Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Potential White Shark Research and Education Projects in the Gulf of the Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries, 15960-15961 [2014-06280]

Download as PDF WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 15960 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 56 / Monday, March 24, 2014 / Notices www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address), 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 submissions. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jenni Wallace or Margo Schulze-Haugen at (301)427–8503. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1996, Congress reauthorized the MagnusonStevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Section 305(b)(1)(A) of the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act includes a requirement to identify and describe EFH for all federally-managed fish species based on guidelines established by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), to minimize, to the extent practicable, adverse effects on such habitat caused by fishing, and to identify other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of EFH. EFH is defined in section 3(10) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act as ‘‘those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity’’. The fishery management plan regulations (50 CFR 600.815) addressing EFH state that Councils and NMFS should periodically review and revise or amend the EFH provisions as warranted based on available information (§ 600.815(a)(10)). In 2009, NMFS completed a 5-year review and update of EFH for Atlantic HMS in Final Amendment 1 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (June 12, 2009; 74 FR 288018). In Amendment 1, NMFS updated and revised existing identifications and descriptions of EFH for Atlantic HMS, designated a Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) for bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico and updated the analysis of fishing and nonfishing impacts to EFH. In 2010, NMFS published a Final Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP that designated EFH for smoothhound sharks using the same methodology in Final Amendment 1 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. In 2010, NMFS also published an interpretive rule and final action (September 22, 2010, 75 FR 57698) that added roundscale spearfish to the definition of terms in the Atlantic HMS regulations, and defined EFH for roundscale spearfish. This notice announces the first 5-year review of all designated Atlantic HMS EFH. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:29 Mar 21, 2014 Jkt 232001 Public Solicitation of New Information To ensure that the 5-year review is complete and based on the best data available regarding Atlantic HMS and their habitats, NMFS is soliciting information from the public, government agencies, tribes, the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other parties, concerning EFH of Atlantic HMS. Categories of requested information are based on the 10 EFH components identified in FMP regulations. These include: (1) Description and identification of EFH; (2) Fishing activities that may adversely affect EFH; (3) Non-Magnuson-Stevens Act fishing activities that may adversely affect EFH; (4) Non-fishing related activities that may adversely affect EFH; (5) Cumulative impacts analysis; (6) Conservation and enhancement; (7)Prey species; (8) Identification of Habitat Areas of Particular Concern; (9) Research and information needs; and (10) Review and revision of EFH components of FMPs (§ 600.815(a)(1)– (10)). Any new information will be considered during the 5-year review and may also be used in evaluating ongoing research and management of Atlantic HMS. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: March 19, 2014. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–06379 Filed 3–21–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Potential White Shark Research and Education Projects in the Gulf of the Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of Availability; Request for Public Comment. AGENCY: NOAA has developed a draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to analyze the potential impacts of anticipated research and education projects in the next five years and that may have the potential to affect White Sharks within SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) and the northern portion of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). The anticipated types of research and education projects described in the document have been evaluated for consistency with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, sanctuary goals and objectives, and ONMS permitting regulations. The draft PEA is available for download on the Web site: https:// farallones.noaa.gov/eco/sharks/sharks_ pea.html. Proposed projects that are outside the scope of this PEA would be further evaluated on a case-by-case basis during their individual permit review phase. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This draft PEA on potential research and education permit decisions for attraction or approach of White Sharks incorporates a permit-specific draft EA released for public comment in 2010. On September 30, 2010, NOAA released a draft EA for public comment that analyzed the potential impacts of issuing a research permit that involved attaching location transmitters on up to eleven White Sharks (75 FR 60407). The purpose of the proposed research study was learn more about the full migratory cycle of White Sharks that visit the sanctuary seasonally. Since then, NOAA has determined that the full suite of potential permit projects—both research and education—should be analyzed in order to better understand the scope of potential effects of permitting decisions on White Sharks in the sanctuaries. Rather than finalizing the permitspecific EA, NOAA has developed this programmatic analysis and seeks public comment. DATES: Comments on this draft environmental assessment may be made on or before April 23, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA– NOS–2014–0015, by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA–NOS–2014– 0015, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to: Max Delaney, Permit Coordinator, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, The Presidio, 991 Marine Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 56 / Monday, March 24, 2014 / Notices considered by ONMS. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally 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. ONMS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Max Delaney, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, The Presidio, 991 Marine Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129. Phone: (415) 970–5255. Dated: March 14, 2014. Daniel J. Basta, Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. [FR Doc. 2014–06280 Filed 3–21–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD195 Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 149th meeting. DATES: The meeting will be held on April 22–23, 2014. The Council will convene on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will reconvene on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Divi Carina Beach Resort and Casino, 25 Estate Turner Hole, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI 00820. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caribbean Fishery Management Council, ˜ 270 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, telephone: (787) 766–5926. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will hold its 149th regular Council Meeting to discuss the items contained in the following agenda: WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:29 Mar 21, 2014 Jkt 232001 April 22, 2014, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. • Call to Order • Adoption of Agenda • Consideration of 148th Council Meeting Verbatim Transcriptions • Executive Director’s Report • Management Issues Under Development: Brief Overview—Dr. William Arnold • Island-Based Fishery Management —SSC Meeting Report—Dr. Richard Appeldoorn —Outcomes from the Second Round of Island-Based Scoping Meetings— ´ Dr. Graciela Garcıa-Moliner/Dr. William Arnold —Request to Council for Motion Directing Staff to Initiate the Development of the Public Hearing Draft/DEISs and FMPs • Annual Catch Limit Control Rule—Dr. William Arnold Council Considers Public Hearing Draft Select Preferred Alternatives Request Approval for Public Hearings via Motion • Timing of Accountability Measurebased Closures Action—Dr. Kate Quigley Scoping Document Presented to the Council Request Approval for Scoping Hearings via Motion • Abrir/Bajo/Tourmaline Consistency of ´ Regulations—Dr. Graciela GarcıaMoliner Council Considers Public Hearing Draft Select Preferred Alternatives Request Approval for Public Hearings via Motion • SEDAR 35 Red Hind Update –Dr. ´ Graciela Garcıa-Moliner • Outreach and Education Report—Dr. ´ Alida Ortız Public Comment Period (5-minutes presentations) April 22, 2014, 5:15 p.m.–6 p.m. • Administrative Matters —Budget Update FY 2014/15 —Closed Session to Discuss SSC/AP/ OEAP Memberships —Other Business April 23, 2014, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. • Update: Planning for the FY14 Funds Received to Support Improvements in Data Collection Management in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico—Dr. Bonnie Ponwith • MRIP Caribbean Report • Electronic Reporting Project for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands—Point 97 Representative • Lang Bank Report—Dr. Jorge R. ´ Garcıa-Sais PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 15961 • Queen Conch Minimum Size Requirements—Clarification of Regulations in 50 CFR Part §622.492—Dr. William Arnold • Enforcement Issues: —Puerto Rico—DNER —U.S. Virgin Islands—DPNR —U.S. Coast Guard • Meetings Attended by Council Members and Staff Public Comment Period (5-minute presentations) • Other Business —Approaching the End of the Grouper 4 Rebuilding Plan —Fishery Independent Data Workshop Plans—Dr. William Arnold The established times for addressing items on the agenda may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of discussion relevant to the agenda items. To further accommodate discussion and completion of all items on the agenda, the meeting may be extended from, or completed prior to the date established in this notice. The meeting is open to the public, and will be conducted in English. Fishers and other interested persons are invited to attend and participate with oral or written statements regarding agenda issues. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be subjects for formal action during this meeting. Actions will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice, and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided that the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. For more information or request for sign language interpretation and/or other auxiliary aids, please contact Mr. Miguel A. ´ Rolon, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 270 ˜ Munoz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, telephone (787) 766–5926, at least five days prior to the meeting date. Dated: March 19, 2014. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–06332 Filed 3–21–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15960-15961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06280]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Potential White 
Shark Research and Education Projects in the Gulf of the Farallones and 
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice of Availability; Request for Public Comment.

