Fishery Management Plan, Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Biscayne National Park, FL, 39095-39097 [E9-18754]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 5, 2009 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl G. Cote (702) 515–5104.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
heliport facility will lie within a
corridor established by Public Law 107–
282 dated November 6, 2002. The 2,640foot wide Transportation and Utilities
Corridor will be located along Interstate
15 south of Las Vegas Valley to the
border between the states of California
and Nevada, and will be managed for
multiple uses.
The following described public land
in Clark County, Nevada, has been
examined and found suitable for
conveyance to Clark County for airport
purposes. The parcel of land is located
south of Las Vegas, Nevada,
approximately 3.5 miles southwest of
the Sloan Road and Interstate 15
interchange and east of State Route 604,
and is described as:
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada
T. 24 S., R. 60 E.,
Sec. 1, that portion lying east of State
Route 604 as depicted as Tract A on the
map entitled Clark County Public
Heliport Facility, dated May 3, 2004.
The area described contains 229 acres,
more or less.
Public Law 109–115, Section 180,
directs the Secretary of the Interior to
convey to Clark County, Nevada, all
right, title, and interest of the United
States in the parcel described, subject to
valid existing rights and for no
consideration. Clark County must use
the parcel for the operation of a heliport.
If the County ceases to use any of the
land conveyed for the purpose
described, title to the parcel will revert
to the United States, at the option of the
United States, and the County will be
responsible for any reclamation
necessary.
The land is not needed for any
Federal purpose. The conveyance is
consistent with the BLM Las Vegas
Resource Management Plan, dated
October 5, 1998, and would be in the
public interest. The proposed
conveyance for the Southern Nevada
Regional Heliport was analyzed in the
environmental analysis (EA) Proposed
Southern Nevada Regional Heliport.
This document was approved by the
Federal Aviation Administration on
December 9, 2008. The BLM is a
cooperating agency on the preparation
of the EA and will issue its own
decision. A copy of the EA and the
reference map are available at the Las
Vegas Field Office.
Upon publication of this notice in the
Federal Register, the land described
will be segregated from all other forms
of appropriation under the public land
laws, including the general mining laws.
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18:54 Aug 04, 2009
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The conveyance, when issued, will be
subject to:
1. Valid existing rights;
2. Right-of-way N–7100 for oil and gas
pipeline purposes granted to CalNev
Pipeline Co., its successors and assigns,
pursuant to the Act of Feb. 20, 1920, as
amended (30 U.S.C. 185);
3. Right-of-way N–43923 for fiber
optic line purposes granted to MCI
WorldCom, its successors and assigns,
pursuant to the Act of Oct. 21, 1976 (43
U.S.C. 1761);
4. Right-of-way N–47888 for fiber
optic line purposes granted to Sprint
Communications, its successors and
assigns, pursuant to the Act of Oct. 21,
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761);
5. Right-of-way N–48572 for fiber
optic line purposes granted to AT&T, its
successors and assigns, pursuant to the
Act of Oct. 21, 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761);
6. Right-of-way N–56213 for oil and
gas pipeline purposes granted to CalNev
Pipeline Co., its successors and assigns,
pursuant to the Act of Feb. 20, 1920, as
amended (30 U.S.C. 185);
7. Permit N–85582 for soil testing
purposes authorized to Clark County
Department of Aviation, its successors
and assigns, pursuant to the Act of Oct.
21, 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761).
8. An appropriate indemnification
clause protecting the United States from
claims arising out of the patentee’s use,
occupancy, or operations on the
property.
9. To the extent required by law, the
conveyance will be subject to the
requirements on section 120(h) of the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability
Act (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)).
Interested parties may submit written
comments regarding whether the BLM
followed proper administrative
procedures as directed by Public Law
109–115, Section 180. Any adverse
comments will be reviewed by the BLM
Nevada State Director, who may sustain,
vacate, or modify this realty action. In
the absence of any adverse comments,
this realty action will become the final
determination of the Department of the
Interior. Before including your address,
phone number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Only written comments submitted by
postal service or overnight mail to the
Field Manager, BLM Las Vegas Field
PO 00000
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39095
Office, will be considered properly
filed. Electronic mail, facsimile, or
telephone comments will not be
considered properly filed. In the
absence of any adverse comments, the
decision will become effective on
October 5, 2009. The lands will not be
available for conveyance until after the
decision becomes effective.
