New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting, 78823 [2013-31043]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 249 / Friday, December 27, 2013 / Notices
(TTS) and permanent hearing threshold
shifts (PTS). These thresholds replace
those currently in use by NOAA.
Updates include a protocol for
estimating PTS and TTS onset levels for
impulsive (e.g., airguns, impact pile
drivers) and non-impulsive (e.g., sonar,
vibratory pile drivers) sound sources,
the formation of marine mammal
functional hearing groups (low-, mid-,
and high-frequency cetaceans and
otariid and phocid pinnipeds), and the
incorporation of marine mammal
auditory weighting functions into the
calculation of thresholds. These
acoustic threshold levels are presented
using the dual metrics of cumulative
sound exposure level and peak sound
pressure level. This document addresses
how to combine multiple datasets, as
well as how to determine appropriate
surrogates when data are not available.
While the updated acoustic thresholds
are more complex than those previously
used by NOAA, they accurately reflect
the current state of scientific knowledge
regarding the characteristics of sound
that have the potential to impact marine
mammal hearing sensitivity. Given the
specific nature of these updates, it is not
possible to compare directly the
updated acoustic threshold levels
presented in this document with the
thresholds previously used by NOAA.
Although NOAA has updated the
acoustic threshold levels from those
previously used, and these changes may
necessitate new methodologies for
calculating impacts, the application of
the thresholds in the regulatory context
under applicable statutes (Marine
Mammal Protection Act, Endangered
Species Act, and National Marine
Sanctuaries Act) remains consistent
with past NOAA practice. It is
important to note that these updated
acoustic threshold levels do not
represent the entirety of an impact
assessment, but rather serve as one tool
(in addition to behavioral impact
thresholds, auditory masking
assessments, evaluations to help
understand the ultimate effects of any
particular type of impact on an
individual’s fitness, population
assessments, etc.), to help evaluate the
effects of a proposed action on marine
mammals and make findings required
by our various statutes.
The document is classified as a
Highly Influential Scientific Assessment
by the Office of Management and
Budget. As such, independent peer
review is required prior to broad public
dissemination by the Federal
Government. NOAA conducted a peer
review of the updated acoustic
threshold levels. Details of the peer
review can be found within this
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document, and at the following Web
site: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
acoustics/.
A summary of the updated acoustic
threshold levels can be found in the
main body of the document and
additional details are provided in the
appendices. Section I provides an
introduction to the document and a
description of how NOAA addressed
uncertainty and data limitations.
NOAA’s updated acoustic threshold
levels for onset of PTS and TTS for
marine mammals exposed to
underwater sound are presented in
Section II. Section III describes how
acoustic threshold levels are interpreted
under NOAA’s statutes. NOAA’s plan
for periodically updating acoustic
threshold levels is presented in Section
IV. More details on the marine mammal
auditory weighting functions, the
development of acoustic threshold
levels, the peer review process, and a
glossary of acoustic terms can be found
in the appendices.
NOAA particularly encourages the
public to identify any additional
datasets for inclusion in the assessment,
and to comment on the appropriateness
of the proposed accumulation period for
the cumulative sound exposure metric
and the proposed low-frequency
auditory weighting function for which
direct measurements of hearing
sensitivity are not available.
78823
(EEZ). Recommendations from this
group will be brought to the full Council
for formal consideration and action, if
appropriate.
This meeting will be held on
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 9:30
a.m.
DATES:
Meeting address: The
meeting will be held at the Sheraton
Harborside, 250 Market Street,
Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone: (603)
431–2300; fax: (603) 433–5649.
Council address: New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management
Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
The Skate
Oversight Committee and Advisory
Panel will review Plan Development
Team work on alternatives under
consideration and impacts of these
alternatives in Framework Adjustment 2
and select preferred alternatives. They
will also have a preliminary discussion
of the development of future actions for
the Skate FMP that include addressing
overfishing occurring on thorny skate as
well as a discussion of establishing a
control date for the wing fishery.
Address other business as necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
listed in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the Council’s intent to take
final action to address the emergency.
RIN 0648–XD049
Special Accommodations
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to
the meeting date.
Dated: December 19, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
performing the functions and duties of the
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–30951 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
AGENCY:
The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a joint public meeting of its
Skate Oversight Committee and Skate
Advisory Panel on January 15, 2014 to
consider actions affecting New England
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00014
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 23, 2013.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–31043 Filed 12–26–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 78823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31043]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD049
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a joint public meeting of its Skate Oversight Committee and
Skate Advisory Panel on January 15, 2014 to consider actions affecting
New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for
formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES: This meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 9:30
a.m.
ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton
Harborside, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone: (603)
431-2300; fax: (603) 433-5649.
Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Skate Oversight Committee and Advisory
Panel will review Plan Development Team work on alternatives under
consideration and impacts of these alternatives in Framework Adjustment
2 and select preferred alternatives. They will also have a preliminary
discussion of the development of future actions for the Skate FMP that
include addressing overfishing occurring on thorny skate as well as a
discussion of establishing a control date for the wing fishery. Address
other business as necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising
after publication of this notice that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has
been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address
the emergency.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at (978) 465-
0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 23, 2013.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-31043 Filed 12-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
