Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment for the U.S. Caribbean, 4868-4870 [2011-1842]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES 4868 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 18 / Thursday, January 27, 2011 / Notices Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814–4700; phone (808) 944–2200; fax (808) 973–2941. Written comments on this application should be submitted to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713–0376, or by email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include the File No. in the subject line of the e-mail comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, (301) 713–2289. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222– 226). The Waikiki Aquarium is requesting a 5-year permit to continue to maintain in captivity two male non-releasable Hawaiian monk seals for research and enhancement purposes. Research proposed includes continuation of a long-term study on the digestive efficiency of the captive seals as they age using voluntary behaviors to collect bi-monthly weights and blubber ultrasound measurements. Seals would also be fed chromic oxide up to 72 times per year and marked, voided feces would be collected for determination of digestive efficiency. A second study proposed includes post-vaccination antibody response trials. West Nile virus (WNV) and canine distemper viruses (CDV) are considered a potential threat for the wild Hawaiian monk seal population. Each seal would be vaccinated twice for CDV and WNV, and to assess the effectiveness of the vaccines, blood and nasal swabs would be taken four times over the period of one year for antibody detection. The seals would be displayed to the public incidental to the research program, and the Waikiki Aquarium provides daily public narrations and informative educational graphics about the Hawaiian monk seal. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:51 Jan 26, 2011 Jkt 223001 In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. Dated: January 24, 2011. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–1789 Filed 1–24–11; 4:15 pm] Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Rd., Key West, FL 33040; (305) 292–0311 x245; Lilli.Ferguson@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Per the council’s Charter, if necessary, terms of appointment may be changed to provide for staggered expiration dates or member resignation mid term. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431, et seq. (Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program) Dated: January 19, 2011. Daniel J. Basta, Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2011–1659 Filed 1–26–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–NK–M BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Availability of Seats for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice and request for applications. AGENCY: The ONMS is seeking applications for the following vacant positions on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Boating Industry (alternate), Citizen at Large—Middle Keys (alternate), and Citizen at Large—Upper Keys (alternate). Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve 3-year terms, pursuant to the council’s Charter. DATES: Applications are due by February 23, 2011. ADDRESSES: Application kits may be obtained from Lilli Ferguson, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Rd., Key West, FL 33040. Completed applications should be sent to the same address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lilli Ferguson, Florida Keys National Marine SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–BA62 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment for the U.S. Caribbean National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS); scoping meetings; request for comments. AGENCY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS intend to prepare a DEIS to describe and analyze management alternatives to be included in an amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Amendment 6), an amendment to the FMP for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Amendment 3), an amendment to the FMP for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Amendment 5), and an amendment to the FMP for the Queen Conch Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Amendment 3). These alternatives will consider measures to revise management reference points and status determination criteria, implement annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) to prevent overfishing in both the commercial and recreational sectors, revise management of aquarium trade SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM 27JAN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 18 / Thursday, January 27, 2011 / Notices species, establish recreational bag limits, establish exclusive economic zone sub-boundaries for purposes of applying accountability measures, and establish frameworks to adjust management measures as needed to constrain harvest to specified ACLs. The purpose of this notice of intent is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DEIS. DATES: Written comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DEIS must be received by the Council by February 28, 2011. A series of scoping meetings will be held in February 2011. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the specific dates, times, and locations of the scoping meetings. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the DEIS and requests for additional information on the amendments should be sent to NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701; telephone 727–824–5305; fax 727–825–5308; or to the Caribbean Fishery Management ˜ Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918; telephone 787–766–5927; fax 787–766–6239. Comments may also be sent by e-mail to Bill.Arnold@noaa.gov or Graciela.Garcia-Moliner@noaa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. William Arnold, phone 727–824–5305; fax 727–824–5308; e-mail Bill.Arnold@noaa.gov; or Graciela Garcia-Moliner, phone 787–766–5927; fax 787–766–6239; e-mail Graciela.Garcia-Moliner@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 12, 2007, Congress amended the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation Management Act (MSA) with passage of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (MSRA). While maintaining the requirement that ‘‘conservation and management measures shall prevent overfishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield from each fishery for the United States fishing industry,’’ the MSRA added new requirements to end and prevent overfishing via the application of ACLs and AMs. Specifically, the MSRA requires that FMPs ‘‘establish a mechanism for specifying annual catch limits in the plan (including a multiyear plan), implementing regulations, or annual specifications, at a level such that overfishing does not occur in the fishery, including measures to ensure accountability’’ (MSA Section 303(a)(15)). Further, the MSRA requires such measures be implemented in 2010 for fisheries determined by the Secretary VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:51 Jan 26, 2011 Jkt 223001 of Commerce (Secretary) to be subject to overfishing and in 2011 for all other fisheries. Currently, there are five species or species groups that have been identified as undergoing overfishing in the U.S. Caribbean. These species or species groups are: queen conch, parrotfish, Grouper Unit 1 (Nassau grouper), Grouper Unit 4 (tiger, yellowfin, red, misty, and yellowedge grouper), and Snapper Unit 1 (black, blackfin, silk, and vermilion snapper). These determinations were made during development of the Council’s Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment (SFA). As no stock assessments had yet been able to determine stock status in the U.S. Caribbean, these determinations were based on the informed judgment of those involved in the SFA working group, which included Federal, state, and local managers, scientists, and constituents. Establishment of ACLs and AMs for each of those species or species groups is addressed in Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Queen Conch Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Amendment 5 