish species as well as sufficient halibut
prohibited species quota (PSC) to conduct those fisheries. With the
exception of halibut PSC, all quota harvested by catcher vessels must
be landed at a participating processor where quota accounting takes
place. Halibut PSC must be discarded at-sea and halibut catch is
estimated by at-sea observers. In order to credibly account for halibut
discard, and to ensure that the discard of other quota species does not
occur, NMFS required that observer coverage be increased from 30 to
100% when the program was implemented. Industry is concerned that costs
associated with full observer coverage are high relative to the
increased revenue of the program. Further, NMFS believes that wherever
possible quota catch should be accounted for based on a full census of
catch. This is not possible for halibut PSC under the current system.
To address these concerns Alaska Groundfish Databank developed, in
conjunction with NMFS staff, an alternative approach to manage
shoreside rockfish fisheries that could include the use of EM to
replace a portion of the required observer coverage.
The EM system is designed to ensure that nothing other than halibut
is discarded at sea, and to quantify the amount of halibut discarded.
Cameras designed to give an overview of the entire deck are installed
to ensure that discard only occurs in a single specified location.
Other cameras, focused on the specified location, photograph each
halibut as it is discarded. All data from
[[Page 14227]]
the cameras, as well as location information from an onboard GPS
system, is recorded to disk for review at the end of each trip.
Following completion of each trip the data are analyzed to ensure that
unauthorized discard did not take place and to estimate the length of
each halibut discarded. In 2007, NMFS issued an EFP to conduct research
into the viability of this system on a single vessel. While a final
report on this project has not been completed, a preliminary review of
the data would indicate that the system is effective at accomplishing
these goals. This EFP would continue that research on a larger number
of vessels fishing under non-experimental conditions and would focus on
issues associated with implementation rather than on a technical or
scientific assessment of the EM system itself.
To continue testing the EM system, exemptions would be necessary
from regulations for observer coverage. Among the goals of this project
are to determine the extent to which crew behavior changes when an
observer is present and to attempt to mimic a regulatory environment in
which a portion of the observer coverage is replaced by an EM system.
In order to investigate these issues in a cost effective manner that
ensures participation in the EFP fishery, it will be necessary to
reduce observer coverage levels for vessels participating in the
project to the pre-rockfish pilot program levels of 30%. Because
participating vessels will be monitored electronically, such a
reduction is not expected to change actual fishing behavior, trip
duration, or the amount of fish harvested.
The activities proposed to be conducted under the EFP are not
expected to have a significant impact on the human environment as
detailed in the categorical exclusion issued for this action (see
ADDRESSES).
In accordance with Sec. 679.6, NMFS has determined that the
proposal warrants further consideration and has forwarded the
application to the Council to initiate consultation. The Council will
consider the EFP application during its April 1-7, 2008, meeting, which
will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. The applicant
has been invited to appear in support of the application.
Public Comments
Interested persons may comment on the application at the April 2008
Council meeting during public testimony. Information regarding the
meeting is available at the Council's website at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/council.htm. Copies of the application and
categorical exclusion are available for review from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 12, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-5304 Filed 3-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
