Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit, 40751-40752 [2017-18146]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF328
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permit
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Regional Administrator,
NMFS West Coast Region, has
determined that twenty-seven exempted
fishing permit (EFP) applications
warrant further consideration; therefore,
NMFS is requesting public comment on
the applications. All EFP applicants
request an exemption from various
prohibitions under the Fishery
Management Plan for U.S. West Coast
Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species
(HMS FMP) to test the effects and
efficacy of using deep-set buoy gear
(DSBG) and linked buoy gear (LBG) to
harvest swordfish and other highly
migratory species (HMS) off of the U.S.
West Coast. This notice also announces
and requests public comment on NMFS’
intent to extend a DSBG EFP.
DATES: Comments must be submitted in
writing by September 27, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2017–0025, by any of the
following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20170025, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments. EFP
applications will be available under
SUMMARY:
Relevant Documents through the same
link.
• Mail: Attn: Chris Fanning, NMFS
West Coast Region, 501 W. Ocean Blvd.,
Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802.
Include the identifier ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–
2017–0025’’ in the comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period, may not be
considered by NMFS. 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:
Chris Fanning, NMFS, West Coast
Region, 562–980–4198.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In 2015, the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council)
recommended that NMFS consider
issuing three DSBG EFPs to target
swordfish and other HMS off of the U.S.
West Coast. After requesting public
comment and completing required
analyses, NMFS approved DSBG EFPs
for the Pfleger Institute of
Environmental Research (PIER),
Timothy Perguson, and Stephen Mintz
for the 2015–2016 fishing seasons.
Fishing activities under EFPs have
yielded two years of additional data to
supplement an existing five years of
data from DSBG research and trials. In
December 2016 and January 2017,
NMFS reissued the PIER and Perguson
EFPs for a duration of two years. NMFS
continues to support testing alternative
gears as a means to increase domestic
fishing opportunity while minimizing
non-target bycatch and interactions with
protected species.
40751
At its recent meetings, the Council
received additional applications for
EFPs and recommended that NMFS
consider issuing or reissuing EFPs to a
suite of interested applicants. During its
November 2016 meeting, the Council
recommended that NMFS reissue
Stephen Mintz’ EFP for the 2017–2018
fishing seasons. At its March and June
2017 meetings, the Council
recommended that NMFS consider
issuing a total of twenty EFPs to
authorize use of DSBG and/or LBG (see
Table 1). LBG is defined as connectable
segments of linked buoys floating at the
ocean surface, connected to vertical
lines with heavy weights allowing a
horizontal line with three hooks to sink
to the same depth as the terminal hook
of DSBG. Additionally, seven other
DSBG EFP applications were submitted
for Council review, and require
additional information for future
consideration (see Table 2).
NMFS is requesting public comment
on the twenty applications
recommended for issuance by the
Council as well as the seven
applications that were not formally
recommended by the Council at this
time. If all applications were approved,
the EFPs would allow up to thirty-two
vessels to fish with DSBG and six
vessels to fish with LBG, throughout the
duration of each EFP, in the U.S. West
Coast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
with permitted exemption from the
requirements of the HMS FMP
pertaining to non-authorized gear types.
Aside from the exemption described
above, vessels fishing under an EFP
would be subject to all other regulations
implementing the HMS FMP, including
measures to protect sea turtles, marine
mammals, and seabirds. For up-to-date
information on HMS EFPs, please visit
NMFS West Coast Region’s ‘‘Status of
Exempted Fishing Permits’’ Web page
(https://
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/
fisheries/migratory_species/status_
exempted_permits.html).
TABLE 1—EFP APPLICATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR ISSUANCE BY THE PFMC
PFMC recommended EFPs
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Name
Date of council recommendation
Number of
vessels
Deep-Set Buoy Gear Applicants
Mintz, Stephen .............................................................................................................
Hepp, Fred ...................................................................................................................
Jacobs, Kent .................................................................................................................
Kastlunger, Jordyn .......................................................................................................
Harris, Phil ....................................................................................................................
Corbin, Denny ..............................................................................................................
Diller, William ................................................................................................................
Cullen, Roger ...............................................................................................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:45 Aug 25, 2017
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November 2016 ........................................
March 2017 ...............................................
March 2017 ...............................................
March 2017 ...............................................
March 2017 ...............................................
March 2017 ...............................................
March 2017 ...............................................
June 2017 .................................................
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40752
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 165 / Monday, August 28, 2017 / Notices
TABLE 1—EFP APPLICATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR ISSUANCE BY THE PFMC—Continued
PFMC recommended EFPs
Name
Date of council recommendation
Haworth, David & Arthur Lorton ...................................................................................
Ball, Bob .......................................................................................................................
Ford, John ....................................................................................................................
