North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Essential Fish Habitat Amendments, 47356-47357 [2012-19454]
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47356
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2012 / Proposed Rules
(1992b) and Fishbein and Warren (1994)
who report that plants do not flower
until they are over 0.5 m (1.6 ft) tall and,
under heavy grazing pressure, beardless
chinch weed plants may be unable to
attain adequate size for reproduction.
An inability of the plants to reproduce
could affect the stability of the
populations and lead to an overall
decrease in the species’ vigor within
these populations.
Additional information readily
available in our files states that grazing
pressure may have contributed to the
species’ rareness; however, there is no
evidence presented for this observation
(Keil 1982, pers. comm.). Falk and
Warren (1994, p. 157) state that the
species is thought to be susceptible to
impacts from grazing. Deecken (1992, p.
1) noted finding a population of 15 or
more plants on the edge of a cattle trail.
In addition, Deecken (1995, pers.
comm.) described a Coronado National
Forest project that realigned a fence to
prevent cattle from moving downslope
through beardless chinch weed sites. Of
the 24 records in our files that provide
any indication of habitat, 19 were from
grasslands of varying slope and likely
accessible to livestock. This information
indicates that livestock grazing may
affect the species and its habitat, but
does not provide conclusive evidence.
The information presented by the
petitioner and readily available in our
files suggests that the beardless chinch
weed is subject to livestock grazing
pressures throughout much of its range
and has apparently experienced
declines in some populations as a result.
This information is sufficient to suggest
that this factor, exacerbated by the small
population size, may be an operative
threat that acts on the species to the
point that it may meet the definition of
an endangered or threatened species
under the Act. Therefore, on the basis of
our determination under section
4(b)(3)(A) of the Act, we find that the
petition presents substantial scientific
or commercial information indicating
that listing beardless chinch weed
throughout its entire range may be
warranted. Because we have found that
the petition presents substantial
information indicating that listing
beardless chinch weed may be
warranted, we will initiate a status
review to determine whether listing
beardless chinch weed under the Act is
warranted.
This finding was made primarily
based on information related to the
present or threatened destruction,
modification, or curtailment of its
habitat or range as a result of livestock
grazing. However, as noted above, the
petitioners also presented information
suggesting that mining, livestock
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17:01 Aug 07, 2012
Jkt 226001
grazing, recreation, road maintenance,
exotic plant invasion and control,
conversion of habitat for cultivation,
inadequacy of existing regulatory
mechanisms, small population size, low
reproductive rates, stochastic events,
drought, and climate change may be
threats to the beardless chinch weed.
We will fully evaluate these potential
threats during our status review,
pursuant to the Act’s requirement to
review the best available scientific
information when making that finding.
Accordingly, we encourage the public to
consider and submit information related
to these and any other threats that may
be operating on the beardless chinch
weed (see Request for Information).
Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area; Amendment 90 to
the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska; Amendment 40 to the FMP for
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and
Tanner Crabs; Amendment 15 to the
FMP for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska;
and Amendment 1 to the FMP for Fish
Resources of the Arctic Management
Area. If approved, these amendments
would update the existing EFH
provisions based on a 5-year EFH
review. This action is intended to
promote the goals and objectives of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, the
FMPs, and other applicable laws.
References Cited
A complete list of references cited is
available on the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov and upon request
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Arizona Ecological Services Field Office
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
DATES:
Author
The primary authors of this notice are
the staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Arizona Ecological Services
Field Office (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
Authority
The authority for this action is the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: July 26, 2012.
Thomas O. Melius,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–19334 Filed 8–7–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
RIN 0648–XA500
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council; Essential Fish Habitat
Amendments
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of availability of
fishery management plan amendments;
request for comments.
AGENCY:
The North Pacific Fishery
Management Council submitted the
following essential fish habitat (EFH)
amendments to NMFS for review:
Amendment 98 to the Fishery
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Comments on the amendments
must be submitted on or before October
9, 2012.
Send comments to Glenn
Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. You may submit
comments, identified by FDMS Docket
Number NOAA–NMFS–2011–0070, by
any one of the following methods:
• Electronic Submissions: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at
www.regulations.gov. To submit
comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal,
first click the ‘‘submit a comment’’ icon,
enter NOAA–NMFS–2011–0070 in the
keyword search. Locate the document
you wish to comment on from the
resulting list and click on the
‘‘Comment Now’’ icon on the right of
that line.
