Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Amendment 5 to the Golden Crab Fishery Management Plan of the South Atlantic, 98-99 [2010-33099]

Download as PDF 98 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 1 / Monday, January 3, 2011 / Notices jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES appropriations. NIST issues this notice subject to the appropriations made available under the current continuing resolution, S. Amend. to H.R. 3081, ‘‘Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2011,’’ Public Law 111–242, as amended by H.J. Res. 101, ‘‘Further Continuing Appropriations, 2011,’’ Public Law 111– 290; H.J. Res. 105, ‘‘Further Continuing Appropriations, 2011,’’ Public Law 111– 317; and H.R 3082, ‘‘Further Continuing Appropriations, 2011,’’ Public Law 111– 322. NIST anticipates making awards for the programs listed in this notice provided that funding for the programs is continued beyond March 4, 2011, the expiration of the current continuing resolution. In no event will NIST or the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if these programs fail to receive funding or are cancelled because of agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NIST or the Department of Commerce to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. Executive Order 12866: This funding notice was determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies with federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132. Executive Order 12372: Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, ‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.’’ Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act: Notice and comment are not required under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) or any other law, for rules relating to public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)). Because notice and comment are not required under 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, for rules relating to public property, loans, grants, benefits or contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)), a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is not required and has not been prepared for this notice, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. Dated: December 27, 2010. David Robinson, Associate Director for Management Resources. [FR Doc. 2010–33075 Filed 12–30–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:48 Dec 30, 2010 Jkt 223001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–BA60 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Amendment 5 to the Golden Crab Fishery Management Plan of the South Atlantic AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS); request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), intends to prepare an EIS to describe and analyze a range of alternatives for management actions to be included in Amendment 5 to the Golden Crab Fishery Management Plan of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 5). These alternatives will consider measures to develop a catch share program for the golden crab fishery. The purpose of this NOI is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. DATES: Written comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS will be accepted from January 12 to February 14, 5 p.m., Eastern time. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648–BA60, by any one of the following methods: • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal https:// www.regulations.gov. • Mail: Karla Gore, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Instructions: No comments will be posted for public viewing until after the comment period is over. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to https:// www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. To submit comments through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov, enter ‘‘NOAA– NMFS–2010–0279’’ in the keyword search, then select ‘‘Send a Comment or Submission.’’ NMFS will accept PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Gore; phone: (727) 824–5305. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Golden Crab FMP relies on a system of traditional fishery management plus limited access. Traditional fishery management includes: measures to provide biological protection to the resource (escape gaps in traps and no retention of female crabs); gear regulations (allowable gear, requirement for degradable panel, tending requirements, gear identification, and maximum trap size by zone); depth limitations and prohibition of possession of whole fish or fillets of snapper-grouper species; data collection requirements (vessel/fishermen and dealer/processor reporting); and a framework procedure to adjust the management program. The golden crab fishery resource is not overfished or undergoing overfishing. However, there are underlying social and economic problems resulting from gear conflicts, high regulatory costs, and limited markets. To solve these social and economic problems, managers have increasingly turned to various forms of controlled access or effort limitation. Combining more traditional fishery management measures with controlled access has allowed the Council to solve problems in the golden crab fishery. The Council is considering development and implementation of a catch share program for golden crab in order to: avoid a derby fishery from developing; place limitations on vessel harvest similar to historical participation; and maintain fishermen harvesting flexibility. Recent information indicates increased participation and renewed interest in participation in the golden crab fishery due to technological improvements that have increased quality, price, and marketability of golden crab. NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, will develop an EIS to describe and analyze management alternatives to address the management needs described above. Those alternatives will include a ‘‘no action’’ alternative regarding each action. In accordance with NOAA’s Administrative Order 216–6, Section 5.02(c), Scoping Process, NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, has identified preliminary environmental issues as a means to initiate discussion E:\FR\FM\03JAN1.SGM 03JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 1 / Monday, January 3, 2011 / Notices jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES for scoping purposes only. These preliminary issues may not represent the full range of issues that eventually will be evaluated in the EIS. Copies of an information packet will be available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). Following publication of this NOI, the Council will conduct public scoping meetings to determine the range of issues to be addressed in the draft EIS (DEIS) and the associated Amendment 5. After the DEIS associated with Amendment 5 is completed, it will be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA will publish a notice of availability of the DEIS for public comment in the Federal Register. The DEIS will have a 45-day comment period. This procedure is pursuant to regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 40 CFR parts 1500–1508) and to NOAA’s Administrative Order 216–6 regarding NOAA’s compliance with NEPA and the CEQ regulations. The Council will consider public comments received on the DEIS in developing the final environmental impact statement (FEIS), and before voting to submit the final amendment to NMFS for Secretarial review, approval, and implementation. NMFS will announce in the Federal Register the availability of the final amendment and FEIS for public review during the Secretarial review period, and will consider all public comments prior to final agency action to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the final amendment. Scoping Meetings, Times, and Locations All meetings will begin at 3 p.m. In addition to Amendment 5, the Council intends to scope additional amendments at this series of meetings. Separate NOIs will be prepared for each amendment. The meetings will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for information packets or for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Monday, January 24, 2011–Hilton New Bern/Riverfront, 100 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560; phone 252–638– 3585. Wednesday, January 26, 2011–Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport, 4831 Tanger Outlet Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29418; phone 843–744–4422. Thursday, January 27, 2011–Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, GA 31322; phone 912– 748–8888. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:48 Dec 30, 2010 Jkt 223001 Monday, January 31, 2011– Jacksonville Marriott, 4670 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256; phone 904–296–2222. Tuesday, February 1, 2011– International Palms Resort, 1300 N. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931; phone 321–783–2271. Thursday, February 3, 2011–Key Largo Grande Resort, 97000 Overseas Resort, Key Largo, FL 33037; phone 305–852–5553. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 28, 2010. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2010–33099 Filed 12–30–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3210–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–BA52 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Amendment 24 to the Fishery Management Plan for Snapper Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS); notice of scoping meetings; request for comments. SUMMARY: NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), intends to prepare an EIS to describe and analyze a range of alternatives for management actions to be included in an amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the SnapperGrouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP). These alternatives will consider measures to establish a rebuilding plan for the red grouper stock, while setting annual catch limits (ACLs), accountability measures (AMs), allocations, maximum sustainable yield (MSY), and optimum yield (OY) for red grouper. The purpose of this NOI is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. DATES: Written comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS will be accepted from January 12 to February 14, 5 p.m., eastern time. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648–BA52, by any one of the following methods: PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 99 • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal https:// www.regulations.gov. • Mail: Rick DeVictor, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Instructions: No comments will be posted for public viewing until after the comment period is over. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to https:// www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. To submit comments through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov, enter ‘‘NOAA– NMFS–2010–0263’’ in the keyword search, then select ‘‘Send a Comment or Submission.’’ NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson; phone: (843) 571–4366. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The red grouper stock in the south Atlantic was assessed through the Southeast, Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) process in 2010. The assessment indicates that the stock is experiencing overfishing and is overfished. Overfishing is a condition when fishing pressure is beyond the allowable level. Overfishing may lead to an overfished condition. A stock is overfished when the biomass is below an identified minimum stock size threshold. Due to low biomass levels, an overfished stock has increased vulnerability to environmental variables and cannot produce the MSY. As directed by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Council and NMFS must implement a rebuilding plan, through an FMP Amendment or proposed regulations, which ends overfishing immediately and provides for rebuilding the fishery. The intent of a rebuilding plan is to increase biomass of overfished stocks to a sustainable level within a specified period of time. A plan should achieve conservation goals, while minimizing to the extent practicable adverse socioeconomic impacts. NMFS notified the Council of the stock status on June 9, 2010; the Magnuson-Stevens Act E:\FR\FM\03JAN1.SGM 03JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 1 (Monday, January 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 98-99]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-33099]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-BA60