Graves, Michael ...........................................................................................................
Kennedy, Raymond ......................................................................................................
Massen, Lance .............................................................................................................
Selck, Dustin ................................................................................................................
Shvets, Anatolii .............................................................................................................
Sidielnikov, Andrii .........................................................................................................
Spinale, Paul ................................................................................................................
Stephens, J & B ...........................................................................................................
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
Number of
vessels
.................................................
.................................................
.................................................
.................................................
.................................................
.................................................
.................................................
.................................................
.................................................
.................................................
.................................................
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
March 2017 ...............................................
June 2017 .................................................
3
3
Linked Buoy Gear Applicants
Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research ...............................................................
Haworth, David & Arthur Lorton ...................................................................................
TABLE 2—EFP APPLICATIONS THAT THE PFMC HAS YET TO RECOMMEND FOR ISSUANCE
Submitted EFPs
Name
Date of submission
Number of
vessels
Deep-Set Buoy Gear Applicants
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Lutoshkin, A ..................................................................................................................
Maassen, L ...................................................................................................................
Masuda, S ....................................................................................................................
McCarthy, M .................................................................................................................
Rynkevic, R ..................................................................................................................
Sokolova, T ..................................................................................................................
Sviridov, V ....................................................................................................................
In March 2017, the Council also
recommended that in addition to
current terms and conditions on issued
EFPs, NMFS also impose the following
stipulations:
1. Require 100 percent observer
coverage for the first ten sets of new EFP
participants (a set is defined as 10
pieces of buoy gear soaked for at least
eight hours). Once attained, observer
coverage may be reduced to 30 percent
of fishing days;
2. Prohibit vessels from being more
than three nautical miles from any piece
of gear;
3. Require proper maintenance of
configured gear in accordance with their
EFP; and
4. Require each piece of DSBG and the
terminal ends of LBG to be marked with
a radar reflector and flag, and require
buoys to be marked with the fishing
vessel’s official number.
NMFS considers the Council’s
recommendations for additional
conditions to apply to all issued and
proposed DSBG and LBG EFPs. NMFS
is also requesting public comment on
the Council’s recommendations for
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:45 Aug 25, 2017
Jkt 241001
June
June
June
June
June
June
June
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
additional terms and conditions for the
requested EFPs.
NMFS will consider all public
comments submitted in response to this
Federal Register Notice prior to
issuance of any EFP mentioned within
this Notice. Additionally, NMFS will
analyze the effects of issuing EFPs in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act and NOAA’s
Administrative Order 216–6, as well as
ensure compliance with other
applicable laws, including Section
7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), which requires
the agency to insure that the proposed
action is not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of any endangered
or threatened species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of
designated critical habitat.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 23, 2017.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–18146 Filed 8–25–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Estuarine Research Reserve
System
Office for Coastal Management,
National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce.
AGENCY:
Notice of Public Comment
Period for the Jobos Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve
Management Plan revision.
ACTION:
Notice is hereby given that the Office
for Coastal Management, National
Ocean Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce is announcing
a thirty-day public comment period for
the Jobos Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve Management Plan
revision. Pursuant to 15 CFR Section
921.33(c), the revised plan will bring the
reserve into compliance. The Jobos Bay
E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM
28AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40751-40752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18146]
[[Page 40751]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF328
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; General
Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing
Permit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator, NMFS West Coast Region, has
determined that twenty-seven exempted fishing permit (EFP) applications
warrant further consideration; therefore, NMFS is requesting public
comment on the applications. All EFP applicants request an exemption
from various prohibitions under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S.
West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP) to test the
effects and efficacy of using deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) and linked buoy
gear (LBG) to harvest swordfish and other highly migratory species
(HMS) off of the U.S. West Coast. This notice also announces and
requests public comment on NMFS' intent to extend a DSBG EFP.
DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing by September 27, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2017-0025, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0025, click the
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or
attach your comments. EFP applications will be available under Relevant
Documents through the same link.
Mail: Attn: Chris Fanning, NMFS West Coast Region, 501 W.
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802. Include the identifier
``NOAA-NMFS-2017-0025'' in the comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. 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: Chris Fanning, NMFS, West Coast
Region, 562-980-4198.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In 2015, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council)
recommended that NMFS consider issuing three DSBG EFPs to target
swordfish and other HMS off of the U.S. West Coast. After requesting
public comment and completing required analyses, NMFS approved DSBG
EFPs for the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER),
Timothy Perguson, and Stephen Mintz for the 2015-2016 fishing seasons.
Fishing activities under EFPs have yielded two years of additional data
to supplement an existing five years of data from DSBG research and
trials. In December 2016 and January 2017, NMFS reissued the PIER and
Perguson EFPs for a duration of two years. NMFS continues to support
testing alternative gears as a means to increase domestic fishing
opportunity while minimizing non-target bycatch and interactions with
protected species.
