Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Pacific Halibut Fisheries: Charter Permits, 44581-44582 [2017-20398]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 184 / Monday, September 25, 2017 / Notices taken relative to the population size of the affected species or stocks. Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis and Determination There are no relevant subsistence uses of the affected marine mammal stocks or species implicated by this action. Therefore, NMFS has determined that the total taking of affected species or stocks would not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of such species or stocks for taking for subsistence purposes. Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal agency insure that any action it authorizes, funds, or carries out 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. To ensure ESA compliance for the issuance of IHAs, NMFS consults internally, in this case with the ESA Interagency Cooperation Division, whenever we propose to authorize take for endangered or threatened species. We (the NMFS OPR Permits and Conservation Division) are authorizing the incidental take of four species of marine mammals which are listed under the ESA: The sei, fin, blue and sperm whale. Under Section 7 of the ESA, we initiated consultation with the NMFS OPR Interagency Cooperation Division for the issuance of this IHA. In September, 2017, the NMFS OPR Interagency Cooperation Division issued a Biological Opinion with an incidental take statement, which concluded that the issuance of the IHA was not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of sei, fin, blue and sperm whales. The Biological Opinion also concluded that the issuance of the IHA would not destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat for these species. asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES Authorization NMFS has issued an IHA to the University of Hawaii for the potential harassment of small numbers of 24 marine mammal species incidental to a marine geophysical survey in the central Pacific Ocean, provided the previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring and reporting requirements are incorporated. Dated: September 19, 2017. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–20362 Filed 9–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:45 Sep 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Pacific Halibut Fisheries: Charter Permits National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 24, 2017. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at pracomments@doc.gov). An electronic copy of the most recent supporting statement for this information collection is available from https://www.cio.noaa.gov/itmanagement/ pdfs/0592ext14.pdf. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Kurt Iverson (907) 586–7228 or kurt.iverson@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Abstract This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection. The Alaska Pacific Halibut Charter Program established Federal Charter Halibut Permits (CHPs) for operators in the charter halibut fishery in IPHC regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). Since February 1, 2011, all vessel operators in Areas 2C and 3A with charter anglers onboard catching and retaining Pacific halibut must have a valid CHP onboard during every charter vessel fishing trip. CHPs must be endorsed with the appropriate regulatory area and number of anglers. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implemented this program based on recommendations by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to meet allocation objectives in the charter PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 44581 halibut fishery. This program provides stability in the fishery by limiting the number of charter vessels that may participate in Areas 2C and 3A and decreasing the overall number of available CHPs over time. The program goals are to increase the value of the resource, limit boats to qualified active participants in the guided sport halibut sector, and enhance economic stability in rural coastal communities. II. Method of Collection Methods of submittal include mail and facsimile transmission of paper forms. Fillable pdfs are available on the NMFS Alaska Region Web page and may be downloaded, completed, and printed out prior to submission. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0648–0592. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved collection). Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 68. Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours for Application for Transfer of Charter Halibut Permit; 0.5 hours for Application for Military Charter Permit; 2 hours for Application for Transfer between IFQ and Guided Angler Fish (GAF); and 4 hours for Appeals if an Application for Transfer between IFQ and GAF is denied by NMFS. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours and Equivalent Labor Costs to the Public: 98 hours and $3,626 per year ($37 per hour for preparing and submitting applications and $125/hr for preparing an appeal). Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $196 in recordkeeping/reporting costs for photocopying, obtaining a notarized signature, faxing, or mailing applications. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. E:\FR\FM\25SEN1.SGM 25SEN1 44582 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 184 / Monday, September 25, 2017 / Notices Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: September 20, 2017. Sarah Brabson, NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2017–20398 Filed 9–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF539 Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 44 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. AGENCY: The Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 44 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 44 would revise minimum stock size thresholds (MSST) for seven stocks in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery management unit. The MSST would be revised for the gag, red grouper, red snapper, vermilion snapper, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, and hogfish stocks. The need for Amendment 44 is to provide a sufficient buffer between spawning stock biomass at maximum sustainable yield (BMSY) and MSST to reduce the likelihood that stock status changes frequently between overfished and not overfished as a result of scientific uncertainty or naturalfluctuations in biomass levels. DATES: Written comments on Amendment 44 must be received by November 24, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on Amendment 44 identified by ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2017–0101’’ by either 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-20170101, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:45 Sep 22, 2017 Jkt 241001 complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to Peter Hood, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 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). Electronic copies of Amendment 44 may be obtained from www.regulations.gov or the Southeast Regional Office Web site at https:// sero.nmfs.noaa.gov. Amendment 44 includes an environmental assessment and a fishery impact statement. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, telephone: 727–824–5305, or email: peter.hood@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires each regional fishery management council to submit any FMP or amendment to NMFS for review and approval, partial approval, or disapproval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving a plan or amendment, publish an announcement in the Federal Register notifying the public that the FMP or amendment is available for review and comment. Amendment 44 to the FMP was prepared by the Council and, if approved, would be incorporated into the management of Gulf reef fish through the FMP. Background In 1999, the Council submitted the Generic Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment to comply with status determination criteria (SDC) requirements of the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996. NMFS approved most of the fishing mortality threshold (MFMT) criteria, but disapproved all of the definitions for maximum sustainable yield (MSY), optimum yield (OY), and MSST. The Council subsequently began establishing these reference points and SDC on a species-specific basis as stock PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 assessments were later conducted, and is currently preparing a plan amendment to address all of the unassessed reef fish stocks. Amendment 44 focuses on those assessed stocks with MSSTs, which are gag, red grouper, red snapper, vermilion snapper, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, and hogfish. Red snapper, gray triggerfish, and greater amberjack are currently considered overfished and are under rebuilding plans. The other 4 stocks are not considered overfished (gag, red grouper, vermilion snapper, and hogfish). For most of the assessed federally managed reef fish stocks in the Gulf with defined MSSTs, the overfished status, when applied, has been evaluated using the formula: (1¥M) * BMSY (M is the natural mortality rate and B is a measure of stock biomass). For some stocks that have a very low natural mortality rate, the formula (1¥M) * BMSY results in an MSST that is very close to the BMSY. For example, red snapper is a moderately long-lived fish that has a natural mortality rate of about 0.1. The above formula results in an MSST of 90 percent of BMSY. In such situations it can be difficult to determine if a stock is actually less than MSST due to the imprecision and accuracy of the data used in stock assessments. In addition, natural fluctuations in stock biomass levels around the BMSY level may temporarily reduce the stock biomass to be less than MSST. Setting a greater buffer between BMSY and MSST can reduce the risk of mistakenly declaring a stock overfished. In Amendment 44, the Council evaluated MSSTs ranging from 0.85*BMSY (or proxy) to 0.50*BMSY (or proxy), and selected 0.50*BMSY (or proxy) as its preferred alternative. This is consistent with the National Standard 1 guidelines and reduces the likelihood of a stock being declared overfished as a result of scientific uncertainty or natural fluctuations in biomass levels. Setting the MSST at this level could result in a very restrictive rebuilding plan if the biomass level of a stock drops below the MSST and NMFS declares that the stock is overfished. However, the Council determined that the requirements for overfishing limits, annual catch limits, and accountability measures, reduce the probability that sustained overfishing would occur and cause a stock to fall below the MSST. The MSST proposed in Amendment 44 is used for at least some stocks managed by three of the other regional fishery management councils (New England, Mid-Atlantic, and North Pacific). If this MSST definition is E:\FR\FM\25SEN1.SGM 25SEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44581-44582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20398]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Pacific 
Halibut Fisheries: Charter Permits

