Pacific Fishery Management Council; Notice of Intent, 70418-70419 [2011-29323]

Download as PDF 70418 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2011 / Notices (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: November 8, 2011. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2011–29279 Filed 11–10–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA817 Marine Mammals; File No. 16124 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that Sea World, Inc., Sea World, Inc., 9205 South Park Center Loop, Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819 (Brad Andrews, Responsible Party), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on and enhancement of Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) in permanent captivity. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before December 14, 2011. ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public Comment’’ from the Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) home page, https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 16124 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376; Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Room 1110, Honolulu, mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:40 Nov 10, 2011 Jkt 226001 HI 96814–4700; phone (808) 944–2200; fax (808) 973–2941; and Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 33701; phone (727) 824–5312; fax (727) 824–5309. 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 File No. 16124 in the subject line of the email 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) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222–226). The applicant proposes to continue long-term holding of six adult female monk seals that were deemed nonreleasable in 1997 due to an eye disease of unknown etiology; release of the seals would have presented a risk to the health of wild monk seals. The objectives of this request are to allow captive maintenance of the seals at Sea World, San Antonio, TX, to enhance survival of the species and conduct scientific research. In addition to the continued captive maintenance of the seals to prevent disease risk to the wild population, the applicant requests authorization to allow continued public awareness through education and public observation of the seals. Research proposed includes vaccination trials involving administration of two vaccines and up to four blood samples and four nasal swabs per seal per year. Non-intrusive research concurrent with husbandry and medical procedures is also proposed. The permit is requested for a 5-year period. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: November 7, 2011. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–29308 Filed 11–10–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–BB57 Pacific Fishery Management Council; Notice of Intent National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS); request for comments; notice of public scoping meetings. AGENCY: NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council announce their intent to prepare an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 to analyze the impacts on the human (biological, physical, social, and economic) environment of setting harvest specifications (including Overfishing Limits (OFLs), Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs), and Annual Catch Limits (ACLs)) and management measures for 2013 and 2014, pursuant to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. DATES: Public scoping will be conducted through regular meetings of the Pacific Fishery Management Council and its advisory bodies continuing through the June 2012 meeting (see https:// www.pcouncil.org/council-operations/ council-meetings/future-meetings/). Written comments on the scope of the analysis will be accepted through December 14, 2011 (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION). Written, faxed or emailed comments must be received by 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight time on December 14, 2011. SUMMARY: You may submit comments, on issues and alternatives, identified by ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM 14NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2011 / Notices 0648–BB57 by any of the following methods: • Email GroundfishSpex2013– 14@noaa.gov. Include RIN 0648–BB57 and enter Scoping Comments in the subject line of the message. • Fax: (503) 820–2299, Attention Kit Dahl. • Mail: Dr. Donald McIsaac, Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Pl., Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220, Attention Kit Dahl. NMFS will accept anonymous comments. You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kit Dahl, Pacific Fishery Management Council, phone: (503) 820–2280, fax: (503) 820–2299 and Email: kit.dahl@noaa.gov; or Sarah Biegel, NMFS Northwest Region NEPA; email: Sarah.T.Biegel@noaa.gov. Electronic Access This Federal Register document is available on the Government Printing Office’s Web site at: https:// www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Background for Agency Action There are more than 90 species managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (Groundfish FMP). These groundfish stocks support an array of commercial, recreational, and Indian tribal fishing interests in state and Federal waters off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, groundfish are also harvested incidentally in nongroundfish fisheries, most notably, the trawl fisheries for pink shrimp and California halibut. The amount of each Pacific Coast groundfish species or species complex that is available for harvest in a specific year is referred to as an Annual Catch Limit (ACL). The groundfish fishery regulations also include a collection of management measures intended to keep the total catch of each groundfish species or species complex at or below the ACL. The Groundfish harvest specifications and management measures are set at least biennially. The Proposed Action The proposed action is to use the ‘‘best available scientific information,’’ to implement harvest specifications (including OFLs, ABCs, and ACLs) for calendar years 2013 and 2014 for species and species’ complexes managed under the Groundfish FMP, and to implement new management measures to address conservation VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:40 Nov 10, 2011 Jkt 226001 70419 concerns and other objectives identified in the FMP. The intent is that 2014 harvest specifications will remain in place until replaced by the 2015 specifications and management measures. The specifications must be consistent with requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), particularly the 10 National Standards enumerated in section 301(a) of the MSA, the Groundfish FMP, and other applicable law. Eight Pacific Coast groundfish species are currently ‘‘overfished’’ and managed under rebuilding plans. Rebuilding plans must rebuild the stock in a time period that is as short as possible, taking into account the status and biology of the stock, the needs of fishing communities, recommendations by international organizations in which the United States participates, and the interaction of the overfished stock within the marine ecosystem. The Council will also establish 2-year allocations of catch opportunity for stocks or stock complexes in cases where fixed allocations are not specified in the Groundfish FMP. The proposed action includes management measures designed to keep total catch at or below ACLs. Management measures may be established for each year of the 2-year period or shorter periods, and the types of measures usually differ among groundfish fishery sectors. Management measures intended to control the rate at which different groundfish species or species groups are taken in the fisheries include trip limits, bag limits, size limits, time/area closures, and gear restrictions. Under Amendment 20 to the Groundfish FMP, Individual Fishing Quotas and allocations replace cumulative trip limits as the primary catch control tool for limited entry trawl vessels targeting groundfish species and delivering to shoreside processors and for the at-sea whiting sector respectively. Council is scheduled to choose a preferred alternative at its June 21–26, 2012, meeting. Alternatives NEPA requires that agencies evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed action in an EIS, which address the purpose and need for agency action. The Council is scheduled to adopt a preliminary range of alternatives for analysis and public review at its November 1–7, 2011, meeting. Alternatives include different ACLs for appropriate fishery management units, allocation of fishing opportunity among various fishery participants, and associated management measures. ACLs may reflect modifications to current rebuilding plans for one or more overfished species if necessary. The Special Accommodations PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues A principal objective of the scoping and public input process is to identify potentially significant impacts to the human environment that should be analyzed in depth in the EIS. If, during the preparation of this EIS, NMFS determines that a finding of no significant impact can be supported, it may prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) and issue a retraction of this notice. Alternatively, NMFS may still continue with the preparation of an EIS. Information and analysis prepared for this action also may be used when scoping future groundfish harvest specifications and management measure actions to help decide whether to prepare an EA or EIS. Public Scoping Process Public scoping will occur throughout the Council’s decision-making process. All decisions during the Council process benefit from written and oral public comments delivered prior to or during the Council meeting. These public comments are considered integral to scoping for developing this EIS. The Council began considering the proposed action at their September and November 2011 meetings. Council meetings in 2012 that offer additional opportunities for public involvement include: The April 1–6 meeting in Seattle Washington (Sheraton Seattle Hotel, 1400 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101), and the June 21–26 meeting in San Mateo California (San Mateo Marriott, 1770 South Amphlett Boulevard, San Mateo, CA 94402). For further information on these meetings, visit the Council’s Web site, https:// www.pcouncil.org/council-operations/ council-meetings/future-meetings/. The meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kris Klienshmidt Kris.Kleinschmidt@noaa.gov (503) 820– 2280 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: November 7, 2011. Steven Thur, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–29323 Filed 11–10–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM 14NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70418-70419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29323]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-BB57