At its recent meetings, the Council received additional
applications for EFPs and recommended that NMFS consider issuing or
reissuing EFPs to a suite of interested applicants. During its November
2016 meeting, the Council recommended that NMFS reissue Stephen Mintz'
EFP for the 2017-2018 fishing seasons. At its March and June 2017
meetings, the Council recommended that NMFS consider issuing a total of
twenty EFPs to authorize use of DSBG and/or LBG (see Table 1). LBG is
defined as connectable segments of linked buoys floating at the ocean
surface, connected to vertical lines with heavy weights allowing a
horizontal line with three hooks to sink to the same depth as the
terminal hook of DSBG. Additionally, seven other DSBG EFP applications
were submitted for Council review, and require additional information
for future consideration (see Table 2).
NMFS is requesting public comment on the twenty applications
recommended for issuance by the Council as well as the seven
applications that were not formally recommended by the Council at this
time. If all applications were approved, the EFPs would allow up to
thirty-two vessels to fish with DSBG and six vessels to fish with LBG,
throughout the duration of each EFP, in the U.S. West Coast Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) with permitted exemption from the requirements of
the HMS FMP pertaining to non-authorized gear types. Aside from the
exemption described above, vessels fishing under an EFP would be
subject to all other regulations implementing the HMS FMP, including
measures to protect sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds. For up-
to-date information on HMS EFPs, please visit NMFS West Coast Region's
``Status of Exempted Fishing Permits'' Web page (https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/migratory_species/status_exempted_permits.html).
Table 1--EFP Applications Recommended for Issuance by the PFMC
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFMC recommended EFPs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of council Number of
Name recommendation vessels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-Set Buoy Gear Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mintz, Stephen.................... November 2016....... 1
Hepp, Fred........................ March 2017.......... 2
Jacobs, Kent...................... March 2017.......... 1
Kastlunger, Jordyn................ March 2017.......... 1
Harris, Phil...................... March 2017.......... 1
Corbin, Denny..................... March 2017.......... 1
Diller, William................... March 2017.......... 1
Cullen, Roger..................... June 2017........... 1
[[Page 40752]]
Haworth, David & Arthur Lorton.... June 2017........... 3
Ball, Bob......................... June 2017........... 1
Ford, John........................ June 2017........... 1
Graves, Michael................... June 2017........... 1
Kennedy, Raymond.................. June 2017........... 1
Massen, Lance..................... June 2017........... 1
Selck, Dustin..................... June 2017........... 1
Shvets, Anatolii.................. June 2017........... 2
Sidielnikov, Andrii............... June 2017........... 1
Spinale, Paul..................... June 2017........... 1
Stephens, J & B................... June 2017........... 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linked Buoy Gear Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pfleger Institute of Environmental March 2017.......... 3
Research.
Haworth, David & Arthur Lorton.... June 2017........... 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2--EFP Applications That the PFMC Has Yet To Recommend for
Issuance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submitted EFPs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Name Date of submission vessels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-Set Buoy Gear Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lutoshkin, A...................... June 2017........... 1
Maassen, L........................ June 2017........... 1
Masuda, S......................... June 2017........... 1
McCarthy, M....................... June 2017........... 2
Rynkevic, R....................... June 2017........... 1
Sokolova, T....................... June 2017........... 1
Sviridov, V....................... June 2017........... 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In March 2017, the Council also recommended that in addition to
current terms and conditions on issued EFPs, NMFS also impose the
following stipulations:
1. Require 100 percent observer coverage for the first ten sets of
new EFP participants (a set is defined as 10 pieces of buoy gear soaked
for at least eight hours). Once attained, observer coverage may be
reduced to 30 percent of fishing days;
2. Prohibit vessels from being more than three nautical miles from
any piece of gear;
3. Require proper maintenance of configured gear in accordance with
their EFP; and
4. Require each piece of DSBG and the terminal ends of LBG to be
marked with a radar reflector and flag, and require buoys to be marked
with the fishing vessel's official number.
NMFS considers the Council's recommendations for additional
conditions to apply to all issued and proposed DSBG and LBG EFPs. NMFS
is also requesting public comment on the Council's recommendations for
additional terms and conditions for the requested EFPs.
NMFS will consider all public comments submitted in response to
this Federal Register Notice prior to issuance of any EFP mentioned
within this Notice. Additionally, NMFS will analyze the effects of
issuing EFPs in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
and NOAA's Administrative Order 216-6, as well as ensure compliance
with other applicable laws, including Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), which requires the agency to
insure that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or result
in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical
habitat.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 23, 2017.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-18146 Filed 8-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
