Pacific Island Fisheries; Aquaculture, 57567-57569 [2016-20048]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 163 / Tuesday, August 23, 2016 / Notices
the needs determined by NMFS and
SEDAR staff. In 2017, NMFS intends to
update the Gulf of Mexico blacktip
shark stock assessment and conduct a
standard assessment for sandbar sharks.
In 2018, NMFS intends to conduct a
benchmark assessment for Atlantic
blacktip sharks. During an assessment
year, meetings and meeting logistics
will be determined according to the
SEDAR Guidelines. All meetings are
open for observation by the public.
Dated: August 18, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–20103 Filed 8–22–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE812
Pacific Island Fisheries; Aquaculture
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement; request for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS, in coordination with
the Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council), intends
to prepare a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)
to analyze the potential environmental
impacts of a proposed Pacific Islands
Region (PIR) aquaculture management
program and alternatives. Publication of
this notice begins the official public
scoping process to help identify
alternatives and determine the scope of
environmental issues for consideration
in the PEIS. The PEIS is intended to
support offshore aquaculture
development, including appropriate
management unit species (MUS) for
aquaculture, reasonably foreseeable
types of offshore aquaculture
operations, and permitting and
reporting requirements for persons
conducting aquaculture activities in
Federal waters.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for meeting dates. NMFS must
receive comments by October 31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this action, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2016–0111, by any of the
following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/
docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0111,
click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Send written comments to
Michael D. Tosatto, Regional
Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands
Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg.
176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
• Scoping Meeting: Submit written
comments at a scoping meeting held by
NMFS for this action.
Instructions: You must submit
comments by the above methods to
ensure that NMFS receives, documents,
and considers your comments. NMFS
may not consider comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period. NMFS will
consider all comments received as part
of the public record and will generally
post comments for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change.
All personal identifying information
(e.g., name, address) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be
publicly accessible. Do not submit
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information. NMFS will accept
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Nichols, NMFS, Pacific Islands
Regional Office, (808) 725–5180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and
the Council manage fisheries in U.S.
Federal waters in the Pacific Islands
through five fishery ecosystem plans
(FEPs). The Council recommended
amending the five FEPs to establish a
management program for aquaculture
fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). NMFS is
working with the Council to develop a
management program that would
regulate and promote environmentally
sound and economically sustainable
aquaculture in Federal waters of the
Pacific Islands Region.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
consistent with Council
recommendations, the intent of the PEIS
is to evaluate the potential direct,
indirect, and cumulative impacts on the
human environment of the proposed
Federal action that includes alternative
management approaches to
implementing an aquaculture
management program in the PIR. NEPA
requires NMFS to consider the potential
impacts of the proposed action and
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Fmt 4703
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57567
reasonable alternatives to inform the
selection of a final preferred alternative
for the proposed Pacific Islands
aquaculture management program.
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
NMFS has authority to regulate
commercial fisheries in Federal waters,
including aquaculture. Landings or
possession of fish in the EEZ from the
commercial marine aquaculture
production of any species managed
under an FEP in the PIR constitutes
‘‘fishing’’ as defined in MagnusonStevens Act Section 3(16). Fishing
includes all activities and operations
related to the taking, catching, or
harvesting of fish. The U.S. EEZ in the
Pacific Islands generally consists of
waters from 3 nm to 200 nm around
American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (CNMI), Baker Island, Howland
Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll,
Kingman Reef, Midway Island, Wake
Island, and Palmyra Atoll and includes
all islands and reefs appurtenant to such
islands, reefs, or atolls.
With the exception of coral reef
ecosystem species, there is no
requirement for Federal permits to
conduct aquaculture for MUS in Federal
waters. The existing regulatory process
is complex and requires multiple
permits from several different Federal
agencies, including the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), and NMFS.
The preliminary proposed Federal
action will identify areas and species
suitable for offshore aquaculture,
describe the reasonably foreseeable
types of offshore aquaculture
operations, and provide an early
assessment of the potential social,
economic, and environmental impacts
of such proposed activities. Completing
a PEIS for an aquaculture management
program will facilitate the review and
processing of aquaculture fishery
proposals, supporting NEPA reviews for
future projects.