Pacific Fishery Management Council; Notice of Intent

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS); request for comments; notice of public scoping meetings.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council announce their 
intent to prepare an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 to analyze the impacts on the human 
(biological, physical, social, and economic) environment of setting 
harvest specifications (including Overfishing Limits (OFLs), Acceptable 
Biological Catches (ABCs), and Annual Catch Limits (ACLs)) and 
management measures for 2013 and 2014, pursuant to the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan.

DATES: Public scoping will be conducted through regular meetings of the 
Pacific Fishery Management Council and its advisory bodies continuing 
through the June 2012 meeting (see https://www.pcouncil.org/council-operations/council-meetings/future-meetings/). Written comments on the 
scope of the analysis will be accepted through December 14, 2011 (see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION). Written, faxed or emailed comments must be 
received by 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight time on December 14, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, on issues and alternatives, 
identified by

[[Page 70419]]

0648-BB57 by any of the following methods:
     Email GroundfishSpex2013-14@noaa.gov. Include RIN 0648-
BB57 and enter Scoping Comments in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: (503) 820-2299, Attention Kit Dahl.
     Mail: Dr. Donald McIsaac, Pacific Fishery Management 
Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Pl., Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220, 
Attention Kit Dahl.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments. You may submit attachments to 
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF 
file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kit Dahl, Pacific Fishery Management 
Council, phone: (503) 820-2280, fax: (503) 820-2299 and Email: 
kit.dahl@noaa.gov; or Sarah Biegel, NMFS Northwest Region NEPA; email: 
Sarah.T.Biegel@noaa.gov.

