Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting, 32727-32728 [2019-14519]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 9, 2019 / Notices
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address) voluntarily submitted by the
commenter may be publicly accessible.
Do not submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shane Guan, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. An
electronic copy of Hilcorp and Eni’s
application may be obtained online at:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-mammal-protection/
incidental-take-authorizations-oil-andgas. In case of problems accessing these
documents, please call the contact listed
above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct
the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated
to NMFS) to allow, upon request, the
incidental, but not intentional, taking of
small numbers of marine mammals by
U.S. citizens who engage in a specified
activity (other than commercial fishing)
within a specified geographical region if
certain findings are made and either
regulations are issued or, if the taking is
limited to harassment, a notice of a
proposed authorization is provided to
the public for review.
An incidental take authorization shall
be granted if NMFS finds that the taking
will have a negligible impact on the
species or stock(s), will not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
subsistence uses (where relevant), and if
the permissible methods of taking and
requirements pertaining to the
mitigation, monitoring and reporting of
such takings are set forth.
NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible
impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact
resulting from the specified activity that
cannot be reasonably expected to, and is
not reasonably likely to, adversely affect
the species or stock through effects on
annual rates of recruitment or survival.
The MMPA states that the term ‘‘take’’
means to harass, hunt, capture, kill or
attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill
any marine mammal.
Except with respect to certain
activities not pertinent here, the MMPA
defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: Any act of
pursuit, torment, or annoyance, which
(i) has the potential to injure a marine
mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has
the potential to disturb a marine
mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild by causing disruption of behavioral
patterns, including, but not limited to,
migration, breathing, nursing, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (Level B
harassment).
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Summary of Request
On December 2, 2018, NMFS received
a joint application from Hilcorp and Eni
requesting authorization for take of
marine mammals incidental to
construction activities related to ice
roads and ice trails in North Slope,
Alaska. The requested regulations
would be valid for five years, from
approximately December 1, 2019
through November 30, 2024. Hilcorp
and Eni plan to conduct necessary work,
including use of heavy machinery on
ice, to facilitate access to North Slope
offshore oil and gas facilities. The
proposed action may incidentally
expose marine mammals occurring in
the vicinity to elevated levels of sound,
human presence on ice habitat, and
interactions with heavy machinery,
thereby resulting in incidental take, by
Level B harassment and serious injury
or mortality. NMFS provided questions
and comments to Hilcorp and Eni after
receiving the initial application
regarding the scope of the project and
impact analysis. Hilcorp and Eni
submitted a modified request on May
21, 2019 and NMFS deemed the
application adequate and complete on
May 31, 2019.
Specified Activities
Hilcorp and Eni conduct oil and gas
operations at Northstar Production
Facility (Northstar) and Spy Island
Drillsite (SID), respectively, in coastal
Beaufort Sea waters, Alaska. Ice roads
and ice trails are constructed yearly to
connect and allow access to offshore
facilities. The process of constructing
ice roads includes clearing of snow,
drilling holes in the ice, pumping
seawater to the surface, and the
operation of tracked and wheeled
vehicles. Construction of ice trails and
maintenance of ice roads generally
requires the presence of vehicles and
personnel with snow blowing
equipment.
Each year, Hilcorp will construct and
maintain an estimated 11.7 kilometer
(km) ice road and approximately 21.9
kms of ice trails to their Northstar Island
and West Dock facilities. Each year, Eni
will construct and maintain an
estimated 6.8 km of ice roads and 6.8
km of ice trails related to their SID
facility, and an additional 8.9 to 11.2 km
of ice roads related to their Oooguruk
activities.
Construction of ice roads and ice
trails generally begins in late December
and the process takes approximately six
weeks. These roads and trails and used
and maintained until Mid-May when
the ice becomes too unstable to access.
Ringed seals (Phoca hispida hispida) are
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32727
the only marine mammal species
expected to occur in the action area
during construction, use, and
maintenance activity.
Information Solicited
Interested persons may submit
information, suggestions, and comments
concerning Hilcorp and Eni’s request
(see ADDRESSES). NMFS will consider all
information, suggestions, and comments
related to the request during the
development of proposed regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals by Hilcorp and Eni, if
appropriate.
Dated: July 3, 2019.
Donna Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–14530 Filed 7–8–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XH082
Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and
South Atlantic; Southeast Data,
Assessment, and Review (SEDAR);
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 64 Post-Data
Workshop Webinar for Southeast (SE)
yellowtail snapper.
AGENCY:
The SEDAR 64 stock
assessment process for SE yellowtail
snapper will consist of a Data
Workshop, a series of data and
assessment webinars, and a Review
Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
SUMMARY:
The SEDAR 64 Post-Data
Workshop Webinar will be held July 23,
2019, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Eastern
Time.
DATES:
The meeting will be held
via webinar. The webinar is open to
members of the public. Those interested
in participating should contact Julie A.
Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) to request an
invitation providing webinar access
information. Please request webinar
invitations at least 24 hours in advance
of each webinar.
SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place
Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC
29405.
ADDRESSES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 9, 2019 / Notices
Julie
A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; (843) 571–
4366; email: Julie.neer@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
of Mexico, South Atlantic, and
Caribbean Fishery Management
Councils, in conjunction with NOAA
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf
States Marine Fisheries Commissions
have implemented the Southeast Data,
Assessment and Review (SEDAR)
process, a multi-step method for
determining the status of fish stocks in
the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data
Workshop, (2) a series of assessment
webinars, and (3) A Review Workshop.
