Endangered Species; File Nos. 21111, 23683, and 23851, 37433-37434 [2020-13358]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 120 / Monday, June 22, 2020 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XW026]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permits; West Coast Pelagic
Conservation Group
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Regional Administrator,
West Coast Region, NMFS, has made a
preliminary determination that an
application for an Exempted Fishing
Permit warrants further consideration.
The application, submitted by the West
Coast Pelagic Conservation Group (a
non-profit fishing industry group),
requests an exemption from the
expected prohibition on primary
directed fishing for Pacific sardine for
the 2020–2021 fishing year to collect
Pacific sardine as part of an industrybased scientific survey. NMFS requests
public comment on the application.
DATES: Comments must be received by
July 7, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2020–0069, by the following
method:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all
public comments via the Federal
e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20200069, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments. The Exempted
Fishing Permit application will be
available under Supporting and Related
Materials through the same link.
Instructions: Comments must be
submitted by the above method to
ensure that the comments are received,
documented, and considered by NMFS.
Comments sent by any other method or
received after the end of the comment
period, may not be considered. 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.) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be
publicly accessible. Do not submit
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information. NMFS will accept
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:08 Jun 19, 2020
Jkt 250001
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lynn Massey, West Coast Region,
NMFS, (562) 436–2462, lynn.massey@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
action is authorized by the Coastal
Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) and
regulations at 50 CFR 600.745, which
allow NMFS Regional Administrators to
authorize exempted fishing permits
(EFPs) to test fishing activities that
would otherwise be prohibited.
On May 27, 2020, NMFS published a
proposed rule (85 FR 31733) to
implement Pacific sardine harvest
specifications for the 2020–2021 fishing
year off the U.S. West Coast. This
proposed rule included a 4,288 metric
ton (mt) annual catch limit (ACL), a
4,000-mt annual catch target (ACT) and
a prohibition on directed fishing for
Pacific sardine off the coasts of
Washington, Oregon, and California,
except as part of the live bait or minor
directed fisheries, or as part of EFP
fishing activities.
On April 21, 2020, the West Coast
Pelagic Conservation Group (WCPCG)
submitted an EFP application to NMFS
requesting to directly harvest up to 5 mt
of Pacific sardine as part of their
‘‘Collaborative ‘‘Proof of Concept
Project’’ for Nearshore Surveillance
Acoustic Trawl Methodology Survey of
North West Coastal Waters’’ survey
during the 2020–2021 fishing year. At
the April 2020 Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) meeting,
although formal Council review and
approval of EFPs was removed from the
Council’s agenda, the Council expressed
support for this EFP proposal during
their discussion of sardine management
measures.
Since 2017, the WCPCG has been
working with NMFS Southwest
Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) and
the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife to survey CPS in nearshore
Oregon/Washington coastal waters. The
purpose of the EFP is to collect
biological samples in areas inshore of
the 2020 NMFS SWFSC acoustic trawl
survey to better assess species
composition and CPS distribution and
abundance. The collections under the
EFP would take place in nearshore
waters of Oregon and Washington over
a 14-day period between approximately
mid-June through August, 2020. Any
harvest under this EFP would count
against the 2020–2021 ACL and ACT for
Pacific sardine. If NMFS does not issue
this EFP, then this 5-mt portion of the
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Fmt 4703
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37433
ACL would be available for harvest by
other permissible fishing activities.
After publication of this document in
the Federal Register, NMFS may
approve and issue permits to
participating vessels after the close of
the public comment period. NMFS will
consider comments submitted in
deciding whether to approve the
application as requested. NMFS may
approve the application in its entirety or
may make any alterations needed to
achieve the goals of the EFP project.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 17, 2020.
He´le`ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–13378 Filed 6–19–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XA237]
Endangered Species; File Nos. 21111,
23683, and 23851
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications
for permits and a permit modification.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
three applicants have applied in due
form for a permit or permit modification
to take green (Chelonia mydas),
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata),
Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii),
leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea),
loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and olive
ridley (L. olivacea) sea turtles for
purposes of scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
July 22, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Each 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 the applicable File No. 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.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\22JNN1.SGM
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37434
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 120 / Monday, June 22, 2020 / Notices
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 the
application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Hapeman or Erin Markin, (301)
427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permits and permit modification
are requested under the authority of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and
the regulations governing the taking,
importing, and exporting of endangered
and threatened species (50 CFR parts
222–226).
