Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Scoping Process, 15189-15190 [2015-06438]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 55 / Monday, March 23, 2015 / Notices Dated: March 17, 2015. Audrey Rowe, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [FR Doc. 2015–06592 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–30–P Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Scoping Process ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public scoping meetings. AGENCY: [Docket No. ATBCB–2013–0001] RIN 3014–AA42 Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice of charter renewal. Notice is hereby given that the Rail Vehicles Access Advisory Committee’s (RVAAC) charter is being renewed. SUMMARY: Paul Beatty, Designated Federal Officer at (202) 272–0012 (Voice); (202) 272–0072 (TTY). Electronic mail address: rvaac@ access-board.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pursuant to Section 14(a)(2)(A) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92– 463), and in accordance with Title 41 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 102–3.65(a), and following consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, the RVAAC charter is renewed. The Committee will provide advice to the Access Board on revising and updating our accessibility guidelines issued pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act for transportation vehicles that operate on fixed guideway systems (e.g., rapid rail, light rail, commuter rail, intercity rail, and high speed rail). Additionally, the renewal of the RVAAC has been determined to be essential to the work of the Access Board and to be in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties required by law. The Committee will continue to operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the rules and regulations that implement that Act. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: David M. Capozzi, Executive Director. BILLING CODE 8150–01–P 16:51 Mar 20, 2015 ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations of the hearings. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331. Comments: Comments will be taken at all scoping hearings. A separate Federal Register announcement will be published soon that provides additional information on how to make written comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [FR Doc. 2015–06543 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am] VerDate Sep<11>2014 The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold six scoping hearings in April 2015 for an Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB). The current focus of the amendment is to consider alternatives to reduce the capacities of the longfin squid and Illex squid fleets as defined by vessels with limited access permits. At the scoping hearings the Council will also take any general comments on MSB fishery management, which could inform future Council actions besides this Amendment. There will also be a separate written comment period for Amendment scoping, which will be described in an upcoming Federal Register announcement as a ‘‘Notice of Intent (NOI)’’ to potentially develop an EIS that accompanies the Amendment. That NOI will also contain information regarding these scoping hearings, but to provide the public with sufficient advance notice of the hearings, this notice is being published now since the NOI will likely publish shortly before the scoping hearings. DATES: The meetings will be held over several weeks between April 6, 2015 and April 21, 2015. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times. SUMMARY: Rail Vehicles Access Advisory Committee Jkt 235001 Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D. Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15189 526–5255. The Council’s Web site, www.mafmc.org also has details on the meeting locations, webinar access, and background materials. A scoping document will be posted to the Council Web site no later than March 24, 2015. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: There will be six scoping meetings (each lasting approximately 1–2 hours depending on attendance) with the following dates/ times/locations: 1. Monday, April 6, 2015, 4 p.m., Superior Trawl, 55 State Street, Narragansett, RI 02882; telephone: (401) 782–1171. 2. Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 5 p.m., Montauk Library, 871 Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954; telephone: (631) 668–3377. 3. Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 5 p.m., Fairfield Inn, 185 MacArthur Dr., New Bedford, MA 02740; telephone: (774) 634–2000. 4. Monday, April 13, 2015, 6 p.m., Congress Hall Hotel. 251 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, telephone: (888) 944–1816. 5. Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 5 p.m., Ocean Place Resort. 1 Ocean Blvd., Long Branch, NJ, 07740; telephone: 732–571– 4000. 6. Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 6 p.m., This April 21, 2015 meeting will be conducted via webinar accessible via the internet from the Council’s Web site, www.mafmc.org. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission will also provide in-person access to the webinar at its office at: 2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor, Newport News, VA 23607; telephone: (757) 247–2200. Members of the public may also attend in-person at the Council office address (see ADDRESSES) for this webinar meeting, if they contact the Council by April 19, 2015. Please contact Jason Didden by April 19, 2015 at jdidden@mafmc.org or (302) 526–5254 if you would like to test/ confirm that your computer is set up to access the webinar. In the Council’s 2015 Implementation Plan (available at https://www.mafmc. org/strategic-plan/), the Council decided to initiate an action on a ‘‘Squid Capacity Amendment.’’ There is considerable latent capacity in both the longfin squid and Illex squid fisheries— a small portion of vessels with limited access squid permits account for most landings in most years. The Council is concerned that activation of this latent capacity could cause problems in the fishery such as racing to fish and increased incidental catch of non-target species. Accordingly, the Amendment is likely to consider a variety of approaches for reducing capacity in the squid fisheries. Such approaches could E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 15190 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 55 / Monday, March 23, 2015 / Notices include, but would not be limited to, a requalification of limited access permits, a tiered limited access system, and/or a limited access privilege program (LAPP), which is more commonly referred to as an ‘‘individual quota’’ or ‘‘catch share system.’’ The Council has recently updated control dates for both squid fisheries—May 16, 2013 for longfin squid (https://www. greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/nr/ 2013/May/13smblongfinbutterfish controldatephl.pdf) and August 2, 2013 for Illex squid (https://www.greater atlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/nr/2013/ August/13smbillexcontroldatephl.pdf). The Council may (or may not) use the current or previous control dates as reference points as it considers whether, and/or how, to further limit the number of participants in the squid fisheries (see preceding links for additional details on the control dates). The Council will first gather information during the scoping period. This is the first and best opportunity for members of the public to raise concerns related to the scope of issues that will be considered in the Amendment. The Council needs your input both to identify management issues and develop effective alternatives. Your comments early in the amendment development process will help us address issues of public concern in a thorough and appropriate manner. Comment topics could include the scope of issues in the amendment, concerns and potential alternatives related to capacity in the squid fisheries, and the appropriate level of environmental analysis. If the Council decides to move forward with the Amendment, the Council will develop a range of management alternatives to be considered and prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and/or other appropriate environmental analyses. These analyses will consider the impacts of the management alternatives being considered, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Following a review of any comments on the draft analyses, the Council will then choose preferred management measures for submission with a Final EIS or Environmental Assessment to the Secretary of Commerce for publishing of a proposed and then final rule, both of which have additional comment periods. While the Council is conducting these scoping hearings, the Council will also accept general comments on the MSB fisheries. These general comments could inform Council decision making for upcoming annual specifications or other actions. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:51 Mar 20, 2015 Jkt 235001 Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: March 17, 2015. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–06438 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD837 Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Design workshop for monitoring deep water snapper-grouper species in the South Atlantic. AGENCY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) and Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) will host a workshop where fishermen and scientists will discuss approaches for monitoring the deep water stocks component of the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper complex. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 7, 2015; 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2015; and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, April 9, 2015. ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The Workshop will be held at SEFSC Laboratory in Beaufort NC, located at 101 Piver’s Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516. Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: (843) 571–4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC–10; fax: (843) 769–4520; email: kim.iverson@safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The goal of the Workshop is to identify optimal approaches and associated costs for SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 surveying the South Atlantic deep-water species complex. Survey goals are expected to include providing abundance information and biological samples to support stock assessments of deep water species. Workshop Agenda, Tuesday, April 7– Thursday, April 9, 2015 1. Identify focal species 2. Provide species details 3. Recommend survey gears 4. Recommend gear configurations 5. Recommend survey data to collect 6. Recommend a sampling universe 7. Provide survey design guidance 8. Compare and contrast survey platforms, including cooperative research opportunities 9. Provide cost estimates 10. Identify long-term and short-term needs and cooperative research opportunities Special Accommodations This meeting is accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the SAFMC office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 business 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. Dated: March 17, 2015. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–06437 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD826 Marine Mammals; File No. 17967 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the Minnesota Zoological Gardens, 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on and enhancement of Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) in captivity. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or before April 22, 2015. ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for review by SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15189-15190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06438]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Fisheries of the 
Northeastern United States; Scoping Process

