Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas; Fall Meeting, 58523-58524 [2013-23203]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 24, 2013 / Notices the intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the council office (see ADDRESSES) 3 days prior to the meeting. Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 19, 2013. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–23147 Filed 9–23–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC776 Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas; Fall Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: In preparation for the 2013 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting, the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to ICCAT is announcing the convening of its fall meeting. DATES: The meeting will be held October 10–11, 2013. There will be an open session on Thursday, October 10, 2013, from 9 a.m. through approximately 2:15 p.m. The remainder of the meeting will be closed to the public and is expected to end by 5 p.m. on October 11. Interested members of the public may present their views during the public comment session on October 10, 2013. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, 8777 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Written comments should be sent via email (Rachel.O’Malley@noaa.gov). Comments may also be sent via mail to Rachel O’Malley at NMFS, Office of International Affairs, Room 10653, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel O’Malley, Office of International Affairs, 301–427–8373. VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:49 Sep 23, 2013 Jkt 229001 The Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to ICCAT will meet October 10–11, 2013, first in an open session to consider management- and researchrelated information on stock status of Atlantic highly migratory species and then in a closed session to discuss sensitive matters. There will be an opportunity for oral public comment during the October 10, 2013, open session. The open session will be from 9 a.m. through 2:15 p.m. The public comment portion of the meeting is scheduled to begin at approximately 12:00 p.m. but could begin earlier depending on the progress of discussions. Comments may also be submitted in writing for the Advisory Committee’s consideration. Interested members of the public can submit comments by mail or email; use of email is encouraged. All written comments must be received by October 8, 2013 (see ADDRESSES). ICCAT has recently initiated a 3-year process to develop amendments to its Convention in several areas. Key issues under discussion include: (1) Clarification of the scope of the Convention, in particular with respect to shark conservation and management; (2) ecosystem considerations and the precautionary approach; (3) improvements to the decision-making processes of the Commission (e.g., voting rules, objection procedures, the timing of entry into force of measures, and dispute settlement); and (4) provisions to allow the participation of fishing entities such as Taiwan (known as Chinese Taipei) in ICCAT. Clarifying the scope of the Convention is one of the more significant issues being considered in this process. ICCAT has adopted conservation and management measures for sharks and other bycatch species caught in association with ICCAT fisheries over the years. It is generally agreed, however, that there would be a benefit to clarifying the authority of the organization in this regard. In addition, some Contracting Parties to the organization consider that ICCAT should have unambiguous authority to manage certain shark species, whether taken in directed fisheries or as bycatch. ICCAT has not yet determined how it will proceed with regard to the question of Convention scope as it relates to sharks. Some approaches to this issue that have been discussed include those reflected in existing Pacific tuna treaties, namely, the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and the Antigua Convention. These models, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 58523 if applied in the ICCAT context, would bring a wide array of shark species and fisheries under the competence of the ICCAT Convention. Another option suggested during the Convention Amendment Working Group Meeting was to amend the Convention to cover those shark species that are ‘‘oceanic, pelagic, and highly migratory.’’ The intention of the proposal was to narrow the shark species that would come under ICCAT management by excluding purely coastal sharks—whether they occur only within one country’s exclusive economic zone or are shared among two or more countries. Any expansion of ICCAT’s management authority for sharks has potential implications for ICCAT, for the covered shark species and fisheries, and for U.S. domestic shark management. ICCAT’s Convention Working Group is also considering a number of other important issues, including ecosystem approaches to management, the precautionary approach, and the decision making processes of the Commission. The United States is in the process of considering its position with respect to these matters and welcomes any views that members of the public may wish to share. NMFS expects members of the public to conduct themselves appropriately at the open session of the Advisory Committee meeting. At the beginning of the public comment session, an explanation of the ground rules will be provided (e.g., alcohol in the meeting room is prohibited, speakers will be called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to speak, each speaker will have an equal amount of time to speak and speakers should not interrupt one another). The session will be structured so that all attending members of the public are able to comment, if they so choose, regardless of the degree of controversy of the subject(s). Those not respecting the ground rules will be asked to leave the meeting. After