Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument; Monument Management Plan, 72214-72216 [2021-27535]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 21, 2021 / Notices
extended from or completed prior to the
time established by this notice.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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) Assessment Process
utilizing webinars; and (3) Review
Workshop. The product of the Data
Workshop is a data report that compiles
and evaluates potential datasets and
recommends which datasets are
appropriate for assessment analyses.
The product of the Assessment Process
is a stock assessment 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 assessment
is independently peer reviewed at the
Review Workshop. The product of the
Review Workshop is a 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 in the
webinar are as follows:
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Participants will discuss and make
recommendations regrading what life
history data may be included in the
assessment of U.S. Caribbean Queen
Triggerfish.
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: December 16, 2021.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–27614 Filed 12–20–21; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[RTID 0648–XB606]
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National
Monument; Monument Management
Plan
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration,
Commerce; Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS), as co-leads, announce their
intention to prepare a Monument
Management Plan (MMP) for the Pacific
Remote Islands Marine National
Monument (Monument). NOAA and
USFWS are updating their original
SUMMARY:
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notice of intent to draft the MMP to
include information about the
expansion of the Monument in 2014,
and to announce that NOAA and
USFWS are co-leads in drafting the
MMP. NOAA and USFWS are seeking
input on issues, concerns, ideas, and
suggestions for the future management
of the Monument. NOAA and USFWS
will also prepare a draft environmental
assessment, concurrent with the
management plan, to evaluate potential
effects of implementing the proposed
management alternatives for the
Monument. Following the completion of
the MMP, USFWS will prepare new
individual Comprehensive Conservation
Plans (CCPs) and revise existing CCPs
for National Wildlife Refuges within the
Monument, as appropriate.
DATES: We must receive comments by
January 20, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2021–0122, by either of the
following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and enter
NOAA–NMFS–2021–0122 in the Search
box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Send written comments to Dr.
Malia Chow, Branch Chief, Habitat
Conservation Division, Pacific Islands
Regional Office, National Marine
Fisheries Service, NOAA Inouye
Regional Center, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg.
176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
Instructions: Comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
individual, or received or uploaded after
the end of the comment period, may not
be considered by NOAA and USFWS.
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. We will accept
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
Additional information about the
Monument and the seven refuge units is
available at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/
pacific_remote_islands_marine_
national_monument and https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/
habitat-conservation/pacific-remoteislands-marine-national-monument.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 21, 2021 / Notices
Dr.
Malia Chow, NOAA, (808) 725–5015, or
malia.chow@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA
and USFWS are co-leads in the
preparation of the MMP for the
Monument, which was established by
Presidential Proclamation 8336 and
expanded by Presidential Proclamation
9173. With this notice, NOAA and
USFWS update their original 2011
notice of intent (April 5, 2011, 76 FR
18775). NOAA and USFWS are making
the updates to include the 2014
expansion of the Monument and to
identify NOAA and USFWS as co-leads
in drafting the MMP (previously,
USFWS was the lead agency). A draft
environmental assessment (EA) to
evaluate the potential effects of
implementing the proposed
management alternatives will also be
prepared. When the draft MMP and EA
are complete, NOAA and USFWS will
publish a notice of availability to obtain
comments and input from the public
and other Federal agencies on the draft
documents.
We invite the public and Federal,
Tribal, State, and local governments to
submit input on issues, concerns, ideas,
and suggestions for the future
management of the Monument.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
Monument Establishment
On January 6, 2009, President George
W. Bush issued Presidential
Proclamation No. 8336, establishing the
Monument under the authority of the
Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431–
433). Upon establishment, the
Monument incorporated approximately
495,189 square nautical miles (nm2), or
1,282,534 square kilometers (km2),
within its boundaries, which extended
50 nm (93 km) out from the mean low
water lines of Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands; Johnston, Palmyra, and
Wake Atolls; and Kingman Reef. On
September 25, 2014, President Barack
Obama issued Presidential Proclamation
No. 9173, which expanded the
Monument by expanding the area
around Jarvis Island and Johnston and
Wake Atolls to include the waters and
submerged lands to the extent of the
seaward limit of the U.S. Exclusive
Economic Zone, generally to 200 nm
(370 km) offshore.
