Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan; Trigger for the Southern Exclusion Zone Closure Met in 2021, 12941-12943 [2022-04869]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2022 / Notices
Proposed Exemptions
General Exemptions for Participating
Vessels
This EFP would exempt participating
vessels from the IFM ASM coverage
requirements at § 648.11(m)(1)(ii). This
exemption would authorize
participating vessels to use EM, coupled
with portside sampling, to satisfy their
IFM coverage requirements in lieu of
carrying a human at-sea monitor.
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Slippage Exemptions for Participating
Vessels Fishing Outside of Groundfish
Closed Areas
This EFP would exempt participating
vessels from the slippage definition at
§ 648.2 under the following
circumstance: Participating vessels
fishing outside of GCAs would be
authorized to discard fish sorted at the
grate (with the exception of haddock) in
view of a camera on trips selected for
portside sampling. These discards
would not be considered slippage and
would not trigger slippage consequence
measures, but vessels would still be
required to report them as discards. This
exemption would not apply when
vessels are fishing inside GCAs. When
fishing inside GCAs, fish discarded at
the grate after sorting would be
considered slippage and would trigger
slippage consequence measures.
Vessels with observer or ASM
coverage may discard fish at the grate
after those fish are made available for
sampling, and those discards are not
considered slippage. However, fish
discarded at the grate after sorting are
considered slippage on vessels selected
for portside sampling. This exemption
would resolve operational differences
resulting from the slippage definition
and help create equity in vessel
operations across gear and monitoring
types. Feedback from industry suggests
that only small quantities of fish are
handpicked at the grate, so it is unlikely
that this exemption would result in high
volumes of fish being discarded prior to
catch being sampled portside.
Observer Exemptions for Participating
Vessels Fishing Inside of Groundfish
Closed Areas
This EFP would exempt participating
vessels from the Northeast multispecies
season and area restrictions at
§ 648.202(b)(1), and from the
prohibition against fishing in a
Northeast multispecies closed area
without an observer on board at
§ 648.14(r)(2)(v). The EFP would
authorize participating vessels to use
EM and portside sampling in lieu of
carrying a human observer when fishing
in a GCA on a trip not selected for
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SBRM coverage. Purchasing portside
sampling coverage to fish in GCAs is
expected to be less expensive than
purchasing observer coverage to fish in
GCAs, so this exemption would provide
an incentive for vessels to participate in
the EFP. This exemption would also
allow NMFS to assess the feasibility of
using EM and portside sampling to
monitor midwater trawl herring trips
fished in GCAs.
Operational Discarding Exemptions for
Participating Vessels Fishing Inside of
GCAs
This EFP would exempt participating
vessels from season and area restrictions
at § 648.202(b)(2) and (4) when
operationally discarding catch. The EFP
would authorize participating vessels to
operationally discard catch in GCAs
without triggering the consequence
measures described at § 648.202(b)(4).
Operational discards in the herring
fishery are defined as ‘‘small amounts of
fish that cannot be pumped on board
and remain in the codend or seine at the
end of pumping operations.’’ Midwater
trawl vessels are permitted to
operationally discard outside of GCAs
without triggering consequence
measures, but not inside GCAs. This
exemption would allow participating
vessels to maintain operational
consistency inside and outside of GCAs.
This exemption would also allow NMFS
to collect additional information on the
frequency of operational discards in
GCAs. This exemption would not
undermine conservation objectives
because participating vessels would be
fully monitored on 100 percent of trips
and would be fully accountable for their
catch in GCAs.
