New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting, 33068-33069 [2013-13040]

Download as PDF 33068 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 106 / Monday, June 3, 2013 / Notices closed area to the public, including specific GPS coordinates. However, the Deepwater Horizon incident demonstrated that the rapidly changing conditions created by an oil spill or other public health emergency may necessitate frequent modifications to closed areas. In such cases, it may be impossible to make, and provide public notice about, timely modifications of the closed areas by publishing additional emergency rules in the Federal Register. This policy addresses alternate means of modifying emergency fisheries closures and how best to provide sufficient notice of those changes to the public. sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Objective The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that, in certain conditions, NMFS may utilize methods other than emergency or interim rulemaking to modify fishery closures established due to an oil spill or public health emergency. The draft policy describes these alternate methods and the circumstances that necessitate their use and offers guidance to the agency with respect to providing adequate notice to the public regarding fishery closure modifications. Authorities and Responsibilities for Closing Areas to Fishing Activity This policy establishes the following authorities and responsibilities: In an emergency situation that requires closing areas to fishing, the Secretary of Commerce, through NMFS, will implement the closure by publishing an emergency rule in the Federal Register as required by section 305(c)(3) of the MSA, 16 U.S.C. 1855(c). In the case of a public health emergency, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must concur with the Secretary of Commerce’s action. If NMFS anticipates that, due to the nature of the emergency, the affected area may change rapidly, the emergency rule will also state the specific procedures and communications methods that will be used to notify the public of any changes to the fisheries closure area (see list below for examples of communications methods). The emergency closure rule will invite public comment on the agency’s action and remain in effect until the circumstances that created the emergency no longer exist and a ‘‘notice of termination’’ has been published in the Federal Register. Modifications to Areas Closed to Fishing Activity If necessary, the agency will modify the area closed to fishing based on the current location and anticipated movement of the contamination. Wind VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:40 May 31, 2013 Jkt 229001 speed and direction, currents, waves, and other weather patterns are typical factors that may affect the location of the contaminated area. Such modifications will be made in coordination with relevant local, state, and federal authorities and the public will be notified using the mechanisms specified in the emergency rule establishing the closure. When revising fishery closures, NMFS will strive to announce the revisions with adequate lead time to allow fishermen to come into compliance with the revised closed area. Means of Communication NMFS will announce the coordinates of the initial fisheries closure area and any subsequent revised coordinates or conditions of that closed area using means that are most appropriate to reach the affected public. These may include, but are not limited to: • NOAA Weather Radio • Fishery bulletin • News/Press Releases • NOAA Web site updates • Telephone hotline • Email lists • Twitter and text alerts Re-opening a Closed Area and Terminating the Emergency Situation An area will be reopened when there is no longer a risk of seafood contamination or adulteration as a result of the event that triggered the emergency closure, or when it has been determined that the circumstances that created the emergency no longer exist and the area is deemed safe. NMFS will notify the public that the emergency situation is over and that all closures are terminated by publishing a ‘‘Notice of Termination’’ in the Federal Register. Public Comments To help determine the scope of issues to be addressed and to identify significant issues related to this draft policy, NMFS is soliciting written comments on this NOA. The public is encouraged to submit comments related to the specific ideas mentioned in this NOA, as well as any additional ideas and solutions that could improve our process for providing information and updates pertaining to fishery closures in the event of a public health emergency or oil spill under rapidly changing conditions. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 28, 2013. Kara Meckley, Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–13112 Filed 5–31–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC712 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 3-day meeting to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18 through Thursday, June 20, 2013. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, and at 8:30 a.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME 04101; telephone: (207) 775.2311; fax: (207) 761.8224; or online at www.innbythebay.com/ contact. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone (978) 465–0492. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 The Council will begin the first session of its 3-day meeting by receiving brief reports from the NEFMC Chairman and Executive Director, NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center and MidAtlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, as well as NOAA General Counsel, and representatives of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Coast Guard, and NOAA Enforcement. During the Herring Committee report which will follow, the Council intends to initiate Framework Adjustment 3 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The report will include alternatives to establish river herring/shad catch caps for the Atlantic herring fishery, a review of the available fishery information, a summary of the May 23, 2013 Herring PDT/Mackerel Monitoring Committee Report, a summary the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s development of river herring/shad catch caps for the mackerel fishery, and any E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM 03JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 106 / Monday, June 3, 2013 / Notices related committee recommendations. The Council