Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Collection of High Resolution Spatial and Temporal Fishery To Support Scientific Research, 7138-7139 [2022-02602]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 8, 2022 / Notices
Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis
and Determination
In order to issue an IHA, NMFS must
find that the specified activity will not
have an ‘‘unmitigable adverse impact’’
on the subsistence uses of the affected
marine mammal species or stocks by
Alaskan Natives. NMFS has defined
‘‘unmitigable adverse impact’’ in 50 CFR
216.103 as an impact resulting from the
specified activity: (1) That is likely to
reduce the availability of the species to
a level insufficient for a harvest to meet
subsistence needs by: (i) Causing the
marine mammals to abandon or avoid
hunting areas; (ii) Directly displacing
subsistence users; or (iii) Placing
physical barriers between the marine
mammals and the subsistence hunters;
and (2) That cannot be sufficiently
mitigated by other measures to increase
the availability of marine mammals to
allow subsistence needs to be met.
Alaska Native hunters in the
Ketchikan vicinity do not traditionally
harvest cetaceans (Muto et al., 2021).
Harbor seals are the most commonly
targeted marine mammal that is hunted
by Alaska Native subsistence hunters
within the Ketchikan area. In 2012 an
estimated 595 harbor seals were taken
for subsistence uses, with 22 of those
occurring in Ketchikan (Wolfe et al.,
2013). This is the most recent data
available. The harbor seal harvest per
capita in both communities was low, at
0.02 for Ketchikan. ADF&G subsistence
data for Southeast Alaska shows that
from 1992 through 2008, plus 2012,
from zero to 19 Steller sea lions were
taken by Alaska Native hunters per year
with typical harvest years ranging from
zero to five animals (Wolfe et al., 2013).
In 2012, it is estimated 9 sea lions were
taken in all of Southeast Alaska and
only from Hoonah and Sitka. There are
no known haulout locations in the
project area. Both the harbor seal and
the Steller sea lion may be temporarily
displaced from the action area.
However, neither the local population
nor any individual pinnipeds are likely
to be adversely impacted by the
proposed action beyond noise-induced
harassment or slight injury. The
proposed project is anticipated to have
no long-term impact on Steller sea lion
or harbor seal populations, or their
habitat no long term impacts on the
availability of marine mammals for
subsistence uses is anticipated.
Based on the description of the
specified activity, the measures
described to minimize adverse effects
on the availability of marine mammals
for subsistence purposes, and the
proposed mitigation and monitoring
measures, NMFS has determined that
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16:16 Feb 07, 2022
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there will not be an unmitigable adverse
impact on subsistence uses from
NOAA’s proposed activities.
the previously mentioned mitigation,
monitoring, and reporting requirements
are followed.
National Environmental Policy Act
To comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and
NOAA Administrative Order (NAO)
216–6A, NMFS must review our
proposed action (i.e., the issuance of an
IHA) with respect to potential impacts
on the human environment.
This action is consistent with
categories of activities identified in
Categorical Exclusion B4 (IHAs with no
anticipated serious injury or mortality)
of the Companion Manual for NOAA
Administrative Order 216–6A, which do
not individually or cumulatively have
the potential for significant impacts on
the quality of the human environment
and for which we have not identified
any extraordinary circumstances that
would preclude this categorical
exclusion. Accordingly, NMFS has
determined that the issuance of the
proposed IHA qualifies to be
categorically excluded from further
NEPA review.
Dated: February 3, 2022.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
Endangered Species Act
Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal
agency insure that any action it
authorizes, funds, or carries out is not
likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of any endangered or
threatened species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of
designated critical habitat. To ensure
ESA compliance for the issuance of
IHAs, NMFS consults internally, in this
case with the Alaska Regional Office,
whenever we propose to authorize take
for endangered or threatened species.
