Marine Mammals; Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement To Amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, 44536-44538 [2013-17737]
Download as PDF
44536
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 24, 2013 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Licensing of
Private Remote-Sensing Space
Systems
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before September 23,
2013.
SUMMARY:
Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at JJessup@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Tahara Dawkins,
tahara.dawkins@noaa.gov or (301) 713–
3385.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension of a
current information collection.
NOAA has established requirements
for the licensing of private operators of
remote-sensing space systems. The
information in applications and
subsequent reports is needed to ensure
compliance with the Land RemoteSensing Policy Act of 1992 and with the
national security and international
obligations of the United States. The
requirements are contained in 15 CFR
Part 960.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
II. Method of Collection
Information is submitted via email.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0174.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission
(extension of a current information
collection).
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:35 Jul 23, 2013
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Estimated Number of Respondents:
18.
Estimated Time per Response: 40
hours for the submission of a license
application; 10 hours for the submission
of a data protection plan; 5 hours for the
submission of a plan describing how the
licensee will comply with data
collection restrictions; 3 hours for the
submission of an operations plan for
restricting collection or dissemination of
imagery of Israeli territory; 3 hours for
submission of a data flow diagram; 2
hours for the submission of satellite subsystems drawings; 3 hours for the
submission of a final imaging system
specifications document; 2 hours for the
submission of a public summary for a
licensed system; 2 hours for the
submission of a preliminary design
review; 2 hours for the submission of a
critical design review; 1 hour for
notification of a binding launch services
contract; 1 hour for notification of
completion of pre-ship review; 10 hours
for the submission of a license
amendment; 2 hours for the submission
of a foreign agreement notification; 2
hours for the submission of spacecraft
operational information submitted when
a spacecraft becomes operational; 2
hours for notification of deviation in
orbit or spacecraft disposition; 2 hours
for notification of any operational
deviation; 2 hours for notification of
planned purges of information to the
National Satellite Land Remote Sensing
Data Archive; 3 hours for the
submission of an operational quarterly
report; 8 hours for an annual
compliance audit; 10 hours for an
annual operational audit; and 2 hours
for notification of the demise of a
system or a decision to discontinue
system operations.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 552.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $1,000 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(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.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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: July 18, 2013.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013–17736 Filed 7–23–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–BC90
Marine Mammals; Notice of Availability
of a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement To Amend the Atlantic
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement; notice
of public hearing meetings; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS proposes to amend the
regulations implementing the Atlantic
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
(Plan). The proposed rule revises the
management measures for reducing the
incidental mortality and serious injury
to the North Atlantic right whale
(Eubalaena glacialis), humpback whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae), and fin
whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in
commercial trap/pot and gillnet
fisheries to meet the goals of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) was prepared in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), to analyze impacts to the
environment of the management
alternatives under consideration. NMFS
will hold 16 public hearings along the
East coast in August and September for
the purpose of answering questions and
receiving public testimony on the DEIS.
DATES: The public hearings will be held
in August and September. For specific
dates, times, and locations see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
The public comment period is from July
12, 2013, to September 13, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by
130201095–3095–01, by any of the
following methods:
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\24JYN1.SGM
24JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 24, 2013 / Notices
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20130095 click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Mary Colligan, Assistant Regional
Administrator for Protected Resources,
NMFS Northeast Region, 55 Great
Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930,
Attn: Large Whale Proposed Rule.
• Fax: 978–281–9394 Attn: Large
Whale Proposed Rule
• In-Person: Attend a public hearing.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
for locations, dates, and times.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate
Swails, NMFS, Northeast Region, 978–
282–8481, Kate.Swails@noaa.gov; Kristy
Long, NMFS Office of Protected
Resources, 301–427–8440,
Kristy.Long@noaa.gov; or Barb
Zoodsma, NMFS Southeast Region,
904–321–2806,
Barb.Zoodsma@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Large whale entanglements resulting
in serious injuries and mortalities are
still occurring; therefore, NMFS believes
modifications to the Plan are needed to
meet the goals of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA). Under the
MMPA, NMFS is required to reduce the
incidental mortality and serious injury
to three strategic large whale stocks—
the Western Stock of the North Atlantic
right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), the
Gulf of Maine stock of humpback
whales (Megaptera novaeangliea), and
the Western North Atlantic stock of fin
whales (Balaenoptera physalus)—
incidentally taken in commercial
fisheries to below the Potential
Biological Removal (PBR) level for each
stock.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction
Team (Team)
At its 2009 meeting, the Team agreed
on a schedule to develop a management
approach to reduce the risk of serious
injury and mortality due to vertical line.