The PEIS will include information
that NMFS would use to understand the
potential effects of managing
aquaculture in compliance with
applicable laws, including the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, Endangered
Species Act (ESA), Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA), the Coastal
Zone Management Act (CZMA), and
other applicable laws. In addition, the
PEIS would allow for intergovernmental
public review and input as NMFS
develops and considers approval of the
management program. The development
and content of the PEIS must also be
consistent with the NOAA
Administrative Orders (NAO) 216–6A as
E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM
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57568
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 163 / Tuesday, August 23, 2016 / Notices
amended, and the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ)
regulations at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Sections 1500–1508. NMFS
will also prepare economic analyses
consistent with the Regulatory
Flexibility Act and a regulatory impact
review under Executive Order 12866 to
consider in its decision-making for the
aquaculture management program.
Scoping is an early and open process for
determining the scope, or range, of
issues that NMFS should address in a
PEIS and for identifying the significant
issues related to the proposed action.
NMFS will also use this scoping process
to seek information relating to the extent
to which greenhouse gas emissions and
climate change impacts associated with
the proposed action. NMFS is also
soliciting information to consider the
effects of the proposed project on
historic properties, if any such
properties are present.
NMFS has developed two preliminary
alternatives for consideration during
scoping: A ‘‘no-action,’’ or status-quo,
aquaculture management alternative,
and an alternative that incorporates
recommendations from Council
meetings since 2008 regarding the
development of aquaculture
requirements for the five FEPs. The
preliminary alternatives shown in Table
1 include a suite of eight possible
management actions to consider in the
development of a sustainable
aquaculture management program for
each FEP. NMFS based the preliminary
proposed action on Council
recommendations and the goals and
objectives for responsible development
and management of aquaculture in
Federal waters. These goals and
objectives are in the NOAA Aquaculture
Policy Statement (available here: https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/
policy/24_aquaculture_policies.html).
Under Preliminary Proposed Alternative
1, the No-Action Alternative, NMFS
would not implement a permit process
for aquaculture in the PIR. The Council
and NMFS may provide guidance to
potential aquaculture operators,
consistent with Council aquaculture
recommendations, NMFS Aquaculture
Policy, and other applicable guidance
and laws. Under this alternative, NMFS
would not have a management program
specific to each FEP (Table 1). The draft
PEIS must include an evaluation of the
No-Action Alternative in accordance
with NEPA.
Preliminary Proposed Alternative 2
would establish an aquaculture
management program that includes
elements from each of the eight actions
listed in Table 1. Recent Council input
on a Pacific Islands Region aquaculture
management plan have resulted in
recommendations that aquaculture
operations do the following:
1. Follow a Council-established
review process;
2. Contain permitting and reporting
requirements for aquaculture operations
including criteria for a limited entry
program; and
3. Include environmental monitoring
and inspection requirements in the FEP
amendment that are consistent with
requirements already in place by the
State of Hawaii.
Actions include developing a permit
process that allows managers to control
participation and developing
monitoring and reporting requirements
to monitor effort, catch, and
environmental impacts as the program
develops. Potential aquaculture
operators would need to acquire a
Federal permit from NMFS (Table 1).
TABLE 1—PRELIMINARY PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES FOR CONSIDERATION DURING THE SCOPING PROCESS ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A SUSTAINABLE, AQUACULTURE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN THE PIR EEZ
Action
Alternative 1—status quo/no action
Alternative 2—establish an aquaculture management
program for Federal waters
Action 1: Aquaculture Permit
Requirements, Eligibility
and Transferability.
NMFS currently has no aquaculture management program. Fishing with new gear type, including net pens,
for coral reef ecosystem MUS may require a Special
Coral Reef Ecosystem Fishing Permit (SCREFP) in
the EEZ.
SCREFP requirements for coral reef ecosystem MUS
are developed on case-by-case basis.
Under the status-quo SCREFPs are effective for no
longer than one year unless otherwise specified.
Alternative 2 would establish eligibility, application requirements, and restrictions for transferable aquaculture permits.
Action 2: Operational Requirements.
Action 3: Duration of Permits
Action 4: Allowable Marine
Aquaculture Systems.
Alternative 1 does not specify allowable systems for
growing cultured organisms in the PIR EEZ.
Action 5: Species Allowed
for Aquaculture.
Under Alternative 1 only coral reef ecosystem MUS are
required to have a permit when using new gear type,
including net pen gear. No restrictions exist for other
MUS.
Alternative 1 does not restrict or otherwise identify
aquaculture locations.
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Action 6: Aquaculture Siting
Requirements and Conditions.
Action 7: Record-keeping
and Reporting Requirements.
The NMFS Regional Administrator has authority to
specify record-keeping and reporting requirements in
a SCREFP.
Action 8: Framework Procedures.
