Subsistence Taking of Northern Fur Seals on the Pribilof Islands; Final Annual Harvest Estimates for 2014-2016, 45728-45729 [2014-18610]

Download as PDF 45728 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 2014 / Rules and Regulations and Order in WC Docket No. 10–90 and WC Docket No. 14–58 is adopted, effective September 5, 2014, except for the application process and reporting requirements that contain new or modified information collection requirements that will not be effective until approved by the Office of Management and Budget. The Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval. 170. It is further ordered, that pursuant to § 1.3 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 1.3, the Commission waives on its own motion § 54.313(a)(1) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 54.313(a)(1) for all recipients of the rural broadband experiments. 171. It is further ordered, that the Commission shall send a copy of the Report and Order in WC Docket No. 10– 90 and WC Docket No. 14–58 to Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A). 172. It is further ordered, that the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a copy of the Report and Order in WC Docket No. 10–90 and WC Docket No. 14–58, including the Further Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Federal Communications Commission. Gloria J. Miles, Federal Register Liaison. [FR Doc. 2014–18328 Filed 8–5–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 216 [Docket No. 140304190–4612–02] RIN 0648–BE03 Subsistence Taking of Northern Fur Seals on the Pribilof Islands; Final Annual Harvest Estimates for 2014– 2016 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule; estimates of annual fur seal subsistence needs. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES AGENCY: Pursuant to the regulations governing the subsistence taking of SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:45 Aug 05, 2014 Jkt 232001 northern fur seals, NMFS is publishing the annual fur seal subsistence harvests on St. George and St. Paul Islands, Alaska (the Pribilof Islands) for 2011– 2013 and the annual estimates of fur seal subsistence harvests for 2014–2016. NMFS estimates the annual subsistence needs for 2014–2016 are 1,645–2,000 fur seals on St. Paul and 300–500 fur seals on St. George. DATES: Effective September 5, 2014. ADDRESSES: More information about northern fur seal subsistence harvest management can be found on the Internet at https:// alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ protectedresources/seals/fur.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Williams, NMFS Alaska Region, 907–271–5117, Michael.Williams@noaa.gov; or Shannon Bettridge, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, 301–427–8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The subsistence harvest from the depleted stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), on the Pribilof Islands, AK, is governed by regulations found in 50 CFR part 216, subpart F. Pursuant to the regulations governing the taking of fur seals for subsistence purposes, NMFS must publish a summary of the fur seal harvest for the previous 3-year period and an estimate of the number of seals expected to be taken in the subsequent 3-year period to meet the subsistence needs of the Aleut residents of the Pribilof Islands. After a 30-day comment period, NMFS must publish a final notification of the expected annual harvest levels for the next 3 years. On May 14, 2014 (79 FR 27550), NMFS published the summary of the 2011–2013 fur seal harvests and provided a 30-day comment period on the estimates of subsistence needs for 2014–2016. In that notice, NMFS estimated the annual subsistence needs for 2014–2016 would be 1,645–2,000 fur seals on St. Paul Island and 300–500 fur seals on St. George Island and provided background information related to these estimates. Summary of Changes From Proposed Annual Harvest Estimates NMFS did not make any changes in this final notice of annual harvest estimates. The subsistence need remains the same and therefore the annual harvest estimate remains 1,645–2,000 fur seals on St. Paul Island and 300–500 fur seals on St. George Island. PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 Comments and Response NMFS received one comment letter on the notice of the 2014–2016 proposed annual harvest estimates (79 FR 27550; May 14, 2014). A summary of the comment received and NMFS’s response follows. Comment: Stop the northern fur seal harvest. The reported killings are over 2,500 animals thus the illegal kills must be about 4,500 seals. Response: The Fur Seal Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act both provide exemptions for the subsistence harvest of northern fur seals to meet the dietary and cultural needs of the Pribilof Island Alaska Native residents (Pribilovians). The reported annual subsistence harvest of fur seals for both islands combined did not exceed 500 sub-adult fur seals during the 2011– 2013 period and was well below the published subsistence need estimate of 2,500 sub-adult seals. NMFS works in partnership with the Pribilovians under co-management agreements pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act to discourage and minimize illegal harvests, and NMFS’s Office of Law Enforcement has a periodic presence on the Pribilof Islands to discourage, detect, and investigate any illegal harvests. Classification National Environmental Policy Act NMFS prepared an Environmental Impact Statement evaluating the impacts on the human environment of the subsistence harvest of northern fur seals, which is available on the NMFS Web site (see Electronic Access). Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act This final action is exempt from the procedures of E.O. 12866 because the action contains no implementing regulations. The Chief Counsel for Regulation, Department of Commerce, certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The harvest of northern fur seals on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, is for subsistence purposes only, and the estimate of subsistence need would not have an adverse economic impact on any small entities. Background information related to the certification was included in the proposed estimates published in the Federal Register on May 14, 2014 (79 FR 27550). We received no comments on this certification; therefore a regulatory flexibility analysis is not E:\FR\FM\06AUR1.SGM 06AUR1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 2014 / Rules and Regulations required for this action, and none has been prepared. Paperwork Reduction Act This final action does not require the collection of information. Dated: July 31, 2014. Samuel D. Rauch, III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–18610 Filed 8–5–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Executive Order 13132—Federalism This action does not contain policies with federalism implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a federalism assessment under E.O. 13132 because this action does not have substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between the national government and the states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Nonetheless, NMFS worked closely with local governments in the Pribilof Islands, and these estimates of subsistence harvests were prepared by the local governments in St. Paul and St. George, with assistance from NMFS officials. Executive Order 13175—Native Consultation Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 2000 (25 U.S.C. 450 Note), the executive Memorandum of April 29, 1994 (25 U.S.C. 450 note), the American Indian Native Policy of the U.S. Department of Commerce (March 30, 1995), the Department of Commerce’s Tribal Consultation Policy (including the Department of Commerce Administrative Order 218–8, April 26, 2012), and the NOAA Procedures for Government-to-Government Consultation With Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations (November 12, 2013) outline the responsibilities of the National Marine Fisheries Service in matters affecting tribal interests. Section 161 of Public Law 108–100 (188 Stat. 452) as amended by section 518 of Public Law 108–447 (118 Stat. 3267), extends the consultation requirements of E.O. 13175 to Alaska Native corporations. NMFS contacted the tribal governments of St. Paul and St. George Islands and their respective local Native corporations (Tanadgusix and Tanaq) about setting the next three years harvest estimates and incorporated their input. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES Electronic Access An Environmental Impact Statement, harvest reports, and other relevant information are available on the Internet at the following address: https:// alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ protectedresources/seals/fur.htm. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:45 Aug 05, 2014 Jkt 232001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [Docket No. 140106011–4338–02] RIN 0648–XD418 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area Closure for the Common Pool Fishery and Possession Limit Adjustment National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; area closure and possession limit adjustment. AGENCY: This action closes the American plaice Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area to Northeast multispecies common pool trawl vessels for the remainder of Trimester 1, through August 31, 2014. The closure is required by regulation because the common pool fishery has caught 120 percent of its Trimester 1 quota for American plaice. This closure is intended to prevent the overharvest of the common pool’s allocation for this stock. Because the common pool catch of American plaice is not limited to the American plaice Trimester Total Allowable Catch Area, this action also reduces possession and trip limit for the American plaice stock to zero for all common pool vessels through August 31, 2014, in order to prevent the overharvest of the common pool’s allocation of American plaice. DATES: This action is effective August 6, 2014, through August 31, 2014. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz Sullivan, Fishery Management Specialist, 978–282–8493. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at § 648.82(n)(2)(ii) require the Regional Administrator to close a common pool Trimester Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Area for a stock when 90 percent of the Trimester TAC is projected to be caught. In such cases, the Trimester TAC Area for a stock closes to all common pool vessels SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 45729 fishing with gear capable of catching that stock for the remainder of the trimester. The fishing year 2014 (May 1, 2014, through April 30, 2015) common pool sub-ACL for American plaice is 24.0 mt and the Trimester 1 (May 1, 2014, through August 30, 2014) TAC is 5.8 mt. Based on the most recent data and information, which include vessel trip reports, dealer-reported landings, and vessel monitoring system information, we have determined that 120 percent of the Trimester 1 TAC was caught as of July 26, 2014. Therefore, effective August 6, 2014, the American plaice Trimester TAC Area is closed for the remainder of Trimester 1, through August 31, 2014, to all common pool vessels fishing with trawl gear. The American plaice Trimester TAC Area consists of statistical areas 512, 513, 514, 515, 521, 522, and 525. The area will reopen to common pool vessels fishing with trawl gear at the beginning of Trimester 2 on September 1, 2014. The regulations at § 648.86(o) authorize the Regional Administrator to adjust the possession and trip limits for common pool vessels to prevent the overharvest or underharvest of the common pool quotas. Because the closure described above only applies to select areas and gear types, and because the American plaice Trimester TAC has been exceeded, additional action is necessary to prevent further overages of the Trimester TAC. Therefore, the possession and trip limit for American plaice is reduced to zero for all common pool vessels in all areas, effective August 6, 2014, through August 31, 2014. Any overages of a trimester TAC will be deducted from Trimester 3, and any overages of the common pool’s sub-ACL at the end of the fishing year will be deducted from the common pool’s subACL the following fishing year. Any uncaught portion of the Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 TAC will be carried over into the next trimester. Any uncaught portion of the common pool’s sub-ACL may not be carried over into the following fishing year. Weekly quota monitoring reports for the common pool fishery can be found on our Web site at: https:// www.nero.noaa.gov/ro/fso/ MultiMonReports.htm. We will continue to monitor common pool catch through vessel trip reports, dealer-reported landings, vessel monitoring system catch reports, and other available information and, if necessary, we will make additional adjustments to common pool management measures. E:\FR\FM\06AUR1.SGM 06AUR1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45728-45729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18610]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 216

