Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 14846-14847 [2018-07088]

Download as PDF 14846 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 67 / Friday, April 6, 2018 / Notices be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, SAFMC; phone: (843) 571–4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC–10; fax: (843) 769– 4520; email: kim.iverson@safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda items for the joint AP meeting include the following: An update on amendments recently submitted for Secretarial review and currently under development by the Council; an overview of Joint Coral Amendment 10, Golden Crab Amendment 10, and Shrimp Amendment 11 addressing allowable fishing areas, Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) for the golden crab fishery, and transit provisions for the shrimp trawl fishery; a discussion of the royal red shrimp fishery and management options; an update on deep sea coral research; and regulations recommended for removal. Advisory panel members will provide recommendations as appropriate. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 3 days prior to the public hearings. Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 3, 2018. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–07041 Filed 4–5–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XG145 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Habitat Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:21 Apr 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 This meeting will be held on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 9 a.m. DATES: The meeting will be held at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740; phone: (774) 634–2000. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at (978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 3, 2018. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–07040 Filed 4–5–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Agenda The Committee will review detailed information to support development of exemption area alternatives in the clam dredge framework, including Plan Development Team (PDT) advice and analysis, as well as advice from a Scientific and Statistical Committee review panel on use of two Science Center for Marine Fisheries reports. They will also discuss any exemption area alternatives recommended by the Habitat Advisory Panel on April 3, including initial PDT evaluation. The Committee plans to recommend exemption alternatives for further analysis. These could include Advisory Panel proposals, or refinements thereof, Committee-generated proposals, and/or specific design criteria to be used by the PDT to define or refine exemption areas. They will also discuss mussel dredge fishery exemptions if necessary given the outcome of the April 17 Council discussion. They will receive briefings on offshore energy projects from developers, with a focus on offshore wind projects off MA and NY. Develop Council comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in response to any open notices, including the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Vineyard Wind project. Discuss other business as needed. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XG141 Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: The Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit Application from the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits. DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 23, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following methods: • Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments on CFRF Lobster EFP.’’ • Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM 06APN1 daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 67 / Friday, April 6, 2018 / Notices Mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments on CFRF Lobster EFP.’’ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, NOAA Affiliate, (978) 281–9225. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on February 22, 2018, to conduct fishing activities that the regulations would otherwise restrict. The EFP would authorize four commercial fishing vessels to conduct a study using ventless traps to survey the abundance and distribution of juvenile American lobster and Jonah crab in Lobster Conservation Management Area (LCMA) 2. Overall, this EFP proposes to use a total of 144 ventless traps to survey the abundance and distribution of juvenile American lobster and Jonah crab in the Rhode Island/Massachusetts Wind Energy Area (RI/MA WEA); covering statistical areas 537 and 539. Maps depicting these areas are available on request. This study is funded through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Award #M13AC00009). The CFRF is requesting exemptions from the following Federal lobster regulations: 1. Gear specification requirements in 50 CFR 697.21(c) to allow for closed escape vents; 2. Trap limit requirements, as listed in § 697.19 (b), for LCMA 2, to be exceeded by 32 standard survey traps and 48 ventless traps per fishing vessel for a total of 80 additional traps; 3. Trap tag requirements, as specified in § 697.19(j), to allow for the use of untagged traps; 4. Possession restrictions in §§ 697.20(a), 697.20(d), and 697.20(g) to allow for temporary onboard biological sampling of sub-legal lobsters; and, 5. Possession limits and minimum fish size requirements specified in § 648, subsections B and D through O, for biological sampling purposes. If the EFP is approved, this study would take place from May through November, 2018. Each participating vessel would have eight trawls with 10 traps per trawl, consisting of 6 ventless traps and 4 standard traps per trawl. Each vessel will deploy a trawl at eight stations twice a month. Gear will be deployed and retrieved after a five-day soak period. No more than 144 modified and 96 standard traps would be in the water at any time. Modifications to a standard lobster trap would include a closed escape vent, a smaller mesh size, and a smaller entrance head. Traps will be rigged on trawls that are compliant with the Atlantic Large Whale Take VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:21 Apr 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 Reduction Plan. Each experimental trap will have the participating fisherman’s identification attached. Lobster and Jonah crab retrieved from the standard and modified traps would remain onboard for a short period of time to allow for sampling, after which they would be returned to the water. During sampling, biological information would be collected on all lobsters caught, including: Carapace length; sex; cull status; and presence of eggs, vnotches, and shell disease. Bycatch species would also be kept onboard for enumeration, weight collection, and measurement. All species captured in study traps will be returned promptly to the water after sampling. In conjunction with the ventless trap survey within the RI/MA WEA, the project will include a lobster tagging program to determine the seasonal movement patterns and habitat use by lobsters. Investigators anticipate tagging of 300 lobsters per month across the area. Outreach and incentive programs will be developed to encourage tag reporting. Permitted activities would begin on or after May 1, 2018, and continue through November 2018. No catch from this project will be landed for sale. All data collected will be made available to state and Federal management agencies to improve and enhance the available data for these two crustacean species. If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and extensions to the EFP throughout the year. We may grant EFP modifications and extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP request. The EFP would prohibit any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activities. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 3, 2018. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–07088 Filed 4–5–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Environmental Management SiteSpecific Advisory Board, Idaho Cleanup Project Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of open meeting. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14847 This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Idaho Cleanup Project. The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register. DATES: Thursday, April 19, 2018; 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The opportunity for public comment is at 10:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This time is subject to change; please contact the Federal Coordinator (below) for confirmation of times prior to the meeting. SUMMARY: Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Event Center, 777 Bannock Trail, Fort Hall, ID 83203. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Bugger, Federal Coordinator, Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, 1955 Fremont Avenue, MS– 1203, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415. Phone (208) 526–0833; or email: buggerbp@ id.doe.gov or visit the Board’s internet home page at: https://energy.gov/em/ icpcab/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose of the Board: The purpose of the Board is to make recommendations to DOE–EM and site management in the areas of environmental restoration, waste management, and related activities. Tentative Topics (agenda topics may change up to the day of the meeting; please contact Brad Bugger for the most current agenda): • Recent Public Outreach • Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) Overview • Update on Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) • Update on Transuranic Waste Characterization and Shipping • Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board Study • Update on EM Budget • Board Discussion Public Participation: The EM SSAB, Idaho Cleanup Project, welcomes the attendance of the public at its advisory committee meetings and will make every effort to accommodate persons with physical disabilities or special needs. If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please contact Brad Bugger at least seven days in advance of the meeting at the phone number listed above. Written statements may be filed with the Board either before or after the meeting. Individuals who wish to make oral presentations pertaining to agenda items should contact Brad Bugger at the address or telephone number listed above. The request must be received five ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM 06APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14846-14847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07088]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG141