NMFS is authorizing take of Mexico
DPS of humpback whales which are
listed under the ESA. The NMFS Alaska
Regional Office Protected Resources
Division issued a Biological Opinion
under section 7 of the ESA, on the
issuance of an IHA to NOAA under
section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA by the
NMFS Permits and Conservation
Division. The Biological Opinion
concluded that the proposed action is
not likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of Mexico DPS of humpback
whales, and is not likely to destroy or
adversely modify Mexico DPS of
humpback whales critical habitat.
Authorization
NMFS has issued an IHA to NOAA for
the potential harassment of small
numbers of nine marine mammal
species incidental to the NOAA Port
Facility Project in Ketchikan, provided
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[FR Doc. 2022–02633 Filed 2–7–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Collection of High Resolution
Spatial and Temporal Fishery To
Support Scientific Research
The Department of Commerce will
submit the following information
collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication
of this notice. We invite the general
public and other Federal agencies to
comment on proposed, and continuing
information collections, which helps us
assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. Public
comments were previously requested
via the Federal Register on October 29,
2021 during a 60-day comment period.
This notice allows for an additional 30
days for public comments.
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
Title: Collection of High Resolution
Spatial and Temporal Fishery
Dependent Data to Support Scientific
Research.
OMB Control Number: 0648–XXXX.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular Submission
(new information collection).
Number of Respondents: 39.
Average Hours per Response: 30
minutes to complete registration, and 35
minutes per day for vessels collecting
trip level data.
Total Annual Burden Hours: 908.
Needs and Uses: Commercial fishers
from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
will collaborate with NOAA Fisheries,
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
(NEFSC) Cooperative Research Branch
to voluntarily collect detailed fishery
dependent data during commercial
fishing trips. Collection of information
regarding fishing for commercial
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 8, 2022 / Notices
fisheries is necessary to fulfill the
following statutory requirements: the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
Fishers will use the Fisheries Logbook
Data Reporting Software (FLDRS) to
collect high resolution information on
fishing effort and catch. The goal is to
enable fishers to collect more accurate
and precise data on where and how
many fish are caught, and how much
effort was expended. This high
resolution data will lead to improved
accuracy of commercial fisheries data
and better understanding of fishery
dynamics. The FLDRS software was
designed to record data at the haul
(effort) level, similar to the level of data
collected by the Northeast Fisheries
Observer Program (NEFOP) but can be
used to collect sub trip level data and
is approved for federal eVTR. FLDRS
can be integrated with Global
Positioning Systems (GPS), Vessel
Monitoring Systems (VMS), depth
sounders and temperature/depth
sensors. The FLDRS software can use
the VMS to transmit a trip data file to
NEFSC email account where it is
ultimately uploaded to NEFSC database.
Alternatively, the vessel operator can
choose to manually upload trip files
using the web-based application Vessel
Electronic Reporting Web Portal (VERS).
Temperature and Depth (TD) data will
be collected opportunistically and
dependent on fisher interest. TD probes
will be used to monitor the duration of
time gear is fished in addition to
collecting temperature and depth data.
The high resolution catch data in
conjunction with temperature depth
data can be used to validate
oceanographic and habitat models to
produce oceanographic and species
density forecasts for fishers. These
species specific density forecast can be
used as a tool while fishing to maximize
efficiency and avoid limited stocks.
By collecting these data, we are
improving the data available to support
improved understanding of population,
ecosystem, and fishery dynamics in the
northeast region. These improved
understandings help the Northeast
Fisheries Science Center inform
management so they can meet the
standards laid out in the Magnuson
Stevens Act. Without working with the
fishing industry to collect these data we
are severely restricting our access to the
best available data to support needed
research that informs management
decisions.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
Frequency: As needed.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
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Legal Authority: Magnuson Stevens
Act.
This information collection request
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view the
Department of Commerce collections
currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function and
entering the title of the collection.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, Commerce
Department.
[FR Doc. 2022–02602 Filed 2–7–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB757]
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to Kitty Hawk
Wind Marine Site Characterization
Surveys, North Carolina and Virginia
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental
harassment authorization; request for
comments on proposed authorization
and possible renewal.