Electronic Access

    This Federal Register document is available on the Government 
Printing Office's Web site at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background for Agency Action

    There are more than 90 species managed under the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (Groundfish FMP). These groundfish 
stocks support an array of commercial, recreational, and Indian tribal 
fishing interests in state and Federal waters off the coasts of 
Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, groundfish are also 
harvested incidentally in non-groundfish fisheries, most notably, the 
trawl fisheries for pink shrimp and California halibut.
    The amount of each Pacific Coast groundfish species or species 
complex that is available for harvest in a specific year is referred to 
as an Annual Catch Limit (ACL). The groundfish fishery regulations also 
include a collection of management measures intended to keep the total 
catch of each groundfish species or species complex at or below the 
ACL. The Groundfish harvest specifications and management measures are 
set at least biennially.

The Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to use the ``best available scientific 
information,'' to implement harvest specifications (including OFLs, 
ABCs, and ACLs) for calendar years 2013 and 2014 for species and 
species' complexes managed under the Groundfish FMP, and to implement 
new management measures to address conservation concerns and other 
objectives identified in the FMP. The intent is that 2014 harvest 
specifications will remain in place until replaced by the 2015 
specifications and management measures. The specifications must be 
consistent with requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (MSA), particularly the 10 National 
Standards enumerated in section 301(a) of the MSA, the Groundfish FMP, 
and other applicable law. Eight Pacific Coast groundfish species are 
currently ``overfished'' and managed under rebuilding plans. Rebuilding 
plans must rebuild the stock in a time period that is as short as 
possible, taking into account the status and biology of the stock, the 
needs of fishing communities, recommendations by international 
organizations in which the United States participates, and the 
interaction of the overfished stock within the marine ecosystem.
    The Council will also establish 2-year allocations of catch 
opportunity for stocks or stock complexes in cases where fixed 
allocations are not specified in the Groundfish FMP. The proposed 
action includes management measures designed to keep total catch at or 
below ACLs. Management measures may be established for each year of the 
2-year period or shorter periods, and the types of measures usually 
differ among groundfish fishery sectors. Management measures intended 
to control the rate at which different groundfish species or species 
groups are taken in the fisheries include trip limits, bag limits, size 
limits, time/area closures, and gear restrictions. Under Amendment 20 
to the Groundfish FMP, Individual Fishing Quotas and allocations 
replace cumulative trip limits as the primary catch control tool for 
limited entry trawl vessels targeting groundfish species and delivering 
to shoreside processors and for the at-sea whiting sector respectively.

Alternatives

    NEPA requires that agencies evaluate reasonable alternatives to the 
proposed action in an EIS, which address the purpose and need for 
agency action. The Council is scheduled to adopt a preliminary range of 
alternatives for analysis and public review at its November 1-7, 2011, 
meeting. Alternatives include different ACLs for appropriate fishery 
management units, allocation of fishing opportunity among various 
fishery participants, and associated management measures. ACLs may 
reflect modifications to current rebuilding plans for one or more 
overfished species if necessary. The Council is scheduled to choose a 
preferred alternative at its June 21-26, 2012, meeting.

Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues

    A principal objective of the scoping and public input process is to 
identify potentially significant impacts to the human environment that 
should be analyzed in depth in the EIS. If, during the preparation of 
this EIS, NMFS determines that a finding of no significant impact can 
be supported, it may prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) and issue 
a retraction of this notice. Alternatively, NMFS may still continue 
with the preparation of an EIS. Information and analysis prepared for 
this action also may be used when scoping future groundfish harvest 
specifications and management measure actions to help decide whether to 
prepare an EA or EIS.

Public Scoping Process

    Public scoping will occur throughout the Council's decision-making 
process. All decisions during the Council process benefit from written 
and oral public comments delivered prior to or during the Council 
meeting. These public comments are considered integral to scoping for 
developing this EIS. The Council began considering the proposed action 
at their September and November 2011 meetings. Council meetings in 2012 
that offer additional opportunities for public involvement include: The 
April 1-6 meeting in Seattle Washington (Sheraton Seattle Hotel, 1400 
Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101), and the June 21-26 meeting in San 
Mateo California (San Mateo Marriott, 1770 South Amphlett Boulevard, 
San Mateo, CA 94402). For further information on these meetings, visit 
the Council's Web site, https://www.pcouncil.org/council-operations/council-meetings/future-meetings/.

Special Accommodations

    The meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Kris Klienshmidt Kris.Kleinschmidt@noaa.gov (503) 
820-2280 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: November 7, 2011.
Steven Thur,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-29323 Filed 11-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.