Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Initiation of 5-Year Essential Fish Habitat Review, 15959-15960 [2014-06379]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 56 / Monday, March 24, 2014 / Notices 15959 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE II. Method of Collection DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The economic information sought will be collected via mail, phone and inperson surveys. Where feasible, the respondents will be provided with the option to respond to the mail survey online via email or other electronic forms such as an online survey tool. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration III. Data AGENCY: Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Cost and Earnings Surveys for West Coast Commercial Albacore Fishery National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 23, 2014. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at JJessup@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Stephen M. Stohs, (858) 546–7084 or Stephen.Stohs@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES I. Abstract This request is for a new information collection. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to collect economic information for fishing vessels in the West Coast Commercial Albacore Fishery. Information about revenues, variable and fixed costs, capital investment, vessel characteristics, and employment would be collected from vessel owners for a stratified random sample of vessels in this fishery. The data will be used to assess how fishermen will be impacted by and respond to federal regulation likely to be considered by fishery managers. Therefore, the data will be used to strengthen and improve fishery management decision-making, satisfy legal mandates under Executive Order 12866, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, and other pertinent statues. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:29 Mar 21, 2014 Jkt 232001 OMB Control Number: None. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Regular submission (request for a new information collection). Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 250. Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours. 30 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 625. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/reporting costs. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: March 18, 2014. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2014–06250 Filed 3–21–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 RIN 0648–XD172 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Initiation of 5-Year Essential Fish Habitat Review National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year Essential Fish Habitat review; request for information. NMFS announces a 5-year review of essential fish habitat (EFH) for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The purpose of the 5-year review is to evaluate the EFH provisions of the fishery management plan (FMP) and revise or amend them as warranted. A 5-year review is based on the best data available regarding Atlantic HMS and their habitats; therefore, NMFS is requesting submission of any such information on Atlantic HMS EFH that has become available since publication of Final Amendment 1 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP in 2009; Final Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP; and the interpretive rule and final action that published on September 22, 2010, and defined EFH for roundscale spearfish. DATES: To allow adequate time to conduct this review, NMFS must receive your information no later than May 23, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit information by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit information via email to: NMFS.HMSEFH@noaa.gov. • Mail: Submit written information to Jenni Wallace, HMS Management Division, NMFS, SSMC3/F/SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘Atlantic HMS EFH 5-Year Review.’’ • Instructions: Information must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure that the information is received, documented, and considered by NMFS. Information sent by any other method, or received after the end of the 60-day submission period, may not be considered. All information received is a part of the public record and may be posted for public viewing on https:// SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1 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

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15959-15960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06379]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD172


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Initiation of 5-Year Essential 
Fish Habitat Review

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

ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year Essential Fish Habitat review; 
request for information.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces a 5-year review of essential fish habitat (EFH) 
for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The purpose of the 5-year 
review is to evaluate the EFH provisions of the fishery management plan 
(FMP) and revise or amend them as warranted. A 5-year review is based 
on the best data available regarding Atlantic HMS and their habitats; 
therefore, NMFS is requesting submission of any such information on 
Atlantic HMS EFH that has become available since publication of Final 
Amendment 1 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP in 2009; Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated 
HMS FMP; and the interpretive rule and final action that published on 
September 22, 2010, and defined EFH for roundscale spearfish.

DATES: To allow adequate time to conduct this review, NMFS must receive 
your information no later than May 23, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit information via email to: 
NMFS.HMSEFH@noaa.gov.
     Mail: Submit written information to Jenni Wallace, HMS 
Management Division, NMFS, SSMC3/F/SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910. Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Atlantic 
HMS EFH 5-Year Review.''
     Instructions: Information must be submitted by one of the 
above methods to ensure that the information is received, documented, 
and considered by NMFS. Information sent by any other method, or 
received after the end of the 60-day submission period, may not be 
considered. All information received is a part of the public record and 
may be posted for public viewing on https://

[[Page 15960]]

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 Magnuson-
Stevens 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 
(Sec.  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 non-fishing 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.

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 (Sec.  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

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.