If approved, minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP may be made
throughout the year. EFP modifications
and extensions may be granted without
further notice if they are deemed
essential to facilitate completion of the
proposed research and have minimal
impacts that do not change the scope or
impact of the initially approved EFP
request. Any fishing activity conducted
outside the scope of the exempted
fishing activity would be prohibited.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 1, 2022.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–04868 Filed 3–7–22; 8:45 am]
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12941
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB689]
Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; False
Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan;
Trigger for the Southern Exclusion
Zone Closure Met in 2021
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
In 2021, four observed
mortalities or serious injuries (M&SI) of
false killer whales occurred incidental
to the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery
within the U.S. Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) around Hawaii on January
18, 2021, March 26, 2021, April 17,
2021, and November 19, 2021. These
M&SI met the established annual trigger
of four observed M&SI for closing the
Southern Exclusion Zone (SEZ) to deepset longline fishing under the False
Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan)
regulations. In accordance with the Plan
regulations a closure of the SEZ is
required through the end of the fishing
year. Because the injury determination
for the fourth interaction meeting the
trigger was not available until January
2022, the timeframe for closing the SEZ
in 2021 had passed, and the SEZ was
not closed. In accordance with the Plan
regulations, the requirements for closure
of the SEZ were met in 2021, therefore,
if the trigger is met in 2022, the process
for closure of the SEZ will follow the
procedures described in the Plan
regulations.
SUMMARY:
Comments on this notice must be
received by April 7, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2022–0027 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–2022–0027 in the search
box. Click the ‘‘Comment’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to
Michael D. Tosatto, Regional
Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands
Region (PIR), attention Diana Kramer,
Protected Resources, 1845 Wasp Blvd.,
Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider
comments sent by any other method, to
any other address or individual, or
DATES:
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12942
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2022 / Notices
received after the end of the comment
period. 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. NMFS will accept
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Diana Kramer, Protected Resources,
NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office,
808–725–5167, diana.kramer@noaa.gov;
or Kristy Long, NMFS Office of
Protected Resources, 301–427–8402,
kristy.long@noaa.gov.
The Plan
was implemented on December 31,
2012, pursuant to section 118(f) of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) to reduce the level of M&SI of
the Hawaii pelagic and Hawaii insular
stocks of false killer whales incidental
to the Hawaii longline fisheries (77 FR
71260; November 29, 2012). The Plan,
based on consensus recommendations
from the False Killer Whale Take
Reduction Team (Team), was
implemented by regulation and created
the SEZ, which would be closed to
deep-set longline fishing if a certain
number (trigger) of false killer whale
M&SI are observed incidental to the
deep-set fishery in the EEZ. As
described in the Plan regulations (50
CFR 229.37(d)(2)), the SEZ is bounded
on the east at 154° 30′ W longitude, on
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
the west at 165° W longitude, on the
north by the boundaries of the Main
Hawaiian Islands Longline Fishing
Prohibited Area and
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National
Monument, and on the south by the EEZ
boundary (see Figure 1). An SEZ closure
is triggered if, after expanding the
number of observed M&SI, the Hawaii
pelagic stock’s potential biological
removal (PBR) level has been exceeded.
On December 15, 2020, NMFS closed
the SEZ after four observed false killer
whale M&SI within the EEZ around
Hawai‘i incidental to the Hawaii deepset longline fishery, following the trigger
calculations as defined in the Plan (85
FR 81184; December 15, 2020).
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In 2021, NMFS-certified fishery
observers documented four false killer
whale interactions during deep-set trips
inside the U.S. EEZ around Hawaii on
the following dates: January 18, 2021,
March 26, 2021, April 17, 2021, and
November 19, 2021. Three of these
interactions resulted in serious injuries
and one resulted in a mortality. These
four M&SI met the trigger for closure of
the SEZ in 2021. NMFS has determined
that the SEZ trigger (i.e., four M&SI) has
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:25 Mar 07, 2022
Jkt 256001
been met, and closing the SEZ to deepset longline fishing is required until the
end of the fishing year (December 31) as
described in 50 CFR 229.37(e)(3). Under
a plain reading of section 229.37(e)(3),
NMFS applies the closure in the fishing
year that the triggering M&SI occurs.