The product of the Data Workshop is a
report that compiles and evaluates
potential datasets and recommends
which datasets are appropriate for
assessment analyses. The assessment
webinars produce a report that describes
the fisheries, evaluates the status of the
stock, estimates biological benchmarks,
projects future population conditions,
and recommends research and
monitoring needs. The product of the
Review Workshop is an Assessment
Summary documenting panel opinions
regarding the strengths and weaknesses
of the stock assessment and input data.
Participants for SEDAR Workshops are
appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South
Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery
Management Councils and NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office,
HMS Management Division, and
Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
Participants include data collectors and
database managers; stock assessment
scientists, biologists, and researchers;
constituency representatives including
fishermen, environmentalists, and
NGO’s; International experts; and staff
of Councils, Commissions, and state and
federal agencies.
The items of discussion during the
Data Webinar are as follows:
Panelists will review and discuss
outstanding issues from the Data
Workshop for data sets being considered
for the assessment and may discuss
initial modeling efforts.
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 this meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the intent to take final action
to address the emergency.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Jkt 247001
Special Accommodations
The meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to the
Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
business days prior to each workshop.
Note: The times and sequence specified in
this agenda are subject to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 3, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–14519 Filed 7–8–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XH084
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.
AGENCY:
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council will hold a two
day in-person meeting of its Standing,
Reef Fish, Mackerel and Socioeconomic
Scientific and Statistical Committees
(SSC).
SUMMARY:
The meeting will begin at 8:30
a.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 and
adjourn by 5 p.m., EDT on Wednesday,
July 31, 2019.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Gulf Council’s office; see address
below.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 4107 W
Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL
33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ryan Rindone, Fishery Biologist, Gulf of
Mexico Fishery Management Council;
ryan.rindone@gulfcouncil.org,
telephone: (813) 348–1630.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
Tuesday, July 30, 2019; 8:30 a.m.–5
p.m.
The meeting will begin with
Introductions, Adoption of Agenda,
Scope of Work, Approval of Scientific
and Statistical Committees (SSC)
Minutes from the May 9, 2019 Standing,
Reef Fish, Mackerel, and Socioeconomic
SSC Webinar; and, Selection of SSC
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representative to attend the August 12–
15, 2019 Council meeting in New
Orleans, Louisiana.
The committees will receive
presentations on the following: Best
Scientific Information Available—
NOAA Policy Directive for Stock Status
Determinations and Catch
Specifications, National Standard 2
(background information); National
Standard 1 Guidance on Estimation of
Fishing Mortality and Biomass Proxies;
Coping with Information Gaps in Stock
Productivity for Rebuilding and
Achieving Maximum Sustainable Yield
for Grouper-Snapper Fisheries;
Establishing Stock Status Determination
Criteria for Fisheries with High Discards
and Uncertain Recruitment; and, a
Perspective on Steepness, Reference
Points, and Stock Assessment. The
committees will then review the revised
actions for Status Determination Criteria
Amendment.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019; 8:30 a.m.–5
p.m.
The committees will hold a
discussion on Alternative Acceptable
Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule;
review Marine Recreational Information
Program (MRIP) and State Survey Data
Collection and Calibration Efforts;
discuss SEDAR 62: Gray Triggerfish
Progress and Council Research and
Monitoring Priorities for 2020–24. The
committees will review the scope of
work for Gray Snapper and West Florida
Hogfish Assessments; review the Gulf
SEDAR Assessment Schedule; receive a
presentation on Explosive Removal of
Structures: Fisheries Impact
Assessment; discuss Almaco Jack Life
History and Landings; and, any other
business items.
—Meeting Adjourns
The meeting will be broadcast via
webinar. You may register for listen-in
access by visiting www.gulfcouncil.org
and clicking on the SSC meeting on the
calendar.
The Agenda is subject to change, and
the latest version along with other
meeting materials will be posted on
www.gulfcouncil.org as they become
available.
Although other non-emergency issues
not on the agenda may come before the
Scientific and Statistical Committee for
discussion, in accordance with the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act,
those issues may not be the subject of
formal action during this meeting.
Actions of the Scientific and Statistical
Committee will be restricted to those
issues specifically identified in the
agenda and any issues arising after
E:\FR\FM\09JYN1.SGM
09JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32727-32728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14519]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XH082
Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Southeast
Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 64 Post-Data Workshop Webinar for Southeast
(SE) yellowtail snapper.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The SEDAR 64 stock assessment process for SE yellowtail
snapper will consist of a Data Workshop, a series of data and
assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
DATES: The SEDAR 64 Post-Data Workshop Webinar will be held July 23,
2019, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Eastern Time.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to
members of the public. Those interested in participating should contact
Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to request
an invitation providing webinar access information. Please request
webinar invitations at least 24 hours in advance of each webinar.
SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston,
SC 29405.
[[Page 32728]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator;
(843) 571-4366; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and
Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions
have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR)
process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks
in the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multi-step process including: (1)
Data Workshop, (2) a series of assessment webinars, and (3) A Review
Workshop. The product of the Data Workshop is a report that compiles
and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are
appropriate for assessment analyses. The assessment webinars produce a
report that describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock,
estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions,
and recommends research and monitoring needs. The product of the Review
Workshop is an Assessment Summary documenting panel opinions regarding
the strengths and weaknesses of the stock assessment and input data.
Participants for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf of Mexico,
South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils and NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, HMS Management Division, and
Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include data
collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists,
biologists, and researchers; constituency representatives including
fishermen, environmentalists, and NGO's; International experts; and
staff of Councils, Commissions, and state and federal agencies.
The items of discussion during the Data Webinar are as follows:
Panelists will review and discuss outstanding issues from the Data
Workshop for data sets being considered for the assessment and may
discuss initial modeling efforts.
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 this meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action
under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the intent to
take final action to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
business days prior to each workshop.
Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are
subject to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 3, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-14519 Filed 7-8-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
