Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 28486-28487 [2014-11192]

Download as PDF EMCDONALD on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES 28486 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 95 / Friday, May 16, 2014 / Notices and Technology (NIST) is seeking comments for the proposed revision to Voluntary Product Standard (PS) 20–10, ‘‘American Softwood Lumber Standard.’’ This standard, prepared by the American Lumber Standard Committee, serves the procurement and regulatory needs of numerous federal, state, and local government agencies by providing for uniform, industry-wide grade-marking and inspection requirements for softwood lumber. The implementation of the standard also allows for uniform labeling and auditing of treated wood and, through a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, labeling and auditing of wood packaging materials for international trade. As part of a five-year review process, NIST is seeking public comment and invites interested parties to review the revised standard and submit comments. DATES: Written comments regarding the proposed revision, PS 20–10, should be submitted to the Standards Services Division, NIST, no later than June 30, 2014. ADDRESSES: An electronic copy (in PDF) of the current standard, PS 20–10, can be obtained at the following Web site https://gsi.nist.gov/global/index.cfm/L15/l2-44/A-355. Written comments on the standard should be submitted to David F. Alderman, Standards Services Division, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2150, Gaithersburg, MD 20899–2150; fax (301) 975–4715. Electronic comments may be submitted via email to david.alderman@nist.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David F. Alderman, Standards Services Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, telephone: (301) 975– 4019; fax: (301) 975–4715, email: david.alderman@nist.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Department of Commerce regulations codified in Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 10, Procedures for the Development of Voluntary Product Standards, and administered by NIST, the American Lumber Standard Committee acts as the Standing Committee for PS 20–10, American Softwood Lumber Standard, (Committee) responsible for maintaining, revising, and interpreting the standard. The Committee is comprised of producers, distributors, users, and others with an interest in the standard. Voluntary Product Standard (PS) 20– 10 establishes standard sizes and requirements for developing and coordinating the lumber grades of the various species of lumber, the assignment of design values, and the VerDate Mar<15>2010 20:00 May 15, 2014 Jkt 232001 preparation of grading rules applicable to each species. Its provisions include implementation of the standard through an accreditation and certification program; establishment of principal trade classifications and lumber sizes for yard, structural, and factory/shop use; classification, measurement, grading, and grade-marking of lumber; definitions of terms and procedures to provide a basis for the use of uniform methods in the grading inspection, measurement, and description of softwood lumber; commercial names of the principal softwood species; definitions of terms used in describing standard grades of lumber; and commonly used industry abbreviations. The standard also includes the organization and functions of the American Lumber Standard Committee, the Board of Review, and the National Grading Rule Committee. NIST invites public comments on the current standard, PS 20–10, which is available at https://gsi.nist.gov/global/ index.cfm/L1-5/l2-44/A-355. All public comments will be reviewed and considered. Written comments should be submitted in accordance with the DATES and ADDRESSES sections of this notice. The American Lumber Standard Committee and NIST will consider all comments received and may revise the standard, as appropriate. Dated: May 12, 2014. Willie E. May, Associate Director for Laboratory Programs. [FR Doc. 2014–11425 Filed 5–15–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD262 Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Exempted Fishing Permit would allow seven Federal lobster vessels to participate in a lobster abundance study within the state and Federal waters off the coast of Massachusetts. Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs. DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 2, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following methods: • Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments on MA DMF Lobster Study EFP.’’ • Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments on MA DMF Lobster Study EFP.’’ • Fax: (978) 281–9135. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Jacob, Environmental Technician, 978–281–9180, maria.jacob@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to conduct a lobster abundance survey with experimental lobster gear that the regulations would otherwise restrict. The EFP would authorize seven lobster vessels to set, haul, and retain on-board experimental lobster traps (closed escape vents) during sampling activity. Following a soak time ranging from 3 to 5 days, these lobster traps would be hauled twice per month on dedicated sampling days, with at least one scientist from MA DMF on-board during sampling activity. The proposed lobster sampling activity would take place during dedicated survey trips, and no traps in addition to the survey gear will be hauled, and all catch, including lobsters and bycatch species, will be discarded promptly after data collection is complete. Funding for this lobster abundance survey will be provided by MA DMF. The purpose of this lobster study is to provide fishery-independent data on lobster abundance. Currently, lobster abundance and distribution studies are primarily conducted through fishery independent, random stratified bottom trawl surveys. MA DMF stated that these trawl surveys lack the capability to efficiently target areas with rocky bottom where lobsters also reside, and aims to