the open session, the Advisory Committee will meet in closed session to discuss sensitive information relating to upcoming international negotiations regarding the conservation and management of Atlantic highly migratory species. Special Accommodations The meeting location is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Rachel O’Malley at (301) 427–8373 or Rachel.O’Malley@noaa.gov at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. E:\FR\FM\24SEN1.SGM 24SEN1 58524 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 185 / Tuesday, September 24, 2013 / Notices Dated: September 19, 2013. Dean Swanson, Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–23203 Filed 9–23–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–BD69 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; U.S. Navy Training and Testing Activities in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing Study Area National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for letter of authorization; request for comments and information. AGENCY: NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the training and testing activities conducted in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Study Area from July 2015 through July 2020. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing our receipt of the Navy’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and inviting information, suggestions, and comments on the Navy’s application and request. DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than October 24, 2013. SUMMARY: Comments on the application should be addressed to Michael Payne, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910– 3225. The mailbox address for providing email comments is ITP.Magliocca@noaa.gov. NMFS is not responsible for email comments sent to addresses other than the one provided here. Comments sent via email, including all attachments, must not exceed a 10-megabyte file size. Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:49 Sep 23, 2013 Jkt 229001 example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. A copy of the Navy’s application may be obtained by visiting the internet at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm. The Navy’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for MITT was made available to the public on September 13, 2013. A 60-day public comment period is open through November 12, 2013. Documents cited in this notice may also be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the aforementioned address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Magliocca, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by United States citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specific geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for review. Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘* * *an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’ With respect to military readiness activities, the MMPA defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: ‘‘(i) any act that injures or has the significant potential to injure a marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A Harassment]; or (ii) any act that disturbs or is likely to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of natural behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, surfacing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 sheltering, to a point where such behavioral patterns are abandoned or significantly altered [Level B Harassment].’’ Summary of Request On April 22, 2013, NMFS received an application from the Navy requesting a Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the take of 26 species of marine mammals incidental to Navy training and testing activities to be conducted in the MITT Study Area over 5 years. The Navy is requesting a 5-year LOA for training and testing activities to be conducted from 2015 through 2020. The Study Area includes the existing Mariana Islands Range Complex, a transit corridor between the Mariana Islands and the Hawaii Range Complex, and Navy pierside locations where sonar maintenance or testing may occur (see Figure 2–1 of the Navy’s application for a map of the MITT Study Area). The activities conducted within the MITT Study Area are classified as military readiness activities. The Navy states that these activities may expose some of the marine mammals present within the MITT Study Area to sound from underwater acoustic sources and explosives. In addition, incidental takes of marine mammals may occur from ship strike. The Navy is requesting authorization to take 26 marine mammal species by Level B (behavioral) harassment; 15 of those marine mammal species may be taken by injury or mortality. Description of the Specified Activity In the application submitted to NMFS, the Navy requests authorization to take marine mammals incidental to conducting the following training and testing activities: anti-surface warfare; anti-submarine warfare; mine warfare; naval special warfare; major training activities; Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) testing; anti-surface warfare testing; anti-submarine warfare testing; Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) testing; and Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) testing. Detailed descriptions of these activities, including duration, location, and equipment involved, are provided in the Navy’s application. The Navy has also prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) analyzing the effects on the human environment of implementing their preferred alternative (among others). Information Solicited Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and comments concerning the Navy’s request (see E:\FR\FM\24SEN1.SGM 24SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58523-58524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23203]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC776


Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas; Fall Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: In preparation for the 2013 International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting, the Advisory Committee 
to the U.S. Section to ICCAT is announcing the convening of its fall 
meeting.

DATES: The meeting will be held October 10-11, 2013. There will be an 
open session on Thursday, October 10, 2013, from 9 a.m. through 
approximately 2:15 p.m. The remainder of the meeting will be closed to 
the public and is expected to end by 5 p.m. on October 11. Interested 
members of the public may present their views during the public comment 
session on October 10, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, 8777 Georgia 
Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Written comments should be sent via 
email (Rachel.O'Malley@noaa.gov). Comments may also be sent via mail to 
Rachel O'Malley at NMFS, Office of International Affairs, Room 10653, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel O'Malley, Office of 
International Affairs, 301-427-8373.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section 
to ICCAT will meet October 10-11, 2013, first in an open session to 
consider management- and research-related information on stock status 
of Atlantic highly migratory species and then in a closed session to 
discuss sensitive matters. There will be an opportunity for oral public 
comment during the October 10, 2013, open session. The open session 
will be from 9 a.m. through 2:15 p.m. The public comment portion of the 
meeting is scheduled to begin at approximately 12:00 p.m. but could 
begin earlier depending on the progress of discussions. Comments may 
also be submitted in writing for the Advisory Committee's 
consideration. Interested members of the public can submit comments by 
mail or email; use of email is encouraged. All written comments must be 
received by October 8, 2013 (see ADDRESSES).
    ICCAT has recently initiated a 3-year process to develop amendments 
to its Convention in several areas. Key issues under discussion 
include: (1) Clarification of the scope of the Convention, in 
particular with respect to shark conservation and management; (2) 
ecosystem considerations and the precautionary approach; (3) 
improvements to the decision-making processes of the Commission (e.g., 
voting rules, objection procedures, the timing of entry into force of 
measures, and dispute settlement); and (4) provisions to allow the 
participation of fishing entities such as Taiwan (known as Chinese 
Taipei) in ICCAT.
    Clarifying the scope of the Convention is one of the more 
significant issues being considered in this process. ICCAT has adopted 
conservation and management measures for sharks and other bycatch 
species caught in association with ICCAT fisheries over the years. It 
is generally agreed, however, that there would be a benefit to 
clarifying the authority of the organization in this regard. In 
addition, some Contracting Parties to the organization consider that 
ICCAT should have unambiguous authority to manage certain shark 
species, whether taken in directed fisheries or as bycatch.
    ICCAT has not yet determined how it will proceed with regard to the 
question of Convention scope as it relates to sharks. Some approaches 
to this issue that have been discussed include those reflected in 
existing Pacific tuna treaties, namely, the Convention on the 
Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the 
Western and Central Pacific Ocean and the Antigua Convention. These 
models, if applied in the ICCAT context, would bring a wide array of 
shark species and fisheries under the competence of the ICCAT 
Convention. Another option suggested during the Convention Amendment 
Working Group Meeting was to amend the Convention to cover those shark 
species that are ``oceanic, pelagic, and highly migratory.'' The 
intention of the proposal was to narrow the shark species that would 
come under ICCAT management by excluding purely coastal sharks--whether 
they occur only within one country's exclusive economic zone or are 
shared among two or more countries.
    Any expansion of ICCAT's management authority for sharks has 
potential implications for ICCAT, for the covered shark species and 
fisheries, and for U.S. domestic shark management. ICCAT's Convention 
Working Group is also considering a number of other important issues, 
including ecosystem approaches to management, the precautionary 
approach, and the decision making processes of the Commission. The 
United States is in the process of considering its position with 
respect to these matters and welcomes any views that members of the 
public may wish to share.
    NMFS expects members of the public to conduct themselves 
appropriately at the open session of the Advisory Committee meeting. At 
the beginning of the public comment session, an explanation of the 
ground rules will be provided (e.g., alcohol in the meeting room is 
prohibited, speakers will be called to give their comments in the order 
in which they registered to speak, each speaker will have an equal 
amount of time to speak and speakers should not interrupt one another). 
The session will be structured so that all attending members of the 
public are able to comment, if they so choose, regardless of the degree 
of controversy of the subject(s). Those not respecting the ground rules 
will be asked to leave the meeting.
    After the open session, the Advisory Committee will meet in closed 
session to discuss sensitive information relating to upcoming 
international negotiations regarding the conservation and management of 
Atlantic highly migratory species.

Special Accommodations

    The meeting location is physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Rachel O'Malley at (301) 427-8373 
or Rachel.O'Malley@noaa.gov at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.


[[Page 58524]]


    Dated: September 19, 2013.
Dean Swanson,
Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23203 Filed 9-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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