• Mail: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O.
Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668.
• Fax: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Fax comments to 907–
586–7557.
• Hand delivery to the Federal
Building: Address written comments to
Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Ellen Sebastian. Deliver comments to
709 West 9th Street, Room 420A,
Juneau, AK.
Comments must be submitted by one
of the above methods to ensure that the
comments are received, documented,
and considered by NMFS. Comments
sent by any other method, to any other
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\08AUP1.SGM
08AUP1
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2012 / Proposed Rules
address or individual, or received after
the end of the comment period, may not
be considered. All comments received
are a part of the public record and will
generally be posted for public viewing
on www.regulations.gov without change.
All personal identifying information
(e.g., name, address) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be
publicly accessible. Do not submit
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information. NMFS will accept
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous). Attachments to electronic
comments will be accepted in Microsoft
Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe
PDF file formats only.
Electronic copies of the
environmental assessment prepared for
this action are available from
www.regulations.gov or from the NMFS
Alaska Region Web site at
www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Ellgen, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(MSA) requires that each regional
fishery management council submit any
FMP amendment it prepares to NMFS
for review and approval, disapproval, or
partial approval by the Secretary of
Commerce. The MSA also requires that
NMFS, upon receiving an FMP
amendment, immediately publish a
notice in the Federal Register
announcing that the amendment is
available for public review and
comment.
This notice announces proposed EFH
Amendment 98 to the FMP for
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
(BSAI Groundfish FMP); Amendment 90
to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf
of Alaska (GOA Groundfish FMP);
Amendment 40 to the FMP for Bering
Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner
Crabs (BSAI Crab FMP); Amendment 15
to the FMP for the Scallop Fishery off
Alaska (Scallop FMP); and Amendment
1 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the
Arctic Management Area (Arctic FMP).
The North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) prepared the BSAI
Groundfish FMP, the GOA Groundfish
FMP, the BSAI Crab FMP, the Scallop
FMP, the Arctic FMP, and the FMP for
Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ Off the
Coast of Alaska (Salmon FMP) under the
authority of the MSA, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et
seq.
The MSA includes provisions
concerning the identification and
conservation of EFH. The MSA defines
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13:49 Aug 07, 2012
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EFH as ‘‘those waters and substrate
necessary to fish for spawning,
breeding, feeding, or growth to
maturity.’’ NMFS and regional fishery
management councils must describe and
identify EFH in FMPs. Each FMP
contains the following EFH
components: EFH descriptions and
identification; fishing activities that may
adversely affect EFH; non-fishing
activities that may adversely affect EFH;
cumulative impacts analysis; EFH
conservation and enhancement
recommendations; prey species list and
locations; Habitat Areas of Particular
Concern (HAPC) identification; research
and information needs; and the
requirement to review EFH every 5
years.
In 2005, the Council recommended
amendments to address EFH
requirements for the BSAI Groundfish
FMP, the GOA Groundfish FMP, the
BSAI Crab FMP, the Scallop FMP, and
the Salmon FMP. The Arctic FMP
approved by the Council in 2009
included EFH provisions. Regulations
implementing EFH and HAPC
conservation measures under
Amendments 78 and 65 to the BSAI
Groundfish FMP, Amendments 73 and
65 to the GOA Groundfish FMP,
Amendments 16 and 12 to the BSAI
Crab FMP, Amendments 7 and 9 to the
Scallop FMP, and Amendments 7 and 8
to the Salmon FMP were published on
June 28, 2006 (71 FR 36694). The FMP
approval and implementing regulations
for the Arctic FMP were published on
November 3, 2009 (74 FR 56734).
In 2009 and 2010, a 5-year EFH
review was conducted for the Council.
The results of this review are
documented in the Final EFH 5-year
Review for 2010 Summary Report
(www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/habitat/
efh/review/efh_5yr_review_sumrpt.pdf).
The Report reviewed EFH provisions in
five of the Council’s six FMPs: the BSAI
Groundfish FMP, the GOA Groundfish
FMP, the BSAI Crab FMP, the Scallop
FMP, and the Salmon FMP. The Arctic
FMP was approved by the Secretary of
Commerce in August 2009 (74 FR
56734). Because a thorough assessment
of EFH was included in the Arctic FMP,
EFH descriptions for Arctic species
were not addressed in the 5-year review
report.
