Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 7, 78322-78324 [2013-30643]

Download as PDF 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, PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 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 26DEP1 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:18 Dec 24, 2013 Jkt 232001 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. PO 00000 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:18 Dec 24, 2013 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 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]


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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
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