Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Amendment 11, 46590-46591 [E8-18489]
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46590
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 155 / Monday, August 11, 2008 / Notices
Dated: August 6, 2008.
Ronald N. Langston,
National Director, Minority Business
Development Agency.
[FR Doc. E8–18498 Filed 8–8–08; 8:45 am]
effort will be effective. The Services take
these efforts into account when making
decisions on whether to list a species as
threatened or endangered under the
Endangered Species Act. The accepted
plans are followed with annuals reports.
II. Method of Collection
BILLING CODE 3510–21–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Submission of
Conservation Efforts To Make Listings
Unnecessary Under the Endangered
Species Act
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES
SUMMARY: The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before October 10,
2008.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6625,
14th and Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at dHynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Marta Nammack, (301) 713–
1401 or marta.nammack@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Services) announced a Policy
for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts
When Making Listing Decisions. (68 FR
15100; March 28, 2003). This final
policy lists criteria that NMFS will use
to evaluate conservation efforts by states
and other non-Federal entities. A
conservation agreement/plan and
procedures for monitoring the
agreement/plan’s effectiveness is
developed by the respondent, based on
the respondent’s understanding of how
best to meet these criteria, and thus to
assure the Services that: (1) The
conservation effort will be
implemented; and (2) the conservation
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15:22 Aug 08, 2008
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and
Butterfish Fisheries; Amendment 11
NMFS does not require, but will
accept, plans and reports electronically.
NMFS has not developed a form to be
used for submission of plans or reports.
In the past, NMFS has made plans and
annual reports from states available
through the Internet and plans to
continue this practice.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0648–0466.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; and State, local or
tribal governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.
Estimated Time per Response: 2,500
hours to complete each agreement or
plan that has the intention of making
listing unnecessary; 320 hours to
conduct monitoring for successful
agreements; and 80 hours to prepare a
report for successful agreements.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 3,300.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $150.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: August 6, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–18451 Filed 8–8–08; 8:45 am]
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–AX05
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Supplemental Notice of Intent
(NOI) to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS); request for
comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: On December 19, 2005, the
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council (Council), in cooperation with
NMFS, announced its intent to prepare
a supplemental environmental impact
statement (SEIS) for Amendment 11 to
the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and
Butterfish (MSB) Fishery Management
Plan (FMP)(Amendment 11). Since then,
the Council and NMFS have determined
that the Amendment 11 document is an
independent action and therefore will
be handled as an EIS, rather than SEIS.
The Council has chosen to consider
management measures in this action in
addition to limited access in the
Atlantic mackerel (mackerel) fishery,
including: The implementation of
annual catch limits (ACLs) and
accountability measures (AMs) for
Atlantic mackerel and butterfish
required under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Reauthorization Act of 2006 (MSRA); an
update of the description and
identification of essential fish habitat
(EFH) for all life stages of mackerel,
Loligo squid (Loligo), Illex squid (Illex),
and butterfish (including gear impacts
on Loligo egg EFH); and possible
limitations on at-sea processing of
mackerel. For purposes of scoping, this
supplemental NOI seeks comments on
only the above listed new measures that
may be included in Amendment 11.
Additional scoping will take place via
solicitation of public comment at
Council meetings and related Council
committee meetings as Amendment 11
is considered and developed.
DATES: Public comments on the
supplemental NOI for Amendment 11
must be received on or before 5 p.m.,
local time, September 10, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
supplementary notice of intent for
Amendment 11 may be sent by any of
the following methods:
• E-mail to the following address:
MSBAmendment11@noaa.gov;
E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM
11AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 155 / Monday, August 11, 2008 / Notices
• Mail to Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Northeast Regional Office,
NMFS, One Blackburn Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside
of the envelope ‘‘Scoping Comments on
Supplemental NOI for Amendment 11;’’
or
• Fax to 978–281–9135. Mark the fax
‘‘Scoping Comments on Supplemental
NOI for Amendment 11.’’