Authority: Public Law 109–115, Section
180.
Kimber Liebhauser,
Assistant Field Manager, Lands, Las Vegas
Field Office.
[FR Doc. E9–18718 Filed 8–4–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Fishery Management Plan, Draft
Environmental Impact Statement,
Biscayne National Park, FL
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of Availability of a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the
Fishery Management Plan, Biscayne
National Park.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National
Park Service (NPS) announces the
availability of a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Biscayne
National Park, Florida.
DATES: The NPS will accept comments
on the DEIS from the public for 60 days
from the date the Environmental
Protection Agency notices the
availability of the DEIS in its regular
Friday Federal Register listing. Public
meetings will be held during the review
period to facilitate submission of public
comment. Once scheduled, meeting
dates will be announced via (1) park
mailings, (2) the park’s website (https://
www.nps.gov/bisc/), (3) a press release
to area media, and (4) announcements
in area newspapers.
ADDRESSES: Information will be
available for public review and
comment online at the NPS Planning,
Environment and Public Comment site
(https://parkplanning.nps.gov), and in
the office of Mark Lewis,
Superintendent of Biscayne National
Park, 9700 SW. 328th Street,
Homestead, Florida 33033.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
response to a variety of scientific data
sources that indicated declining
fisheries resources in Biscayne National
Park, the NPS held public and
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39096
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 5, 2009 / Notices
stakeholder meetings and consulting
party meetings to gather advice and
feedback on the current status of the
park’s fisheries resources and the
desired outcomes for the future
management of fisheries resources in
Biscayne National Park. The State of
Florida’s Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWS) is
serving as a cooperating agency. The
NPS also received recommendations
from a working group formed under the
authority of the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.
The NPS coordinated with
representatives of State and Federal
agencies and local universities to
examine current scientific data on
fisheries resources in Biscayne National
Park. The outcomes of the public
meetings, working group meetings, and
inter-agency meetings were collectively
incorporated into the development of
alternatives for the DEIS for the FMP
and the selection of the NPS’s preferred
alternative.
The range of alternatives identified in
the DEIS for the FMP includes actions
that could reasonably be implemented
given the legislative and legal
requirements under which the NPS
operates. The No-Action Alternative,
Alternative 1—Maintain Status Quo,
represents no change in specific
management approaches or the type of
actions the NPS has taken in the past.
The four action alternatives
(Alternatives 2 to 5) represent
progressively increasing levels of
change from current regulations and
management approaches, and thus
would result in differing future levels of
fishery resources and gear-related
habitat impacts in Biscayne National
Park. Each alternative is summarized
below.
Alternative 1, Maintain Status Quo:
The No-Action Alternative serves as a
basis of comparison with the other
alternatives. Alternative 1 is
characterized by the continuation of
current fisheries management according
to the park’s enabling legislation, the
established NPS management policies
and existing authorities, and in
conjunction with State fishery
regulations. No regulatory changes
would be triggered by the establishment
of the FMP. Regulatory changes would
occur only if mandated by the State of
Florida FWS following its normal rulemaking process, or through the Federal
regulatory and public review process.
Alternative 2, Maintain at or Above
Current Levels: A minor change from
current management strategies would
occur. Management actions would be
enacted (in conjunction with the State
of Florida FWS) to maintain Biscayne
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National Park’s fisheries resources at or
above currently existing levels. As
needed, management actions would be
implemented (in conjunction with the
State of Florida FWS) and could include
moderate increases in minimum harvest
sizes, moderate decreases in bag limits,
and seasonal and/or spatial closures.
Numbers of commercial fishers would
remain at current levels or decrease over
time, and fishing-related habitat impacts
would be reduced. Additional parkspecific regulations and management
actions would be enacted to maintain
current levels only if levels of fish
stocks or recreational fishing experience
decline, or if fishing-related habitat
impacts increase.
Alternative 3, Improve Over Current
Levels: A moderate change from current
management strategies would seek a
balance between enjoyment, extraction,
and conservation of fishery resources.
Management actions would be enacted
(in conjunction with the State of Florida
FWS) to increase the abundance and
average size of fishery-targeted species
within the park by at least 10 percent
over existing conditions. A range of
management actions to achieve the
desired resource status would be
considered, and include moderate
increases in minimum harvest sizes,
moderate decreases in bag limits, and
seasonal and/or spatial closures. Under
this alternative, lobster mini-season
would be eliminated in the park and
regulations would be enacted to prohibit
the use of an air supply or gear with a
trigger mechanism while spearfishing.