Because the final injury determination
for the fourth interaction meeting the
trigger was not available until January
2022, the timeframe for closing the SEZ
in 2021 had passed, and the SEZ was
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
not closed in 2021. Therefore, the
requirements for an SEZ closure under
50 CFR 229.37(e)(3) were met in 2021
and if the trigger is met in 2022, NMFS
will follow the procedure for closing the
SEZ until the reopening criteria are met
as described in 50 CFR 229.37(e)(5).
Classification
Prior notice and comment is
unnecessary because the take reduction
plan final rule (77 FR 71259, November
E:\FR\FM\08MRN1.SGM
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EN08MR22.000</GPH>
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Figure 1. Southern Exclusion Zone
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2022 / Notices
29, 2012) that implements the
procedures for closing the SEZ (codified
at 50 CFR 229.37(e)) has already been
subject to an extensive public process,
including the opportunity for prior
notice and comment. All that remains is
to notify the public that the trigger for
closing the SEZ under Plan regulations
at 50 CFR 229.37(e)(3) was met in 2021,
and that NMFS will proceed with the
closure procedure under 50 CFR
229.37(e)(5) should the trigger be met in
2022.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
Dated: March 2, 2022.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–04869 Filed 3–7–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No.: ED–2022–SCC–0034]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Comment Request; Cancer
Treatment Deferment
Federal Student Aid (FSA),
Department of Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing an extension without change
of a currently approved collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before May 9,
2022.
SUMMARY:
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–
2022–SCC–0034. 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
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
ADDRESSES:
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17:25 Mar 07, 2022
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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 Beth
Grebeldinger, (202) 377–4018.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), 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
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: Cancer Treatment
Deferment.
OMB Control Number: 1845–0154.
Type of Review: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals or Households .
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 5,000.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 833.
Abstract: The Department of
Education (Department) is requesting an
extension of the current Cancer
Treatment Deferment Form information
collection, OMB Control Number 1845–
0154. This collection is used to obtain
information from federal student loan
borrowers to determine eligibility for a
deferment of repayment of their federal
student loan while receiving cancer
treatment and for the 6-month period
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12943
after such treatment. Section 309 of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019,
(Pub. L. 115–245) included a provision
for the Department to implement this
circumstance as a basis for deferment.
Due to the effects of the COVID–19
pandemic and the suspension of the
collection of loans, the Department
lacks sufficient data to allow for updates
to the usage of these forms.
Dated: March 3, 2022.
Kate Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and
Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division,
Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of
Planning, Evaluation and Policy
Development.
[FR Doc. 2022–04846 Filed 3–7–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
Voting System Anomaly Reporting and
Root Cause Analysis; Survey and
Submission to OMB of Proposed
Collection of Information
U.S. Election Assistance
Commission.
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
EAC announces an information
collection and seeks public comment on
the provisions thereof. The EAC intends
to submit this proposed information
collection to the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget for
approval. The U.S. Election Assistance
Commission (EAC) is publishing two
information collecting forms for its
Voting System Testing and Certification
Program. The information collected is to
be used to improve the quality of voting
systems used in federal elections.
Participation in this program is
voluntary. The program is mandated by
the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
DATES: Comments should be submitted
by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent to
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find this particular information
collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under
60-day Review—Open for Public
Comments’’ or by using the search
function.
SUMMARY:
Paul
Aumayr, Senior Election Technology
Specialist, Testing and Certification
Program, Washington, DC, (301)–563–
3919. All requests and submissions
should be identified by the title of the
information collection.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12941-12943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04869]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB689]
Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; False Killer Whale Take
Reduction Plan; Trigger for the Southern Exclusion Zone Closure Met in
2021
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In 2021, four observed mortalities or serious injuries (M&SI)
of false killer whales occurred incidental to the Hawaii deep-set
longline fishery within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around
Hawaii on January 18, 2021, March 26, 2021, April 17, 2021, and
November 19, 2021. These M&SI met the established annual trigger of
four observed M&SI for closing the Southern Exclusion Zone (SEZ) to
deep-set longline fishing under the False Killer Whale Take Reduction
Plan (Plan) regulations. In accordance with the Plan regulations a
closure of the SEZ is required through the end of the fishing year.