File No. 21111–02: NMFS, Southwest
Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla
Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037,
(Responsible Party: Robin LeRoux),
proposes to modify Permit No. 21111–
01. The permit, originally issued on
February 15, 2018 (83 FR 13731, March
30, 2018), authorizes researchers to
conduct long-term monitoring of
leatherback sea turtles off the coasts of
California, Oregon, and Washington.
Researchers may conduct vessel-based
research on leatherbacks including
captures, observation, transmitter
attachment, marking, measurements,
imaging, and biological sampling. The
permit holder requests authorization to
(1) use a manned ’spotter’ aircraft and
unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to
assist leatherback capture efforts, (2)
increase the number of animals
captured from 15 to 20 animals annually
in line 1 of the take table, (3) attach an
acoustic tag to animals to evaluate finescale leatherback movements and
habitat use, (4) analyze the microbiome
of collected cloacal and fecal samples to
evaluate leatherback health and body
condition, and (5) add personnel to
conduct the request aerial methods. The
permit is valid through September 30,
2027.
File No. 23683: Guam Division of
Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, 163
Dairy Road, Mangilao, Guam 96913,
(Responsible Party: Jay Gutierrez),
proposes to obtain information on green
and hawksbill sea turtle movement,
distribution, abundance, genetics, and
health status in waters around Guam.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:08 Jun 19, 2020
Jkt 250001
Up to 45 green and 10 hawksbill sea
turtles would be captured by hand or
tangle net, tagged (flipper, passive
integrated transponder [PIT]),
biologically sampled (skin), measured,
weighed, and photographed/videoed,
annually, prior to release. A subset of
turtles may receive a satellite tag (epoxy
attachment). The permit would be valid
for 10 years from the date of issuance.
File No. 23851: Michael Arendt,
South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources, Marine Resources, 217 Fort
Johnson Road, Charleston, South
Carolina, proposed to assess the
abundance, distribution, demographic
structure, genetics, and health of green,
Kemp’s ridley, leatherback, loggerhead,
and olive ridley sea turtles in waters off
the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia,
and northern Florida. Up to 3 green, 30
Kemp’s ridley, 1 leatherback, 130
loggerhead, and 2 olive ridley sea turtles
would be captured by trawl, tagged
(flipper, PIT), biologically sampled
(blood, lesion, scute), measured,
weighed, and photographed/videoed,
annually, prior to release. A subset of
turtles may receive a satellite or acoustic
tag (epoxy attachment). Up to 12 green,
1 Kemp’s ridley, and 1 loggerhead sea
turtles may be captured under another
authority, tagged (flipper, PIT),
biologically sampled (blood, lesion,
scute), measured, weighed,
photographed/videoed, and receive a
satellite or acoustic tag (epoxy
attachment), annually, prior to release.
Unintentional mortality of one green,
one Kemp’s ridley, one leatherback, and
two loggerhead sea turtles could happen
over the life of the permit. The permit
would be valid for up to 10 years from
the date of issuance.
Dated: June 16, 2020.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–13358 Filed 6–19–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XW025]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Coastal Pelagic Species
Fishery; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permits; California Wetfish
Producers Association
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
The Regional Administrator,
West Coast Region, NMFS, has made a
preliminary determination that an
application for an Exempted Fishing
Permit warrants further consideration.
The application, submitted by the
California Wetfish Producers
Association, requests an exemption
from the expected prohibition on
primary directed fishing for Pacific
sardine for the 2020–2021 fishing year
to collect Pacific sardine as part of an
industry-based scientific survey. NMFS
requests public comment on the
application.
DATES: Comments must be received by
July 7, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2020–0067, by the following
method:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all
public comments via the Federal
e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20200067, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments. The EFP
application will be available under
Supporting and Related Materials
through the same link.