Copies of supporting documents used
by the Council are available from:
Daniel Furlong, Executive Director,
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council, Room 2115, Federal Building,
300 South New Street, Dover, DE
19904–6790, telephone 302–674–2331.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel Furlong, Executive Director,
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council, Room 2115, Federal Building,
300 South New Street, Dover, DE
19904–6790, telephone 302–674–2331.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On March 4, 2005 (70 FR 10605), the
Council published an NOI to prepare a
SEIS to consider the impacts of
alternatives for limiting access to the
mackerel fishery. The Council
subsequently conducted scoping
meetings on the development of a
limited access program, which the
Council originally planned to include in
Amendment 9 to the MSB FMP
(Amendment 9). However, due to
unforeseen delays in the development of
Amendment 9, the Council notified the
public on December 19, 2005 (70 FR
75114), that the mackerel limited access
program would be considered in
Amendment 11. The Council
subsequently notified the public on
February 27, 2007 (72 FR 8693), that it
would begin the development of
Amendment 11 and the associated SEIS
simultaneously with the development of
Amendment 10 to the MSB FMP.
rmajette on PRODPC74 with NOTICES
Additional Issues Under Consideration
During the course of the development
of Amendment 11, the Council has
identified three additional issues that
may be considered in this amendment,
in addition to mackerel limited entry.
The first issue is implementation of
ACLs and accountability measures AMs
for mackerel and butterfish. The MSRA
requires that fishery management plans
contain a mechanism for specifying
ACLs such that overfishing does not
occur in the fishery, including measures
to ensure accountability (AMs).
Examples of AMs include in-season
closures or pay-back provisions in cases
of overages. The second issue is an
update of the description and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:22 Aug 08, 2008
Jkt 214001
identification of EFH for all life stages
of mackerel, Loligo, Illex, and butterfish
(including gear impacts on Loligo squid
egg EFH). NMFS guidance requires that
EFH assessments should be updated
every 5 years. The MSB EFH assessment
has not been generally updated since it
was completed in 1999, though gear
impact analyses were completed for
Amendment 9 to the MSB FMP (73 FR
37382, July 1, 2008). Additionally, EFH
for Loligo eggs was designated in
Amendment 9, therefore, a gear impact
analysis for Loligo egg EFH will also be
included in Amendment 11. The third
issue is possible limitations on at-sea
processing of mackerel that may be
considered to limit overcapitalization of
the mackerel fishery; the Council may
consider a cap on the amount of at-sea
processing or a limitation on at-sea
processor vessel size.
Request for Comments
The public will have the opportunity
to comment on the measures and
alternatives being considered by the
Council for Amendment 11 through
public meetings and public comment
periods required by the National
Environmental Policy Act, the MSRA,
and the Administrative Procedure Act.
To date, the location and/or timing of
these meetings and comment periods
has yet to be finalized, but appropriate
notice of them will be published in the
Federal Register.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 6, 2008.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–18489 Filed 8–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XJ53
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permit
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of a proposal to
conduct exempted fishing; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant
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46591
Regional Administrator), has made a
preliminary determination that the
subject exempted fishing permit (EFP)
application submitted by the Gulf of
Maine Research Institute (GMRI), which
would exempt Atlantic sea scallop
(scallop) vessels from small dredge
program gear restrictions, should be
issued for public comment. The
Assistant Regional Administrator has
also made a preliminary determination
that the activities authorized under the
EFP would be consistent with the goals
and objectives of the Atlantic Sea
Scallop Fishery Management Plan
(FMP). However, further review and
consultation may be necessary before a
final determination is made.
DATES: Comments on GMRI’s EFP
application must be received on or
before August 26, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted by e-mail. The mailbox
address for providing e-mail comments
is scallop.efp@noaa.gov. Include in the
subject line of the e-mail comment the
following document identifier:
‘‘Comments on small dredge EFP.’’
Written comments should be sent to
Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast
Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside
of the envelope, ‘‘Comments on small
dredge EFP.’’ Comments may also be
sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281–
9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ryan Silva, Cooperative Research
Liaison, phone: 978–281–9326, fax:
978–281–9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
response to the 2008 Atlantic Sea
Scallop RSA Program request for
proposals, NOAA’s National Marine
Fisheries Service received a proposal
from GMRI entitled, ‘‘An assessment of
hanging ratio and mesh orientation of
twine-tops on selectivity and bycatch in
the general category scallop dredge
fishery in scallop limited access areas.’’
The grant approved by NOAA Grants on
July 26, 2008, as NOAA Award No.
NA08NMF4540667. GMRI proposes to
determine if changes to the dredge
twine-top configuration would affect the
selectivity of a 10.5–ft general category
scallop dredge.
