Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals, 24245-24246 [2015-10167]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 83 / Thursday, April 30, 2015 / Notices
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also considered healthy. In summary,
and based on extensive monitoring data,
we believe that impacts to hauled-out
pinnipeds during estuary management
activities would be behavioral
harassment of limited duration (i.e., less
than one day) and limited intensity (i.e.,
temporary flushing at most).
Stampeding, and therefore injury or
mortality, is not expected—nor been
documented—in the years since
appropriate protocols were established
(see Mitigation for more details).
Further, the continued, and increasingly
heavy (Figure 4; SCWA, 2015), use of
the haul-out despite decades of
breaching events indicates that
abandonment of the haul-out is
unlikely. Based on the analysis
contained herein of the likely effects of
the specified activity on marine
mammals and their habitat, and taking
into consideration the implementation
of the planned monitoring and
mitigation measures, we find that the
total marine mammal take from SCWA’s
estuary management activities will have
a negligible impact on the affected
marine mammal species or stocks.
Small Numbers Analysis
The authorized number of animals
taken for each species of pinniped can
be considered small relative to the
population size. There are an estimated
30,968 harbor seals in the California
stock, 296,750 California sea lions, and
179,000 northern elephant seals in the
California breeding population. Based
on extensive monitoring effort specific
to the affected haul-out and historical
data on the frequency of the specified
activity, we are proposing to authorize
take, by Level B harassment only, of
3,976 harbor seals, 34 California sea
lions, and 34 northern elephant seals,
representing 12.8, 0.01, and 0.02 percent
of the populations, respectively.
However, this represents an
overestimate of the number of
individuals harassed over the duration
of the IHA, because these totals
represent much smaller numbers of
individuals that may be harassed
multiple times. Based on the analysis
contained herein of the likely effects of
the specified activity on marine
mammals and their habitat, and taking
into consideration the implementation
of the mitigation and monitoring
measures, we find that small numbers of
marine mammals will be taken relative
to the populations of the affected
species or stocks.
Impact on Availability of Affected
Species for Taking for Subsistence Uses
There are no relevant subsistence uses
of marine mammals implicated by this
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action. Therefore, we have determined
that the total taking of affected species
or stocks would not have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the availability of
such species or stocks for taking for
subsistence purposes.
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
No species listed under the ESA are
expected to be affected by these
activities. Therefore, we have
determined that a section 7 consultation
under the ESA is not required. As
described elsewhere in this document,
SCWA and the Corps consulted with
NMFS under section 7 of the ESA
regarding the potential effects of their
operations and maintenance activities,
including SCWA’s estuary management
program, on ESA-listed salmonids. As a
result of this consultation, NMFS issued
the Russian River Biological Opinion
(NMFS, 2008), including Reasonable
and Prudent Alternatives, which
prescribes modifications to SCWA’s
estuary management activities. The
effects of the proposed activities and
authorized take would not cause
additional effects for which section 7
consultation would be required.
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA)
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), as implemented by
the regulations published by the
Council on Environmental Quality (40
CFR parts 1500–1508), and NOAA
Administrative Order 216–6, we
prepared an Environmental Assessment
(EA) to consider the direct, indirect and
cumulative effects to the human
environment resulting from issuance of
the original IHA to SCWA for the
specified activities and found that it
would not result in any significant
impacts to the human environment. We
signed a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) on March 30, 2010. We
have reviewed SWCA’s application for a
renewed IHA for ongoing estuary
management activities for 2015 and the
2014 monitoring report. Based on that
review, we have determined that the
proposed action follows closely the
IHAs issued and implemented in 2010–
13 and does not present any substantial
changes, or significant new
circumstances or information relevant to
environmental concerns which would
require a supplement to the 2010 EA or
preparation of a new NEPA document.
Therefore, we have determined that a
new or supplemental EA or
Environmental Impact Statement is
unnecessary, and reaffirm the existing
FONSI for this action. The 2010 EA and
FONSI for this action are available for
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24245
review at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
permits/incidental/construction.htm.
