Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Review, 11981 [2015-05079]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Notices
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the Council’s intent to take
final action to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
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auxiliary aids should be directed to
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to
the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 27, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–05025 Filed 3–4–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XD671
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Review
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces the
availability of the Draft Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) Essential Fish
Habitat (EFH) 5-Year Review. The
purpose of Atlantic HMS EFH 5-Year
Review is to gather relevant new
information and determine whether
modifications to existing EFH
descriptions and designations are
warranted, in compliance with the
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act and implementing regulations. If
EFH modifications are warranted, an
amendment to the 2006 Consolidated
Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan
(FMP) may be initiated.
DATES: Written comments must be
received by April 6, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the
Draft Atlantic HMS EFH 5-Year Review
may also be obtained on the internet at:
https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/
documents/2015_draft_efh_review.pdf.
You may submit comments on this
document, identified by NOAA–NMFS–
2015–0037, by any of the following
methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:28 Mar 04, 2015
Jkt 235001
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=
NOAA-NMFS-2015-0037, click the
‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the
required fields, and enter or attach your
comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Peter Cooper, NMFS/SF1, 1315 EastWest Highway, National Marine
Fisheries Service, SSMC3, Silver Spring,
MD 20910.
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
considered by NMFS. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted for public
viewing on www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
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).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter Cooper by phone at (301) 427–
8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) includes
provisions concerning the identification
and conservation of essential fish
habitat (EFH) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
EFH is defined in 50 CFR 600.10 as
‘‘those waters and substrate necessary to
fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or
growth to maturity.’’ NMFS must
identify and describe EFH, minimize to
the extent practicable the adverse effects
of fishing on EFH, and identify other
actions to encourage the conservation
and enhancement of EFH (§ 600.815(a).
EFH maps are presented online in the
NMFS EFH Mapper (https://www.
habitat.noaa.gov/protection/efh/habitat
mapper.html). Federal agencies that
authorize, fund, or undertake actions
that may adversely affect EFH must
consult with NMFS, and NMFS must
provide conservation recommendations
to Federal and state agencies regarding
any such actions (§ 600.815(a)(9)).
In addition to identifying and
describing EFH for managed fish
species, a review of EFH must be
completed every 5 years, and EFH
provisions must be revised or amended,
as warranted, based on the best
available scientific information. The
EFH 5-year review should evaluate
published scientific literature,
unpublished scientific reports,
information solicited from interested
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
11981
parties, and previously unavailable or
inaccessible data. NMFS announced the
initiation of this review and solicited
information for this review from the
public in a Federal Register notice on
March 24, 2014 (79 FR 15959). The
initial public review/submission period
ended on May 23, 2014.
This document is a draft 5-year
review of EFH for Atlantic HMS, which
include tunas (bluefin, bigeye, albacore,
yellowfin, and skipjack), oceanic sharks,
swordfish, and billfishes (blue marlin,
white marlin, sailfish, roundscale
spearfish, and longbill spearfish). The
HMS EFH 5-year review considers data
available regarding Atlantic HMS and
their habitats that have become
available since 2009 that were not
included in Final Amendment 1 to the
2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS (June
1, 2010, 75 FR 30484); Final
Environmental Impact Statement for
Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated
HMS FMP (June 1, 2010, 75 FR 30484);
and the interpretive rule that described
EFH for roundscale spearfish
(September 22, 2010, 75 FR 57698),
which are the most recent documents
that described EFH for Atlantic HMS
species. Upon completion of the HMS
EFH 5-year Review, NMFS will analyze
the information gathered through the
EFH review process and determine if
subsequent revision or amendment of
EFH if warranted.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and 1801
et seq.
Dated: March 2, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–05079 Filed 3–4–15; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Renewal of Department of Defense
Federal Advisory Committees
DoD.
Renewal of Federal Advisory
Committee.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of Defense
(DoD) is publishing this notice to
announce that it is renewing the charter
for the Board on Coastal Engineering
Research (‘‘the Board’’).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim
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Management Officer for the Department
of Defense, 703–692–5952.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
committee’s charter is being renewed
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\05MRN1.SGM
05MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 43 (Thursday, March 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 11981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05079]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD671
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year
Review
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of the Draft Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 5-Year Review. The
purpose of Atlantic HMS EFH 5-Year Review is to gather relevant new
information and determine whether modifications to existing EFH
descriptions and designations are warranted, in compliance with the
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act and implementing regulations. If EFH modifications are
warranted, an amendment to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) may be initiated.
DATES: Written comments must be received by April 6, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Draft Atlantic HMS EFH 5-Year
Review may also be obtained on the internet at: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/documents/2015_draft_efh_review.pdf.
You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2015-0037, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0037, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Peter Cooper, NMFS/SF1,
1315 East-West Highway, National Marine Fisheries Service, SSMC3,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
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 considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information 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).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cooper by phone at (301) 427-
8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) includes provisions
concerning the identification and conservation of essential fish
habitat (EFH) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). EFH is defined in 50 CFR 600.10
as ``those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning,
breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.'' NMFS must identify and
describe EFH, minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of
fishing on EFH, and identify other actions to encourage the
conservation and enhancement of EFH (Sec. 600.815(a). EFH maps are
presented online in the NMFS EFH Mapper (https://www.habitat.noaa.gov/protection/efh/habitatmapper.html). Federal agencies that authorize,
fund, or undertake actions that may adversely affect EFH must consult
with NMFS, and NMFS must provide conservation recommendations to
Federal and state agencies regarding any such actions (Sec.
600.815(a)(9)).
In addition to identifying and describing EFH for managed fish
species, a review of EFH must be completed every 5 years, and EFH
provisions must be revised or amended, as warranted, based on the best
available scientific information. The EFH 5-year review should evaluate
published scientific literature, unpublished scientific reports,
information solicited from interested parties, and previously
unavailable or inaccessible data. NMFS announced the initiation of this
review and solicited information for this review from the public in a
Federal Register notice on March 24, 2014 (79 FR 15959). The initial
public review/submission period ended on May 23, 2014.
This document is a draft 5-year review of EFH for Atlantic HMS,
which include tunas (bluefin, bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and
skipjack), oceanic sharks, swordfish, and billfishes (blue marlin,
white marlin, sailfish, roundscale spearfish, and longbill spearfish).
The HMS EFH 5-year review considers data available regarding Atlantic
HMS and their habitats that have become available since 2009 that were
not included in Final Amendment 1 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS
(June 1, 2010, 75 FR 30484); Final Environmental Impact Statement for
Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (June 1, 2010, 75 FR
30484); and the interpretive rule that described EFH for roundscale
spearfish (September 22, 2010, 75 FR 57698), which are the most recent
documents that described EFH for Atlantic HMS species. Upon completion
of the HMS EFH 5-year Review, NMFS will analyze the information
gathered through the EFH review process and determine if subsequent
revision or amendment of EFH if warranted.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq., and 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 2, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-05079 Filed 3-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