Numbers of commercial fishers would
remain at current levels or decrease over
time, and fishing-related habitat impacts
would be reduced. Under this and all
subsequent alternatives, the park would
require a recreational use permit for all
boats engaged in any recreational
activity (such as fishing or diving); the
permit would not be required for boaters
passing through, but not recreating in,
the park (e.g. traveling the Intracoastal
Waterway). This alternative would
require implementation of new
regulations governing fishing activities
within the park that would be
accomplished through collaboration
with State of Florida FWS and further
public input.
Alternative 4, Rebuild and Conserve
Park Fisheries Resources: A
considerable change from current
management strategies would seek a
balance between enjoyment, extraction,
and conservation of fishery resources,
while ensuring sustainable fishing
activities. Management actions would
be enacted (in conjunction with the
State of Florida FWS) to increase the
abundance and average size of fishery-
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
targeted species within the park by at
least 20 percent over existing
conditions, as well as to reduce fishingrelated habitat impacts. Possible
management actions to achieve
substantial improvement of fisheries
resources could include considerable
increases in minimum size limits,
designation of slot limits, substantial
decreases in bag limits, and seasonal
and/or spatial closures. Under
Alternative 4, lobster mini-season
would be eliminated in the park and
regulations would be enacted to prohibit
the use of an air supply or gear with a
trigger mechanism while spearfishing.
Numbers of commercial fishers would
decrease over time via establishment of
a non-transferable permit system. As in
Alternative 3, the park would require a
recreational use permit for all boats
engaged in any recreational activity
(such as fishing or diving); the permit
would not be required for boaters
passing through, but not recreating in,
the park (e.g., traveling the Intracoastal
Waterway). This alternative would
require considerable changes to current
fishing regulations within the park, and
would be accomplished through
collaboration with State of Florida FWC
and further public input.
Alternative 5, Restore Park Fisheries
Resources: This would require
substantial changes from current
management strategies in order to return
the sizes and abundance of targeted
species to within 20 percent of their
estimated, historic (pre-exploitation)
levels and to prevent further decline in
fishing-related habitat impacts. Possible
management actions to achieve the
desired conditions would be enacted in
conjunction with the State of Florida
FWS and could include substantial
increases in minimum size limits,
designation of slot limits, substantial
decreases in bag limits, seasonal and/or
spatial closures, prohibition of
extractive fishing (i.e. only allowing
catch-and-release fishing), and a
temporary moratorium on all fishing
activity within the park. Under this
alternative, lobster mini-season would
be eliminated in the park and
regulations would be enacted to prohibit
spearfishing within the park. Numbers
of commercial fishers would decrease
over time via establishment of a nontransferable permit system. As in
Alternatives 3 and 4, the park would
require a recreational use permit for all
boats engaged in any recreational
activity (such as fishing or diving); the
permit would not be required for boaters
passing through, but no recreating in,
the park (e.g., traveling the Intracoastal
Waterway). Among the five alternatives,
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 149 / Wednesday, August 5, 2009 / Notices
this alternative would require the most
extreme changes to current fishing
regulations within the park, and the
changes to the park’s fishing regulations
would be accomplished through
collaboration with the State of Florida
FWS and further public input.
Alternative 4, Rebuild and Conserve
Park Fisheries Resources, has been
identified as the NPS’s ‘‘preferred
alternative’’ because it results in the
most equitable balance between
protection, enjoyment, and extraction of
the park’s fisheries resources. The NPS
believes that Alternative 4 will allow for
fishing activities to continue at a
sustainable level that does not
compromise the long-term health of the
park’s fisheries resources. Additionally,
following NEPA, the NPS has identified
Alternative 5, Restore Park Fisheries
Resources, as the ‘‘environmentally
preferred alternative’’ because it causes
the least damage to the biological and
physical environment and best protects,
preserves, and enhances historic,
cultural, and natural resources. Through
identification of the ‘‘environmentally
preferred alternative,’’ NPS decisionmakers and the public are faced with
the relative merits of each alternative
and must clearly state the values and
policies used throughout the decisionmaking process.