Authorization
As a result of these determinations,
we have issued an IHA to SCWA to
conduct estuary management activities
in the Russian River from the period of
April 21, 2015, through April 20, 2016,
provided the previously mentioned
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements are implemented.
Dated: April 27, 2015.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–10115 Filed 4–29–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XD881
Taking and Importing of Marine
Mammals
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding
annual renewal.
AGENCY:
The Assistant Administrator
for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant
Administrator) has issued an affirmative
finding annual renewal for the
Government of Spain under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This
affirmative finding annual renewal will
allow yellowfin tuna and yellowfin tuna
products harvested in the eastern
tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) in
compliance with the International
Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP)
by Spanish-flag purse seine vessels or
purse seine vessels operating under
Spanish jurisdiction to be imported into
the United States. The affirmative
finding annual renewal was based on
review of documentary evidence
submitted by the Government of Spain
and obtained from the Inter-American
Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
DATES: The affirmative finding annual
renewal is effective from April 1, 2014,
through March 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Justin Greenman, West Coast Region,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 501
W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802.
Phone: 562–980–3264 Email:
justin.greenman@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows
SUMMARY:
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24246
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 83 / Thursday, April 30, 2015 / Notices
for importation into the United States of
yellowfin tuna harvested by purse seine
vessels in the ETP under certain
conditions. If requested by the
harvesting nation, the Assistant
Administrator will determine whether
to make an affirmative finding based
upon documentary evidence provided
by the government of the harvesting
nation, the IATTC, or the Department of
State.
The affirmative finding process
requires that the harvesting nation is
meeting its obligations under the IDCP
and obligations of membership in the
IATTC. Every 5 years, the government of
the harvesting nation must request a
new affirmative finding and submit the
required documentary evidence directly
to the Assistant Administrator. On an
annual basis, NMFS reviews the
affirmative finding and determines
whether the harvesting nation continues
to meet the requirements. A nation may
provide information related to
compliance with IDCP and IATTC
measures directly to NMFS on an
annual basis or may authorize the
IATTC to release the information to
NMFS to annually renew an affirmative
finding determination without an
application from the harvesting nation.
An affirmative finding will be
terminated, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, if the Assistant
Administrator determines that the
requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no
longer being met or that a nation is
consistently failing to take enforcement
actions on violations, thereby
diminishing the effectiveness of the
IDCP.
As a part of the affirmative finding
process set forth in 50 CFR 216.24(f), the
Assistant Administrator considered
documentary evidence submitted by the
Government of Spain and obtained from
the IATTC and has determined that
Spain has met the MMPA’s
requirements to receive an affirmative
finding annual renewal.
After consultation with the
Department of State, the Assistant
Administrator issued an affirmative
finding annual renewal to Spain,
allowing the continued importation into
the United States of yellowfin tuna and
products derived from yellowfin tuna
harvested in the ETP by Spanish-flag
purse seine vessels or purse seine
vessels operating under Spanish
jurisdiction through March 31, 2015.
Spain’s 5-year affirmative finding will
remain valid through March 31, 2015.
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Dated: April 24, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–10167 Filed 4–29–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XD903
Pacific Fishery Management Council;
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
AGENCY:
The Pacific Fishery
Management Council’s (Pacific Council)
Groundfish Endangered Species
Workgroup will hold a meeting, which
is open to the public.
DATES: The meeting will occur May 19–
21, 2015. The meeting will begin at 1
p.m. Tuesday, May 19 and at 9 a.m. on
Wednesday and Thursday, May 20–21.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Regional Administrator’s Conference
Room, Building 1, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Western
Regional Center, 7600 Sand Point Way
NE., Seattle, WA 98115–6349,
telephone: (206) 526–6150.
Council address: Pacific Council,
7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101,
Portland, OR 97220–1384.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Sarah Williams, NMFS,
Sarah.Williams@noaa.gov; telephone:
(206) 526–4646.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
primary purpose of the meeting is to
review information on take of species
listed under the Endangered Species Act
(ESA) in the Pacific Coast groundfish
fishery (other than salmonids) and
provide recommendations to the Pacific
Council on any additional mitigation
measures needed, if any, to meet the
requirements of the ESA as
implemented through the terms and
conditions in the most recent biological
opinion for the fishery.