Under Alternative 1, specific framework procedures for
modifying aquaculture management measures would
not be identified.
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Alternative 2 would establish operational requirements
specific to the aquaculture system.
An aquaculture permit would be effective for either five,
10, or 20 years and may be renewed in multi-year increments.
Alternative 2 would allow only cages and net pens for
aquaculture in the PIR EEZ of specific size and construction. Deviations from these systems would require additional analysis.
Alternative 2 would allow aquaculture of only finfish in
the PIR EEZ.
Alternative 2 would establish marine aquaculture zones,
within which NMFS would permit individual sites.
Separate facilities within these zones would be
spaced at distances based on facility size and oceanographic, biological and human use considerations.
Alternative 2 would establish electronic record-keeping
and reporting requirements that address, at a minimum, escapement, entanglements and interactions
with protected species, pathogens and disease,
brood stock harvest, water quality monitoring, and
aquaculture harvest. Applicants must conduct a
baseline assessment and monitoring at the site.
Under Alternative 2, NMFS would specify framework
procedures for modifying management measures for
offshore marine aquaculture in the PIR EEZ.
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 163 / Tuesday, August 23, 2016 / Notices
NMFS recognizes that any alternatives
considered in the draft PEIS will be
based on the combined input from the
public, research institutions, fishermen,
non-governmental organizations, and
affected State and Federal agencies, and
Council processes. A principal objective
of the scoping process is to identify a
range of alternatives that will delineate
critical issues and provide a clear basis
for distinguishing among those
alternatives, and to support the
selection of a preferred alternative.
NMFS is seeking input during scoping
regarding the eight actions in Table 1
that make up the features of an
aquaculture management program to
assist in developing the reasonable
range of alternatives to analyze in the
draft PEIS.
In addition, NMFS is seeking input
from the public on the issues that NMFS
should address in the draft PEIS related
to an aquaculture management program
and the potential direct, indirect, and
cumulative effects of the alternatives on
the human environment. After NMFS
analyzes a set of management
alternatives, the Council may
recommend a preferred proposed
Federal action alternative. NMFS would
then analyze the preferred alternative
and a reasonable range of alternatives in
a draft PEIS.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Public Involvement
Through this notice, we are notifying
the public that NMFS has initiated a
NEPA analysis and decision-making
process for this proposed action so that
interested or affected people may
participate and contribute to the
development of a final set of alternatives
and analysis of environmental effects for
NMFS and the Council to consider for
an aquaculture management program.
Public involvement will provide the
information required by NMFS and the
Council to identify the necessary scope
and range of reasonable management
alternatives including the need for
additional alternatives that will provide
a sound and scientific basis for
developing a sustainable and long-term
aquaculture management program in the
PIR.
NMFS will again ask for additional
public comments once NMFS publishes
the Draft PEIS, probably in late spring
2017. You may find more information
about the NMFS aquaculture program
and the progress of the PEIS at https://
www.fpir.noaa.gov/SFD/SFD_aq.html.
Meetings
NMFS will hold the following public
scoping meetings. All meetings will be
from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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1. Pago Pago, AS, Thursday, September
8, 2016, NOAA Fisheries Conference
Room, Pago Plaza, Suite 208, Pago
Pago, AS 96799.
2. Hilo, HI, Tuesday, September 13,
2016, University of Hawaii at Hilo,
United Classroom Building (UCB)
111, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI
96720.
3. Kailua-Kona, HI, Wednesday,
September 14, 2016, West Hawaii
Civic Center, Community Meeting
Hale (Bldg. G), 74–5044 Ane
Keohokalole Hwy., Kailua-Kona, HI
96740.
4. Honolulu, HI, Thursday, October 13,
2016, NOAA Fisheries Honolulu
Service Center at Pier 38, Honolulu
Harbor, 1139 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite
220, Honolulu, HI 96817.
NMFS is also planning to hold
scoping meetings in the CNMI and
Guam during October 2016. NMFS will
announce the details of these meetings
in a separate Federal Register notice.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau (Attention:
PRA Office), 1275 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20002.
Please note that comments submitted
after the comment period will not be
accepted. In general, all comments
received will become public records,
including any personal information
provided. Sensitive personal
information, such as account numbers
or Social Security numbers, should not
be included.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Documentation prepared in support of
this information collection request is
available at www.regulations.gov.
Requests for additional information
should be directed to the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau, (Attention:
PRA Office), 1700 G Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20552, (202) 435–9575,
or email: CFPB_PRA@cfpb.gov. Please
do not submit comments to this
mailbox.