Under this award, GMRI was awarded
70,565 lb of scallops from the Elephant
Trunk Access Area (ETAA) and 33 daysat-sea (DAS), with the proceeds from
sold scallops compensating
participating vessel owners and
defraying research costs. Small dredge
program restrictions at 50 CFR 648.51(e)
require a vessel enrolled in the small
dredge program to fish with one dredge
E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 155 (Monday, August 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46590-46591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18489]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-AX05
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel,
Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Amendment 11
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Supplemental Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS); request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On December 19, 2005, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council (Council), in cooperation with NMFS, announced its intent to
prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for
Amendment 11 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB)
Fishery Management Plan (FMP)(Amendment 11). Since then, the Council
and NMFS have determined that the Amendment 11 document is an
independent action and therefore will be handled as an EIS, rather than
SEIS. The Council has chosen to consider management measures in this
action in addition to limited access in the Atlantic mackerel
(mackerel) fishery, including: The implementation of annual catch
limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for Atlantic mackerel
and butterfish required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (MSRA); an update of the
description and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH) for all
life stages of mackerel, Loligo squid (Loligo), Illex squid (Illex),
and butterfish (including gear impacts on Loligo egg EFH); and possible
limitations on at-sea processing of mackerel. For purposes of scoping,
this supplemental NOI seeks comments on only the above listed new
measures that may be included in Amendment 11. Additional scoping will
take place via solicitation of public comment at Council meetings and
related Council committee meetings as Amendment 11 is considered and
developed.
DATES: Public comments on the supplemental NOI for Amendment 11 must be
received on or before 5 p.m., local time, September 10, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the supplementary notice of intent for
Amendment 11 may be sent by any of the following methods:
E-mail to the following address: MSBAmendment11@noaa.gov;
[[Page 46591]]
Mail to Sustainable Fisheries Division, Northeast Regional
Office, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the
outside of the envelope ``Scoping Comments on Supplemental NOI for
Amendment 11;'' or
Fax to 978-281-9135. Mark the fax ``Scoping Comments on
Supplemental NOI for Amendment 11.''
Copies of supporting documents used by the Council are available from:
Daniel Furlong, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council, Room 2115, Federal Building, 300 South New Street, Dover, DE
19904-6790, telephone 302-674-2331.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Furlong, Executive Director,
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115, Federal Building,
300 South New Street, Dover, DE 19904-6790, telephone 302-674-2331.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On March 4, 2005 (70 FR 10605), the Council published an NOI to
prepare a SEIS to consider the impacts of alternatives for limiting
access to the mackerel fishery. The Council subsequently conducted
scoping meetings on the development of a limited access program, which
the Council originally planned to include in Amendment 9 to the MSB FMP
(Amendment 9). However, due to unforeseen delays in the development of
Amendment 9, the Council notified the public on December 19, 2005 (70
FR 75114), that the mackerel limited access program would be considered
in Amendment 11. The Council subsequently notified the public on
February 27, 2007 (72 FR 8693), that it would begin the development of
Amendment 11 and the associated SEIS simultaneously with the
development of Amendment 10 to the MSB FMP.
Additional Issues Under Consideration
During the course of the development of Amendment 11, the Council
has identified three additional issues that may be considered in this
amendment, in addition to mackerel limited entry. The first issue is
implementation of ACLs and accountability measures AMs for mackerel and
butterfish. The MSRA requires that fishery management plans contain a
mechanism for specifying ACLs such that overfishing does not occur in
the fishery, including measures to ensure accountability (AMs).
Examples of AMs include in-season closures or pay-back provisions in
cases of overages. The second issue is an update of the description and
identification of EFH for all life stages of mackerel, Loligo, Illex,
and butterfish (including gear impacts on Loligo squid egg EFH). NMFS
guidance requires that EFH assessments should be updated every 5 years.
The MSB EFH assessment has not been generally updated since it was
completed in 1999, though gear impact analyses were completed for
Amendment 9 to the MSB FMP (73 FR 37382, July 1, 2008). Additionally,
EFH for Loligo eggs was designated in Amendment 9, therefore, a gear
impact analysis for Loligo egg EFH will also be included in Amendment
11. The third issue is possible limitations on at-sea processing of
mackerel that may be considered to limit overcapitalization of the
mackerel fishery; the Council may consider a cap on the amount of at-
sea processing or a limitation on at-sea processor vessel size.
Request for Comments
The public will have the opportunity to comment on the measures and
alternatives being considered by the Council for Amendment 11 through
public meetings and public comment periods required by the National
Environmental Policy Act, the MSRA, and the Administrative Procedure
Act. To date, the location and/or timing of these meetings and comment
periods has yet to be finalized, but appropriate notice of them will be
published in the Federal Register.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 6, 2008.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-18489 Filed 8-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