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, species not designated as undergoing overfishing in the Reef Fish, Queen Conch, Spiny Lobster, and Corals and Associated Plants and Invertebrates FMPs must have ACLs and AMs established by 2011. The Council will develop a DEIS to describe and analyze management alternatives to implement the proposed provisions of these amendments. The amendments will provide updates to the best available scientific information regarding the species and species groups listed, and based on the information, the Council will determine what actions and alternatives are necessary to meet the statutory requirements for these stocks in 2011. Those alternatives may include, but are not limited to, a ‘‘no action’’ alternative regarding the fishery as well as alternatives to revise management reference points and status determination criteria, implement annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) to prevent overfishing in both the commercial and recreational sectors, revise management of aquarium trade species, establish recreational bag limits, establish exclusive economic zone sub-boundaries for purposes of applying accountability measures, and establish frameworks to adjust management measures as needed to constrain harvest to specified ACLs. PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4869 In accordance with NOAA’s Administrative Order NAO 216–6, Section 5.02(c), the Council and NMFS have identified this preliminary range of alternatives as a means to initiate discussion for scoping purposes only. This may not represent the full range of alternatives that eventually will be evaluated by the Council and NMFS. Once the Council and NMFS complete the DEIS associated with the amendments to the FMP for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the FMP for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the FMP for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the FMP for the Queen Conch Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, it must be approved by a majority of the voting members, present and voting, of the Council. After the Council approves this document, the DEIS and associated amendments will be submitted to NMFS for filing 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 and NMFS will consider public comments received on the DEIS in developing the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and before adopting final management measures for the amendments. The Council will submit both the final version of the combined amendments, and the supporting FEIS, to NMFS for review by the Secretary under the MSA. NMFS will announce, through a notice published in the Federal Register, the availability of the final version of the combined amendments for public review during the Secretarial review period. During Secretarial review, NMFS will also file the FEIS with the EPA for a final 30-day public comment period. This comment period will be concurrent with the Secretarial review period and will end prior to final agency action to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the final amendments. NMFS will announce, through a notice published in the Federal Register, all public comment periods on the final version of the combined amendments, their proposed E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM 27JAN1 4870 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 18 / Thursday, January 27, 2011 / Notices implementing regulations, and the associated FEIS. NMFS will consider all public comments received during the Secretarial review period, whether they are on the final amendments, the proposed regulations, or the FEIS, prior to final agency action. Scoping Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations All scoping meetings are scheduled to be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The meetings will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Request for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council (see ADDRESSES). February 7, 2011, DoubleTree by Hilton San Juan, DeDiego Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico. ¨ February 9, 2011, Mayaguez Holiday ¨ Inn, 2701 Hostos Avenue, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. February 10, 2011, Holiday Inn Ponce & Tropical Casino, 3315 Ponce ByPass, Ponce, Puerto Rico. February 16, 2011, The Buccaneer Hotel, Estate Shoys, Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. February 17, 2011, Holiday Inn (Windward Passage Hotel), Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 21, 2011. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–1842 Filed 1–26–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA181 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a peer review of work completed by its Habitat Plan Development Team on February 15–17, 2011. The review panel is being convened for the purpose of providing expert technical comments and advice on the use of the Swept Area Seabed Impact model in Council fishery management plans. The model is a georeferenced analytical tool that is mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:51 Jan 26, 2011 Jkt 223001 intended to estimate the adverse effects (Z) of fishing on seabed structures by combining fishing effort data, seabed substrate and energy data and gear specific habitat vulnerability parameters. This tool will enable a better understanding of fishing gear impacts on benthic habitats, the spatial distribution of benthic habitat vulnerability to particular fishing gears, and the distribution of adverse effects from fishing activities on benthic habitats. Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, February 15–17, beginning at 10 a.m. on the first day and 8:30 a.m. on the subsequent days. DATES: The meeting will be held at the Hotel Providence, 130 Mathewson Street, Providence, RI 02903; telephone: (800) 861–8990; fax: (401) 861–8002. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Tuesday, February 15–17, 2011 Led by a member of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), the three to four member panel will determine if the Swept Area Seabed Impact model approach is a reasonable way to estimate the magnitude and location of adverse effects of fishing on essential fish habitat (EFH); also, if the approach, including the geo-statistical and practicability analyses, are a reasonable way to develop and analyze spatially-based management alternatives to minimize the adverse effects of fishing on EFH; and finally, whether existing gaps in data and theoretical understanding of habitat-related processes have been identified during model development. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, at (978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 24, 2011. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–1763 Filed 1–26–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–AW91 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; U.S. Navy Training in the Southern California Range Complex National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of issuance of a Letter of Authorization; request for comments on Integrated Comprehensive Management Program Plan. AGENCY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to take marine mammals incidental to Navy training, maintenance, and research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities to be conducted within the Southern California (SOCAL) Range Complex, which extends south and southwest off the southern California coast, for the period of January 22, 2011, through January 21, 2012. NMFS also provides notice that the Integrated Comprehensive Management Program (ICMP) Plan, which is intended for use as a planning tool to focus Navy monitoring priorities pursuant to the MMPA and Endangered Species Act (ESA), has been updated for 2011. NMFS encourages the public to review this document and provide comments, information, and suggestions on the ICMP Plan. DATES: This Authorization is effective from January 22, 2011, through January 21, 2012. Comments and information on SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\27JAN1.SGM 27JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4868-4870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1842]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-BA62