Monument Natural Resources
The Monument contains significant
objects of scientific interest and is home
to one of the most widespread
assemblages of marine and terrestrial
protected areas in the Pacific Ocean. It
is designated to protect and sustain
many endemic (not found elsewhere)
species, including corals, fish, shellfish,
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marine mammals, seabirds, water birds,
land birds, insects, and vegetation. The
2014 expansion areas provide habitat
and forage for tuna, turtles, manta rays,
sharks, cetaceans, and seabirds. These
areas also contain pristine deep sea and
open ocean ecosystems with unique
biodiversity, and approximately 165
seamounts (undersea mountains) that
provide habitat for colonies of
deepwater corals that are many
thousands of years old.
Agency Responsibilities
The Proclamations require the
Secretaries of the Interior and
Commerce, who delegated management
responsibilities to USFWS and NOAA to
prepare an MMP within their respective
authorities for the Monument, and to
promulgate implementing regulations
that address specific actions necessary
for the proper care and management of
the Monument. With this notice, the
Department of the Interior and
Department of Commerce commit to
working cooperatively together and with
partners and stakeholders in the
development of the MMP.
Military Role in Management
In accordance with the Proclamation,
USFWS Director will not commence
management of emergent lands at Wake
Atoll unless and until a use agreement
between the Secretary of the Air Force
and the Secretary of the Interior is
terminated. The Secretary of Defense
also continues to manage those portions
of the emergent lands of Johnston Atoll
under the administrative jurisdiction of
the Defense Department until such
administrative jurisdiction is
terminated, at which time those
emergent lands shall be administered as
part of the Monument and the Johnston
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR;
Refuge). However, the MMP will
recommend management actions for
marine areas surrounding both Johnston
and Wake Atolls.
Fishing
The Proclamations prohibit
commercial fishing within the
Monument. Consistent with this
requirement, the MMP will not consider
management alternatives to allow
commercial fishing. The Proclamations
do allow the Secretaries of Interior and
Commerce to permit fishing for
scientific exploration and research
purposes. Noncommercial fishing may
also be permitted, as long as it is
managed as a sustainable activity. The
noncommercial fishing permit process
is established; information is available
at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
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permit/marine-national-monumentfishing-permit.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act)
NOAA is responsible for the
stewardship of the Nation’s ocean
resources and their habitats, or ‘‘trust
resources,’’ primarily through the
Magnuson-Stevens Act. The trust
resources are living marine resources
and their habitats, including but not
limited to commercial and recreational
fishery resources, endangered and
threatened marine species and their
designated critical habitats, marine
mammals, marine turtles, marshes,
mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs,
other coastal habits, and areas identified
as essential fish habitat (EFH), in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. EFH is made up of those waters and
substrate necessary to fish for spawning,
breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.
Using the EFH, Endangered Species Act,
and Marine Mammal Protection Act
consultation processes, NOAA will
work in collaboration and coordination
with USFWS, partner agencies, project
proponents, and stakeholders to
conserve these trust resources.
Overview of Refuges and Previous
Planning Efforts
Within the boundaries of the
Monument, USFWS continues to
administer pre-existing national wildlife
refuges at Baker, Howland, and Jarvis
Islands; Wake, Johnston, and Palmyra
Atolls; and Kingman Reef, in
accordance with the National Wildlife
Refuge System Administration Act of
1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee; Refuge
System Administration Act, as
amended). USFWS manages these
individual refuges, and the Monument
as a whole, as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS).
Howland Island, Baker Island, and
Jarvis Island
Howland Island, Baker Island, and
Jarvis Island are unique places for
climate change research and other
research conducted at the Equator.
These areas have deepwater corals, coral
reefs, and corals in near-pristine
condition, as well as predatordominated marine ecosystems with a
biomass of top predators. CCPs were
completed for the Baker Island,
Howland Island, and Jarvis Island
NWRs on September 24, 2008 (73 FR
76678; December 17, 2008). CCPs are
required for each refuge in accordance
with the National Wildlife Refuge
System Improvement Act.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 21, 2021 / Notices
Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll
Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll have
relatively undisturbed coral reefs, with
high levels of coral diversity, fish
biomass, and large proportions of apex
predators relative to other areas in the
central Pacific Ocean.
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll’s coral reefs help
connect the Hawaiian Archipelago reef
communities to others in the Pacific.
This reef community is the originating
source for much of the larvae for the
Hawaiian Islands’ corals, invertebrates,
and other reef fauna. The atoll’s reefs
have the deepest reef-building corals on
record.