AGENCY:
NMFS has received a request
from Kitty Hawk Wind for authorization
to take marine mammals incidental to
marine site characterization surveys
offshore and in state waters of North
Carolina. Pursuant to the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS
is requesting comments on its proposal
to issue an incidental harassment
authorization (IHA) to incidentally take
marine mammals during the specified
activities. NMFS is also requesting
comments on a possible one-time, oneyear renewal that could be issued under
certain circumstances and if all
requirements are met, as described in
Request for Public Comments at the end
of this notice. NMFS will consider
public comments prior to making any
final decision on the issuance of the
requested MMPA authorizations and
SUMMARY:
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7139
agency responses will be summarized in
the final notice of our decision.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than March 10,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service and should be
submitted via email to ITP.Daly@
noaa.gov.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted online at
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/
incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act without
change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, 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:
Jaclyn Daly, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
Electronic copies of the application and
supporting documents, as well as a list
of the references cited in this document,
may be obtained online at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/
incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act. In case
of problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of
marine mammals, with certain
exceptions. 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
incidental take authorization may be
provided to the public for review.
Authorization for incidental takings
shall be granted if NMFS finds that the
taking will have a negligible impact on
the species or stock(s) and will not have
an unmitigable adverse impact on the
E:\FR\FM\08FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7138-7139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02602]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Collection of High Resolution Spatial and Temporal Fishery To
Support Scientific Research
The Department of Commerce will submit the following information
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the
general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and
continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of
our information collection requirements and minimize the public's
reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the
Federal Register on October 29, 2021 during a 60-day comment period.
This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
Title: Collection of High Resolution Spatial and Temporal Fishery
Dependent Data to Support Scientific Research.
OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular Submission (new information collection).
Number of Respondents: 39.
Average Hours per Response: 30 minutes to complete registration,
and 35 minutes per day for vessels collecting trip level data.
Total Annual Burden Hours: 908.
Needs and Uses: Commercial fishers from the Northeast and Mid-
Atlantic will collaborate with NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries
Science Center (NEFSC) Cooperative Research Branch to voluntarily
collect detailed fishery dependent data during commercial fishing
trips. Collection of information regarding fishing for commercial
[[Page 7139]]
fisheries is necessary to fulfill the following statutory requirements:
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.).
Fishers will use the Fisheries Logbook Data Reporting Software
(FLDRS) to collect high resolution information on fishing effort and
catch. The goal is to enable fishers to collect more accurate and
precise data on where and how many fish are caught, and how much effort
was expended. This high resolution data will lead to improved accuracy
of commercial fisheries data and better understanding of fishery
dynamics. The FLDRS software was designed to record data at the haul
(effort) level, similar to the level of data collected by the Northeast
Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) but can be used to collect sub trip
level data and is approved for federal eVTR. FLDRS can be integrated
with Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS),
depth sounders and temperature/depth sensors. The FLDRS software can
use the VMS to transmit a trip data file to NEFSC email account where
it is ultimately uploaded to NEFSC database. Alternatively, the vessel
operator can choose to manually upload trip files using the web-based
application Vessel Electronic Reporting Web Portal (VERS).
Temperature and Depth (TD) data will be collected opportunistically
and dependent on fisher interest. TD probes will be used to monitor the
duration of time gear is fished in addition to collecting temperature
and depth data. The high resolution catch data in conjunction with
temperature depth data can be used to validate oceanographic and
habitat models to produce oceanographic and species density forecasts
for fishers. These species specific density forecast can be used as a
tool while fishing to maximize efficiency and avoid limited stocks.
By collecting these data, we are improving the data available to
support improved understanding of population, ecosystem, and fishery
dynamics in the northeast region. These improved understandings help
the Northeast Fisheries Science Center inform management so they can
meet the standards laid out in the Magnuson Stevens Act. Without
working with the fishing industry to collect these data we are severely
restricting our access to the best available data to support needed
research that informs management decisions.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
Frequency: As needed.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Magnuson Stevens Act.
This information collection request may be viewed at
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of
Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of
this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search
function and entering the title of the collection.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-02602 Filed 2-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
