Science Advisory Board Meeting, 39368-39369 [2014-16170]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 39368 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 132 / Thursday, July 10, 2014 / Notices submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS 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: Steve Durkee by phone at (202) 670– 6637. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic HMS Management-Based Research Needs and Priorities document was developed by the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division of NMFS to communicate key research needs that directly support Atlantic HMS management. Atlantic HMS are defined as bluefin, bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack tunas, swordfish, billfish (blue marlin, white marlin, roundscale spearfish, longbill spearfish, and sailfish), and sharks. The document contains a list of near and long-term research needs and priorities that can be used by individuals and groups interested in Atlantic HMS to identify key research needs, improve management, reduce duplication, prioritize limited funding, and form a potential basis for future funding. The priorities range from biological/ ecological needs to socio-economic needs. The document is one of several efforts to highlight key research needs for HMS. One early effort, the HMS Research Plan, was developed by NMFS scientists across HMS disciplines in response to discussions at HMS Advisory Panel (AP) meetings. The HMS AP was interested in identifying specific research needs based upon known data gaps, however, the HMS AP felt that early versions of the HMS Research Plan needed more specificity with clear prioritization. Further revisions to that document are underway. This document complements the HMS Research Plan currently in draft and, although of different purpose, some aspects of the HMS Research Plan were included in this document. Other efforts are also underway in the Agency to identify key research needs relevant to Atlantic HMS management, such as the National Recreational Action Agenda and Regional Plans and the National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program. While some of the priorities were derived from stock assessment reviews, other priorities were identified while developing and proposing management measures. Many of the research priorities address key data gaps and/or ways to reduce fishing mortality and/or VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:38 Jul 09, 2014 Jkt 232001 bycatch to more effectively manage HMS fisheries, either directly or by improving stock assessments. Because these needs were identified by fishery managers, these research priorities may not correspond directly with the research priorities and needs identified by the scientists throughout NMFS. Ongoing survey and monitoring programs are not discussed unless there is a specific suggestion for expansion of an existing program. These survey and monitoring programs, which include but are not limited to shark nursery and essential fish habitat studies, fisheryindependent surveys, and observer programs, are vital to stock assessments and effective HMS management. These ongoing survey and monitoring programs should be considered high priority. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and 1801 et seq. Dated: July 7, 2014. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–16168 Filed 7–9–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Science Advisory Board Meeting Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of open meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by a Decision Memorandum dated September 25, 1997, and is the only Federal Advisory Committee with responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on strategies for research, education, and application of science to operations and information services. SAB activities and advice provide necessary input to ensure that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) science programs are of the highest quality and provide optimal support to resource management. DATES: The meeting will be held Tuesday, July 29, 2014, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. MDT and Wednesday, July 30, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. MDT. These times and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Please refer to the Web page https:// www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/ PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 meetings.html for the most up-to-date meeting agenda. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the NOAA David Skaggs Research Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305. Please check the SAB Web site https://www.sab.noaa.gov/ Meetings/meetings.html for directions to the meeting location. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Cynthia Decker, Executive Director, Science Advisory Board, NOAA, Rm. 11230, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 301– 734–1156, Fax: 301–713–1459). Email: Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov; or visit the NOAA SAB Web site at https:// www.sab.noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 15-minute public comment period on July 29 from 2:00–2:15 p.m. MDT (check Web site to confirm time). The SAB expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of two (2) minutes. Individuals or groups planning to make a verbal presentation should contact the SAB Executive Director by July 24, 2014, to schedule their presentation. Written comments should be received in the SAB Executive Director’s Office by July 24, 2014, to provide sufficient time for SAB review. Written comments received by the SAB Executive Director after July 24, 2014, will be distributed to the SAB, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Seating at the meeting will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for special accommodations may be directed no later than 12:00 p.m. on July 24, 2014, to Dr. Cynthia Decker, SAB Executive Director, SSMC3, Room 11230, 1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910; Email: Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov. Matters To Be Considered: The meeting will include the following topics: (1) Report on the Review of the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS); (2) Report on the Review of the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and the Ocean (JISAO); (3) Recommendations from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science Program Advisory Working Group (RSPAWG); (4) Overview of the Cooperative Institutes Review Process and Discussion of Review Criteria; (5) E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM 10JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 132 / Thursday, July 10, 2014 / Notices NOAA Panel Discussion: A Retrospective Look at Two Colorado Flash Floods: Big Thompson 1976 and Front Range 2013; (6) NOAA Update; (7) Working Group Updates and (8) Science Presentations and Tours from NOAA programs in the David Skaggs Research Center. Dated: July 1, 2014. Jason Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2014–16170 Filed 7–9–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD123 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to San Nicolas Island Roads and Airfield Repairs Project National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to the Department of the Navy (Navy), Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), California, to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to the San Nicolas Island (SNI) roads and airfield repairs project. DATES: Effective August 1, 2014, through November 30, 2014. ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the IHA, application, and associated Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) may be obtained by writing to Jolie Harrison, Supervisor, Incidental Take Program, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East–West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephoning the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or visiting the Internet at: https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental.htm. Documents cited in this notice may also be viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours, at the aforementioned address. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:38 Jul 09, 2014 Jkt 232001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candace Nachman, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for review. Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking, other means of effecting the least practicable impact on the species or stock and its habitat, and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘. . . an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’ Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the MMPA defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: ‘‘Any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering [Level B harassment].’’ Summary of Request On October 23, 2013, we received an application from the Navy for the taking of marine mammals incidental to the SNI roads and airfield repairs project. NMFS determined that the application was adequate and complete on November 6, 2013. The Navy proposes to repair roads and the airfield on SNI, California. The activity would occur from August 1 through November 30, 2014, with two separate deliveries of materials to the island during this time period. Each PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 39369 delivery requires approximately 5 days to complete. The following specific aspects of the activities are likely to result in the take of marine mammals: Barge beach landings, offloading, and removal and construction activities to prepare for barge landings. Take, by Level B harassment only, of northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), and Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) is anticipated to result from the specified activity. Description of the Specified Activity Overview NBVC plans to perform a maintenance and mission-critical infrastructure project at SNI to repair the roads and airfield. The proposed action would repair up to 12.45 mi of roads and culverts during two phases and one million ft2 of airfield surface, shoulders, and culverts. The SNI roads and shoulder repairs will require approximately 43,500 tons of aggregate materials. Airfield repairs require approximately 151,500 tons of aggregate material. The required aggregate is not available on the island and must be delivered from the mainland. The pier at Daytona Beach is used for transfer of supplies to the island but is not designed to handle large volumes of heavy aggregate. The Navy, therefore, proposes to use barge beach landings on Daytona and Coast Guard Beaches for offloading materials and equipment needed to complete this maintenance and mission-critical infrastructure project. Aggregate would be shipped from the mainland U.S. to the off-shore area of SNI on a primary shipping barge (13,000-ton capacity). The aggregate would be transferred from the primary shipping barge to a smaller ‘‘tender’’ barge (2,000-ton capacity) that would land on the beach. Aggregate would be transferred from the shipping barge to the tender barge using a conveyor belt or loaders, then from the tender barge to dump trucks on shore using either loaders or conveyor belts. A typical barge landing operation includes: Regrading the existing road from the beach; constructing a temporary ramp and berm on the beach; landing the barge; offloading the barge; removing the ramp and berm; and restoring the beach to its pre-barge landing condition. The Navy identified the work as critical to maintaining mission readiness: The current degraded road is a safety concern for ordnance and operations transport; culvert repairs are necessary to reduce erosion and sedimentation; and mission-critical repairs are required at the SNI runway E:\FR\FM\10JYN1.SGM 10JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 132 (Thursday, July 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39368-39369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16170]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Science Advisory Board Meeting