Dated: August 17, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[FR Doc. 2016–20048 Filed 8–22–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL
PROTECTION
[Docket No.: CFPB–2016–0042]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Comment Request
Bureau of Consumer Financial
Protection.
ACTION: Notice and request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), the Bureau of Consumer
Financial Protection (Bureau) is
requesting a new information collection
titled, ‘‘Application Forms for Financial
Empowerment Partnerships.’’
DATES: Written comments are
encouraged and must be received on or
before October 24, 2016 to be assured of
consideration.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by the title of the information
collection, OMB Control Number (see
below), and docket number (see above),
by any of the following methods:
• Electronic: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau (Attention: PRA
Office), 1700 G Street NW., Washington,
DC 20552.
SUMMARY:
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Title of Collection: Application Forms
for Financial Empowerment
Partnerships.
OMB Control Number: 3170–0NEW.
Type of Review: New collection
(Request for a new OMB Control
Number).
Affected Public: Private Sector (e.g.,
community-based organizations and
national non-profit organizations), State,
Local, or Tribal Governments, and
Federal Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
285.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 1,625.
Abstract: The Bureau’s Office of
Financial Empowerment
(Empowerment) is responsible for
developing strategies to improve the
financial capability of low-income and
economically vulnerable consumers,
such as consumers who are unbanked or
underbanked, those with thin or no
credit file, and households with limited
savings. To address the needs of these
consumers, Empowerment has
developed three initiatives that target
intermediary organizations and provide
tools, training, technical assistance, and
other services to help them reach lowincome and economically vulnerable
consumers to provide them the financial
empowerment tools and information
that they need, when they need it,
where they are. These initiatives: (1)
Your Money, Your Goals, (2) Financial
Coaching, and (3) Tax Time Savings all
require Bureau to engage organizations
to participate in our financial
empowerment initiatives. The proposed
information collection request consists
E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57567-57569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20048]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE812
Pacific Island Fisheries; Aquaculture
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS, in coordination with the Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council), intends to prepare a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to analyze the potential
environmental impacts of a proposed Pacific Islands Region (PIR)
aquaculture management program and alternatives. Publication of this
notice begins the official public scoping process to help identify
alternatives and determine the scope of environmental issues for
consideration in the PEIS. The PEIS is intended to support offshore
aquaculture development, including appropriate management unit species
(MUS) for aquaculture, reasonably foreseeable types of offshore
aquaculture operations, and permitting and reporting requirements for
persons conducting aquaculture activities in Federal waters.
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates. NMFS
must receive comments by October 31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this action, identified by NOAA-
NMFS-2016-0111, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0111, click the ``Comment
Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your
comments.
Mail: Send written comments to Michael D. Tosatto,
Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp
Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
Scoping Meeting: Submit written comments at a scoping
meeting held by NMFS for this action.
Instructions: You must submit comments by the above methods to
ensure that NMFS receives, documents, and considers your comments. NMFS
may not consider comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period.
NMFS will consider all comments received as part of the public record
and will generally post comments for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you
wish to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Nichols, NMFS, Pacific Islands
Regional Office, (808) 725-5180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Council manage fisheries in
U.S. Federal waters in the Pacific Islands through five fishery
ecosystem plans (FEPs). The Council recommended amending the five FEPs
to establish a management program for aquaculture fisheries under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). NMFS is working with the Council to develop a management
program that would regulate and promote environmentally sound and
economically sustainable aquaculture in Federal waters of the Pacific
Islands Region.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
consistent with Council recommendations, the intent of the PEIS is to
evaluate the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on the
human environment of the proposed Federal action that includes
alternative management approaches to implementing an aquaculture
management program in the PIR. NEPA requires NMFS to consider the
potential impacts of the proposed action and reasonable alternatives to
inform the selection of a final preferred alternative for the proposed
Pacific Islands aquaculture management program.
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS has authority to regulate
commercial fisheries in Federal waters, including aquaculture. Landings
or possession of fish in the EEZ from the commercial marine aquaculture
production of any species managed under an FEP in the PIR constitutes
``fishing'' as defined in Magnuson-Stevens Act Section 3(16). Fishing
includes all activities and operations related to the taking, catching,
or harvesting of fish. The U.S. EEZ in the Pacific Islands generally
consists of waters from 3 nm to 200 nm around American Samoa, Guam,
Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Baker
Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef,
Midway Island, Wake Island, and Palmyra Atoll and includes all islands
and reefs appurtenant to such islands, reefs, or atolls.
