Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 7, 78322-78324 [2013-30643]
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78322
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Proposed Rules
enter FWS–R8–ES–2013–0104, which is
the docket number for this rulemaking.
Then, in the Search panel on the left
side of the screen, under the Document
Type heading, click on the Proposed
Rule link to locate the document. You
may submit a comment by clicking on
‘‘Comment Now!’’
(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail
or hand-delivery to: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: FWS–R8–ES–2013–
0104; Division of Policy and Directives
Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS
2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
We request that you send comments
only by the methods described above.
We will post all comments on https://
www.regulations.gov. This generally
means that we will post any personal
information you provide us (see the
Information Requested section below for
more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information about the proposed listing,
contact Jennifer Norris, Field
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W–2605,
Sacramento, California 95825; by
telephone 916–414–6600; or by
facsimile 916–414–6712. Persons who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 3, 2013, we published in
the Federal Register a proposed rule to
list the western yellow-billed cuckoo as
a threatened species under the Act (78
FR 61621). During the public comment
period, we received numerous requests
from Federal and State agencies, and the
public to extend or reopen the public
comment period on the proposed rule
beyond the December 2, 2013, due date.
In order to ensure that the public has an
adequate opportunity to review and
comment on our proposed rule, we are
reopening the comment period for an
additional 60 days.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Information Requested
We intend that any final action
resulting from this proposed rule will be
based on the best scientific and
commercial data available and be as
accurate and as effective as possible.
Therefore, we request comments or
information from other concerned
Federal and State agencies, the scientific
community, or any other interested
party concerning the proposed listing
rule. Please see the Information
Requested section of the October 3,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:18 Dec 24, 2013
Jkt 232001
2013, proposed listing for a list of the
comments that we particularly seek (78
FR 61621).
For more background on our proposed
listing, see the October 3, 2013, Federal
Register (78 FR 61621). The proposed
rule is available at the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov (see ADDRESSES
section above).
If you previously submitted
comments or information on the
proposed rule, please do not resubmit
them. We have incorporated them into
the public record, and we will fully
consider them in our final rulemakings.
Our final determination concerning this
proposed rulemaking will take into
consideration all written comments and
any additional information we receive.
Please note that submissions merely
stating support for or opposition to the
action under consideration without
providing supporting information,
although noted, will not be considered
in making a determination, as section
4(b)(1)(A) of the Act directs that
determinations as to whether any
species is an endangered or threatened
species, must be made ‘‘solely on the
basis of the best scientific and
commercial data available.’’
You may submit your comments and
materials concerning the proposed rule
by one of the methods listed in
ADDRESSES. We request that you send
comments only by the methods
described in the ADDRESSES section. If
you submit information via https://
www.regulations.gov, your entire
submission—including any personal
identifying information—will be posted
on the Web site. If your submission is
made via a hardcopy that includes
personal identifying information, you
may request at the top of your document
that we withhold this information from
public review. However, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
We will post all hardcopy submissions
on https://www.regulations.gov. Please
include sufficient information with your
comments to allow us to verify any
scientific or commercial information
you include.
Comments and materials we receive,
as well as supporting documentation we
used in preparing the proposed listing,
will be available for public inspection
on https://www.regulations.gov, or by
appointment, during normal business
hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife
Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT). You may obtain copies of the
proposed rule on the Internet at http:
//www.regulations.gov at Docket No.
FWS–R8–ES–2013–0104, or contact the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
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Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT),
or by mail from U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife
Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT).
Authority
The authority for this action is the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: December 11, 2013.
Rowan W Gould,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–30750 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 635
RIN 0648–BC09
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory
Species Fishery Management Plan;
Amendment 7
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of additional public
hearing conference call and webinar.
AGENCY:
On August 22, 2013, NMFS
published a notice of public hearings for
Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006
Consolidated Highly Migratory Species
(HMS) Fishery Management Plan (2006
Consolidated HMS FMP), which
included 10 public hearings. Due to the
government shut down and NMFS’
inability to respond to constituents on
this complex rule during that time frame
and based on the comments received to
date requesting an extension due to the
complexity and interplay of the
measures covered in the DEIS, NMFS
extended the comment period for this
action until January 10, 2014. To
provide an additional opportunity for
interested members of the public from
all geographic areas to submit verbal
comments, NMFS will host a public
hearing conference call and webinar. In
this notice, NMFS announces the date,
time, and call-in information for the
conference call and webinar for
management measures proposed in
Draft Amendment 7. On August 21,
2013, NMFS published the proposed
rule for Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006
Consolidated HMS Fishery Management
Plan to control bluefin incidental catch
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\26DEP1.SGM
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tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Proposed Rules
(landings and dead discards) in the
pelagic longline fishery, enhance
reporting in all categories, and ensure
U.S. compliance with the ICCATrecommended quota.
DATES: An operator-assisted, public
conference call and webinar will be
held on January 8, 2014, from 1:00 p.m.
to 4:00 p.m., EST. Written comments
will be accepted until January 10, 2014.
ADDRESSES: The conference call
information is phone number 800–619–
7481; participant pass code 5246202.