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 24, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at pracomments@doc.gov).
    An electronic copy of the most recent supporting statement for this 
information collection is available from https://www.cio.noaa.gov/itmanagement/pdfs/0592ext14.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Kurt Iverson (907) 586-7228 or kurt.iverson@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The Alaska Pacific Halibut Charter Program established Federal 
Charter Halibut Permits (CHPs) for operators in the charter halibut 
fishery in IPHC regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central 
Gulf of Alaska). Since February 1, 2011, all vessel operators in Areas 
2C and 3A with charter anglers onboard catching and retaining Pacific 
halibut must have a valid CHP onboard during every charter vessel 
fishing trip. CHPs must be endorsed with the appropriate regulatory 
area and number of anglers.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implemented this 
program based on recommendations by the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council to meet allocation objectives in the charter halibut 
fishery. This program provides stability in the fishery by limiting the 
number of charter vessels that may participate in Areas 2C and 3A and 
decreasing the overall number of available CHPs over time. The program 
goals are to increase the value of the resource, limit boats to 
qualified active participants in the guided sport halibut sector, and 
enhance economic stability in rural coastal communities.

II. Method of Collection

    Methods of submittal include mail and facsimile transmission of 
paper forms. Fillable pdfs are available on the NMFS Alaska Region Web 
page and may be downloaded, completed, and printed out prior to 
submission.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0592.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 68.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours for Application for Transfer 
of Charter Halibut Permit; 0.5 hours for Application for Military 
Charter Permit; 2 hours for Application for Transfer between IFQ and 
Guided Angler Fish (GAF); and 4 hours for Appeals if an Application for 
Transfer between IFQ and GAF is denied by NMFS.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours and Equivalent Labor Costs to 
the Public: 98 hours and $3,626 per year ($37 per hour for preparing 
and submitting applications and $125/hr for preparing an appeal).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $196 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs for photocopying, obtaining a notarized signature, 
faxing, or mailing applications.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

[[Page 44582]]

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 20, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-20398 Filed 9-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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