The 5-year review evaluated new
information on EFH, assessed
information gaps and research needs,
and identified whether any revisions to
EFH are needed or suggested. Based on
the 5-year review and the summary
report, the Council identified various
elements of the EFH FMP text that merit
revision. The proposed FMP
PO 00000
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
47357
amendments would revise the following
components:
• Amend the EFH provisions of the
BSAI and GOA Groundfish FMPs for 24
groundfish species or complexes.
• Amend the EFH provisions of the
BSAI Crab FMP for five crab species or
complexes.
• Amend the EFH provisions of the
Scallop FMP for weathervane scallop.
• Amend the EFH conservation
recommendations for non-fishing
activities in all Council FMPs.
• Revise the timeline for considering
HAPCs from 3 years to 5 years in all
Council FMPs.
• Revise the research objectives for
EFH in the five Council FMPs subject to
the 2010 EFH 5-year review (excludes
the Arctic FMP).
The 2010 EFH 5-year review
concluded that no change to the 2005
conclusions on the evaluation of fishing
effects on EFH was warranted based on
a review of information from 2005
through 2010.
Several EFH revisions have been
approved since the 2010 EFH review
was conducted. Specifically, the
Council recommended, and NMFS
approved, Amendment 11 to the Salmon
FMP regarding recommendations for
non-fishing activities, HAPC timeline
change, and EFH research objectives.
Amendment 11 was proposed with
Amendments 10 and 12 to the Salmon
FMP (77 FR 19605, April 2, 2012). The
Secretary of Commerce approved
Amendments 10, 11, and 12 on July 2,
2012. NMFS is not proposing additional
EFH amendments to the Salmon FMP at
this time given the approval of
Amendment 11.
Public comments are being solicited
on the proposed amendments to the
FMPs through the end of the comment
period (see DATES). All comments
received by the end of the comment
period will be considered in the FMP
approval/disapproval decision. To be
considered, comments must be received,
not just postmarked or otherwise
transmitted, by 5 p.m., Alaska local time
on the last day of the comment period.
Comments received after that date will
not be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision on the
amendments.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 3, 2012.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–19454 Filed 8–7–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\08AUP1.SGM
08AUP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47356-47357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19454]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
RIN 0648-XA500
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Essential Fish Habitat
Amendments
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of availability of fishery management plan
amendments; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council submitted the
following essential fish habitat (EFH) amendments to NMFS for review:
Amendment 98 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Amendment 90 to the
FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Amendment 40 to the FMP for
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs; Amendment 15 to the
FMP for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska; and Amendment 1 to the FMP for
Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area. If approved, these
amendments would update the existing EFH provisions based on a 5-year
EFH review. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the
FMPs, and other applicable laws.
DATES: Comments on the amendments must be submitted on or before
October 9, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS,
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, identified by FDMS
Docket Number NOAA-NMFS-2011-0070, by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at
www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal,
first click the ``submit a comment'' icon, enter NOAA-NMFS-2011-0070 in
the keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on from the
resulting list and click on the ``Comment Now'' icon on the right of
that line.
Mail: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802-1668.
Fax: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Fax comments to 907-586-7557.
Hand delivery to the Federal Building: Address written
comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional Administrator,
Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Ellen
Sebastian. Deliver comments to 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau,
AK.
Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure
that the comments are received, documented, and considered by NMFS.
Comments sent by any other method, to any other
[[Page 47357]]
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
Electronic copies of the environmental assessment prepared for this
action are available from www.regulations.gov or from the NMFS Alaska
Region Web site at www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Ellgen, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (MSA) requires that each regional fishery management
council submit any FMP amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and
approval, disapproval, or partial approval by the Secretary of
Commerce. The MSA also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP
amendment, immediately publish a notice in the Federal Register
announcing that the amendment is available for public review and
comment.