With the exception of coral reef ecosystem species, there is no
requirement for Federal permits to conduct aquaculture for MUS in
Federal waters. The existing regulatory process is complex and requires
multiple permits from several different Federal agencies, including the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), and NMFS.
The preliminary proposed Federal action will identify areas and
species suitable for offshore aquaculture, describe the reasonably
foreseeable types of offshore aquaculture operations, and provide an
early assessment of the potential social, economic, and environmental
impacts of such proposed activities. Completing a PEIS for an
aquaculture management program will facilitate the review and
processing of aquaculture fishery proposals, supporting NEPA reviews
for future projects.
The PEIS will include information that NMFS would use to understand
the potential effects of managing aquaculture in compliance with
applicable laws, including the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Endangered Species
Act (ESA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Coastal Zone
Management Act (CZMA), and other applicable laws. In addition, the PEIS
would allow for intergovernmental public review and input as NMFS
develops and considers approval of the management program. The
development and content of the PEIS must also be consistent with the
NOAA Administrative Orders (NAO) 216-6A as
[[Page 57568]]
amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at
Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 1500-1508. NMFS will
also prepare economic analyses consistent with the Regulatory
Flexibility Act and a regulatory impact review under Executive Order
12866 to consider in its decision-making for the aquaculture management
program. Scoping is an early and open process for determining the
scope, or range, of issues that NMFS should address in a PEIS and for
identifying the significant issues related to the proposed action. NMFS
will also use this scoping process to seek information relating to the
extent to which greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts
associated with the proposed action. NMFS is also soliciting
information to consider the effects of the proposed project on historic
properties, if any such properties are present.
NMFS has developed two preliminary alternatives for consideration
during scoping: A ``no-action,'' or status-quo, aquaculture management
alternative, and an alternative that incorporates recommendations from
Council meetings since 2008 regarding the development of aquaculture
requirements for the five FEPs. The preliminary alternatives shown in
Table 1 include a suite of eight possible management actions to
consider in the development of a sustainable aquaculture management
program for each FEP. NMFS based the preliminary proposed action on
Council recommendations and the goals and objectives for responsible
development and management of aquaculture in Federal waters. These
goals and objectives are in the NOAA Aquaculture Policy Statement
(available here: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/policy/24_aquaculture_policies.html). Under Preliminary Proposed Alternative
1, the No-Action Alternative, NMFS would not implement a permit process
for aquaculture in the PIR. The Council and NMFS may provide guidance
to potential aquaculture operators, consistent with Council aquaculture
recommendations, NMFS Aquaculture Policy, and other applicable guidance
and laws. Under this alternative, NMFS would not have a management
program specific to each FEP (Table 1). The draft PEIS must include an
evaluation of the No-Action Alternative in accordance with NEPA.
Preliminary Proposed Alternative 2 would establish an aquaculture
management program that includes elements from each of the eight
actions listed in Table 1. Recent Council input on a Pacific Islands
Region aquaculture management plan have resulted in recommendations
that aquaculture operations do the following:
1. Follow a Council-established review process;
2. Contain permitting and reporting requirements for aquaculture
operations including criteria for a limited entry program; and
3. Include environmental monitoring and inspection requirements in
the FEP amendment that are consistent with requirements already in
place by the State of Hawaii.
Actions include developing a permit process that allows managers to
control participation and developing monitoring and reporting
requirements to monitor effort, catch, and environmental impacts as the
program develops. Potential aquaculture operators would need to acquire
a Federal permit from NMFS (Table 1).
Table 1--Preliminary Proposed Alternatives for Consideration During the
Scoping Process on the Development of a Sustainable, Aquaculture
Management Program in the PIR EEZ
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternative 2--
Alternative 1-- establish an
Action status quo/no action aquaculture
management program
for Federal waters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action 1: Aquaculture Permit NMFS currently has Alternative 2 would
Requirements, Eligibility no aquaculture establish
and Transferability. management program. eligibility,
Fishing with new application
gear type, requirements, and
including net pens, restrictions for
for coral reef transferable
ecosystem MUS may aquaculture
require a Special permits.
Coral Reef
Ecosystem Fishing
Permit (SCREFP) in
the EEZ.
Action 2: Operational SCREFP requirements Alternative 2 would
Requirements. for coral reef establish
ecosystem MUS are operational
developed on case- requirements
by-case basis. specific to the
aquaculture system.
Action 3: Duration of Under the status-quo An aquaculture
Permits. SCREFPs are permit would be
effective for no effective for
longer than one either five, 10, or
year unless 20 years and may be
otherwise specified. renewed in multi-
year increments.