Wake Atoll
Wake Atoll encompasses possibly the
oldest living coral atoll in the world and
has healthy and abundant coral and fish
populations. CCPs have not been
completed for Palmyra, Kingman, Wake,
and Johnston Atoll NWRs. For the
current MMP planning process, USFWS
will focus on appropriate conservation
and management recommendations for
all refuges. Following the completion of
the MMP, USFWS will prepare new
CCPs and revise existing CCPs, as
appropriate.
Monument Management Plan
Development Process
The purpose for developing an MMP
is to provide monument managers with
a 15-year direction for the proper care
and management of the significant
objects of scientific interest that are
within the boundaries of the Monument.
The MMP will be consistent with
Refuge purposes and will contribute
toward the mission of the NWRS. The
MMP will be consistent with the
Magnuson-Stevens Act and sound
principles of marine protected area
planning and fish and wildlife
management, conservation, legal
mandates, and applicable policies. The
EA will evaluate the impacts of
implementing the proposed draft
management plan, in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act
(42 U.S.C. 4321, as amended).
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
Public Involvement
NOAA and USFWS will conduct the
planning process in a manner that will
provide participation opportunities for
the public and Federal, Tribal, State,
and local governments. At this time,
NOAA and USFWS encourage
comments in the form of issues,
concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the
future management of the Monument.
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18:02 Dec 20, 2021
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Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and
Opportunities
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Below, we have identified the
following preliminary issues, concerns,
and opportunities that may be
addressed in the MMP. Additional
issues may be identified during public
scoping.
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Comment Request; Survey
of Postgraduate Outcomes for the
Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation
Research Abroad (DDRA) Program
• Climate impacts and management
approach
• Invasive species prevention and
control
• Management access, maintenance,
and island infrastructure
• Seabird protection and management
• Scientific exploration and research
opportunities
• Marine debris and abandoned floating
fishing aggregation device removal
• Cultural, historic, and maritime
resources protection
• Past and current military use
• Legacy contaminants management
and cleanup
• Potential threats (e.g., trespass; illegal
fishing; and shipwrecks, groundings,
and spills)
• Public awareness, education, and
support
• Emergency response to natural and
manmade disasters and assessments
• Inventory and monitoring of
biological organisms and abiotic
(nonliving) factors
• Surveillance and enforcement
regarding illegal fishing
• Permit system for allowable public
activities (special uses, recreational
fishing)
• Methods and best management
practices for habitat conservation and
restoration actions
• International programs and
collaboration
• Opportunities for sustainable
practices in management operations
Next Steps
USFWS and NOAA will consider all
the public comments received from this
NOI in developing the draft MMP. The
draft MMP and EA will be made
available for public comment once they
are completed.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, Columbia-Pacific
Northwest and Pacific Islands Regions, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–27535 Filed 12–20–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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[Docket No. ED–2021–SCC–0171]
Office of Postsecondary
Education (OPE), Department of
Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing a reinstatement with change
of a previously approved collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before February
22, 2022.
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
documents related to the information
collection listed in this notice, please
use https://www.regulations.gov by
searching the Docket ID number ED–
2021–SCC–0171. Comments submitted
in response to this notice should be
submitted electronically through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov by selecting the
Docket ID number or via postal mail,
commercial delivery, or hand delivery.
If the regulations.gov site is not
available to the public for any reason,
ED will temporarily accept comments at
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please include the
docket ID number and the title of the
information collection request when
requesting documents or submitting
comments. Please note that comments
submitted by fax or email and those
submitted after the comment period will
not be accepted. Written requests for
information or comments submitted by
postal mail or delivery should be
addressed to the PRA Coordinator of the
Strategic Collections and Clearance
Governance and Strategy Division, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W208D,
Washington, DC 20202–8240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Pamela
Maimer, (202) 453–6891.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), provides
the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on
proposed, revised, and continuing
collections of information. This helps
the Department assess the impact of its
information collection requirements and
minimize the public’s reporting burden.
It also helps the public understand the
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72214-72216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27535]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[RTID 0648-XB606]
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument; Monument
Management Plan
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce;
Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), as co-leads, announce their
intention to prepare a Monument Management Plan (MMP) for the Pacific
Remote Islands Marine National Monument (Monument). NOAA and USFWS are
updating their original notice of intent to draft the MMP to include
information about the expansion of the Monument in 2014, and to
announce that NOAA and USFWS are co-leads in drafting the MMP. NOAA and
USFWS are seeking input on issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for
the future management of the Monument. NOAA and USFWS will also prepare
a draft environmental assessment, concurrent with the management plan,
to evaluate potential effects of implementing the proposed management
alternatives for the Monument. Following the completion of the MMP,
USFWS will prepare new individual Comprehensive Conservation Plans
(CCPs) and revise existing CCPs for National Wildlife Refuges within
the Monument, as appropriate.