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Amendment 5 to the Golden Crab Fishery Management Plan of the South 
Atlantic

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS); request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), intends to prepare an 
EIS to describe and analyze a range of alternatives for management 
actions to be included in Amendment 5 to the Golden Crab Fishery 
Management Plan of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 5). These 
alternatives will consider measures to develop a catch share program 
for the golden crab fishery. The purpose of this NOI is to solicit 
public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the 
EIS will be accepted from January 12 to February 14, 5 p.m., Eastern 
time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-BA60, by any 
one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Karla Gore, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    Instructions: No comments will be posted for public viewing until 
after the comment period is over. All comments received are a part of 
the public record and will generally be posted to https://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying 
Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by 
the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    To submit comments through the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov, enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2010-0279'' in the keyword 
search, then select ``Send a Comment or Submission.'' NMFS will accept 
anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields if you wish to 
remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Gore; phone: (727) 824-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Golden Crab FMP relies on a system of 
traditional fishery management plus limited access. Traditional fishery 
management includes: measures to provide biological protection to the 
resource (escape gaps in traps and no retention of female crabs); gear 
regulations (allowable gear, requirement for degradable panel, tending 
requirements, gear identification, and maximum trap size by zone); 
depth limitations and prohibition of possession of whole fish or 
fillets of snapper-grouper species; data collection requirements 
(vessel/fishermen and dealer/processor reporting); and a framework 
procedure to adjust the management program.
    The golden crab fishery resource is not overfished or undergoing 
overfishing. However, there are underlying social and economic problems 
resulting from gear conflicts, high regulatory costs, and limited 
markets. To solve these social and economic problems, managers have 
increasingly turned to various forms of controlled access or effort 
limitation. Combining more traditional fishery management measures with 
controlled access has allowed the Council to solve problems in the 
golden crab fishery.
    The Council is considering development and implementation of a 
catch share program for golden crab in order to: avoid a derby fishery 
from developing; place limitations on vessel harvest similar to 
historical participation; and maintain fishermen harvesting 
flexibility. Recent information indicates increased participation and 
renewed interest in participation in the golden crab fishery due to 
technological improvements that have increased quality, price, and 
marketability of golden crab.
    NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, will develop an EIS to 
describe and analyze management alternatives to address the management 
needs described above. Those alternatives will include a ``no action'' 
alternative regarding each action.
    In accordance with NOAA's Administrative Order 216-6, Section 
5.02(c), Scoping Process, NMFS, in collaboration with the Council, has 
identified preliminary environmental issues as a means to initiate 
discussion

[[Page 99]]

for scoping purposes only. These preliminary issues may not represent 
the full range of issues that eventually will be evaluated in the EIS.
    Copies of an information packet will be available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Following publication of this NOI, the Council will conduct public 
scoping meetings to determine the range of issues to be addressed in 
the draft EIS (DEIS) and the associated Amendment 5. After the DEIS 
associated with Amendment 5 is completed, it will be filed with the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA will publish a notice of 
availability of the DEIS for public comment in the Federal Register. 
The DEIS will have a 45-day comment period. This procedure is pursuant 
to regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for 
implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA; 40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and to NOAA's Administrative 
Order 216-6 regarding NOAA's compliance with NEPA and the CEQ 
regulations.
    The Council will consider public comments received on the DEIS in 
developing the final environmental impact statement (FEIS), and before 
voting to submit the final amendment to NMFS for Secretarial review, 
approval, and implementation. NMFS will announce in the Federal 
Register the availability of the final amendment and FEIS for public 
review during the Secretarial review period, and will consider all 
public comments prior to final agency action to approve, disapprove, or 
partially approve the final amendment.

Scoping Meetings, Times, and Locations

    All meetings will begin at 3 p.m. In addition to Amendment 5, the 
Council intends to scope additional amendments at this series of 
meetings. Separate NOIs will be prepared for each amendment. The 
meetings will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for information packets or for sign language interpretation or 
other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Monday, January 24, 2011-Hilton New Bern/Riverfront, 100 Middle 
Street, New Bern, NC 28560; phone 252-638-3585.
    Wednesday, January 26, 2011-Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport, 4831 
Tanger Outlet Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29418; phone 843-744-
4422.
    Thursday, January 27, 2011-Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, 175 
Bourne Avenue, Pooler, GA 31322; phone 912-748-8888.
    Monday, January 31, 2011-Jacksonville Marriott, 4670 Salisbury 
Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256; phone 904-296-2222.
    Tuesday, February 1, 2011-International Palms Resort, 1300 N. 
Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931; phone 321-783-2271.
    Thursday, February 3, 2011-Key Largo Grande Resort, 97000 Overseas 
Resort, Key Largo, FL 33037; phone 305-852-5553.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 28, 2010.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-33099 Filed 12-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3210-22-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.