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; 
General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted 
Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit Application from the 
Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation contains all the required 
information and warrants further consideration. Regulations under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the 
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require 
publication of this notice to provide interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing 
Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on CFRF Lobster EFP.''
     Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930.

[[Page 14847]]

Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on CFRF Lobster EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, NOAA Affiliate, (978) 
281-9225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation 
(CFRF) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit 
(EFP) on February 22, 2018, to conduct fishing activities that the 
regulations would otherwise restrict. The EFP would authorize four 
commercial fishing vessels to conduct a study using ventless traps to 
survey the abundance and distribution of juvenile American lobster and 
Jonah crab in Lobster Conservation Management Area (LCMA) 2. Overall, 
this EFP proposes to use a total of 144 ventless traps to survey the 
abundance and distribution of juvenile American lobster and Jonah crab 
in the Rhode Island/Massachusetts Wind Energy Area (RI/MA WEA); 
covering statistical areas 537 and 539. Maps depicting these areas are 
available on request.
    This study is funded through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 
(Award #M13AC00009). The CFRF is requesting exemptions from the 
following Federal lobster regulations:
    1. Gear specification requirements in 50 CFR 697.21(c) to allow for 
closed escape vents;
    2. Trap limit requirements, as listed in Sec.  697.19 (b), for LCMA 
2, to be exceeded by 32 standard survey traps and 48 ventless traps per 
fishing vessel for a total of 80 additional traps;
    3. Trap tag requirements, as specified in Sec.  697.19(j), to allow 
for the use of untagged traps;
    4. Possession restrictions in Sec. Sec.  697.20(a), 697.20(d), and 
697.20(g) to allow for temporary onboard biological sampling of sub-
legal lobsters; and,
    5. Possession limits and minimum fish size requirements specified 
in Sec.  648, subsections B and D through O, for biological sampling 
purposes.
    If the EFP is approved, this study would take place from May 
through November, 2018. Each participating vessel would have eight 
trawls with 10 traps per trawl, consisting of 6 ventless traps and 4 
standard traps per trawl. Each vessel will deploy a trawl at eight 
stations twice a month. Gear will be deployed and retrieved after a 
five-day soak period. No more than 144 modified and 96 standard traps 
would be in the water at any time. Modifications to a standard lobster 
trap would include a closed escape vent, a smaller mesh size, and a 
smaller entrance head. Traps will be rigged on trawls that are 
compliant with the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. Each 
experimental trap will have the participating fisherman's 
identification attached.
    Lobster and Jonah crab retrieved from the standard and modified 
traps would remain onboard for a short period of time to allow for 
sampling, after which they would be returned to the water. During 
sampling, biological information would be collected on all lobsters 
caught, including: Carapace length; sex; cull status; and presence of 
eggs, v-notches, and shell disease. Bycatch species would also be kept 
onboard for enumeration, weight collection, and measurement. All 
species captured in study traps will be returned promptly to the water 
after sampling. In conjunction with the ventless trap survey within the 
RI/MA WEA, the project will include a lobster tagging program to 
determine the seasonal movement patterns and habitat use by lobsters. 
Investigators anticipate tagging of 300 lobsters per month across the 
area. Outreach and incentive programs will be developed to encourage 
tag reporting. Permitted activities would begin on or after May 1, 
2018, and continue through November 2018. No catch from this project 
will be landed for sale. All data collected will be made available to 
state and Federal management agencies to improve and enhance the 
available data for these two crustacean species.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. We may grant EFP 
modifications and extensions may be granted without further notice if 
they are deemed essential to facilitate completion of the proposed 
research and have minimal impacts that do not change the scope or 
impact of the initially approved EFP request. The EFP would prohibit 
any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted 
fishing activities.

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

    Dated: April 3, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-07088 Filed 4-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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