Appointments to the Climate and Aquaculture Task Forces by the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, 62117-62118 [2014-24627]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 200 / Thursday, October 16, 2014 / Notices
Biological Opinion, is a separate
determination that considers those
factors specified in MMPA section
101(a)(5)(E).
NMFS disagrees that it is premature to
rely on the FKWTRP to ensure that
M&SI is less than PBR in the deep-set
fishery which is described in greater
detail in comment 13. We also disagree
that a single take in the overlap zone
should trigger an emergency suspension
of the fishery because such take would
exceed PBR. Based on the best available
science, after an expansion factor (5) is
applied to account for observer coverage
(20%) and a proration factor (15%) is
applied to account for the probability
that an interaction in the overlap zone
involves a MHI IFKW, a single take in
the overlap area would be the
equivalent of 0.75 MHI IFKW. As a term
and condition of the September 19, 2014
Biological Opinion on the deep-set
fishery (NMFS 2014), two M&SI in the
overlap area during any three-year
period would trigger reinitiation of
consultation and require the immediate
convening of the FKWTRT to provide
recommendations regarding possible
emergency measures.
Comment 18: Earthjustice stated that
NMFS should close off the entire 140
km range to eliminate the risk of
longline fishery interactions with the
MHI IFKW.
Response: This action is limited to
determining whether to issue a permit
under MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E),
which would allow the Hawaii-based
longline fisheries, as currently managed
and operated, to incidentally take
individuals from certain ESA-listed
marine mammal stocks. Potential future
measures to expand the range of the
MHI longline fishing prohibited area,
either through emergency rulemaking or
amendment of the FKWTRP, are beyond
the scope of this decision.
With regard to the commenter’s
suggestion of excluding longline fishing
form the entire known range of the
stock, the FKWTRP regulations prohibit
longline fishing within the entire core
range and a large portion of the
‘‘extended’’ range of the MHI IFKW
stock (which extends out to 140 km
from shore), which NMFS determined
would substantially reduce the risk of
MHI IFKW interactions in the longline
fisheries. The FKWTRT unanimously
concluded that by permanently
extending the seasonal boundary of the
MHI longline prohibited area to include
all overlap areas where prorated
interactions with MHI IFKW and pelagic
false killer whales have occurred, the
risk to MHI IFKW would be
significantly reduced. NMFS
emphasizes that like all small cetaceans,
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17:19 Oct 15, 2014
Jkt 235001
MHI IFKW do not confine their
movements to precise areas.
Nevertheless, while we cannot eliminate
all risk to the MHI IFKW from longline
fishing, predictive modeling based on
precautionary assumptions projects no
more than one M&SI every four years.
Under these circumstances, NMFS does
not believe a further increase in the
longline closure area is necessary to
protect MHI IFKWs. However, if the
FKWTRP is not effective in protecting
the stock, (i.e., if M&SI should exceed
PBR), then NMFS, in consultation with
the FKWTRT, will develop and
implement additional measures to meet
the MMPA take reduction goals and will
re-evaluate the NID.
Comment 19: CRC states that given
the small PBR for MHI IFKW and the
relatively small overlap between the
fishery and the population’s range, there
is insufficient observer coverage within
the ‘‘open area’’ to produce reliable
estimates of longline M&SI for the MHI
IFKW and that an analysis to determine
the sample size of observer coverage is
required within the area to have a
reasonable probability of detecting
bycatch that may approach or exceed
PBR.
Response: NMFS acknowledges CRC’s
concern regarding the adequacy of
observer coverage levels to detect take
levels that could exceed PBR, given the
stock’s small PBR level and the small
area of overlap between the fisheries
and the stock. NMFS’s Hawaii Longline
Observer Program is designed to provide
representative coverage of fishing effort
by the fleet, but is not designed to cover
specific areas of operation. However, in
considering CRC’s comment, we
evaluated the level of observer coverage
in the ‘‘open area’’ (the area of overlap
between the longline fisheries and MHI
IFKWs). We calculated this as the
number of trips observed within the
area divided by the number of trips
recorded as fishing within the area. We
note that these coverage levels do not
imply a random sample, a
representative sample, or that coverage
was constant throughout the year.