As a result of this schedule NMFS
committed to publishing a final rule to
address vertical line entanglement by
2014. The approach for the vertical line
rule will focus on reducing the risk of
vertical line entanglements in high
impact areas versus a wide-broad scale
management scheme. Using fishing gear
survey data and whale sightings per unit
effort (SPUE), a model was developed to
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:35 Jul 23, 2013
Jkt 229001
determine the co-occurrence of fishing
gear density and whale density.
The Team’s Northeast Subgroup met
in November 2010 and the MidAtlantic/Southeast Subgroup met in
April 2011 to review the model and
consider its implications for an overall
management strategy to address vertical
line entanglements.
The Team agreed NMFS should use
the model to consider and develop
possible options to address fishery
interactions with large whales by
reducing the potential for
entanglements, minimize adverse effects
if entanglements occur, and mitigate the
effects of any unavoidable
entanglements.
To solicit additional stakeholder
involvement, on June 14, 2011, NMFS
published a Notice of Intent in the
Federal Register (76 FR 34654) to
announce the agency’s intent to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement that
would analyze the impacts of
alternatives for amending the Plan. In
July and August 2011, NMFS held 15
scoping meetings to solicit feedback on
the vertical line risk reduction strategy.
The information provided at the scoping
meetings was also reviewed at a full
Team meeting in January 2012. Team
members further refined their vertical
line risk reduction proposals and the
team met via teleconference in February
2012 to review the final proposals
submitted. The Team reviewed five
proposals: three from state agencies, one
from the scientist/academic community,
and one from the conservation
community. Results of the proposals
were presented via teleconference in
April 2012. Each vertical line risk
reduction proposal was analyzed to
assess its impact on both the number of
vertical lines and co-occurrence scores
relative to the baseline in the Northeast
and coastwide.
NMFS designed the proposed
alternatives in the DEIS based on
comments received during public
scoping and using many of the measures
submitted by the team in their
stakeholder proposals. The alternatives
include measures requiring increased
traps per trawl, the use of weaker weak
links and/or vertical lines of lower
breaking strength, and potential timearea closures.
Several of the background documents
for the Plan and the take reduction
planning process can be downloaded
from the Plan Web site at https://
www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/. Copies
of the DEIS/Regulatory Impact Review
for this action can also be obtained
online. NMFS has scheduled public
hearings on the DEIS. The purpose of
the hearings is to provide the public the
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
44537
opportunity to ask questions and
provide comments on the upcoming
action.
Hearing Dates, Times, and Locations
The dates, times, and locations of the
meetings are scheduled as follows:
1. Monday, August 5, 2013—Machias,
ME 6–9 p.m.
University of Maine at Machias (Science
Building), 116 O’Brien Avenue,
Machias, ME 04654
2. Tuesday, August 6, 2013—Ellsworth,
ME 6–9 p.m.
Ellsworth Public Library, 20 State
Street, Ellsworth, Maine 04605
3. Wednesday, August 7, 2013—
Rockland, ME 6–9 p.m.
Oceanside East High School
(Auditorium), 400 Broadway,
Rockland, ME 04841
4. Thursday, August 8, 2013—Portland,
ME 6–9 p.m.
Portland City Hall (State of Maine
Room), 389 Congress St., Portland,
ME 04101
5. Tuesday, August 13, 2013—Chatham,
MA 6–9 p.m.
Chatham Community Center (Large
Meeting Room), 702 Main St.,
Chatham, MA 02633
6. Wednesday August 14, 2013—
Plymouth, MA 6–9 p.m.
Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St.,
Plymouth, MA 02360
7. Thursday, August 15, 2013—
Narrangansett, RI 6–9 p.m.
URI Campus, Coastal Institute Building
(large conference room), 215 South
Ferry Road, Narrangansett, RI 02882
8. Monday August 19, 2013—
Gloucester, MA 6–9 p.m.
NOAA Northeast Regional Office
(Hearing Room A&B), 55 Great
Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930
9. Tuesday, August 20, 2013—
Portsmouth, NH 5–8 p.m.