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment for the U.S. Caribbean

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS); scoping meetings; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS 
intend to prepare a DEIS to describe and analyze management 
alternatives to be included in an amendment to the Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands (Amendment 6), an amendment to the FMP for Corals and Reef 
Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands (Amendment 3), an amendment to the FMP for the Spiny Lobster 
Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Amendment 5), and 
an amendment to the FMP for the Queen Conch Fishery of Puerto Rico and 
the U.S. Virgin Islands (Amendment 3). These alternatives will consider 
measures to revise management reference points and status determination 
criteria, implement annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability 
measures (AMs) to prevent overfishing in both the commercial and 
recreational sectors, revise management of aquarium trade

[[Page 4869]]

species, establish recreational bag limits, establish exclusive 
economic zone sub-boundaries for purposes of applying accountability 
measures, and establish frameworks to adjust management measures as 
needed to constrain harvest to specified ACLs. The purpose of this 
notice of intent is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues 
to be addressed in the DEIS.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the 
DEIS must be received by the Council by February 28, 2011. A series of 
scoping meetings will be held in February 2011. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for the specific dates, times, and locations of the scoping 
meetings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the DEIS and requests for 
additional information on the amendments should be sent to NMFS, 263 
13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701; telephone 727-824-
5305; fax 727-825-5308; or to the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 
268 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 1108, San Juan, Puerto Rico 
00918; telephone 787-766-5927; fax 787-766-6239. Comments may also be 
sent by e-mail to Bill.Arnold@noaa.gov or Graciela.Garcia-Moliner@noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. William Arnold, phone 727-824-
5305; fax 727-824-5308; e-mail Bill.Arnold@noaa.gov; or Graciela 
Garcia-Moliner, phone 787-766-5927; fax 787-766-6239; e-mail 
Graciela.Garcia-Moliner@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 12, 2007, Congress amended the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation Management Act (MSA) with 
passage of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation and Management 
Reauthorization Act (MSRA). While maintaining the requirement that 
``conservation and management measures shall prevent overfishing while 
achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield from each fishery 
for the United States fishing industry,'' the MSRA added new 
requirements to end and prevent overfishing via the application of ACLs 
and AMs.
    Specifically, the MSRA requires that FMPs ``establish a mechanism 
for specifying annual catch limits in the plan (including a multiyear 
plan), implementing regulations, or annual specifications, at a level 
such that overfishing does not occur in the fishery, including measures 
to ensure accountability'' (MSA Section 303(a)(15)). Further, the MSRA 
requires such measures be implemented in 2010 for fisheries determined 
by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to be subject to overfishing 
and in 2011 for all other fisheries.
    Currently, there are five species or species groups that have been 
identified as undergoing overfishing in the U.S. Caribbean. These 
species or species groups are: queen conch, parrotfish, Grouper Unit 1 
(Nassau grouper), Grouper Unit 4 (tiger, yellowfin, red, misty, and 
yellowedge grouper), and Snapper Unit 1 (black, blackfin, silk, and 
vermilion snapper). These determinations were made during development 
of the Council's Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment (SFA). As no stock 
assessments had yet been able to determine stock status in the U.S. 
Caribbean, these determinations were based on the informed judgment of 
those involved in the SFA working group, which included Federal, state, 
and local managers, scientists, and constituents. Establishment of ACLs 
and AMs for each of those species or species groups is addressed in 
Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Queen Conch Fishery 
of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Amendment 5 to the Reef 