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce 
(DOC).

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by a Decision 
Memorandum dated September 25, 1997, and is the only Federal Advisory 
Committee with responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Oceans and Atmosphere on strategies for research, education, and 
application of science to operations and information services. SAB 
activities and advice provide necessary input to ensure that National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) science programs are of 
the highest quality and provide optimal support to resource management.

DATES: The meeting will be held Tuesday, July 29, 2014, from 10:30 a.m. 
to 5:30 p.m. MDT and Wednesday, July 30, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 
p.m. MDT. These times and the agenda topics described below are subject 
to change. Please refer to the Web page https://www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html for the most up-to-date meeting agenda.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the NOAA David Skaggs Research 
Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305. Please check the SAB Web 
site https://www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html for directions to 
the meeting location.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Cynthia Decker, Executive 
Director, Science Advisory Board, NOAA, Rm. 11230, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 301-734-1156, Fax: 301-
713-1459). Email: Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov; or visit the NOAA SAB Web 
site at https://www.sab.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 15-
minute public comment period on July 29 from 2:00-2:15 p.m. MDT (check 
Web site to confirm time). The SAB expects that public statements 
presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously 
submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or 
group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of 
two (2) minutes. Individuals or groups planning to make a verbal 
presentation should contact the SAB Executive Director by July 24, 
2014, to schedule their presentation. Written comments should be 
received in the SAB Executive Director's Office by July 24, 2014, to 
provide sufficient time for SAB review. Written comments received by 
the SAB Executive Director after July 24, 2014, will be distributed to 
the SAB, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Seating at 
the meeting will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
    Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to 
people with disabilities. Requests for special accommodations may be 
directed no later than 12:00 p.m. on July 24, 2014, to Dr. Cynthia 
Decker, SAB Executive Director, SSMC3, Room 11230, 1315 East-West Hwy., 
Silver Spring, MD 20910; Email: Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov.
    Matters To Be Considered: The meeting will include the following 
topics: (1) Report on the Review of the Cooperative Institute for 
Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS); (2) Report on the Review of 
the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and the Ocean 
(JISAO); (3) Recommendations from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration 
Science Program Advisory Working Group (RSPAWG); (4) Overview of the 
Cooperative Institutes Review Process and Discussion of Review 
Criteria; (5)

[[Page 39369]]

NOAA Panel Discussion: A Retrospective Look at Two Colorado Flash 
Floods: Big Thompson 1976 and Front Range 2013; (6) NOAA Update; (7) 
Working Group Updates and (8) Science Presentations and Tours from NOAA 
programs in the David Skaggs Research Center.

    Dated: July 1, 2014.
Jason Donaldson,
Chief Financial Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-16170 Filed 7-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KD-P
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