Urban Forestry Center 27, Elwyn Road,
Portsmouth, NH 03801
10. Monday, August 26, 2013—
Wilmington, NC 5:30–7:30 p.m.
New Hanover County Public LibraryMain Library (Masonboro Rm), 201
Chestnut St., Wilmington, NC 28401
11. Tuesday, August 27, 2013—Virginia
Beach, VA 6–9 p.m.
Meyera E. Obendorf Central Library
(Auditorium), 4100 Virginia Beach
Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452
E:\FR\FM\24JYN1.SGM
24JYN1
44538
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 24, 2013 / Notices
12. Wednesday, August 28, 2013—
Manahawkin, NJ 6–9 p.m.
Stafford Township (Court room), 260 E.
Bay Ave., Manahawkin, NJ 08050
13. Monday September 9, 2013—
Ormond Beach, FL 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Ormond Beach Public Library, 30 S.
Beach St., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
14. Tuesday September 10, 2013—
Jacksonville, FL 5–7 p.m.
Jacksonville Port Authority (Board
Room), 2831 Talleyrand Avenue,
Jacksonville, FL 32206
15. Wednesday September 11, 2013—
Brunswick, GA 5–7 p.m.
Georgia Department of Natural
Resources (Classroom), 1
Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA
31520
16. Thursday September 12, 2013—
Charleston, SC 5–7 p.m.
South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources, Marine Resources
Research Institute (Auditorium), 217
Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29412
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Request for sign language interpretation
or other auxiliary aids should be
directed to Kate Swails (978) 282–8481
at least 7 working days prior to the
hearing date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
Dated: July 18, 2013.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
RIN 0648–XC774
Caribbean Fishery Management
Council; Public Meetings
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
The Caribbean Fishery
Management Council (Council) and its
Administrative Committee will hold
meetings.
SUMMARY:
The meetings will be held on
August 13–14, 2013. The Council will
16:35 Jul 23, 2013
Jkt 229001
August 13, 2013, 5:15 p.m.–6 p.m.
August 14, 2013, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
VerDate Mar<15>2010
August 13, 2013, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Call to Order
• Election of Officials
• Adoption of Agenda
• Consideration of 146th Council
Meeting Verbatim Transcriptions
• Executive Director’s Report
• Scoping Meetings Report on the
Development of Island-Based
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs)
in the U.S. Caribbean: Transition
from Species-Based FMPs to IslandBased FMPs
• Adhoc Committee Report (July 24,
2013)
• Trap Reduction Project Report
• Results of Red Hind/Grouper
Analysis—David Olsen
• Update on the CFMC/STFA Lobster
Study—David Olsen
Public Comment Period (5-minutes
presentations)
• Administrative Committee Meeting
—Budget Update FY 2013/14
—SSC/AP Memberships
—Other Business
[FR Doc. 2013–17737 Filed 7–23–13; 8:45 am]
DATES:
convene on Tuesday, August 13, 2013
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the
Administrative Committee will meet
from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Council
will reconvene on Wednesday, August
14, 2013, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at
the Hilton Ponce Golf and Casino
Resort, 1150 Caribe Avenue, Ponce,
Puerto Rico 00716–2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Caribbean Fishery Management Council,
˜
270 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401,
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918; telephone:
(787) 766–5926.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Council will hold its 147th regular
Council Meeting to discuss the items
contained in the following agenda:
• Fishery Workshops around Puerto
Rico—Carlos Velazquez and Helena
Antoun
• Don’t Stop Talking Fish Video for the
USVI—Lia Ortiz, Franklin Fullock
and Angel Bolges
• Artificial Reef Project and Two
Prototypes of Traps: Octopus and
Spiny Lobster—Yabucoa Fishers
´
´
Association—Hector Padro
• The Productive Aspect of Deep-Water
Snappers—Eugenio Pi eiro
• Spawning Aggregation Project
Update—Richard Appeldoorn/
Michel Sharer
• Tales from La Cordillera: Promoting
Sustainable Fishing through
Environmental Interpretation—
Alejandro Torres
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
• Outreach and Education Meeting
Report—Alida Ortiz
• Enforcement Issues:
—Puerto Rico-DNER
—U.S. Virgin Islands-DPNR
—NOAA/NMFS
—U.S. Coast Guard
• Administrative Committee
Recommendations
• Meetings Attended by Council
Members and Staff
Public Comment Period (5-minute
presentations)
• Other Business
• Next Council Meeting
The established times for addressing
items on the agenda may be adjusted as
necessary to accommodate the timely
completion of discussion relevant to the
agenda items. To further accommodate
discussion and completion of all items
on the agenda, the meeting may be
extended from, or completed prior to
the date established in this notice.
