Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Stock Assessment of Eastern Bering Sea Pollock; Peer Review Meeting, 26776 [2016-10445]

Download as PDF 26776 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 86 / Wednesday, May 4, 2016 / Notices River, in northern California, for consideration pursuant to limit 5 of the ESA 4(d) rule for salmon and steelhead. The hatchery program that is the subject of the NMFS evaluation would operate to provide steelhead for harvest in freshwater recreational fisheries in the Mad River. The program would propagate steelhead that are derived from the local steelhead population in the Mad River, ensuring that at least half of the MRH winter-run steelhead spawning pairs are hatchery spawned natural-origin and to match naturalorigin steelhead with their natural counterparts whenever possible. Measures would be applied in the hatchery program to reduce the risk of incidental adverse genetic, ecological, and demographic effects on naturalorigin steelhead and salmon populations. As specified in the July 10, 2000, ESA 4(d) rule for salmon and steelhead (65 FR 42422) and updated June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37160), NMFS may approve an HGMP if it meets criteria set forth in 50 CFR 223.203(b)(5)(i)(A) through (K). Prior to final approval of an HGMP, NMFS must publish notification announcing its availability for public review and comment. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Authority Under section 4 of the ESA, the Secretary of Commerce is required to adopt such regulations as she deems necessary and advisable for the conservation of species listed as threatened. The ESA salmon and steelhead 4(d) rule (65 FR 42422, July 10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 37160, June 28, 2005) specifies categories of activities that contribute to the conservation of listed salmonids and sets out the criteria for such activities. Limit 5 of the updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR 223.203(b)(5)) further provides that the prohibitions of paragraph (a) of the updated 4(d) rule (50 CFR 223.203(a)) do not apply to activities associated with artificial propagation programs provided that an HGMP has been approved by NMFS to be in accordance with the salmon and steelhead 4(d) rule (65 FR 42422, July 10, 2000, as updated in 70 FR 37160, June 28, 2005). Dated: April 28, 2016. Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–10380 Filed 5–3–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:44 May 03, 2016 Jkt 238001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE581 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Stock Assessment of Eastern Bering Sea Pollock; Peer Review Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: NMFS has requested the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) to conduct a peer review of the agency’s stock assessment of Eastern Bering Sea walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). The CIE is a group affiliated with the University of Miami that provides independent peer reviews of NMFS science nationwide, including reviews of stock assessments for fish and marine mammals. The Eastern Bering Sea pollock stock assessment is reviewed annually by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) Plan Team, and the NPFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee. The CIE review will examine whether the assessment incorporates the best available scientific information and provides a reasonable approach to understanding the population dynamics and stock status of Eastern Bering Sea pollock. The public is invited to attend and observe the presentations and discussions between the CIE panel and the NMFS scientists who collected and processed the data, and designed the underlying model. DATES: The public meeting will be held from May 16 through May 19, 2016, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. ADDRESSES: The review will be held at the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4, Seattle, WA 98115. Photo identification is required to enter this facility. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Ianelli, 206–526–6510. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CIE panel will consist of three peer reviewers who will assess materials related to the topic, participate in a review workshop with the NMFS scientists who developed the model and the analytical approach, and produce a report. This review will be highly technical in nature and will cover mathematical details of the analytical approach. More information about the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 CIE is available on its Web site at www.ciereviews.org. Members of the public are invited to observe, and will be provided opportunities to contribute each day from May 16 through May 19, 2016. The final report will be available prior to the September NPFMC Plan Team meetings and will consist of individual reports from each panelist and a summary report. The results of the review will be presented during the September 2016 NPFMC Plan Team meeting, which will be announced at a later time in the Federal Register. Special Accommodations These workshops will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ron Felthoven, 206–526–4114, at least 10 working days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 29, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–10445 Filed 5–3–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE592 Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; request for comments. AGENCY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), this notice announces that NMFS intends to obtain information necessary to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 10 Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs) for salmon and steelhead hatchery programs jointly submitted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the Suquamish Tribe (referred to as the co-managers), for NMFS’s evaluation and determination under Limit 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 4(d) Rule for threatened salmon and steelhead. The HGMPs specify the propagation of salmon and steelhead in SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM 04MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 26776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10445]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE581


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Stock 
Assessment of Eastern Bering Sea Pollock; Peer Review Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS has requested the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) to 
conduct a peer review of the agency's stock assessment of Eastern 
Bering Sea walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). The CIE is a group 
affiliated with the University of Miami that provides independent peer 
reviews of NMFS science nationwide, including reviews of stock 
assessments for fish and marine mammals. The Eastern Bering Sea pollock 
stock assessment is reviewed annually by the Alaska Fisheries Science 
Center, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) Plan Team, 
and the NPFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee. The CIE review will 
examine whether the assessment incorporates the best available 
scientific information and provides a reasonable approach to 
understanding the population dynamics and stock status of Eastern 
Bering Sea pollock. The public is invited to attend and observe the 
presentations and discussions between the CIE panel and the NMFS 
scientists who collected and processed the data, and designed the 
underlying model.

DATES: The public meeting will be held from May 16 through May 19, 
2016, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES: The review will be held at the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science 
Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4, Seattle, WA 98115. Photo 
identification is required to enter this facility.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Ianelli, 206-526-6510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CIE panel will consist of three peer 
reviewers who will assess materials related to the topic, participate 
in a review workshop with the NMFS scientists who developed the model 
and the analytical approach, and produce a report. This review will be 
highly technical in nature and will cover mathematical details of the 
analytical approach. More information about the CIE is available on its 
Web site at www.ciereviews.org.
    Members of the public are invited to observe, and will be provided 
opportunities to contribute each day from May 16 through May 19, 2016. 
The final report will be available prior to the September NPFMC Plan 
Team meetings and will consist of individual reports from each panelist 
and a summary report. The results of the review will be presented 
during the September 2016 NPFMC Plan Team meeting, which will be 
announced at a later time in the Federal Register.

Special Accommodations

    These workshops will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Ron Felthoven, 206-526-4114, at 
least 10 working days prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: April 29, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-10445 Filed 5-3-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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