This notice announces proposed EFH Amendment 98 to the FMP for
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI
Groundfish FMP); Amendment 90 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (GOA Groundfish FMP); Amendment 40 to the FMP for Bering Sea/
Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (BSAI Crab FMP); Amendment 15 to
the FMP for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska (Scallop FMP); and Amendment
1 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area (Arctic
FMP). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared
the BSAI Groundfish FMP, the GOA Groundfish FMP, the BSAI Crab FMP, the
Scallop FMP, the Arctic FMP, and the FMP for Salmon Fisheries in the
EEZ Off the Coast of Alaska (Salmon FMP) under the authority of the
MSA, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
The MSA includes provisions concerning the identification and
conservation of EFH. The MSA defines EFH as ``those waters and
substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth
to maturity.'' NMFS and regional fishery management councils must
describe and identify EFH in FMPs. Each FMP contains the following EFH
components: EFH descriptions and identification; fishing activities
that may adversely affect EFH; non-fishing activities that may
adversely affect EFH; cumulative impacts analysis; EFH conservation and
enhancement recommendations; prey species list and locations; Habitat
Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) identification; research and
information needs; and the requirement to review EFH every 5 years.
In 2005, the Council recommended amendments to address EFH
requirements for the BSAI Groundfish FMP, the GOA Groundfish FMP, the
BSAI Crab FMP, the Scallop FMP, and the Salmon FMP. The Arctic FMP
approved by the Council in 2009 included EFH provisions. Regulations
implementing EFH and HAPC conservation measures under Amendments 78 and
65 to the BSAI Groundfish FMP, Amendments 73 and 65 to the GOA
Groundfish FMP, Amendments 16 and 12 to the BSAI Crab FMP, Amendments 7
and 9 to the Scallop FMP, and Amendments 7 and 8 to the Salmon FMP were
published on June 28, 2006 (71 FR 36694). The FMP approval and
implementing regulations for the Arctic FMP were published on November
3, 2009 (74 FR 56734).
In 2009 and 2010, a 5-year EFH review was conducted for the
Council. The results of this review are documented in the Final EFH 5-
year Review for 2010 Summary Report (www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/habitat/efh/review/efh_5yr_review_sumrpt.pdf). The Report reviewed
EFH provisions in five of the Council's six FMPs: the BSAI Groundfish
FMP, the GOA Groundfish FMP, the BSAI Crab FMP, the Scallop FMP, and
the Salmon FMP. The Arctic FMP was approved by the Secretary of
Commerce in August 2009 (74 FR 56734). Because a thorough assessment of
EFH was included in the Arctic FMP, EFH descriptions for Arctic species
were not addressed in the 5-year review report.
The 5-year review evaluated new information on EFH, assessed
information gaps and research needs, and identified whether any
revisions to EFH are needed or suggested. Based on the 5-year review
and the summary report, the Council identified various elements of the
EFH FMP text that merit revision. The proposed FMP amendments would
revise the following components:
Amend the EFH provisions of the BSAI and GOA Groundfish
FMPs for 24 groundfish species or complexes.
Amend the EFH provisions of the BSAI Crab FMP for five
crab species or complexes.
Amend the EFH provisions of the Scallop FMP for
weathervane scallop.
Amend the EFH conservation recommendations for non-fishing
activities in all Council FMPs.
Revise the timeline for considering HAPCs from 3 years to
5 years in all Council FMPs.
Revise the research objectives for EFH in the five Council
FMPs subject to the 2010 EFH 5-year review (excludes the Arctic FMP).
The 2010 EFH 5-year review concluded that no change to the 2005
conclusions on the evaluation of fishing effects on EFH was warranted
based on a review of information from 2005 through 2010.
Several EFH revisions have been approved since the 2010 EFH review
was conducted. Specifically, the Council recommended, and NMFS
approved, Amendment 11 to the Salmon FMP regarding recommendations for
non-fishing activities, HAPC timeline change, and EFH research
objectives. Amendment 11 was proposed with Amendments 10 and 12 to the
Salmon FMP (77 FR 19605, April 2, 2012). The Secretary of Commerce
approved Amendments 10, 11, and 12 on July 2, 2012. NMFS is not
proposing additional EFH amendments to the Salmon FMP at this time
given the approval of Amendment 11.
Public comments are being solicited on the proposed amendments to
the FMPs through the end of the comment period (see DATES). All
comments received by the end of the comment period will be considered
in the FMP approval/disapproval decision. To be considered, comments
must be received, not just postmarked or otherwise transmitted, by 5
p.m., Alaska local time on the last day of the comment period. Comments
received after that date will not be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision on the amendments.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 3, 2012.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-19454 Filed 8-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P