The meetings are open to the public,
and will be conducted in English.
Fishers and other interested persons are
invited to attend and participate with
oral or written statements regarding
agenda issues.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be subjects for formal
action during these meetings. Actions
will be restricted to those issues
specifically identified in this notice, and
any issues arising after publication of
this notice that require emergency
action under section 305(c) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act,
provided that the public has been
notified of the Council’s intent to take
final action to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
For more information or request for sign
language interpretation and/other
auxiliary aids, please contact Mr.
´
Miguel A. Rolon, Executive Director,
Caribbean Fishery Management Council,
˜
270 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401,
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00918, telephone
(787) 766–5926, at least 5 days prior to
the meeting date.
Dated: July 18, 2013.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–17759 Filed 7–23–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\24JYN1.SGM
24JYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44536-44538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17737]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-BC90
Marine Mammals; Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement To Amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement; notice of public hearing meetings; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to amend the regulations implementing the
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan). The proposed rule
revises the management measures for reducing the incidental mortality
and serious injury to the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena
glacialis), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), and fin whale
(Balaenoptera physalus) in commercial trap/pot and gillnet fisheries to
meet the goals of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the
Endangered Species Act (ESA). A Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), to analyze impacts to the environment of the
management alternatives under consideration. NMFS will hold 16 public
hearings along the East coast in August and September for the purpose
of answering questions and receiving public testimony on the DEIS.
DATES: The public hearings will be held in August and September. For
specific dates, times, and locations see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section. The public comment period is from July 12, 2013, to September
13, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
130201095-3095-01, by any of the following methods:
[[Page 44537]]
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0095 click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Mary Colligan, Assistant
Regional Administrator for Protected Resources, NMFS Northeast Region,
55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930, Attn: Large Whale Proposed
Rule.
Fax: 978-281-9394 Attn: Large Whale Proposed Rule
In-Person: Attend a public hearing. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for locations, dates, and times.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Swails, NMFS, Northeast Region,
978-282-8481, Kate.Swails@noaa.gov; Kristy Long, NMFS Office of
Protected Resources, 301-427-8440, Kristy.Long@noaa.gov; or Barb
Zoodsma, NMFS Southeast Region, 904-321-2806, Barb.Zoodsma@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Large whale entanglements resulting in serious injuries and
mortalities are still occurring; therefore, NMFS believes modifications
to the Plan are needed to meet the goals of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA). Under the MMPA, NMFS is required to reduce the
incidental mortality and serious injury to three strategic large whale
stocks--the Western Stock of the North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena
glacialis), the Gulf of Maine stock of humpback whales (Megaptera
novaeangliea), and the Western North Atlantic stock of fin whales
(Balaenoptera physalus)--incidentally taken in commercial fisheries to
below the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level for each stock.
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (Team)
At its 2009 meeting, the Team agreed on a schedule to develop a
management approach to reduce the risk of serious injury and mortality
due to vertical line. As a result of this schedule NMFS committed to
publishing a final rule to address vertical line entanglement by 2014.
The approach for the vertical line rule will focus on reducing the risk
of vertical line entanglements in high impact areas versus a wide-broad
scale management scheme. Using fishing gear survey data and whale
sightings per unit effort (SPUE), a model was developed to determine
the co-occurrence of fishing gear density and whale density.
The Team's Northeast Subgroup met in November 2010 and the Mid-
Atlantic/Southeast Subgroup met in April 2011 to review the model and
consider its implications for an overall management strategy to address
vertical line entanglements.
The Team agreed NMFS should use the model to consider and develop
possible options to address fishery interactions with large whales by
reducing the potential for entanglements, minimize adverse effects if
entanglements occur, and mitigate the effects of any unavoidable
entanglements.