DATES: We must receive comments by January 20, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0122, by either of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2021-0122 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
Mail: Send written comments to Dr. Malia Chow, Branch
Chief, Habitat Conservation Division, Pacific Islands Regional Office,
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA Inouye Regional Center, 1845
Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received or uploaded after the end of the
comment period, may not be considered by NOAA and USFWS. 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. We will accept
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous).
Additional information about the Monument and the seven refuge
units is available at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pacific_remote_islands_marine_national_monument and https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/habitat-conservation/pacific-remote-islands-marine-national-monument.
[[Page 72215]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Malia Chow, NOAA, (808) 725-5015,
or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA and USFWS are co-leads in the
preparation of the MMP for the Monument, which was established by
Presidential Proclamation 8336 and expanded by Presidential
Proclamation 9173. With this notice, NOAA and USFWS update their
original 2011 notice of intent (April 5, 2011, 76 FR 18775). NOAA and
USFWS are making the updates to include the 2014 expansion of the
Monument and to identify NOAA and USFWS as co-leads in drafting the MMP
(previously, USFWS was the lead agency). A draft environmental
assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential effects of implementing the
proposed management alternatives will also be prepared. When the draft
MMP and EA are complete, NOAA and USFWS will publish a notice of
availability to obtain comments and input from the public and other
Federal agencies on the draft documents.
We invite the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local
governments to submit input on issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions
for the future management of the Monument.
Monument Establishment
On January 6, 2009, President George W. Bush issued Presidential
Proclamation No. 8336, establishing the Monument under the authority of
the Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431-433). Upon establishment,
the Monument incorporated approximately 495,189 square nautical miles
(nm\2\), or 1,282,534 square kilometers (km\2\), within its boundaries,
which extended 50 nm (93 km) out from the mean low water lines of
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands; Johnston, Palmyra, and Wake Atolls;
and Kingman Reef. On September 25, 2014, President Barack Obama issued
Presidential Proclamation No. 9173, which expanded the Monument by
expanding the area around Jarvis Island and Johnston and Wake Atolls to
include the waters and submerged lands to the extent of the seaward
limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, generally to 200 nm (370 km)
offshore.
Monument Natural Resources
The Monument contains significant objects of scientific interest
and is home to one of the most widespread assemblages of marine and
terrestrial protected areas in the Pacific Ocean. It is designated to
protect and sustain many endemic (not found elsewhere) species,
including corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water
birds, land birds, insects, and vegetation. The 2014 expansion areas
provide habitat and forage for tuna, turtles, manta rays, sharks,
cetaceans, and seabirds. These areas also contain pristine deep sea and
open ocean ecosystems with unique biodiversity, and approximately 165
seamounts (undersea mountains) that provide habitat for colonies of
deepwater corals that are many thousands of years old.
Agency Responsibilities
The Proclamations require the Secretaries of the Interior and
Commerce, who delegated management responsibilities to USFWS and NOAA
to prepare an MMP within their respective authorities for the Monument,
and to promulgate implementing regulations that address specific
actions necessary for the proper care and management of the Monument.
With this notice, the Department of the Interior and Department of
Commerce commit to working cooperatively together and with partners and
stakeholders in the development of the MMP.
Military Role in Management
In accordance with the Proclamation, USFWS Director will not
commence management of emergent lands at Wake Atoll unless and until a
use agreement between the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary
of the Interior is terminated. The Secretary of Defense also continues
to manage those portions of the emergent lands of Johnston Atoll under
the administrative jurisdiction of the Defense Department until such
administrative jurisdiction is terminated, at which time those emergent
lands shall be administered as part of the Monument and the Johnston
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR; Refuge). However, the MMP will
recommend management actions for marine areas surrounding both Johnston
and Wake Atolls.
Fishing
The Proclamations prohibit commercial fishing within the Monument.
Consistent with this requirement, the MMP will not consider management
alternatives to allow commercial fishing. The Proclamations do allow
the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to permit fishing for
scientific exploration and research purposes. Noncommercial fishing may
also be permitted, as long as it is managed as a sustainable activity.
