Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting, 53776-53777 [2015-22539]

Download as PDF 53776 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 173 / Tuesday, September 8, 2015 / Notices Assessment • Panel Questions and Answers 3. Thursday, September 10, 2015 (9 a.m.–4 p.m.) • Continue Assessment Review (1⁄2 day) • Panel Questions and Answers • Panel Discussions (Closed) 4. Friday, September 11, 2015 (9 a.m.– 4 p.m.) • Panel Discussions (1⁄2 day) • Present Results (afternoon) • Adjourn The order in which agenda items are addressed may change. The meetings will run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come up at the meeting for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during the meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Direct requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids to Christofer Boggs, (808) 725–5364 or Christofer.Boggs@noaa.gov. setting annual catch limits (ACLs) for bottomfish fisheries in American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. DATES: The meeting will be held on Friday, September 25, 2015, starting at 1 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Council office, 1164 Bishop St., 14th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813 and via teleconference; conference telephone: (808) 522–3560. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (808) 522–8220. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda Friday, September 25, 2015 Following introductions, participants will review the overfishing limit for territorial bottomfish fisheries and the results of risk analyses that considered quality of the stock assessment, uncertainty characteristics, stock status, and productivity and susceptibility. Participants will then discuss social, economic, ecological, and management uncertainty factors relevant to these fisheries that may warrant the Council to consider additional catch limit reductions. Finally, individuals will score these factors and these scores will be averaged in order to reach consensus on a recommendation to the Council. Special Accommodations Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 2, 2015. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–22536 Filed 9–4–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: September 2, 2015. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [FR Doc. 2015–22540 Filed 9–4–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P RIN 0648–XE135 Western Pacific Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a half-day meeting on Friday, September 25, 2015 regarding social, economic, ecological, and management uncertainty (SEEM) factors pertinent to SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Sep 04, 2015 Jkt 235001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE133 Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Notice of SEDAR 45 preworkshop webinar for Gulf of Mexico Vermilion Snapper. ACTION: The SEDAR assessment of the Gulf of Mexico Vermilion Snapper will consist of one in-person workshop and a series of webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The SEDAR pre-Workshop webinar will be held September 25, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to members of the public. Those interested in participating should contact Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to request an invitation providing webinar access information. Please request webinar invitations at least 24 hours in advance of each webinar. SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; (843) 571– 4366; email: Julie.neer@safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks in the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data/ Assessment Workshop, and (2) a series of webinars. The product of the Data/ Assessment Workshop is a report which compiles and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment analyses, and describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock, estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions, and recommends research and monitoring needs. Participants for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, HMS Management Division, and Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include data collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists, biologists, and researchers; constituency representatives including fishermen, environmentalists, and NGO’s; International experts; and staff of Councils, Commissions, and state and federal agencies. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\08SEN1.SGM 08SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 173 / Tuesday, September 8, 2015 / Notices The items of discussion in the Assessment Process webinars are as follows: Panelists will present summary data, and discuss data needs and treatments. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice 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 meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10 business days prior to each workshop. Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 2, 2015. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–22539 Filed 9–4–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD978 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Rehabilitation of Jetty A at the Mouth of the Columbia River National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization. asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that we have issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (the Corps) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, six species of marine SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Sep 04, 2015 Jkt 235001 mammals during activities related to the rehabilitation of Jetty A at the mouth of the Columbia River (MCR). DATES: This authorization is effective from May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Pauline, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Availability An electronic copy of the Corps’ application and supporting documents, as well as a list of the references cited in this document, may be obtained by visiting the Internet at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental/construction.htm. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed above (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for review. Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘. . . an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’ Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA established an expedited process by which citizens of the U.S. can apply for an authorization to incidentally take small numbers of marine mammals by harassment. Section 101(a)(5)(D) establishes a 45-day time limit for NMFS’ review of an application followed by a 30-day public notice and comment period on any proposed authorizations for the incidental harassment of marine mammals. Within PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 53777 45 days of the close of the comment period, NMFS must either issue or deny the authorization. Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the MMPA defines ‘‘harassment’’ as ‘‘any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering [Level B harassment].’’ Summary of Request On February 13, 2015 NMFS received an application from the Corps for the taking of marine mammals incidental to the rehabilitation of Jetty A at the MCR. On June 9, 2015 NMFS received a revised application. NMFS determined that the application was adequate and complete on June 12, 2015. The Corps proposes to conduct in-water work that may incidentally harass marine mammals (i.e., pile driving and removal). The use of vibratory pile driving is expected to produce underwater sound at levels that have the potential to result in behavioral harassment of marine mammals. Species with the expected potential to be present during the project timeframe include killer whale (Orcinus orca), Steller sea lion (Eumatopius jubatus), gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii). Description of the Specified Activity Overview The Corps is seeking an IHA for the first year of pile installation and, possibly, removal work at Jetty A related to construction and maintenance of a barge offloading facility. The barge facility will be used for activities associated with the rehabilitation of Jetty A. The Corps is seeking this authorization by the end of August 2015 for contract bid scheduling reasons. Dates and Duration Work on the first year of pile installation may begin as early as May 2016 and would extend through September 2017. Because the work may extend to two seasons the Corps has requested a Letter of Authorization (LOA) that would come into effect immediately after the IHA expires for the second year of pile maintenance and removal at Jetty A. The LOA would also E:\FR\FM\08SEN1.SGM 08SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 173 (Tuesday, September 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53776-53777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22539]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE133


Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment, and 
Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 45 pre-workshop webinar for Gulf of Mexico 
Vermilion Snapper.

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

SUMMARY: The SEDAR assessment of the Gulf of Mexico Vermilion Snapper 
will consist of one in-person workshop and a series of webinars. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: The SEDAR pre-Workshop webinar will be held September 25, 2015, 
from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held via webinar. The 
webinar is open to members of the public. Those interested in 
participating should contact Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) to request an invitation providing webinar access 
information. Please request webinar invitations at least 24 hours in 
advance of each webinar.
    SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, 
SC 29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; 
(843) 571-4366; email: Julie.neer@safmc.net.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery 
Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries and the 
Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions have implemented 
the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process, a multi-step 
method for determining the status of fish stocks in the Southeast 
Region. SEDAR is a multi-step process including: (1) Data/Assessment 
Workshop, and (2) a series of webinars. The product of the Data/
Assessment Workshop is a report which compiles and evaluates potential 
datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment 
analyses, and describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the 
stock, estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population 
conditions, and recommends research and monitoring needs. Participants 
for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South 
Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries 
Southeast Regional Office, HMS Management Division, and Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center. Participants include data collectors and 
database managers; stock assessment scientists, biologists, and 
researchers; constituency representatives including fishermen, 
environmentalists, and NGO's; International experts; and staff of 
Councils, Commissions, and state and federal agencies.

[[Page 53777]]

    The items of discussion in the Assessment Process webinars are as 
follows: Panelists will present summary data, and discuss data needs 
and treatments.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues 
arising after publication of this notice 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 meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10 
business days prior to each workshop.
    Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject 
to change.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 2, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-22539 Filed 9-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.