To solicit additional stakeholder involvement, on June 14, 2011,
NMFS published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (76 FR 34654)
to announce the agency's intent to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement that would analyze the impacts of alternatives for amending
the Plan. In July and August 2011, NMFS held 15 scoping meetings to
solicit feedback on the vertical line risk reduction strategy. The
information provided at the scoping meetings was also reviewed at a
full Team meeting in January 2012. Team members further refined their
vertical line risk reduction proposals and the team met via
teleconference in February 2012 to review the final proposals
submitted. The Team reviewed five proposals: three from state agencies,
one from the scientist/academic community, and one from the
conservation community. Results of the proposals were presented via
teleconference in April 2012. Each vertical line risk reduction
proposal was analyzed to assess its impact on both the number of
vertical lines and co-occurrence scores relative to the baseline in the
Northeast and coastwide.
NMFS designed the proposed alternatives in the DEIS based on
comments received during public scoping and using many of the measures
submitted by the team in their stakeholder proposals. The alternatives
include measures requiring increased traps per trawl, the use of weaker
weak links and/or vertical lines of lower breaking strength, and
potential time-area closures.
Several of the background documents for the Plan and the take
reduction planning process can be downloaded from the Plan Web site at
https://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/. Copies of the DEIS/Regulatory
Impact Review for this action can also be obtained online. NMFS has
scheduled public hearings on the DEIS. The purpose of the hearings is
to provide the public the opportunity to ask questions and provide
comments on the upcoming action.
Hearing Dates, Times, and Locations
The dates, times, and locations of the meetings are scheduled as
follows:
1. Monday, August 5, 2013--Machias, ME 6-9 p.m.
University of Maine at Machias (Science Building), 116 O'Brien Avenue,
Machias, ME 04654
2. Tuesday, August 6, 2013--Ellsworth, ME 6-9 p.m.
Ellsworth Public Library, 20 State Street, Ellsworth, Maine 04605
3. Wednesday, August 7, 2013--Rockland, ME 6-9 p.m.
Oceanside East High School (Auditorium), 400 Broadway, Rockland, ME
04841
4. Thursday, August 8, 2013--Portland, ME 6-9 p.m.
Portland City Hall (State of Maine Room), 389 Congress St., Portland,
ME 04101
5. Tuesday, August 13, 2013--Chatham, MA 6-9 p.m.
Chatham Community Center (Large Meeting Room), 702 Main St., Chatham,
MA 02633
6. Wednesday August 14, 2013--Plymouth, MA 6-9 p.m.
Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., Plymouth, MA 02360
7. Thursday, August 15, 2013--Narrangansett, RI 6-9 p.m.
URI Campus, Coastal Institute Building (large conference room), 215
South Ferry Road, Narrangansett, RI 02882
8. Monday August 19, 2013--Gloucester, MA 6-9 p.m.
NOAA Northeast Regional Office (Hearing Room A&B), 55 Great Republic
Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930
9. Tuesday, August 20, 2013--Portsmouth, NH 5-8 p.m.
Urban Forestry Center 27, Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801
10. Monday, August 26, 2013--Wilmington, NC 5:30-7:30 p.m.
New Hanover County Public Library-Main Library (Masonboro Rm), 201
Chestnut St., Wilmington, NC 28401
11. Tuesday, August 27, 2013--Virginia Beach, VA 6-9 p.m.
Meyera E. Obendorf Central Library (Auditorium), 4100 Virginia Beach
Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452
[[Page 44538]]
12. Wednesday, August 28, 2013--Manahawkin, NJ 6-9 p.m.
Stafford Township (Court room), 260 E. Bay Ave., Manahawkin, NJ 08050
13. Monday September 9, 2013--Ormond Beach, FL 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Ormond Beach Public Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach, FL 32174
14. Tuesday September 10, 2013--Jacksonville, FL 5-7 p.m.
Jacksonville Port Authority (Board Room), 2831 Talleyrand Avenue,
Jacksonville, FL 32206
15. Wednesday September 11, 2013--Brunswick, GA 5-7 p.m.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Classroom), 1 Conservation
Way, Brunswick, GA 31520
16. Thursday September 12, 2013--Charleston, SC 5-7 p.m.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources
Research Institute (Auditorium), 217 Ft. Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC
29412
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Request for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kate Swails (978) 282-8481 at
least 7 working days prior to the hearing date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
Dated: July 18, 2013.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-17737 Filed 7-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P