Fish Fishery Management Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands. However, species not designated as undergoing overfishing in 
the Reef Fish, Queen Conch, Spiny Lobster, and Corals and Associated 
Plants and Invertebrates FMPs must have ACLs and AMs established by 
2011.
    The Council will develop a DEIS to describe and analyze management 
alternatives to implement the proposed provisions of these amendments. 
The amendments will provide updates to the best available scientific 
information regarding the species and species groups listed, and based 
on the information, the Council will determine what actions and 
alternatives are necessary to meet the statutory requirements for these 
stocks in 2011. Those alternatives may include, but are not limited to, 
a ``no action'' alternative regarding the fishery as well as 
alternatives to revise management reference points and status 
determination criteria, implement annual catch limits (ACLs) and 
accountability measures (AMs) to prevent overfishing in both the 
commercial and recreational sectors, revise management of aquarium 
trade species, establish recreational bag limits, establish exclusive 
economic zone sub-boundaries for purposes of applying accountability 
measures, and establish frameworks to adjust management measures as 
needed to constrain harvest to specified ACLs.
    In accordance with NOAA's Administrative Order NAO 216-6, Section 
5.02(c), the Council and NMFS have identified this preliminary range of 
alternatives as a means to initiate discussion for scoping purposes 
only. This may not represent the full range of alternatives that 
eventually will be evaluated by the Council and NMFS.
    Once the Council and NMFS complete the DEIS associated with the 
amendments to the FMP for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, the FMP for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and 
Invertebrates for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the FMP for 
the Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
and the FMP for the Queen Conch Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, it must be approved by a majority of the voting 
members, present and voting, of the Council. After the Council approves 
this document, the DEIS and associated amendments will be submitted to 
NMFS for filing 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 and NMFS will consider public comments received on the 
DEIS in developing the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and 
before adopting final management measures for the amendments. The 
Council will submit both the final version of the combined amendments, 
and the supporting FEIS, to NMFS for review by the Secretary under the 
MSA.
    NMFS will announce, through a notice published in the Federal 
Register, the availability of the final version of the combined 
amendments for public review during the Secretarial review period. 
During Secretarial review, NMFS will also file the FEIS with the EPA 
for a final 30-day public comment period. This comment period will be 
concurrent with the Secretarial review period and will end prior to 
final agency action to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the 
final amendments.
    NMFS will announce, through a notice published in the Federal 
Register, all public comment periods on the final version of the 
combined amendments, their proposed

[[Page 4870]]

implementing regulations, and the associated FEIS. NMFS will consider 
all public comments received during the Secretarial review period, 
whether they are on the final amendments, the proposed regulations, or 
the FEIS, prior to final agency action.

Scoping Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations

    All scoping meetings are scheduled to be held from 7 p.m. to 10 
p.m. The meetings will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Request for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council (see ADDRESSES).
    February 7, 2011, DoubleTree by Hilton San Juan, DeDiego Avenue, 
San Juan, Puerto Rico.
    February 9, 2011, Mayag[uuml]ez Holiday Inn, 2701 Hostos Avenue, 
Mayag[uuml]ez, Puerto Rico.
    February 10, 2011, Holiday Inn Ponce & Tropical Casino, 3315 Ponce 
ByPass, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
    February 16, 2011, The Buccaneer Hotel, Estate Shoys, 
Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
    February 17, 2011, Holiday Inn (Windward Passage Hotel), Charlotte 
Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

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

    Dated: January 21, 2011.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-1842 Filed 1-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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