Endangered Species; File No. 16230, 57132-57133 [2013-22592]

Download as PDF 57132 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 180 / Tuesday, September 17, 2013 / Notices Dated: September 4, 2013. Kathryn D. Sullivan, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. [FR Doc. 2013–22538 Filed 9–16–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–12–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC289 Endangered Species; File No. 16230 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of permit issuance. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued a permit to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) for the incidental take of sea turtles associated with the otherwise lawful commercial gillnet fishery in North Carolina inshore state waters. ADDRESSES: The incidental take permit, final environmental assessment, and other related documents are available on the NMFS Office of Protected Resources Web site at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ pr/permits/esa_review.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristy Long (ph. 301–427–8402, email Kristy.Long@noaa.gov or Sara McNulty (ph. 301–427–8402, email Sara.McNulty@noaa.gov). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 18, 2011, NCDMF submitted a revised application to NMFS for Permit No. 16230, requesting authorization for incidental take of sea turtles listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) associated with commercial and recreational gillnet fisheries in inshore state waters for three years. The application requests incidental take authorization for endangered Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles and threatened green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). NMFS published a notice of receipt of the August 2011 application and a request for public comments on October 5, 2011 (76 FR 61670). Based on comments received from the public, independent reviewers, and NMFS, NCDMF subsequently submitted a second revised application on September 6, 2012. NMFS has issued the requested permit under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:05 Sep 16, 2013 Jkt 229001 1531 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222–226). This permit authorizes the incidental take of specified numbers of sea turtles incidental to the continued commercial harvest of target fish species in gillnets subject to monitor, minimize, and mitigate incidental take in North Carolina inshore state waters as set forth in the conservation plan and the permit for a 10-year period. The conservation plan includes managing inshore gill net fisheries by dividing estuarine waters into six management units (i.e., A, B, C, D1, D2, E). Each of the management units will be monitored seasonally and by fishery. Management Unit A encompasses all estuarine waters north of 35° 46.30’N. to the North Carolina/Virginia state line. This includes all of Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan, and Roanoke sounds as well as the contributing river systems in this area. Management Unit B encompasses all estuarine waters south of 35° 46.30′ N., east of 76° 30.00′ W., and north of 34° 48.27′ N. This Management Unit will include all of Pamlico Sound and the Northern portion of Core Sound. Management Unit C will include the Pamlico, Pungo and Neuse river drainages west of 76° 30.00′ W. Management Unit D1 encompasses all estuarine waters south of 34° 48.27′ N. and east of a line running from 34° 40.70′ N.–76° 22.50′ W. to 34° 42.48′ N.–76° 36.70′ W. Management Unit D1 includes Southern Core Sound, Back Sound and North River. Management Unit D2 encompasses all estuarine waters west of a line running from 34° 40.70′ N.–76° 22.50′ W. to 34° 42.48′ N.–76° 36.70′ W. to the Highway 58 bridge. Management Unit D2 includes Newport River and Bogue Sound. Management Unit E encompasses all estuarine waters south and west of the Highway 58 bridge to the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. This includes the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway and adjacent sounds, and the New, Cape Fear, Lockwood Folly, White Oak, and Shallotte rivers. Required management measures include: (1) Restricted soak times for large mesh gillnets from one hour before sunset on Monday through Thursday and one hour after sunrise from Tuesday through Friday (i.e., fishing is prohibited from one hour after sunrise on Friday through one hour before sunset on Monday); (2) restrictions on the maximum net length per large mesh fishing operation (i.e., 2,000 yards (1.83 km, 6,000 ft) per operation except south of the NC Highway 58 bridge and PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Management Area D2 where 1,000 yards (0.91 km, 3,000 ft) is maximum; (3) restrictions on large mesh net-shot lengths to 100 yards (91.44 m, 300 ft) with a 25 yard (22.86 m, 75 ft) separation between each net-shot; (4) requirement for large mesh nets to be low profile (e.g., maximum of 15 meshes in depth, tie-downs prohibited, floats or corks prohibited along float lines north of the NC Highway 58 bridge); (5) closure of Management Area D1 to unattended large mesh gillnets from May 8–October 14 annually; (6) prohibition on large mesh gillnets in the deep water portions of the Pamlico Sound Gillnet Restricted Area (PSGNRA) and Oregon, Hatteras, and Ocracoke inlets from September 1– December 15; (7) adaptive fishery management