If you wish to comment on the FMP,
you may submit your comments by any
one of several methods. You may mail
comments to Fishery Management Plan,
Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW. 328th
Street, Homestead, Florida 33033. You
may also comment via the Internet at
https://parkplanning.nps.gov. If you do
not receive a confirmation from the
system that we have received your
Internet message, contact BISC Fisheries
at 305–230–1144. Finally, you may
hand-deliver comments to Biscayne
National Park, 9700 SW. 328th Street,
Homestead, Florida 33033. Before
including your address, phone number,
e-mail address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW. 328th
Street, Homestead, Florida 33033;
Telephone 305–230–1144; or BISC
Fisheries@nps.gov.
The authority for publishing this
notice is contained in 40 CFR 1506.6
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18:54 Aug 04, 2009
Jkt 217001
The responsible official for this Draft
EIS is the Regional Director, Southeast
Region, National Park Service, 100
Alabama Street, SW., 1924 Building,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Art Frederick,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E9–18754 Filed 8–4–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–70–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLUTY0100–09–L12200000.EB0000–24–
1A00]
Notice of Intent To Collect Fees on
Public Land in Grand County, Utah,
Moab Field Office Under the Federal
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
(REA)
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to applicable
provisions of the Federal Lands
Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), the
Moab Field Office of the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) is proposing to
begin collecting fees for one group site
and three camping areas. These
proposed sites are located in Grand
County, Utah.
DATES: Effective Date: There will be a 30
day public comment period that will
expire on September 4, 2009. The public
is urged to participate in the public
comment period. Effective six months
after the publication of this notice, the
Bureau of Land Management, Moab
Field Office would initiate fee collection
at the Moab Skyway Group Area, and
the Entrada Bluffs, Bartlett Wash and
Courthouse Rock camping areas, as
construction work is completed, unless
BLM publishes a Federal Register
notice to the contrary. The Utah
Resource Advisory Council (RAC),
functioning as a Recreation Resource
Advisory Committee (RRAC), will
review the proposal to charge fees at the
sites mentioned above. Future
adjustments in the fee amount will be
made in accordance with the Moab
Field Office’s recreation fee business
plan covering the sites. Fee adjustments
will be made after consultation with the
Utah Recreation Resource Advisory
Committee and other appropriate
advance public notice.
ADDRESSES: Mail: Field Manager, Moab
Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab,
UT 84532 or momail@ut.blm.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Russell von Koch, Recreation Branch
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 4703
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39097
Chief, Moab Field Office, Bureau of
Land Management, 82 East Dogwood,
Moab, UT 84532 (435) 259–2100.
The group
site and three camping areas are: Moab
Skyway Group Site (T. 26 S., R. 21 E.,
Sec. 2, within, SLM), Entrada Bluffs
camping area (T. 23 S., R. 24 E., Sec. 8,
within, SLM), Bartlett Wash camping
area (T. 24 S., R. 19 E., Section 14,
within, SLM), and Courthouse Rock
camping area (T. 24 S., R. 20 E.,
Sections 17 and 20, within, SLM).
Under Section 3(g) of the REA, the Moab
Skyway Group Site, and the Entrada
Bluffs, Bartlett and Courthouse Rock
camping areas will qualify, upon
completion, as sites wherein visitors can
be charged an ‘‘Expanded Amenity
Recreation Fee.’’ Visitors wishing to use
the expanded amenities BLM is
developing at the four sites would
purchase a recreation use permit as
described at 43 CFR Part 2930. Pursuant
to REA and implementing regulations at
43 CFR Subpart 2933, fees may be
charged for overnight camping and
group use reservations where specific
amenities and services are provided.
Specific visitor fees will be identified
and posted at the site. Fees must be paid
at the self-service pay station located at
the camping areas. Fees for the Moab
Skyway Group Site must be paid for in
advance with the Moab Field Office.
People holding the America The
Beautiful—The National Parks and
Federal Recreational Lands—Senior
Pass (i.e., Interagency Senior Pass), a
Golden Age Passport, the America the
Beautiful—The National Parks and
Federal Recreational Lands—Access
Pass (i.e. Interagency Access Pass), or a
Golden Access Passport will be entitled
to a 50 percent fee reduction on all fees
except those associated with group
reservations. Fees charged for use of the
group sites would include a nonrefundable site reservation fee and a per
person use fee.
The Moab Skyway Group Site and the
Entrada Bluffs camping area are within
the Colorado Riverway Special
Recreation Management Area (SRMA).