use fixed lobster gear to sample E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM 16MYN1 EMCDONALD on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 95 / Friday, May 16, 2014 / Notices areas not effectively sampled using a bottom trawl. MA DMF requests exemption from lobster gear regulations to allow for closed escape vents in order to target all lobsters, including lobsters that do not satisfy Federal minimum size regulations for retention of lobster catch. The escape vent must remain closed in order to accurately quantify both juvenile and adult lobster abundance within the study area. MA DMF is also requesting exemptions from the lobster trap limit, in order to allow participating vessels to retain on board experimental lobster traps that would cause vessels to exceed the 800-trap limit for Lobster Management Areas (LMAs) 1 and 2. Federal lobster regulations also require a trap tag to be fixed to each active lobster trap; however, the survey traps will remain separate from each vessel’s commercial fishing traps, and would be hauled during sampling trips only. Therefore, the survey traps would not be fixed with the conventional lobster trap tags. However, there would be an identification tag fixed to each survey trap for the duration of the study. MA DMF is also requesting exemptions to allow one Federal lobster permit holder to be exempt from the management area designation requirements, to allow the permit holder to fish experimental traps in LMA 2 while having an LMA 3 on his Federal permit. This exemption will allow the vessel to set survey traps in an area not designated on his permit. This permit holder would not be allowed to commercially fish and land lobsters for sale with traps in LMA 2. Site selection would be based on a random, stratified sampling design, consistent with standardized methodology used to perform lobster surveys. All catch during dedicated research trips would be retained onboard for a short period of time to allow MA DMF staff to record the following information: The number of lobsters caught; the size (carapace length in mm) and sex of each lobster; the hardness of each lobster shell; and the presence/ absence of lobster parts, shell damage, shell disease, and eggs in female lobsters. If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the VerDate Mar<15>2010 20:00 May 15, 2014 Jkt 232001 scope of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 12, 2014. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–11192 Filed 5–15–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD294 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice; public meetings. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of the Standing, Special Reef Fish and Ecosystem Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC). SUMMARY: The meetings will be held from 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3 until 12 noon, Thursday, June 5, 2014. DATES: ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meetings will be held at The Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. Mr. Steven Atran, Senior Fishery Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630; fax: (813) 348–1711; email: steven.atran@ gulfcouncil.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as follows: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Standing and Ecosystem SSC Agenda, Tuesday, June 3, 2014, 9 a.m. Until 12 Noon CST 1. Adoption of Agenda 2. Approval of March 28, 2013 Standing and Ecosystem SSC summary minutes 3. GOM Ecosystem Assessment Status Report PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 28487 Standing, Special Reef Fish, and Ecosystem SSC Agenda, Tuesday, June 3, 2014, 1:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 5 p.m., and Thursday, June 5, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 Noon 4. Adoption of Agenda 5. Approval of January 23–24, 2014 Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC summary minutes 6. SEDAR 33 Benchmark Assessments a. Gag b. Greater amberjack 7. Discussion on Integrating Ecosystem Considerations into SEDAR Assessments 8. Red Snapper Slot Limit and Hook Size Analysis 9. Selection of Participants for a Workshop to Evaluate MSY and ABC control Rule Based Benchmarks for Penaeid Shrimp 10. Selection of SSC representative at June 23–27, 2014 Council meeting (Key West) 11. Other business The Agenda is subject to change, and the latest version will be posted on the Council’s file server, which can be accessed by going to the Council Web site at https://www.gulfcouncil.org and clicking on FTP Server under Quick Links. The meetings will be webcast over the Internet. A link to the webcast will be available on the Council’s Web site, https://www.gulfcouncil.org. Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Scientific and Statistical Committees for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions of the Scientific and Statistical Committees will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda 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 the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kathy Pereira at the Council Office (see ADDRESSES), at least 5 working days prior to the meeting. Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM 16MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28486-28487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11192]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD262


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; 
General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted 
Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), 
has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit 
application contains all of the required information and warrants 
further consideration. This Exempted Fishing Permit would allow seven 
Federal lobster vessels to participate in a lobster abundance study 
within the state and Federal waters off the coast of Massachusetts.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed EFPs.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on MA DMF Lobster Study EFP.''
     Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on MA 
DMF Lobster Study EFP.''
     Fax: (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Jacob, Environmental Technician, 
978-281-9180, maria.jacob@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries 
(MA DMF) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing 
Permit (EFP) to conduct a lobster abundance survey with experimental 
lobster gear that the regulations would otherwise restrict. The EFP 
would authorize seven lobster vessels to set, haul, and retain on-board 
experimental lobster traps (closed escape vents) during sampling 
activity. Following a soak time ranging from 3 to 5 days, these lobster 
traps would be hauled twice per month on dedicated sampling days, with 
at least one scientist from MA DMF on-board during sampling activity. 
The proposed lobster sampling activity would take place during 
dedicated survey trips, and no traps in addition to the survey gear 
will be hauled, and all catch, including lobsters and bycatch species, 
will be discarded promptly after data collection is complete.
    Funding for this lobster abundance survey will be provided by MA 
DMF. The purpose of this lobster study is to provide fishery-
independent data on lobster abundance. Currently, lobster abundance and 
distribution studies are primarily conducted through fishery 
independent, random stratified bottom trawl surveys. MA DMF stated that 
these trawl surveys lack the capability to efficiently target areas 
with rocky bottom where lobsters also reside, and aims to use fixed 
lobster gear to sample

[[Page 28487]]

areas not effectively sampled using a bottom trawl.
    MA DMF requests exemption from lobster gear regulations to allow 
for closed escape vents in order to target all lobsters, including 
lobsters that do not satisfy Federal minimum size regulations for 
retention of lobster catch. The escape vent must remain closed in order 
to accurately quantify both juvenile and adult lobster abundance within 
the study area. MA DMF is also requesting exemptions from the lobster 
trap limit, in order to allow participating vessels to retain on board 
experimental lobster traps that would cause vessels to exceed the 800-
trap limit for Lobster Management Areas (LMAs) 1 and 2. Federal lobster 
regulations also require a trap tag to be fixed to each active lobster 
trap; however, the survey traps will remain separate from each vessel's 
commercial fishing traps, and would be hauled during sampling trips 
only. Therefore, the survey traps would not be fixed with the 
conventional lobster trap tags. However, there would be an 
identification tag fixed to each survey trap for the duration of the 
study.
    MA DMF is also requesting exemptions to allow one Federal lobster 
permit holder to be exempt from the management area designation 
requirements, to allow the permit holder to fish experimental traps in 
LMA 2 while having an LMA 3 on his Federal permit. This exemption will 
allow the vessel to set survey traps in an area not designated on his 
permit. This permit holder would not be allowed to commercially fish 
and land lobsters for sale with traps in LMA 2.
    Site selection would be based on a random, stratified sampling 
design, consistent with standardized methodology used to perform 
lobster surveys. All catch during dedicated research trips would be 
retained on-board for a short period of time to allow MA DMF staff to 
record the following information: The number of lobsters caught; the 
size (carapace length in mm) and sex of each lobster; the hardness of 
each lobster shell; and the presence/absence of lobster parts, shell 
damage, shell disease, and eggs in female lobsters.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and 
extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed 
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have 
minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially 
approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope 
of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 12, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11192 Filed 5-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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