also will be asked to provide guidance to further develop the Framework 3 alternatives. Following a lunch break and prior to a NOAA Fisheries Northeast Regional Office (NERO) report on the status of Atlantic sturgeon, there will be an open period for public comments during which any interested party may provide brief remarks on issues relevant to Council business but not listed on the meeting agenda. NERO staff also will present information on a proposed commercial scale mussel farm to be located 8.5 miles off Cape Ann. MA. A summary of the recent Monkfish Operational Assessment update will be presented, followed by the Scientific and Statistical Committee’s report. Its chairman will provide an overview of the SSC’s discussions about the monkfish assessment and the future development of an Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) recommendation, as well as the committee’s conclusions about the approach used by the Council’s Groundfish Closed Area Technical Team to spatially analyze juvenile and spawning protection for key groundfish stocks. sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Wednesday, June 19, 2013 The second day of meetings will start with the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s (NEFSC) presentation on Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) trades and net revenue estimates in the groundfish fishery. NEFSC staff also will provide an update on progress toward developing a full profitability assessment. The Council will discuss Groundfish Committee recommendations concerning the development of Amendment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP, in particular any revisions to the goals and objectives of the amendment. It also may initiate a framework adjustment to the plan to modify rebuilding plans and other measures. The Habitat Committee will ask for final comments concerning a Memorandum of Understanding concerning deep sea corals that is being developed by the New England, MidAtlantic and South Atlantic Councils. The Joint Habitat/Groundfish Committee report will include a request for approval of spatial management alternatives for purposes of analysis in the Essential Fish Habitat Omnibus #2 Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement. This report will continue until the meeting adjourns for the day. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:40 May 31, 2013 Jkt 229001 Thursday, June 20, 2013 Representatives of the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee will discuss options for trading quota under the provisions of the U.S./Canada Resource Sharing Understanding and may ask the Council to develop U.S./ Canada trading mechanisms. The Enforcement Committee will review its recommendations concerning a new Council Enforcement Policy (as proposed by NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Coast Guard), and the issue of minimizing the use of fishing vessel compartments to hide illegal fish. The Monkfish Committee will ask the Council to initiate Framework Adjustment 8 to the Monkfish (FMP). The action would include Annual Catch Targets (ACT), days-a-sea (DAS) and trip limit specifications for the 2014–2016 fishing years, and possibly other changes to the current management program. The report also will provide an update on Amendment 6 to the FMP at which time there could be a request for the removal of the Individually Transferable Quota (ITQ) alternative in that action. Last, the Monkfish Report will include any committee recommendations concerning the monkfish research set-aside research priorities. After a lunch break, representatives of the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC) will present an overview of the purpose of NROC’s series of public meetings, including the draft goals for regional ocean planning and potential actions. Before the NEFMC meeting adjourns, NERO staff will review and ask for Council approval of a draft environmental assessment for the Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment for the purpose of seeking public comments on the proposed action. Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subjects of formal action during this meeting. Council 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 MagnusonStevens Act, provided that the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 33069 Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: May 29, 2013. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–13040 Filed 5–31–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC642 Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meetings; Correction National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of correction to a notice of the SEDAR 33 Gulf of Mexico gag and greater amberjack workshops and webinars. AGENCY: The SEDAR 33 assessment of the Gulf of Mexico stocks of gag (Mycteroperca microlepis) and greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) will consist of: A Data Workshop; an Assessment process conducted via webinars; and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The Data Workshop will be held from 1 p.m. on Monday, May 20, 2013 until 12 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2013 in Tampa, FL. The Assessment Workshop will take place via webinar on the following dates in 2013: July 23; July 29; August 5; August 14; August 21; August 28; September 4; September 11; September 18; September 25; October 2; and October 9. All webinars will begin at 1 p.m. eastern time (ET) and will last approximately four hours. The Review Workshop will take place from 1 p.m. on Monday, November 18, 2013 until 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2013 in Miami, FL. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. ADDRESSES: Meeting addresses: The Data Workshop will be held at the Tampa Westshore Marriott, 1001 Westshore Plaza Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33607; (813) 287–2555. The Assessment Workshop webinars will be held via GoToWebinar. The Review Workshop will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton Grande Hotel Biscayne Bay, 1717 N. Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33132; (305) 372–0313. All workshops and webinars are open to members of the public. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM 03JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 106 (Monday, June 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33068-33069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13040]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC712