Participants are strongly encouraged to
log/dial in fifteen minutes prior to the
meeting. NMFS will show a brief
presentation via webinar followed by
public comment. RSVP at https://
www1.gotomeeting.com/register/
470946448. A confirmation email with
webinar log-in information will be sent
after your RSVP has been registered.
You may submit comments on the
proposed rule, identified by ‘‘NOAA–
NMFS–2013–0101,’’ by any of the
following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013101, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments. Do not submit
electronic comments to individual
NMFS staff.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Thomas Warren, Highly Migratory
Species Management Division, NMFS,
55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester,
MA 01930. Please mark the outside of
the envelope ‘‘Comments on
Amendment 7 to the HMS FMP.’’
• Instructions: Comments must be
submitted by one of the above methods
to ensure that the comments are
received, documented, and considered
by NMFS. Comments sent by any other
method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period, may not be
considered. All comments received are
a part of the public record and generally
will be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change.
All Personal Identifying Information
(e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential
business information, or otherwise
sensitive information submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be
publicly accessible. Do not submit
Confidential Business Information or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information. NMFS will accept
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous). You may submit
attachments to electronic comments in
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17:18 Dec 24, 2013
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Microsoft Word or Excel, or Adobe PDF
file formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Warren or Brad McHale at 978–
281–9260; Craig Cockrell or Jennifer
Cudney at 301–427–8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North
Atlantic tuna fisheries are managed
under the dual authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA).
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
NMFS must manage fisheries to
maintain optimum yield on a
continuing basis while preventing
overfishing. ATCA authorizes the
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to
promulgate regulations as may be
necessary and appropriate to carry out
recommendations of the International
Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The authority
to issue regulations under the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA has
been delegated from the Secretary to the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NMFS. Management of these species is
described in the 2006 Consolidated
HMS FMP, which is implemented by
regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Copies
of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and
previous amendments are available from
NMFS on request (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
On August 21, 2013 (78 FR 52032),
NMFS published proposed regulations
to implement Amendment 7 to the 2006
Consolidated HMSFMP to control
bluefin landings and dead discards in
the pelagic longline fishery, enhance
reporting in all categories, and ensure
U.S. compliance with the ICCATrecommended quota. As described in
the proposed rule, the proposed
management measures include: (1)
Allocation measures that would make
modifications to how the U.S. bluefin
quota is allocated among the quota
categories; (2) Area based measures that
would implement restrictions on the use
of pelagic longline gear in various time
and area combinations, modify gear
restrictions, or provide conditional
access to current pelagic longline closed
areas; (3) Bluefin quota controls that
would strictly limit the total catch
(landings and dead discards) of bluefin
in the Longline category using different
strategies; (4) Enhanced reporting
measures that would implement a
variety of new bluefin reporting
requirements; and (5) Other measures
that would make modifications to the
rules that control how the various quota
categories utilize quota, and implement
a northern albacore tuna quota.
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Frm 00039
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
78323
Although the Amendment 7 proposed
rule set the end of the comment period
to October 23, 2013, NMFS
subsequently extended the end of the
comment period December 10, 2013 (78
FR 57340; September 18, 2013) and then
again to January 10, 2014 (78 FR 75327;
December 11, 2013), in order to provide
additional time for the public to
consider the proposed rule, given its
length and complexity.
Status of Public Hearings and Request
for Comments
Ten public hearings have been held to
date: San Antonio, TX; Gloucester, MA;
Manteo, NC; Charleston, SC; Belle
Chasse, LA; Portland, ME; Panama City,
FL; Fort Pierce, FL; St. Petersburg, FL;
and Toms River, NJ. NMFS also
conducted consultations with the New
England Fishery Management Council,
the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council, and the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council.
Additional Public Hearing Conference
Call and Webinar
The additional public hearing
conference call and webinar will be
held on January 8, 2014, from 1:00 p.m.
to 4:00 p.m. EST. NMFS is holding this
call to allow for an additional
opportunity for interested members of
the public from all geographic areas to
submit verbal comments on the
Amendment 7 proposed rule.
Public Hearing Code of Conduct
The public is reminded that NMFS
expects participants at public hearings,
council meetings, and phone
conferences to conduct themselves
appropriately. At the beginning of each
meeting, a representative of NMFS will
explain the ground rules (e.g., all
comments are to be directed to the
agency on the proposed action;
attendees will be called to give their
comments in the order in which they
registered to speak; each attendee will
have an equal amount of time to speak;
attendees may not interrupt one
another; etc.). NMFS representative(s)
will structure the meeting so that all
attending members of the public will be
able to comment, if they so choose,
regardless of the controversial nature of
the subject(s). Attendees are expected to
respect the ground rules, and those that
do not may be asked to leave the
meeting.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq; 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.
E:\FR\FM\26DEP1.SGM
26DEP1
78324
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Proposed Rules
Dated: December 19, 2013.