[Docket No. 140304190-4612-02]
RIN 0648-BE03


Subsistence Taking of Northern Fur Seals on the Pribilof Islands; 
Final Annual Harvest Estimates for 2014-2016

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

ACTION: Final rule; estimates of annual fur seal subsistence needs.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the regulations governing the subsistence taking 
of northern fur seals, NMFS is publishing the annual fur seal 
subsistence harvests on St. George and St. Paul Islands, Alaska (the 
Pribilof Islands) for 2011-2013 and the annual estimates of fur seal 
subsistence harvests for 2014-2016. NMFS estimates the annual 
subsistence needs for 2014-2016 are 1,645-2,000 fur seals on St. Paul 
and 300-500 fur seals on St. George.

DATES: Effective September 5, 2014.

ADDRESSES: More information about northern fur seal subsistence harvest 
management can be found on the Internet at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seals/fur.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Williams, NMFS Alaska Region, 
907-271-5117, Michael.Williams@noaa.gov; or Shannon Bettridge, NMFS 
Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8402, 
Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The subsistence harvest from the depleted stock of northern fur 
seals (Callorhinus ursinus), on the Pribilof Islands, AK, is governed 
by regulations found in 50 CFR part 216, subpart F. Pursuant to the 
regulations governing the taking of fur seals for subsistence purposes, 
NMFS must publish a summary of the fur seal harvest for the previous 3-
year period and an estimate of the number of seals expected to be taken 
in the subsequent 3-year period to meet the subsistence needs of the 
Aleut residents of the Pribilof Islands. After a 30-day comment period, 
NMFS must publish a final notification of the expected annual harvest 
levels for the next 3 years.
    On May 14, 2014 (79 FR 27550), NMFS published the summary of the 
2011-2013 fur seal harvests and provided a 30-day comment period on the 
estimates of subsistence needs for 2014-2016. In that notice, NMFS 
estimated the annual subsistence needs for 2014-2016 would be 1,645-
2,000 fur seals on St. Paul Island and 300-500 fur seals on St. George 
Island and provided background information related to these estimates.