measures and restrictions through state proclamation authority (e.g., gear and/or area restrictions, attendance requirements, increased observer coverage and/or enforcement); and (8) continuation of North Carolina’s regulations for small mesh gillnet attendance requirements. NCDMF will maintain a monitoring program that consists of a combination of onboard and alternate platform observers, trip ticket program, and marine patrol officer activities (when needed). NCDMF will monitor six primary management units in inshore waters as described in the conservation plan. NCDMF will monitor at least 7% (with a goal of 10%) of large mesh (≥4.0 ISM) gillnet trips in each area during each of 3 seasons (i.e., spring, summer, and fall) as defined in the conservation plan. NCDMF will monitor at least 1% (with a goal of 2%) of small mesh (<4.0 ISM) gillnet trips in each area during each of three seasons (i.e., spring, summer, fall) as defined in the conservation plan. The amount of annual incidental take of sea turtles authorized is expressed as either estimated or observed takes depending on the amount of data available for modeling predicted takes. Because reaching the estimated or observed level for any category of take for any species would end the incidental take authorization for all species, it is highly unlikely that all five species would be impacted at these levels. For areas B, D1, D2, and E, the annual incidental take authorized by species is 49 estimated dead, 98 estimated live, and 12 observed (live or dead) Kemp’s ridley turtles; 165 estimated dead, 330 estimated live, and 18 observed (live or dead) green turtles; 24 observed (live or dead) loggerhead turtles; eight observed (live or dead) leatherback turtles; and eight observed (live or dead) hawksbill turtles. E:\FR\FM\17SEN1.SGM 17SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 180 / Tuesday, September 17, 2013 / Notices Additionally, eight observed (live or dead) of any of the five species are authorized for areas A and C. Dated: September 10, 2013. Perry Gayaldo, Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–22592 Filed 9–16–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Please include the File No. in the subject line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. 57133 Dated: September 12, 2013. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–22537 Filed 9–16–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Sloan or Jennifer Skidmore, (301)427–8401. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XW11 Marine Mammals; File No. 14514 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the University of Florida, Aquatic Animal Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610 (Ruth Francis-Floyd, Responsible Party), has requested an amendment to Permit No. 14514 to receive, import, and export marine mammal specimens for scientific research. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before October 17, 2013. 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. 14514 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)427–8401; fax (301)713– 0376; and Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701; phone (727)824–5312; fax (727)824–5309. Written comments on these applications should be submitted to the Chief, Permits and Conservation 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. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:05 Sep 16, 2013 Jkt 229001 The subject amendment 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.), the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222–226), and the Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Permit No. 14514, issued on July 28, 2010 (75 FR 50748), authorizes the University of Florida to receive, import, and export marine mammal parts under NMFS jurisdiction for research on disease including viral pathogens and brevetoxin studies; development of a marine mammal histology database and atlas and marine mammal cell lines; and comparative morphology studies. The permit authorizes receipt, import, and export of marine mammal parts (hard and soft parts) from up to 200 animals per year within the order Cetacea (dolphins, porpoises and whales) and 100 animals per year within the order Pinnipedia (sea lions and seals but excluding walruses). The permit expires July 31, 2015. The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to increase the number of animals from which pinniped samples may be received, imported, or exported from 100 to 700 animals per year for additional studies on viral pathogens (adenovirus and herpesvirus). The permit holder also requests personnel changes. 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 activities proposed are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Department of the Army [Docket ID: USA–2013–0032] Proposed Collection; Comment Request Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army (OAA-AAHS), DoD. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. 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 of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by November 18, 2013. SUMMARY: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350–3100. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\17SEN1.SGM 17SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57132-57133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22592]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC289