Sean F. Corson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–30643 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am]
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Jkt 232001
PO 00000
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E:\FR\FM\26DEP1.SGM
26DEP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78322-78324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30643]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
RIN 0648-BC09
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 7
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of additional public hearing conference call and
webinar.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On August 22, 2013, NMFS published a notice of public hearings
for Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species
(HMS) Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP), which
included 10 public hearings. Due to the government shut down and NMFS'
inability to respond to constituents on this complex rule during that
time frame and based on the comments received to date requesting an
extension due to the complexity and interplay of the measures covered
in the DEIS, NMFS extended the comment period for this action until
January 10, 2014. To provide an additional opportunity for interested
members of the public from all geographic areas to submit verbal
comments, NMFS will host a public hearing conference call and webinar.
In this notice, NMFS announces the date, time, and call-in information
for the conference call and webinar for management measures proposed in
Draft Amendment 7. On August 21, 2013, NMFS published the proposed rule
for Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management
Plan to control bluefin incidental catch
[[Page 78323]]
(landings and dead discards) in the pelagic longline fishery, enhance
reporting in all categories, and ensure U.S. compliance with the ICCAT-
recommended quota.
DATES: An operator-assisted, public conference call and webinar will be
held on January 8, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., EST. Written
comments will be accepted until January 10, 2014.
ADDRESSES: The conference call information is phone number 800-619-
7481; participant pass code 5246202. Participants are strongly
encouraged to log/dial in fifteen minutes prior to the meeting. NMFS
will show a brief presentation via webinar followed by public comment.
RSVP at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/470946448. A confirmation
email with webinar log-in information will be sent after your RSVP has
been registered.
You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by ``NOAA-
NMFS-2013-0101,'' by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-101, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments. Do not submit electronic comments to individual
NMFS staff.
Mail: Submit written comments to Thomas Warren, Highly
Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930. Please mark the outside of the envelope
``Comments on Amendment 7 to the HMS FMP.''
Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the
above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and generally will be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying
Information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required
fields if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to
electronic comments in Microsoft Word or Excel, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Warren or Brad McHale at 978-
281-9260; Craig Cockrell or Jennifer Cudney at 301-427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Atlantic tuna fisheries are
managed under the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic
Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS must
manage fisheries to maintain optimum yield on a continuing basis while
preventing overfishing. ATCA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) to promulgate regulations as may be necessary and
appropriate to carry out recommendations of the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The
authority to issue regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA
has been delegated from the Secretary to the Assistant Administrator
for Fisheries, NMFS. Management of these species is described in the
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, which is implemented by regulations at 50
CFR part 635. Copies of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and previous
amendments are available from NMFS on request (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
On August 21, 2013 (78 FR 52032), NMFS published proposed
regulations to implement Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMSFMP to
control bluefin landings and dead discards in the pelagic longline
fishery, enhance reporting in all categories, and ensure U.S.
compliance with the ICCAT-recommended quota. As described in the
proposed rule, the proposed management measures include: (1) Allocation
measures that would make modifications to how the U.S. bluefin quota is
allocated among the quota categories; (2) Area based measures that
would implement restrictions on the use of pelagic longline gear in
various time and area combinations, modify gear restrictions, or
provide conditional access to current pelagic longline closed areas;
(3) Bluefin quota controls that would strictly limit the total catch
(landings and dead discards) of bluefin in the Longline category using
different strategies; (4) Enhanced reporting measures that would
implement a variety of new bluefin reporting requirements; and (5)
Other measures that would make modifications to the rules that control
how the various quota categories utilize quota, and implement a
northern albacore tuna quota. Although the Amendment 7 proposed rule
set the end of the comment period to October 23, 2013, NMFS
subsequently extended the end of the comment period December 10, 2013
(78 FR 57340; September 18, 2013) and then again to January 10, 2014
(78 FR 75327; December 11, 2013), in order to provide additional time
for the public to consider the proposed rule, given its length and
complexity.
Status of Public Hearings and Request for Comments
Ten public hearings have been held to date: San Antonio, TX;
Gloucester, MA; Manteo, NC; Charleston, SC; Belle Chasse, LA; Portland,
ME; Panama City, FL; Fort Pierce, FL; St. Petersburg, FL; and Toms
River, NJ. NMFS also conducted consultations with the New England
Fishery Management Council, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
Additional Public Hearing Conference Call and Webinar
The additional public hearing conference call and webinar will be
held on January 8, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST. NMFS is
holding this call to allow for an additional opportunity for interested
members of the public from all geographic areas to submit verbal
comments on the Amendment 7 proposed rule.
Public Hearing Code of Conduct
The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at public
hearings, council meetings, and phone conferences to conduct themselves
appropriately. At the beginning of each meeting, a representative of
NMFS will explain the ground rules (e.g., all comments are to be
directed to the agency on the proposed action; attendees will be called
to give their comments in the order in which they registered to speak;
each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; attendees may
not interrupt one another; etc.). NMFS representative(s) will structure
the meeting so that all attending members of the public will be able to
comment, if they so choose, regardless of the controversial nature of
the subject(s). Attendees are expected to respect the ground rules, and
those that do not may be asked to leave the meeting.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 78324]]
Dated: December 19, 2013.
Sean F. Corson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-30643 Filed 12-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P