Summary of Changes From Proposed Annual Harvest Estimates

    NMFS did not make any changes in this final notice of annual 
harvest estimates. The subsistence need remains the same and therefore 
the annual harvest estimate remains 1,645-2,000 fur seals on St. Paul 
Island and 300-500 fur seals on St. George Island.

Comments and Response

    NMFS received one comment letter on the notice of the 2014-2016 
proposed annual harvest estimates (79 FR 27550; May 14, 2014). A 
summary of the comment received and NMFS's response follows.
    Comment: Stop the northern fur seal harvest. The reported killings 
are over 2,500 animals thus the illegal kills must be about 4,500 
seals.
    Response: The Fur Seal Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act both 
provide exemptions for the subsistence harvest of northern fur seals to 
meet the dietary and cultural needs of the Pribilof Island Alaska 
Native residents (Pribilovians). The reported annual subsistence 
harvest of fur seals for both islands combined did not exceed 500 sub-
adult fur seals during the 2011-2013 period and was well below the 
published subsistence need estimate of 2,500 sub-adult seals. NMFS 
works in partnership with the Pribilovians under co-management 
agreements pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act to discourage 
and minimize illegal harvests, and NMFS's Office of Law Enforcement has 
a periodic presence on the Pribilof Islands to discourage, detect, and 
investigate any illegal harvests.

Classification

National Environmental Policy Act

    NMFS prepared an Environmental Impact Statement evaluating the 
impacts on the human environment of the subsistence harvest of northern 
fur seals, which is available on the NMFS Web site (see Electronic 
Access).

Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This final action is exempt from the procedures of E.O. 12866 
because the action contains no implementing regulations.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation, Department of Commerce, certified 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. The harvest of northern fur seals 
on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, is for subsistence purposes only, and 
the estimate of subsistence need would not have an adverse economic 
impact on any small entities. Background information related to the 
certification was included in the proposed estimates published in the 
Federal Register on May 14, 2014 (79 FR 27550). We received no comments 
on this certification; therefore a regulatory flexibility analysis is 
not

[[Page 45729]]

required for this action, and none has been prepared.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final action does not require the collection of information.

Executive Order 13132--Federalism

    This action does not contain policies with federalism implications 
sufficient to warrant preparation of a federalism assessment under E.O. 
13132 because this action does not have substantial direct effects on 
the states, on the relationship between the national government and the 
states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Nonetheless, NMFS worked closely with 
local governments in the Pribilof Islands, and these estimates of 
subsistence harvests were prepared by the local governments in St. Paul 
and St. George, with assistance from NMFS officials.

Executive Order 13175--Native Consultation

    Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 2000 (25 U.S.C. 450 Note), the 
executive Memorandum of April 29, 1994 (25 U.S.C. 450 note), the 
American Indian Native Policy of the U.S. Department of Commerce (March 
30, 1995), the Department of Commerce's Tribal Consultation Policy 
(including the Department of Commerce Administrative Order 218-8, April 
26, 2012), and the NOAA Procedures for Government-to-Government 
Consultation With Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native 
Corporations (November 12, 2013) outline the responsibilities of the 
National Marine Fisheries Service in matters affecting tribal 
interests. Section 161 of Public Law 108-100 (188 Stat. 452) as amended 
by section 518 of Public Law 108-447 (118 Stat. 3267), extends the 
consultation requirements of E.O. 13175 to Alaska Native corporations. 
NMFS contacted the tribal governments of St. Paul and St. George 
Islands and their respective local Native corporations (Tanadgusix and 
Tanaq) about setting the next three years harvest estimates and 
incorporated their input.

Electronic Access

    An Environmental Impact Statement, harvest reports, and other 
relevant information are available on the Internet at the following 
address: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seals/fur.htm.

    Dated: July 31, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-18610 Filed 8-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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