Within this SRMA, there are twelve
similar camping fee sites. The Moab
Skyway Group Site, which is within the
Moab city limits, would include special
developed facilities available for day
use only. The Entrada Bluffs site has
individual camp sites only. Bartlett
Wash and Courthouse Rock would only
have individual sites. These two areas
are located within the Gemini Bridges/
Labyrinth Rims Special Recreation
Management Area, which has three
similar camping fee sites.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39095-39097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18754]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Fishery Management Plan, Draft Environmental Impact Statement,
Biscayne National Park, FL
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Fishery Management Plan, Biscayne National Park.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces
the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for
the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Biscayne National Park, Florida.
DATES: The NPS will accept comments on the DEIS from the public for 60
days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency notices the
availability of the DEIS in its regular Friday Federal Register
listing. Public meetings will be held during the review period to
facilitate submission of public comment. Once scheduled, meeting dates
will be announced via (1) park mailings, (2) the park's website (https://www.nps.gov/bisc/), (3) a press release to area media, and (4)
announcements in area newspapers.
ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment
online at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov), and in the office of Mark Lewis, Superintendent
of Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW. 328th Street, Homestead, Florida
33033.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a variety of scientific data
sources that indicated declining fisheries resources in Biscayne
National Park, the NPS held public and
[[Page 39096]]
stakeholder meetings and consulting party meetings to gather advice and
feedback on the current status of the park's fisheries resources and
the desired outcomes for the future management of fisheries resources
in Biscayne National Park. The State of Florida's Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWS) is serving as a cooperating agency. The
NPS also received recommendations from a working group formed under the
authority of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory
Council. The NPS coordinated with representatives of State and Federal
agencies and local universities to examine current scientific data on
fisheries resources in Biscayne National Park. The outcomes of the
public meetings, working group meetings, and inter-agency meetings were
collectively incorporated into the development of alternatives for the
DEIS for the FMP and the selection of the NPS's preferred alternative.
The range of alternatives identified in the DEIS for the FMP
includes actions that could reasonably be implemented given the
legislative and legal requirements under which the NPS operates. The
No-Action Alternative, Alternative 1--Maintain Status Quo, represents
no change in specific management approaches or the type of actions the
NPS has taken in the past. The four action alternatives (Alternatives 2
to 5) represent progressively increasing levels of change from current
regulations and management approaches, and thus would result in
differing future levels of fishery resources and gear-related habitat
impacts in Biscayne National Park. Each alternative is summarized
below.
Alternative 1, Maintain Status Quo: The No-Action Alternative
serves as a basis of comparison with the other alternatives.
Alternative 1 is characterized by the continuation of current fisheries
management according to the park's enabling legislation, the
established NPS management policies and existing authorities, and in
conjunction with State fishery regulations. No regulatory changes would
be triggered by the establishment of the FMP. Regulatory changes would
occur only if mandated by the State of Florida FWS following its normal
rule-making process, or through the Federal regulatory and public
review process.
Alternative 2, Maintain at or Above Current Levels: A minor change
from current management strategies would occur. Management actions
would be enacted (in conjunction with the State of Florida FWS) to
maintain Biscayne National Park's fisheries resources at or above
currently existing levels. As needed, management actions would be
implemented (in conjunction with the State of Florida FWS) and could
include moderate increases in minimum harvest sizes, moderate decreases
in bag limits, and seasonal and/or spatial closures. Numbers of
commercial fishers would remain at current levels or decrease over
time, and fishing-related habitat impacts would be reduced. Additional
park-specific regulations and management actions would be enacted to
maintain current levels only if levels of fish stocks or recreational
fishing experience decline, or if fishing-related habitat impacts
increase.
Alternative 3, Improve Over Current Levels: A moderate change from
current management strategies would seek a balance between enjoyment,
extraction, and conservation of fishery resources. Management actions
would be enacted (in conjunction with the State of Florida FWS) to
increase the abundance and average size of fishery-targeted species
within the park by at least 10 percent over existing conditions. A
range of management actions to achieve the desired resource status
would be considered, and include moderate increases in minimum harvest
sizes, moderate decreases in bag limits, and seasonal and/or spatial
closures. Under this alternative, lobster mini-season would be
eliminated in the park and regulations would be enacted to prohibit the
use of an air supply or gear with a trigger mechanism while
spearfishing. Numbers of commercial fishers would remain at current
levels or decrease over time, and fishing-related habitat impacts would
be reduced. Under this and all subsequent alternatives, the park would
require a recreational use permit for all boats engaged in any
recreational activity (such as fishing or diving); the permit would not
be required for boaters passing through, but not recreating in, the
park (e.g. traveling the Intracoastal Waterway). This alternative would
require implementation of new regulations governing fishing activities
within the park that would be accomplished through collaboration with
State of Florida FWS and further public input.