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

ACTION: Notice of public scoping meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold six 
scoping hearings in April 2015 for an Amendment to the Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish 
(MSB). The current focus of the amendment is to consider alternatives 
to reduce the capacities of the longfin squid and Illex squid fleets as 
defined by vessels with limited access permits. At the scoping hearings 
the Council will also take any general comments on MSB fishery 
management, which could inform future Council actions besides this 
Amendment. There will also be a separate written comment period for 
Amendment scoping, which will be described in an upcoming Federal 
Register announcement as a ``Notice of Intent (NOI)'' to potentially 
develop an EIS that accompanies the Amendment. That NOI will also 
contain information regarding these scoping hearings, but to provide 
the public with sufficient advance notice of the hearings, this notice 
is being published now since the NOI will likely publish shortly before 
the scoping hearings.

DATES: The meetings will be held over several weeks between April 6, 
2015 and April 21, 2015. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
dates and times.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations of the 
hearings.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. 
State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331.
    Comments: Comments will be taken at all scoping hearings. A 
separate Federal Register announcement will be published soon that 
provides additional information on how to make written comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D. Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 
526-5255. The Council's Web site, www.mafmc.org also has details on the 
meeting locations, webinar access, and background materials. A scoping 
document will be posted to the Council Web site no later than March 24, 
2015.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: There will be six scoping meetings (each 
lasting approximately 1-2 hours depending on attendance) with the 
following dates/times/locations:
    1. Monday, April 6, 2015, 4 p.m., Superior Trawl, 55 State Street, 
Narragansett, RI 02882; telephone: (401) 782-1171.
    2. Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 5 p.m., Montauk Library, 871 Montauk 
Highway, Montauk, NY 11954; telephone: (631) 668-3377.
    3. Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 5 p.m., Fairfield Inn, 185 MacArthur 
Dr., New Bedford, MA 02740; telephone: (774) 634-2000.
    4. Monday, April 13, 2015, 6 p.m., Congress Hall Hotel. 251 Beach 
Ave, Cape May, NJ 08204, telephone: (888) 944-1816.
    5. Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 5 p.m., Ocean Place Resort. 1 Ocean 
Blvd., Long Branch, NJ, 07740; telephone: 732-571-4000.
    6. Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 6 p.m., This April 21, 2015 meeting 
will be conducted via webinar accessible via the internet from the 
Council's Web site, www.mafmc.org. The Virginia Marine Resources 
Commission will also provide in-person access to the webinar at its 
office at: 2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor, Newport News, VA 23607; 
telephone: (757) 247-2200. Members of the public may also attend in-
person at the Council office address (see ADDRESSES) for this webinar 
meeting, if they contact the Council by April 19, 2015. Please contact 
Jason Didden by April 19, 2015 at jdidden@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5254 
if you would like to test/confirm that your computer is set up to 
access the webinar.
    In the Council's 2015 Implementation Plan (available at https://www.mafmc.org/strategic-plan/), the Council decided to initiate an 
action on a ``Squid Capacity Amendment.'' There is considerable latent 
capacity in both the longfin squid and Illex squid fisheries--a small 
portion of vessels with limited access squid permits account for most 
landings in most years. The Council is concerned that activation of 
this latent capacity could cause problems in the fishery such as racing 
to fish and increased incidental catch of non-target species. 
Accordingly, the Amendment is likely to consider a variety of 
approaches for reducing capacity in the squid fisheries. Such 
approaches could

[[Page 15190]]

include, but would not be limited to, a requalification of limited 
access permits, a tiered limited access system, and/or a limited access 
privilege program (LAPP), which is more commonly referred to as an 
``individual quota'' or ``catch share system.'' The Council has 
recently updated control dates for both squid fisheries--May 16, 2013 
for longfin squid (https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/nr/2013/May/13smblongfinbutterfishcontroldatephl.pdf) and August 2, 2013 
for Illex squid (https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/nr/2013/August/13smbillexcontroldatephl.pdf). The Council may (or may not) use 
the current or previous control dates as reference points as it 
considers whether, and/or how, to further limit the number of 
participants in the squid fisheries (see preceding links for additional 
details on the control dates).
    The Council will first gather information during the scoping 
period. This is the first and best opportunity for members of the 
public to raise concerns related to the scope of issues that will be 
considered in the Amendment. The Council needs your input both to 
identify management issues and develop effective alternatives. Your 
comments early in the amendment development process will help us 
address issues of public concern in a thorough and appropriate manner. 
Comment topics could include the scope of issues in the amendment, 
concerns and potential alternatives related to capacity in the squid 
fisheries, and the appropriate level of environmental analysis. If the 
Council decides to move forward with the Amendment, the Council will 
develop a range of management alternatives to be considered and prepare 
a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and/or other appropriate 
environmental analyses. These analyses will consider the impacts of the 
management alternatives being considered, as required by the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Following a review of any comments on 
the draft analyses, the Council will then choose preferred management 
measures for submission with a Final EIS or Environmental Assessment to 
the Secretary of Commerce for publishing of a proposed and then final 
rule, both of which have additional comment periods. While the Council 
is conducting these scoping hearings, the Council will also accept 
general comments on the MSB fisheries. These general comments could 
inform Council decision making for upcoming annual specifications or 
other actions.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 17, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-06438 Filed 3-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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