Endangered Species; File No. 16230

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

ACTION: Notice of permit issuance.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued a permit to the 
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) for the incidental 
take of sea turtles associated with the otherwise lawful commercial 
gillnet fishery in North Carolina inshore state waters.

ADDRESSES: The incidental take permit, final environmental assessment, 
and other related documents are available on the NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources Web site at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/esa_review.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristy Long (ph. 301-427-8402, email 
Kristy.Long@noaa.gov or Sara McNulty (ph. 301-427-8402, email 
Sara.McNulty@noaa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 18, 2011, NCDMF submitted a 
revised application to NMFS for Permit No. 16230, requesting 
authorization for incidental take of sea turtles listed under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) associated with commercial and 
recreational gillnet fisheries in inshore state waters for three years. 
The application requests incidental take authorization for endangered 
Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys 
coriacea), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles and 
threatened green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta 
caretta). NMFS published a notice of receipt of the August 2011 
application and a request for public comments on October 5, 2011 (76 FR 
61670). Based on comments received from the public, independent 
reviewers, and NMFS, NCDMF subsequently submitted a second revised 
application on September 6, 2012. NMFS has issued the requested permit 
under the authority of 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).
    This permit authorizes the incidental take of specified numbers of 
sea turtles incidental to the continued commercial harvest of target 
fish species in gillnets subject to monitor, minimize, and mitigate 
incidental take in North Carolina inshore state waters as set forth in 
the conservation plan and the permit for a 10-year period.
    The conservation plan includes managing inshore gill net fisheries 
by dividing estuarine waters into six management units (i.e., A, B, C, 
D1, D2, E). Each of the management units will be monitored seasonally 
and by fishery. Management Unit A encompasses all estuarine waters 
north of 35[deg] 46.30'N. to the North Carolina/Virginia state line. 
This includes all of Albemarle, Currituck, Croatan, and Roanoke sounds 
as well as the contributing river systems in this area. Management Unit 
B encompasses all estuarine waters south of 35[deg] 46.30' N., east of 
76[deg] 30.00' W., and north of 34[deg] 48.27' N. This Management Unit 
will include all of Pamlico Sound and the Northern portion of Core 
Sound. Management Unit C will include the Pamlico, Pungo and Neuse 
river drainages west of 76[deg] 30.00' W. Management Unit D1 
encompasses all estuarine waters south of 34[deg] 48.27' N. and east of 
a line running from 34[deg] 40.70' N.-76[deg] 22.50' W. to 34[deg] 
42.48' N.-76[deg] 36.70' W. Management Unit D1 includes Southern Core 
Sound, Back Sound and North River. Management Unit D2 encompasses all 
estuarine waters west of a line running from 34[deg] 40.70' N.-76[deg] 
22.50' W. to 34[deg] 42.48' N.-76[deg] 36.70' W. to the Highway 58 
bridge. Management Unit D2 includes Newport River and Bogue Sound. 
Management Unit E encompasses all estuarine waters south and west of 
the Highway 58 bridge to the North Carolina/South Carolina state line. 
This includes the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway and adjacent sounds, 
and the New, Cape Fear, Lockwood Folly, White Oak, and Shallotte 
rivers.
    Required management measures include: (1) Restricted soak times for 
large mesh gillnets from one hour before sunset on Monday through 
Thursday and one hour after sunrise from Tuesday through Friday (i.e., 
fishing is prohibited from one hour after sunrise on Friday through one 
hour before sunset on Monday); (2) restrictions on the maximum net 
length per large mesh fishing operation (i.e., 2,000 yards (1.83 km, 
6,000 ft) per operation except south of the NC Highway 58 bridge and 
Management Area D2 where 1,000 yards (0.91 km, 3,000 ft) is maximum; 
(3) restrictions on large mesh net-shot lengths to 100 yards (91.44 m, 
300 ft) with a 25 yard (22.86 m, 75 ft) separation between each net-
shot; (4) requirement for large mesh nets to be low profile (e.g., 
maximum of 15 meshes in depth, tie-downs prohibited, floats or corks 
prohibited along float lines north of the NC Highway 58 bridge); (5) 
closure of Management Area D1 to unattended large mesh gillnets from 
May 8-October 14 annually; (6) prohibition on large mesh gillnets in 
the deep water portions of the Pamlico Sound Gillnet Restricted Area 
(PSGNRA) and Oregon, Hatteras, and Ocracoke inlets from September 1-
December 15; (7) adaptive fishery management measures and restrictions 
through state proclamation authority (e.g., gear and/or area 
restrictions, attendance requirements, increased observer coverage and/
or enforcement); and (8) continuation of North Carolina's regulations 
for small mesh gillnet attendance requirements.
    NCDMF will maintain a monitoring program that consists of a 
combination of onboard and alternate platform observers, trip ticket 
program, and marine patrol officer activities (when needed). NCDMF will 
monitor six primary management units in inshore waters as described in 
the conservation plan. NCDMF will monitor at least 7% (with a goal of 
10%) of large mesh (>=4.0 ISM) gillnet trips in each area during each 
of 3 seasons (i.e., spring, summer, and fall) as defined in the 
conservation plan. NCDMF will monitor at least 1% (with a goal of 2%) 
of small mesh (<4.0 ISM) gillnet trips in each area during each of 
three seasons (i.e., spring, summer, fall) as defined in the 
conservation plan.
    The amount of annual incidental take of sea turtles authorized is 
expressed as either estimated or observed takes depending on the amount 
of data available for modeling predicted takes. Because reaching the 
estimated or observed level for any category of take for any species 
would end the incidental take authorization for all species, it is 
highly unlikely that all five species would be impacted at these 
levels. For areas B, D1, D2, and E, the annual incidental take 
authorized by species is 49 estimated dead, 98 estimated live, and 12 
observed (live or dead) Kemp's ridley turtles; 165 estimated dead, 330 
estimated live, and 18 observed (live or dead) green turtles; 24 
observed (live or dead) loggerhead turtles; eight observed (live or 
dead) leatherback turtles; and eight observed (live or dead) hawksbill 
turtles.

[[Page 57133]]

Additionally, eight observed (live or dead) of any of the five species 
are authorized for areas A and C.

    Dated: September 10, 2013.
Perry Gayaldo,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-22592 Filed 9-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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