Draft 2016 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports; Correction, 90782-90783 [2016-30171]

Download as PDF 90782 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 241 / Thursday, December 15, 2016 / Notices The application and related documents are available for review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 20455 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment in the Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. Written comments on this application should be submitted to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, at the address listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713–0376, or by email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include the File No. in the subject line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shasta McClenahan or Amy Hapeman, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). The applicant requests a five-year permit to take bottlenose and spotted dolphins for scientific research to continue a long-term program to evaluate the health, environmental contamination, reproduction, population structure and dynamics, acoustics, trophic patterns, life history, social structure, and anthropogenic effects on dolphins off the west coast of Florida including bays, estuaries, and offshore waters. Up to 3,000 bottlenose and 1,000 spotted dolphins would be approached annually during vessel surveys for photography, photoidentification, video recording, behavioral observation, acoustic playbacks, and passive acoustic recording, with concurrent deployment of an unmanned aircraft system for photogrammetry. Up to 250 bottlenose and 100 spotted dolphins of the above animals may also be biopsy sampled during vessel surveys annually. Up to 50 bottlenose and 25 spotted dolphins rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:19 Dec 14, 2016 Jkt 241001 annually of the above animals may be captured for health assessments which would include biological sampling, auditory brainstem response tests, metabolic rate studies, ultrasound, xrays, marking, tagging, tracking, and release. Calves less than 8 months of age and females with these calves would not be captured or remotely biopsy sampled. Up to 25 adults or juveniles of each species annually would be remotely satellite tagged to test the feasibility of a new experimental dorsal fin attachment method. Two unintentional mortalities of each species could occur due to capture over the life of the permit. The following species could be incidentally harassed during surveys: Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), olive ridley sea turtle (L. olivacea), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), and gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi). In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; correction. regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in the Federal Register on October 11, 2016. Subsequent to soliciting public comment on the draft 2016 SARs, we became aware that due to technical errors in converting between electronic formats, the draft Atlantic SARs contained incorrect information in some instances. We have corrected these errors and through this notice we announce the availability of revised draft Atlantic 2016 SARs for public comment through the end of the original 90-day comment period. DATES: Comments must be received by January 9, 2017. If members of the public need additional time to review the draft Atlantic 2016 SARs, please contact Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected Resources, 301–427–8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov. ADDRESSES: The 2016 draft SARs are available in electronic form via the Internet at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ pr/sars/draft.htm. You may submit comments, identified by NOAA–NMFS–2016–0101, by any of the following methods: Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20160101, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Mail: Send comments or requests for copies of reports to: Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3226, Attn: Stock Assessments. Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected Resources, 301–427–8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, NMFS, published a notice of the availability of the draft 2016 Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific Background Section 117 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361 Dated: December 9, 2016. Julia Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–30083 Filed 12–14–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE783 Draft 2016 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports; Correction AGENCY: SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM 15DEN1 rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 241 / Thursday, December 15, 2016 / Notices et seq.) requires NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to prepare stock assessments for each stock of marine mammals occurring in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States, including the Exclusive Economic Zone. These reports must contain information regarding the distribution and abundance of the stock, population growth rates and trends, estimates of annual human-caused mortality and serious injury (M/SI) from all sources, descriptions of the fisheries with which the stock interacts, and the status of the stock. The MMPA requires NMFS and FWS to review the SARs at least annually for strategic stocks and stocks for which significant new information is available, and at least once every three years for non-strategic stocks. The term ‘‘strategic stock’’ means a marine mammal stock: (A) for which the level of direct humancaused mortality exceeds the potential biological removal level; (B) which, based on the best available scientific information, is declining and is likely to be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) within the foreseeable future; or (C) which is listed as a threatened species or endangered species under the ESA. NMFS and the FWS are required to revise a SAR if the status of the stock has changed or can be more accurately determined. We published a notice of the availability of the draft 2016 Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal SARs in the Federal Register on October 11, 2016 (81 FR 70097). Subsequent to soliciting public comment on the draft 2016 SARs, we were made aware that the draft Atlantic 2016 SARs contained some technical errors. A problem with our electronic file formatting conversion introducted some erroneous numbers into the document. For example, in some of the tables contained in the reports (e.g., bycatch table in Atlantic white-sided dolphin), the ‘‘years’’ column and/or the ‘‘mean combined annual mortality’’ column had incorrect values. In one case, the PBR for a stock was correct in the summary table, but incorrect in the text of the individual report. Most of the errors that we discovered in the reports involved incorrect text strike-throughs, where only a portion of a number was struck out, rather than the entire value. We immediately corrected the errors and posted a revised version of the draft Atlantic 2016 SARs on the NMFS Web site on December 1, 2016. With this Federal Register notice, we are notifying the public and soliciting comments on the revised version by January 9, 2017. If members of the public need additional time to review VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:19 Dec 14, 2016 Jkt 241001 the draft Atlantic 2016 SARs, please contact Shannon Bettridge (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Dated: December 12, 2016. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016–30171 Filed 12–14–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF076 Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; availability of evaluation of tribal resource management plan and request for comment. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the Confederated Colville Tribes have submitted a Tribal Resource Management Plan (Tribal Plan) to NMFS pursuant to the limitation on take prohibitions for actions conducted under Tribal Plans promulgated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Tribal Plan specifies artificial propagation, harvest, and research and monitoring activities in the Okanogan River basin and portions of the upper Columbia River. This document serves to notify the public of the availability for comment of the proposed evaluation of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) as to whether implementation of the Tribal Plan will appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of ESA-listed Upper Columbia River Spring Chinook salmon and steelhead. This notice further advises the public of the availability for review of a draft Environmental Assessment of the effects of the NMFS determination on the subject Tribal Plan. DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on December 30, 2016. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the proposed evaluation and pending determination should be addressed to the NMFS Sustainable Fisheries Division, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Portland, OR 97232. Comments may be submitted by email. The mailbox address for providing email comments is: OkanoganPlan.wcr@noaa.gov. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 90783 Include in the subject line of the email comment the following identifier: Comments on Colville Okanogan Tribal Plan. The documents are available online at www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov. Comments received will also be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours by calling (503) 230–5418. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natasha Meyers-Cherry at (503) 231– 2178 or by email at natasha.meyerscherry@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ESA-Listed Species Covered in This Notice Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Endangered (but functionally extirpated in the analysis area), naturally produced Upper Columbia River spring-run. Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened, naturally produced and artificially propagated Upper Columbia River. Background The Confederated Colville Tribes have submitted to NMFS a Tribal Plan for hatchery, fishery harvest, predator control, kelt reconditioning, and monitoring and evaluation activities in the Okanogan River basin, in the upper Columbia River basin in Washington State. The Tribal Plan was submitted February 4, 2014, pursuant to the Tribal ESA 4(d) Rule. The Tribal Plan describes actions involving fisheries, hatchery, predator control, and kelt reconditioning activities (with associated monitoring and evaluation) in the Okanogan Basin and Columbia River mainstem. The Tribal Plan is intended to contribute to the recovery of the steelhead population in the Okanogan Basin, and to responsibly enhance fishing opportunity on non-listed Chinook salmon. As required by the ESA 4(d) rule for Tribal Plans (65 FR 42481; July 10, 2000), the Secretary is seeking public comment on her pending determination as to whether the Tribal Plan Chinook salmon would appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery of the Upper Columbia River Steelhead Evolutionary Significant Unit. Authority Under section 4 of the ESA, the Secretary is required to adopt such regulations as she deems necessary and advisable for the conservation of the species listed as threatened. The ESA Tribal 4(d) Rule (65 FR 42481; July 10, 2000) states that the ESA section 9 take prohibitions will not apply to Tribal Plans that will not E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM 15DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90782-90783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30171]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE783