Despite these caveats, in recent years,
coverage in the open area has been as
follows: 2008, 13.6%; 2009, 16.1%;
2010, 25.4%; 2011, 18.8%; 2012, 26.1%;
2013, 22.4%, which is 20.4% for a sixyear average. An analysis described in
the report from NMFS’s 2011 workshop
on revising the GAMMS (Moore and
Merrick, 2011) indicates that for a stock
with a PBR of 1.0 and observer coverage
of 20%, data pooled across four or more
years would achieve an approximately
unbiased estimate of M&SI. NMFS
regularly pools M&SI estimates across
five years to produce average annual
PO 00000
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62117
estimate for comparison to PBR and
believes that this level of observer
coverage in the open area, combined
with the pooling of M&SI data provide
sufficiently reliable information with
which to assess IFKW bycatch in the
deep-set longline fishery.
Dated: October 10, 2014.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–24567 Filed 10–15–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XD543
Appointments to the Climate and
Aquaculture Task Forces by the Marine
Fisheries Advisory Committee
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; Request for
Nominations.
AGENCY:
Nominations are being sought
for appointment to two new task forces
of the Marine Fisheries Advisory
Committee (MAFAC) to support its
advisory work for the Secretary of
Commerce on living marine resource
matters. One task force will focus on
climate and marine resources issues and
the other on aquaculture issues. The
members will be appointed by NMFS in
consultation with MAFAC and will
serve for an initial term of one or two
years. The terms would begin in
November or December 2014. Nominees
should possess demonstrable knowledge
or expertise in the areas described under
Supplemental Information for each task
force.
DATES: Nominations must be
postmarked or have an email date stamp
on or before November 17, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent
to Heidi Lovett, Office of Policy, NMFS
F–14438, 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910 or to
heidi.lovett@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heidi Lovett, (301) 427–8004; email:
heidi.lovett@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MAFAC is
the only Federal advisory committee
with the responsibility to advise the
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) on
all matters concerning living marine
resources that are the responsibility of
the Department of Commerce. MAFAC
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\16OCN1.SGM
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62118
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 200 / Thursday, October 16, 2014 / Notices
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
is establishing a Climate and Marine
Resources Task Force and an
Aquaculture Task Force to assist it in
the development of recommendations to
the Secretary on policies, programs, and
regulations critical to the mission and
goals of the NMFS.
Climate and Marine Resources Task
Force
This Climate and Marine Resources
Task Force is being created as a
communication conduit for stakeholder
input to MAFAC and NOAA Leadership
on the production, delivery, and use of
climate-related information in fulfilling
NOAA Fisheries mission activities.
NOAA’s marine stewardship mandates
include consideration of changing
environmental conditions and other
factors on marine resources and the
industries that depend on these
resources. The Task Force will provide
review and input on the NOAA
Fisheries Climate Science Strategy
(pending later this year), regional
implementation plans, identification of
community impacts related to climate
change and fisheries, and other topics as
needed.
This Task Force will consist of 12 to
15 individuals. MAFAC is seeking
individuals that have experience with
the production, delivery and/or use of
climate-related information in marine
resource management or have
familiarity with how science, data, and
information influences policy and
regulatory decision making. It is not
intended that all nominees be scientists
or researchers. Individuals should
represent the diverse constituent groups
or partners from across U.S. regions and
territories that interact with NOAA
Fisheries: Commercial, recreational, or
subsistence fisheries; aquaculture;
seafood industries; academia; tribes;
environmental, protected resources,
marine habitat, and consumer groups;
and/or other related national interests.
It is intended that the Task Force be
established for an initial period of 3
years with a possibility of extending
that term if deemed necessary by NOAA
Fisheries and MAFAC. Task Force
members will be appointed for 2-year
terms and should be able to fulfill the
time commitments required for periodic
meetings (mostly by webinar or
teleconference, and potentially inperson).