Because the injury determination for the fourth interaction meeting the
trigger was not available until January 2022, the timeframe for closing
the SEZ in 2021 had passed, and the SEZ was not closed. In accordance
with the Plan regulations, the requirements for closure of the SEZ were
met in 2021, therefore, if the trigger is met in 2022, the process for
closure of the SEZ will follow the procedures described in the Plan
regulations.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 7, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2022-0027 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-2022-0027 in the search box. Click the ``Comment''
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Michael D. Tosatto, Regional
Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), attention Diana
Kramer, Protected Resources, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI
96818.
Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments sent by any other
method, to any other address or individual, or
[[Page 12942]]
received after the end of the comment period. 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. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Kramer, Protected Resources,
NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, 808-725-5167,
[email protected]; or Kristy Long, NMFS Office of Protected
Resources, 301-427-8402, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Plan was implemented on December 31,
2012, pursuant to section 118(f) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) to reduce the level of M&SI of the Hawaii pelagic and Hawaii
insular stocks of false killer whales incidental to the Hawaii longline
fisheries (77 FR 71260; November 29, 2012). The Plan, based on
consensus recommendations from the False Killer Whale Take Reduction
Team (Team), was implemented by regulation and created the SEZ, which
would be closed to deep-set longline fishing if a certain number
(trigger) of false killer whale M&SI are observed incidental to the
deep-set fishery in the EEZ. As described in the Plan regulations (50
CFR 229.37(d)(2)), the SEZ is bounded on the east at 154[deg] 30' W
longitude, on the west at 165[deg] W longitude, on the north by the
boundaries of the Main Hawaiian Islands Longline Fishing Prohibited
Area and Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, and on the south
by the EEZ boundary (see Figure 1). An SEZ closure is triggered if,
after expanding the number of observed M&SI, the Hawaii pelagic stock's
potential biological removal (PBR) level has been exceeded. On December
15, 2020, NMFS closed the SEZ after four observed false killer whale
M&SI within the EEZ around Hawai`i incidental to the Hawaii deep-set
longline fishery, following the trigger calculations as defined in the
Plan (85 FR 81184; December 15, 2020).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08MR22.000
In 2021, NMFS-certified fishery observers documented four false
killer whale interactions during deep-set trips inside the U.S. EEZ
around Hawaii on the following dates: January 18, 2021, March 26, 2021,
April 17, 2021, and November 19, 2021. Three of these interactions
resulted in serious injuries and one resulted in a mortality. These
four M&SI met the trigger for closure of the SEZ in 2021. NMFS has
determined that the SEZ trigger (i.e., four M&SI) has been met, and
closing the SEZ to deep-set longline fishing is required until the end
of the fishing year (December 31) as described in 50 CFR 229.37(e)(3).
Under a plain reading of section 229.37(e)(3), NMFS applies the closure
in the fishing year that the triggering M&SI occurs. Because the final
injury determination for the fourth interaction meeting the trigger was
not available until January 2022, the timeframe for closing the SEZ in
2021 had passed, and the SEZ was not closed in 2021. Therefore, the
requirements for an SEZ closure under 50 CFR 229.37(e)(3) were met in
2021 and if the trigger is met in 2022, NMFS will follow the procedure
for closing the SEZ until the reopening criteria are met as described
in 50 CFR 229.37(e)(5).
Classification
Prior notice and comment is unnecessary because the take reduction
plan final rule (77 FR 71259, November
[[Page 12943]]
29, 2012) that implements the procedures for closing the SEZ (codified
at 50 CFR 229.37(e)) has already been subject to an extensive public
process, including the opportunity for prior notice and comment. All
that remains is to notify the public that the trigger for closing the
SEZ under Plan regulations at 50 CFR 229.37(e)(3) was met in 2021, and
that NMFS will proceed with the closure procedure under 50 CFR
229.37(e)(5) should the trigger be met in 2022.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
Dated: March 2, 2022.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-04869 Filed 3-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