Draft 2016 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports; Correction

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

ACTION: Notice; correction.

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

SUMMARY: We, NMFS, published a notice of the availability of the draft 
2016 Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock 
assessment reports (SARs) in the Federal Register on October 11, 2016. 
Subsequent to soliciting public comment on the draft 2016 SARs, we 
became aware that due to technical errors in converting between 
electronic formats, the draft Atlantic SARs contained incorrect 
information in some instances. We have corrected these errors and 
through this notice we announce the availability of revised draft 
Atlantic 2016 SARs for public comment through the end of the original 
90-day comment period.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 9, 2017. If members of the 
public need additional time to review the draft Atlantic 2016 SARs, 
please contact Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected Resources, 301-
427-8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov.

ADDRESSES: The 2016 draft SARs are available in electronic form via the 
Internet at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/draft.htm.
    You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2016-0101, by any 
of the following methods:
    Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0101, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
    Mail: Send comments or requests for copies of reports to: Chief, 
Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226, Attn: Stock Assessments.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by 
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after 
the end of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-427-8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 117 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 
1361

[[Page 90783]]

et seq.) requires NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to 
prepare stock assessments for each stock of marine mammals occurring in 
waters under the jurisdiction of the United States, including the 
Exclusive Economic Zone. These reports must contain information 
regarding the distribution and abundance of the stock, population 
growth rates and trends, estimates of annual human-caused mortality and 
serious injury (M/SI) from all sources, descriptions of the fisheries 
with which the stock interacts, and the status of the stock.
    The MMPA requires NMFS and FWS to review the SARs at least annually 
for strategic stocks and stocks for which significant new information 
is available, and at least once every three years for non-strategic 
stocks. The term ``strategic stock'' means a marine mammal stock: (A) 
for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the 
potential biological removal level; (B) which, based on the best 
available scientific information, is declining and is likely to be 
listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
within the foreseeable future; or (C) which is listed as a threatened 
species or endangered species under the ESA. NMFS and the FWS are 
required to revise a SAR if the status of the stock has changed or can 
be more accurately determined. We published a notice of the 
availability of the draft 2016 Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional 
marine mammal SARs in the Federal Register on October 11, 2016 (81 FR 
70097).
    Subsequent to soliciting public comment on the draft 2016 SARs, we 
were made aware that the draft Atlantic 2016 SARs contained some 
technical errors. A problem with our electronic file formatting 
conversion introducted some erroneous numbers into the document. For 
example, in some of the tables contained in the reports (e.g., bycatch 
table in Atlantic white-sided dolphin), the ``years'' column and/or the 
``mean combined annual mortality'' column had incorrect values. In one 
case, the PBR for a stock was correct in the summary table, but 
incorrect in the text of the individual report. Most of the errors that 
we discovered in the reports involved incorrect text strike-throughs, 
where only a portion of a number was struck out, rather than the entire 
value.
    We immediately corrected the errors and posted a revised version of 
the draft Atlantic 2016 SARs on the NMFS Web site on December 1, 2016. 
With this Federal Register notice, we are notifying the public and 
soliciting comments on the revised version by January 9, 2017. If 
members of the public need additional time to review the draft Atlantic 
2016 SARs, please contact Shannon Bettridge (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

    Dated: December 12, 2016.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30171 Filed 12-14-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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