Aquaculture Task Force
MAFAC has a longstanding history of
engagement on aquaculture issues. The
Aquaculture Task Force is being created
to expand the aquaculture expertise of
MAFAC and to help MAFAC provide
advice and input to NOAA Leadership
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:19 Oct 15, 2014
Jkt 235001
on the NOAA Aquaculture Program and
its future activities. The Task Force will
assist NOAA in fulfilling its central role
in developing and implementing
policies that enable marine aquaculture
and work to ensure that aquaculture
complies with existing Federal laws and
regulations that NOAA enforces under
its marine stewardship mission.
Some example tasks of the new Task
Force will include review of: NOAA’s
progress on implementing the agency’s
10-Year Plan for Marine Aquaculture
(from 2007), priorities to include in
strategic planning for the aquaculture
program, and tasks to support NOAA’s
work with the Regulatory Task Force of
the Interagency Working Group on
Aquaculture.
This Task Force will consist of no
more than 10 individuals who have
expertise in all aspects of marine
aquaculture; the science, research, and
development to advance aquaculture;
and the management and permitting of
aquaculture at the Federal, state, and
local levels. It is intended that Task
Force members will come from across
all U.S. regions and territories.
This Task Force will be established
for an initial period of 1 year with a
possibility of extending that term if
deemed necessary by NOAA Fisheries
and MAFAC. Task Force members will
be appointed for 1-year terms and
should be able to fulfill the time
commitments required for periodic
meetings (mostly by webinar or
teleconference, and potentially inperson).
Nomination Materials
Each nomination submission should
identify which Task Force the nominee
is applying to and include: a cover letter
describing the nominee’s qualifications
and interest in serving on the specific
task force, resume or curriculum vitae of
the nominee, and up to two
recommendation letters describing the
nominee’s qualifications and interest.
Self-nominations are acceptable. The
following contact information should
accompany each nominee’s submission:
full name, address, telephone number,
fax number, and email address.
Nominations should be sent to (see
ADDRESSES) and must be received by
November 17, 2014. Information about
MAFAC, its Committee Charter, current
membership, and activities can be
viewed at the NMFS’ Web page at
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mafac.htm.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Dated: October 9, 2014.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–24627 Filed 10–15–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL
PROTECTION
[Docket No. CFPB–2014–0025]
Policy On No-Action Letters
Bureau of Consumer Financial
Protection.
ACTION: Notice of proposed policy and
proposed information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
The Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau (Bureau) invites the
public to take this opportunity to
comment on its proposed Policy on NoAction Letters (Policy), which is
intended to further its objectives under
section 1021 of the Dodd-Frank Wall
Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act), and also
a proposed information collection
associated with applications submitted
by applicants requesting no-action
letters under the proposed Policy as
required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments are
encouraged and must be received on or
before December 15, 2014 to be assured
of consideration.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by the proposal’s title,
‘‘Policy on No-Action Letters,’’ and
docket number (see above), by any of
the following methods:
• Electronic: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau, Office of the
Executive Secretary, 1700 G Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20552.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau, Office of
the Executive Secretary, 1275 First
Street NE., Washington, DC 20002.
Please note that comments submitted
by fax or email and those submitted
after the comment period will not be
accepted. Comments will be available
for public inspection and copying at
1275 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20002 between the hours of 10:00 a.m.
and 5 p.m. eastern standard time. In
general, all comments received will be
posted without change to
regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided. Sensitive
personal information, such as account
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\16OCN1.SGM
16OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62117-62118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24627]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD543
Appointments to the Climate and Aquaculture Task Forces by the
Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; Request for Nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Nominations are being sought for appointment to two new task
forces of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) to support
its advisory work for the Secretary of Commerce on living marine
resource matters. One task force will focus on climate and marine
resources issues and the other on aquaculture issues. The members will
be appointed by NMFS in consultation with MAFAC and will serve for an
initial term of one or two years. The terms would begin in November or
December 2014. Nominees should possess demonstrable knowledge or
expertise in the areas described under Supplemental Information for
each task force.
DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or have an email date stamp on or
before November 17, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to Heidi Lovett, Office of
Policy, NMFS F-14438, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
or to heidi.lovett@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi Lovett, (301) 427-8004; email:
heidi.lovett@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MAFAC is the only Federal advisory committee
with the responsibility to advise the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary)
on all matters concerning living marine resources that are the
responsibility of the Department of Commerce. MAFAC
[[Page 62118]]
is establishing a Climate and Marine Resources Task Force and an
Aquaculture Task Force to assist it in the development of
recommendations to the Secretary on policies, programs, and regulations
critical to the mission and goals of the NMFS.
Climate and Marine Resources Task Force
This Climate and Marine Resources Task Force is being created as a
communication conduit for stakeholder input to MAFAC and NOAA
Leadership on the production, delivery, and use of climate-related
information in fulfilling NOAA Fisheries mission activities. NOAA's
marine stewardship mandates include consideration of changing
environmental conditions and other factors on marine resources and the
industries that depend on these resources. The Task Force will provide
review and input on the NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy
(pending later this year), regional implementation plans,
identification of community impacts related to climate change and
fisheries, and other topics as needed.
This Task Force will consist of 12 to 15 individuals. MAFAC is
seeking individuals that have experience with the production, delivery
and/or use of climate-related information in marine resource management
or have familiarity with how science, data, and information influences
policy and regulatory decision making. It is not intended that all
nominees be scientists or researchers. Individuals should represent the
diverse constituent groups or partners from across U.S. regions and
territories that interact with NOAA Fisheries: Commercial,
recreational, or subsistence fisheries; aquaculture; seafood
industries; academia; tribes; environmental, protected resources,
marine habitat, and consumer groups; and/or other related national
interests.
It is intended that the Task Force be established for an initial
period of 3 years with a possibility of extending that term if deemed
necessary by NOAA Fisheries and MAFAC. Task Force members will be
appointed for 2-year terms and should be able to fulfill the time
commitments required for periodic meetings (mostly by webinar or
teleconference, and potentially in-person).
Aquaculture Task Force
MAFAC has a longstanding history of engagement on aquaculture
issues. The Aquaculture Task Force is being created to expand the
aquaculture expertise of MAFAC and to help MAFAC provide advice and
input to NOAA Leadership on the NOAA Aquaculture Program and its future
activities. The Task Force will assist NOAA in fulfilling its central
role in developing and implementing policies that enable marine
aquaculture and work to ensure that aquaculture complies with existing
Federal laws and regulations that NOAA enforces under its marine
stewardship mission.
Some example tasks of the new Task Force will include review of:
NOAA's progress on implementing the agency's 10-Year Plan for Marine
Aquaculture (from 2007), priorities to include in strategic planning
for the aquaculture program, and tasks to support NOAA's work with the
Regulatory Task Force of the Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture.
This Task Force will consist of no more than 10 individuals who
have expertise in all aspects of marine aquaculture; the science,
research, and development to advance aquaculture; and the management
and permitting of aquaculture at the Federal, state, and local levels.
It is intended that Task Force members will come from across all U.S.
regions and territories.
This Task Force will be established for an initial period of 1 year
with a possibility of extending that term if deemed necessary by NOAA
Fisheries and MAFAC. Task Force members will be appointed for 1-year
terms and should be able to fulfill the time commitments required for
periodic meetings (mostly by webinar or teleconference, and potentially
in-person).
Nomination Materials
Each nomination submission should identify which Task Force the
nominee is applying to and include: a cover letter describing the
nominee's qualifications and interest in serving on the specific task
force, resume or curriculum vitae of the nominee, and up to two
recommendation letters describing the nominee's qualifications and
interest. Self-nominations are acceptable. The following contact
information should accompany each nominee's submission: full name,
address, telephone number, fax number, and email address.
Nominations should be sent to (see ADDRESSES) and must be received
by November 17, 2014. Information about MAFAC, its Committee Charter,
current membership, and activities can be viewed at the NMFS' Web page
at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mafac.htm.
Dated: October 9, 2014.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-24627 Filed 10-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