Action 4: Allowable Marine Alternative 1 does Alternative 2 would
Aquaculture Systems. not specify allow only cages
allowable systems and net pens for
for growing aquaculture in the
cultured organisms PIR EEZ of specific
in the PIR EEZ. size and
construction.
Deviations from
these systems would
require additional
analysis.
Action 5: Species Allowed Under Alternative 1 Alternative 2 would
for Aquaculture. only coral reef allow aquaculture
ecosystem MUS are of only finfish in
required to have a the PIR EEZ.
permit when using
new gear type,
including net pen
gear. No
restrictions exist
for other MUS.
Action 6: Aquaculture Siting Alternative 1 does Alternative 2 would
Requirements and Conditions. not restrict or establish marine
otherwise identify aquaculture zones,
aquaculture within which NMFS
locations. would permit
individual sites.
Separate facilities
within these zones
would be spaced at
distances based on
facility size and
oceanographic,
biological and
human use
considerations.
Action 7: Record-keeping and The NMFS Regional Alternative 2 would
Reporting Requirements. Administrator has establish
authority to electronic record-
specify record- keeping and
keeping and reporting
reporting requirements that
requirements in a address, at a
SCREFP. minimum,
escapement,
entanglements and
interactions with
protected species,
pathogens and
disease, brood
stock harvest,
water quality
monitoring, and
aquaculture
harvest. Applicants
must conduct a
baseline assessment
and monitoring at
the site.
Action 8: Framework Under Alternative 1, Under Alternative 2,
Procedures. specific framework NMFS would specify
procedures for framework
modifying procedures for
aquaculture modifying
management measures management measures
would not be for offshore marine
identified. aquaculture in the
PIR EEZ.
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[[Page 57569]]
NMFS recognizes that any alternatives considered in the draft PEIS
will be based on the combined input from the public, research
institutions, fishermen, non-governmental organizations, and affected
State and Federal agencies, and Council processes. A principal
objective of the scoping process is to identify a range of alternatives
that will delineate critical issues and provide a clear basis for
distinguishing among those alternatives, and to support the selection
of a preferred alternative. NMFS is seeking input during scoping
regarding the eight actions in Table 1 that make up the features of an
aquaculture management program to assist in developing the reasonable
range of alternatives to analyze in the draft PEIS.
In addition, NMFS is seeking input from the public on the issues
that NMFS should address in the draft PEIS related to an aquaculture
management program and the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative
effects of the alternatives on the human environment. After NMFS
analyzes a set of management alternatives, the Council may recommend a
preferred proposed Federal action alternative. NMFS would then analyze
the preferred alternative and a reasonable range of alternatives in a
draft PEIS.
Public Involvement
Through this notice, we are notifying the public that NMFS has
initiated a NEPA analysis and decision-making process for this proposed
action so that interested or affected people may participate and
contribute to the development of a final set of alternatives and
analysis of environmental effects for NMFS and the Council to consider
for an aquaculture management program. Public involvement will provide
the information required by NMFS and the Council to identify the
necessary scope and range of reasonable management alternatives
including the need for additional alternatives that will provide a
sound and scientific basis for developing a sustainable and long-term
aquaculture management program in the PIR.
NMFS will again ask for additional public comments once NMFS
publishes the Draft PEIS, probably in late spring 2017. You may find
more information about the NMFS aquaculture program and the progress of
the PEIS at https://www.fpir.noaa.gov/SFD/SFD_aq.html.
Meetings
NMFS will hold the following public scoping meetings. All meetings
will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
1. Pago Pago, AS, Thursday, September 8, 2016, NOAA Fisheries
Conference Room, Pago Plaza, Suite 208, Pago Pago, AS 96799.
2. Hilo, HI, Tuesday, September 13, 2016, University of Hawaii at Hilo,
United Classroom Building (UCB) 111, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720.
3. Kailua-Kona, HI, Wednesday, September 14, 2016, West Hawaii Civic
Center, Community Meeting Hale (Bldg. G), 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
4. Honolulu, HI, Thursday, October 13, 2016, NOAA Fisheries Honolulu
Service Center at Pier 38, Honolulu Harbor, 1139 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite
220, Honolulu, HI 96817.
NMFS is also planning to hold scoping meetings in the CNMI and Guam
during October 2016. NMFS will announce the details of these meetings
in a separate Federal Register notice.
Dated: August 17, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-20048 Filed 8-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