You may also join this meeting by
conference line and webinar. To join by
phone, participants should dial 888–
790–6085, passcode 1730793. To join by
webinar, each day of the meeting
requires a different Web address. On
May 19, participants can join Meeting
ID: 544–685–613 at https://
global.gotomeeting.com/join/
SUMMARY:
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544685613. On May 20, participants can
join Meeting ID: 991–327–765 at
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/
991327765. On May 21, participants can
join Meeting ID: 845–869–013 at
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/
845869013. Once you have joined the
webinar, choose either your computer’s
audio or select ‘‘Use Telephone.’’ If you
do not select ‘‘Use Telephone’’ you will
be connected to audio using your
computer’s microphone and speakers
(VolP). If you do not have a headset and
speakers, you may use the conference
line number by dialing 1–888–790–
6085, and entering passcode 1730793 at
the prompt.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in the meeting agenda may be
discussed, those issues may not be the
subject of formal action during these
meetings. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically listed in this
document and any issues arising after
publication of this document that
require emergency action under section
305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act,
provided the public has been notified of
the intent to take final action to address
the emergency.
Special Accommodations
The meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Mr. Kris
Kleinschmidt at (503) 820–2425 at least
5 days prior to the meeting date.
Dated: April 27, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–10080 Filed 4–29–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XD922
Presidential Task Force on Combating
Illegal Unreported and Unregulated
(IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud
Action Plan Recommendations 14/15
Identifying Species ‘‘At Risk’’ of IUU
Fishing and Seafood Fraud
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
The National Ocean Council
Committee on IUU Fishing and Seafood
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24245-24246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10167]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD881
Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding annual renewal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant
Administrator) has issued an affirmative finding annual renewal for the
Government of Spain under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This
affirmative finding annual renewal will allow yellowfin tuna and
yellowfin tuna products harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean
(ETP) in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program
(IDCP) by Spanish-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels
operating under Spanish jurisdiction to be imported into the United
States. The affirmative finding annual renewal was based on review of
documentary evidence submitted by the Government of Spain and obtained
from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
DATES: The affirmative finding annual renewal is effective from April
1, 2014, through March 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Greenman, West Coast Region,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA
90802. Phone: 562-980-3264 Email: justin.greenman@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows
[[Page 24246]]
for importation into the United States of yellowfin tuna harvested by
purse seine vessels in the ETP under certain conditions. If requested
by the harvesting nation, the Assistant Administrator will determine
whether to make an affirmative finding based upon documentary evidence
provided by the government of the harvesting nation, the IATTC, or the
Department of State.
The affirmative finding process requires that the harvesting nation
is meeting its obligations under the IDCP and obligations of membership
in the IATTC. Every 5 years, the government of the harvesting nation
must request a new affirmative finding and submit the required
documentary evidence directly to the Assistant Administrator. On an
annual basis, NMFS reviews the affirmative finding and determines
whether the harvesting nation continues to meet the requirements. A
nation may provide information related to compliance with IDCP and
IATTC measures directly to NMFS on an annual basis or may authorize the
IATTC to release the information to NMFS to annually renew an
affirmative finding determination without an application from the
harvesting nation.
An affirmative finding will be terminated, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, if the Assistant Administrator determines that the
requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no longer being met or that a
nation is consistently failing to take enforcement actions on
violations, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the IDCP.
As a part of the affirmative finding process set forth in 50 CFR
216.24(f), the Assistant Administrator considered documentary evidence
submitted by the Government of Spain and obtained from the IATTC and
has determined that Spain has met the MMPA's requirements to receive an
affirmative finding annual renewal.
After consultation with the Department of State, the Assistant
Administrator issued an affirmative finding annual renewal to Spain,
allowing the continued importation into the United States of yellowfin
tuna and products derived from yellowfin tuna harvested in the ETP by
Spanish-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating under
Spanish jurisdiction through March 31, 2015. Spain's 5-year affirmative
finding will remain valid through March 31, 2015.
Dated: April 24, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-10167 Filed 4-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