The noncommercial fishing permit process is established; information is
available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/marine-national-monument-fishing-permit.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act)
NOAA is responsible for the stewardship of the Nation's ocean
resources and their habitats, or ``trust resources,'' primarily through
the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The trust resources are living marine
resources and their habitats, including but not limited to commercial
and recreational fishery resources, endangered and threatened marine
species and their designated critical habitats, marine mammals, marine
turtles, marshes, mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, other coastal
habits, and areas identified as essential fish habitat (EFH), in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. EFH is made up of those
waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding,
or growth to maturity. Using the EFH, Endangered Species Act, and
Marine Mammal Protection Act consultation processes, NOAA will work in
collaboration and coordination with USFWS, partner agencies, project
proponents, and stakeholders to conserve these trust resources.
Overview of Refuges and Previous Planning Efforts
Within the boundaries of the Monument, USFWS continues to
administer pre-existing national wildlife refuges at Baker, Howland,
and Jarvis Islands; Wake, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls; and Kingman
Reef, in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee; Refuge System
Administration Act, as amended). USFWS manages these individual
refuges, and the Monument as a whole, as part of the National Wildlife
Refuge System (NWRS).
Howland Island, Baker Island, and Jarvis Island
Howland Island, Baker Island, and Jarvis Island are unique places
for climate change research and other research conducted at the
Equator. These areas have deepwater corals, coral reefs, and corals in
near-pristine condition, as well as predator-dominated marine
ecosystems with a biomass of top predators. CCPs were completed for the
Baker Island, Howland Island, and Jarvis Island NWRs on September 24,
2008 (73 FR 76678; December 17, 2008). CCPs are required for each
refuge in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act.
[[Page 72216]]
Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll
Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll have relatively undisturbed coral
reefs, with high levels of coral diversity, fish biomass, and large
proportions of apex predators relative to other areas in the central
Pacific Ocean.
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll's coral reefs help connect the Hawaiian Archipelago
reef communities to others in the Pacific. This reef community is the
originating source for much of the larvae for the Hawaiian Islands'
corals, invertebrates, and other reef fauna. The atoll's reefs have the
deepest reef-building corals on record.
Wake Atoll
Wake Atoll encompasses possibly the oldest living coral atoll in
the world and has healthy and abundant coral and fish populations. CCPs
have not been completed for Palmyra, Kingman, Wake, and Johnston Atoll
NWRs. For the current MMP planning process, USFWS will focus on
appropriate conservation and management recommendations for all
refuges. Following the completion of the MMP, USFWS will prepare new
CCPs and revise existing CCPs, as appropriate.
Monument Management Plan Development Process
The purpose for developing an MMP is to provide monument managers
with a 15-year direction for the proper care and management of the
significant objects of scientific interest that are within the
boundaries of the Monument. The MMP will be consistent with Refuge
purposes and will contribute toward the mission of the NWRS. The MMP
will be consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and sound principles
of marine protected area planning and fish and wildlife management,
conservation, legal mandates, and applicable policies. The EA will
evaluate the impacts of implementing the proposed draft management
plan, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42
U.S.C. 4321, as amended).
Public Involvement
NOAA and USFWS will conduct the planning process in a manner that
will provide participation opportunities for the public and Federal,
Tribal, State, and local governments. At this time, NOAA and USFWS
encourage comments in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and
suggestions for the future management of the Monument.
Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
Below, we have identified the following preliminary issues,
concerns, and opportunities that may be addressed in the MMP.
Additional issues may be identified during public scoping.
Climate impacts and management approach
Invasive species prevention and control
Management access, maintenance, and island infrastructure
Seabird protection and management
Scientific exploration and research opportunities
Marine debris and abandoned floating fishing aggregation
device removal
Cultural, historic, and maritime resources protection
Past and current military use
Legacy contaminants management and cleanup
Potential threats (e.g., trespass; illegal fishing; and
shipwrecks, groundings, and spills)
Public awareness, education, and support
Emergency response to natural and manmade disasters and
assessments
Inventory and monitoring of biological organisms and abiotic
(nonliving) factors
Surveillance and enforcement regarding illegal fishing
Permit system for allowable public activities (special uses,
recreational fishing)
Methods and best management practices for habitat conservation
and restoration actions
International programs and collaboration
Opportunities for sustainable practices in management
operations
Next Steps
USFWS and NOAA will consider all the public comments received from
this NOI in developing the draft MMP. The draft MMP and EA will be made
available for public comment once they are completed.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, Columbia-Pacific Northwest and Pacific Islands
Regions, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-27535 Filed 12-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