Alternative 4, Rebuild and Conserve Park Fisheries Resources: A
considerable change from current management strategies would seek a
balance between enjoyment, extraction, and conservation of fishery
resources, while ensuring sustainable fishing activities. Management
actions would be enacted (in conjunction with the State of Florida FWS)
to increase the abundance and average size of fishery-targeted species
within the park by at least 20 percent over existing conditions, as
well as to reduce fishing-related habitat impacts. Possible management
actions to achieve substantial improvement of fisheries resources could
include considerable increases in minimum size limits, designation of
slot limits, substantial decreases in bag limits, and seasonal and/or
spatial closures. Under Alternative 4, lobster mini-season would be
eliminated in the park and regulations would be enacted to prohibit the
use of an air supply or gear with a trigger mechanism while
spearfishing. Numbers of commercial fishers would decrease over time
via establishment of a non-transferable permit system. As in
Alternative 3, the park would require a recreational use permit for all
boats engaged in any recreational activity (such as fishing or diving);
the permit would not be required for boaters passing through, but not
recreating in, the park (e.g., traveling the Intracoastal Waterway).
This alternative would require considerable changes to current fishing
regulations within the park, and would be accomplished through
collaboration with State of Florida FWC and further public input.
Alternative 5, Restore Park Fisheries Resources: This would require
substantial changes from current management strategies in order to
return the sizes and abundance of targeted species to within 20 percent
of their estimated, historic (pre-exploitation) levels and to prevent
further decline in fishing-related habitat impacts. Possible management
actions to achieve the desired conditions would be enacted in
conjunction with the State of Florida FWS and could include substantial
increases in minimum size limits, designation of slot limits,
substantial decreases in bag limits, seasonal and/or spatial closures,
prohibition of extractive fishing (i.e. only allowing catch-and-release
fishing), and a temporary moratorium on all fishing activity within the
park. Under this alternative, lobster mini-season would be eliminated
in the park and regulations would be enacted to prohibit spearfishing
within the park. Numbers of commercial fishers would decrease over time
via establishment of a non-transferable permit system. As in
Alternatives 3 and 4, the park would require a recreational use permit
for all boats engaged in any recreational activity (such as fishing or
diving); the permit would not be required for boaters passing through,
but no recreating in, the park (e.g., traveling the Intracoastal
Waterway). Among the five alternatives,
[[Page 39097]]
this alternative would require the most extreme changes to current
fishing regulations within the park, and the changes to the park's
fishing regulations would be accomplished through collaboration with
the State of Florida FWS and further public input.
Alternative 4, Rebuild and Conserve Park Fisheries Resources, has
been identified as the NPS's ``preferred alternative'' because it
results in the most equitable balance between protection, enjoyment,
and extraction of the park's fisheries resources. The NPS believes that
Alternative 4 will allow for fishing activities to continue at a
sustainable level that does not compromise the long-term health of the
park's fisheries resources. Additionally, following NEPA, the NPS has
identified Alternative 5, Restore Park Fisheries Resources, as the
``environmentally preferred alternative'' because it causes the least
damage to the biological and physical environment and best protects,
preserves, and enhances historic, cultural, and natural resources.
Through identification of the ``environmentally preferred
alternative,'' NPS decision-makers and the public are faced with the
relative merits of each alternative and must clearly state the values
and policies used throughout the decision-making process.
If you wish to comment on the FMP, you may submit your comments by
any one of several methods. You may mail comments to Fishery Management
Plan, Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW. 328th Street, Homestead, Florida
33033. You may also comment via the Internet at https://parkplanning.nps.gov. If you do not receive a confirmation from the
system that we have received your Internet message, contact BISC
Fisheries at 305-230-1144. Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to
Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW. 328th Street, Homestead, Florida
33033. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW. 328th
Street, Homestead, Florida 33033; Telephone 305-230-1144; or BISC
Fisheries@nps.gov.
The authority for publishing this notice is contained in 40 CFR
1506.6
The responsible official for this Draft EIS is the Regional
Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street,
SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Art Frederick,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. E9-18754 Filed 8-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