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 
a 3-day meeting to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18 through Thursday, 
June 20, 2013. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, and at 8:30 
a.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 
Spring Street, Portland, ME 04101; telephone: (207) 775.2311; fax: 
(207) 761.8224; or online at www.innbythebay.com/contact.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone (978) 465-0492.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

    The Council will begin the first session of its 3-day meeting by 
receiving brief reports from the NEFMC Chairman and Executive Director, 
NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator, the Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, as well as 
NOAA General Counsel, and representatives of the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission, Coast Guard, and NOAA Enforcement. During the 
Herring Committee report which will follow, the Council intends to 
initiate Framework Adjustment 3 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP). The report will include alternatives to 
establish river herring/shad catch caps for the Atlantic herring 
fishery, a review of the available fishery information, a summary of 
the May 23, 2013 Herring PDT/Mackerel Monitoring Committee Report, a 
summary the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's development of 
river herring/shad catch caps for the mackerel fishery, and any

[[Page 33069]]

related committee recommendations. The Council also will be asked to 
provide guidance to further develop the Framework 3 alternatives.
    Following a lunch break and prior to a NOAA Fisheries Northeast 
Regional Office (NERO) report on the status of Atlantic sturgeon, there 
will be an open period for public comments during which any interested 
party may provide brief remarks on issues relevant to Council business 
but not listed on the meeting agenda. NERO staff also will present 
information on a proposed commercial scale mussel farm to be located 
8.5 miles off Cape Ann. MA. A summary of the recent Monkfish 
Operational Assessment update will be presented, followed by the 
Scientific and Statistical Committee's report. Its chairman will 
provide an overview of the SSC's discussions about the monkfish 
assessment and the future development of an Acceptable Biological Catch 
(ABC) recommendation, as well as the committee's conclusions about the 
approach used by the Council's Groundfish Closed Area Technical Team to 
spatially analyze juvenile and spawning protection for key groundfish 
stocks.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

    The second day of meetings will start with the Northeast Fisheries 
Science Center's (NEFSC) presentation on Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE) 
trades and net revenue estimates in the groundfish fishery. NEFSC staff 
also will provide an update on progress toward developing a full 
profitability assessment. The Council will discuss Groundfish Committee 
recommendations concerning the development of Amendment 18 to the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP, in particular any revisions to the goals 
and objectives of the amendment. It also may initiate a framework 
adjustment to the plan to modify rebuilding plans and other measures. 
The Habitat Committee will ask for final comments concerning a 
Memorandum of Understanding concerning deep sea corals that is being 
developed by the New England, Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Councils. 
The Joint Habitat/Groundfish Committee report will include a request 
for approval of spatial management alternatives for purposes of 
analysis in the Essential Fish Habitat Omnibus 2 Amendment 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement. This report will continue until 
the meeting adjourns for the day.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

    Representatives of the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee 
will discuss options for trading quota under the provisions of the 
U.S./Canada Resource Sharing Understanding and may ask the Council to 
develop U.S./Canada trading mechanisms. The Enforcement Committee will 
review its recommendations concerning a new Council Enforcement Policy 
(as proposed by NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Coast Guard), and the issue 
of minimizing the use of fishing vessel compartments to hide illegal 
fish. The Monkfish Committee will ask the Council to initiate Framework 
Adjustment 8 to the Monkfish (FMP). The action would include Annual 
Catch Targets (ACT), days-a-sea (DAS) and trip limit specifications for 
the 2014-2016 fishing years, and possibly other changes to the current 
management program. The report also will provide an update on Amendment 
6 to the FMP at which time there could be a request for the removal of 
the Individually Transferable Quota (ITQ) alternative in that action. 
Last, the Monkfish Report will include any committee recommendations 
concerning the monkfish research set-aside research priorities.
    After a lunch break, representatives of the Northeast Regional 
Ocean Council (NROC) will present an overview of the purpose of NROC's 
series of public meetings, including the draft goals for regional ocean 
planning and potential actions. Before the NEFMC meeting adjourns, NERO 
staff will review and ask for Council approval of a draft environmental 
assessment for the Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus 
Amendment for the purpose of seeking public comments on the proposed 
action.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be 
the subjects of formal action during this meeting. Council 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 that the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: May 29, 2013.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13040 Filed 5-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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