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

SUMMARY: NOAA has developed a draft programmatic environmental 
assessment (PEA) to analyze the potential impacts of anticipated 
research and education projects in the next five years and that may 
have the potential to affect White Sharks within Gulf of the Farallones 
National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) and the northern portion of the 
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). The anticipated types 
of research and education projects described in the document have been 
evaluated for consistency with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, 
sanctuary goals and objectives, and ONMS permitting regulations. The 
draft PEA is available for download on the Web site: https://farallones.noaa.gov/eco/sharks/sharks_pea.html. Proposed projects that 
are outside the scope of this PEA would be further evaluated on a case-
by-case basis during their individual permit review phase.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This draft PEA on potential research and 
education permit decisions for attraction or approach of White Sharks 
incorporates a permit-specific draft EA released for public comment in 
2010. On September 30, 2010, NOAA released a draft EA for public 
comment that analyzed the potential impacts of issuing a research 
permit that involved attaching location transmitters on up to eleven 
White Sharks (75 FR 60407). The purpose of the proposed research study 
was learn more about the full migratory cycle of White Sharks that 
visit the sanctuary seasonally. Since then, NOAA has determined that 
the full suite of potential permit projects--both research and 
education--should be analyzed in order to better understand the scope 
of potential effects of permitting decisions on White Sharks in the 
sanctuaries. Rather than finalizing the permit-specific EA, NOAA has 
developed this programmatic analysis and seeks public comment.

DATES: Comments on this draft environmental assessment may be made on 
or before April 23, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NOS-2014-0015, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NOS-2014-0015, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields and enter or attach 
your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to: Max Delaney, Permit 
Coordinator, Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, The 
Presidio, 991 Marine Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be

[[Page 15961]]

considered by ONMS. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally 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. ONMS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in 
Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Max Delaney, Gulf of the Farallones 
National Marine Sanctuary, The Presidio, 991 Marine Drive, San 
Francisco, CA 94129. Phone: (415) 970-5255.

     Dated: March 14, 2014.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director for the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
[FR Doc. 2014-06280 Filed 3-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P
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