Instructions: Comments must be
submitted by the above method to
ensure that the comments are received,
documented, and considered by NMFS.
Comments sent by any other method or
received after the end of the comment
period, may not be considered. 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.) submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be
publicly accessible. Do not submit
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information. NMFS will accept
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lynn Massey, West Coast Region,
NMFS, (562) 436–2462, lynn.massey@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
action is authorized by the Coastal
Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) and
regulations at 50 CFR 600.745, which
allow NMFS Regional Administrators to
authorize exempted fishing permits
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\22JNN1.SGM
22JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 120 (Monday, June 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37433-37434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13358]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XA237]
Endangered Species; File Nos. 21111, 23683, and 23851
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for permits and a permit
modification.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that three applicants have applied in
due form for a permit or permit modification to take green (Chelonia
mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys
kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta
caretta), and olive ridley (L. olivacea) sea turtles for purposes of
scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email comments must be received on or
before July 22, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Each 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 the
applicable File No. 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.
[[Page 37434]]
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 [email protected]. 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 the application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Erin Markin, (301) 427-
8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permits and permit modification
are requested under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the regulations governing
the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened
species (50 CFR parts 222-226).
File No. 21111-02: NMFS, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8901
La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, (Responsible Party:
Robin LeRoux), proposes to modify Permit No. 21111-01. The permit,
originally issued on February 15, 2018 (83 FR 13731, March 30, 2018),
authorizes researchers to conduct long-term monitoring of leatherback
sea turtles off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.
Researchers may conduct vessel-based research on leatherbacks including
captures, observation, transmitter attachment, marking, measurements,
imaging, and biological sampling. The permit holder requests
authorization to (1) use a manned 'spotter' aircraft and unmanned
aircraft system (UAS) to assist leatherback capture efforts, (2)
increase the number of animals captured from 15 to 20 animals annually
in line 1 of the take table, (3) attach an acoustic tag to animals to
evaluate fine-scale leatherback movements and habitat use, (4) analyze
the microbiome of collected cloacal and fecal samples to evaluate
leatherback health and body condition, and (5) add personnel to conduct
the request aerial methods. The permit is valid through September 30,
2027.
File No. 23683: Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources,
163 Dairy Road, Mangilao, Guam 96913, (Responsible Party: Jay
Gutierrez), proposes to obtain information on green and hawksbill sea
turtle movement, distribution, abundance, genetics, and health status
in waters around Guam. Up to 45 green and 10 hawksbill sea turtles
would be captured by hand or tangle net, tagged (flipper, passive
integrated transponder [PIT]), biologically sampled (skin), measured,
weighed, and photographed/videoed, annually, prior to release. A subset
of turtles may receive a satellite tag (epoxy attachment). The permit
would be valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.
File No. 23851: Michael Arendt, South Carolina Department of
Natural Resources, Marine Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston,
South Carolina, proposed to assess the abundance, distribution,
demographic structure, genetics, and health of green, Kemp's ridley,
leatherback, loggerhead, and olive ridley sea turtles in waters off the
coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida. Up to 3 green,
30 Kemp's ridley, 1 leatherback, 130 loggerhead, and 2 olive ridley sea
turtles would be captured by trawl, tagged (flipper, PIT), biologically
sampled (blood, lesion, scute), measured, weighed, and photographed/
videoed, annually, prior to release. A subset of turtles may receive a
satellite or acoustic tag (epoxy attachment). Up to 12 green, 1 Kemp's
ridley, and 1 loggerhead sea turtles may be captured under another
authority, tagged (flipper, PIT), biologically sampled (blood, lesion,
scute), measured, weighed, photographed/videoed, and receive a
satellite or acoustic tag (epoxy attachment), annually, prior to
release. Unintentional mortality of one green, one Kemp's ridley, one
leatherback, and two loggerhead sea turtles could happen over the life
of the permit. The permit would be valid for up to 10 years from the
date of issuance.
Dated: June 16, 2020.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-13358 Filed 6-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
