Draft Environmental Assessment for the Funding, Procurement, and Operation of NOAA Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, 9872-9873 [2023-03222]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 15, 2023 / Notices
TABLE 2—PROJECT SUMMARY—Continued
Total number of days ......................
Gear type(s) ....................................
Number of tows or sets ..................
Duration of tows or sets ..................
1,300.
Bottom trawl.
20–25 per trip.
30 minutes–2 hours.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES
Project Narrative
The subject application would study
the feasibility of deploying an
intelligent discard chute with integrated
artificial intelligence (AI) technology for
catch accounting onboard high-volume
groundfish trawl vessels. The project
would determine the optimal design
and workflow to minimize costs and
maximize precision and accuracy of
electronic monitoring (EM) data for size,
species, and weight of regulatory
discards. This research could
significantly reduce the cost of EM
programs for large, high-volume
groundfish vessels if the intelligent
discard chute and AI prove to be an
accurate and reliable source for catch
accounting. This information could also
be used to develop a future HighVolume Audit (HVA) EM program for
high-volume vessels, which could
incentivize EM adoption in the region.
The subject application would allow
up to four high-volume trawl sector
vessels enrolled in the Audit Model EM
program additional exemptions from 50
CFR 648.80(a)(3)(i) and (a)(4)(i) to
conduct fishing using codends with
diamond mesh as small as 4.5 inches
(11.4 cm) to increase the catch of redfish
in the Sector Redfish Exemption Area
and conduct fishing using codends with
square mesh as small as 5.1 inches (13
cm) to increase the catch of haddock in
the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.
The use of different mesh sizes and
gears, leading to various catch
compositions, will improve and expand
the predictive capabilities of the AI
program and the intelligent discard
chute on high-volume vessels.
Additionally, vessels would be
exempt from the non-habitat
management area portion of the Closed
Area II Closure Area, from April 16
through January 31, at 50 CFR
648.81(a)(5). This will allow vessel
access to an additional fishing area,
where catch compositions may differ.
The opportunity to encounter varying
catch composition will be used to
further expand the AI program
capabilities and predicative powers.
If approved, the applicant may
request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP throughout the
year. EFP modifications and extensions
may be granted without further notice if
they are deemed essential to facilitate
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:16 Feb 14, 2023
Jkt 259001
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: February 9, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–03171 Filed 2–14–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Draft Environmental Assessment for
the Funding, Procurement, and
Operation of NOAA Small Uncrewed
Aircraft Systems
Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research (OAR), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of
Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
NOAA’s Uncrewed Systems
Research Transition Office (UxSRTO) in
OAR has prepared a Draft
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the
Funding, Procurement, and Operation of
NOAA Small Uncrewed Aircraft
Systems (UAS). We are making the draft
EA available for public review and
comment.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before March 17, 2023.
ADDRESSES: The Draft EA is available
online at https://orta.research.noaa.gov/
wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DraftPEA-for-NOAA-Small-UnmannedAircraft-Systems.pdf. Please submit
public comments via email to
UXS.OAR@NOAA.gov with the subject
line ‘‘Public Comment on Draft EA for
UAS.’’ Please be aware that comments
submitted may be posted on a Federal
website or otherwise released publicly.
Clearly indicate the section, page
number, and line number, if applicable,
to which submitted comments pertain.
All comments must be provided in
English. No business proprietary
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
information, copyrighted information,
or personally identifiable information
should be submitted. Please note that
the U.S. Government will not pay for
response preparation, or for the use of
any information contained in the
response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bryan Cole, Director, NOAA Uncrewed
Systems Research Transition Office
(email: bryan.cole@noaa.gov or phone
number: 831–601–2107).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
UxSRTO is often directly or indirectly
involved in the funding, procurement,
and operation of small UAS during the
course of its normal office functions.
The UxSRTO, and its predecessor, the
NOAA UAS Program Office in OAR,
were formally established to provide
guidance and expertise in support of
NOAA’s efforts in the testing and
development of UAS and to help
expand UAS research, development,
and transitions to operations and
commercialization. The draft EA
evaluates the potential impacts on the
environment from the types of small
UAS platforms and operations
commonly supported by the UxSRTO
across NOAA, in any environment for
which NOAA has a mission and
potential need for UAS resources to
help meet related mission objectives.
For purposes of the assessment, the
use of the term ‘‘small UAS’’ follows
suit with the Federal Aviation
Administration’s (FAA) definition of
‘‘small unmanned aircraft’’ (14 CFR
107.3), which weigh ‘‘less than 55
pounds on takeoff, including everything
that is on board or otherwise attached to
the aircraft.’’ The geographic scope of
the action area includes the airspace
ranging from just above the surface (for
launch and recovery), extending upward
to an operational altitude of
approximately 400 ft. above ground
level (AGL) for a majority of
applications, but may also include
operational altitudes up to as high as
100,000 ft. mean sea level (MSL) for a
few others.
UxSRTO proposes that the support for
small UAS operations at NOAA, as
described in the proposed action, would
have no significant impact on the
environment. The Draft EA has been
prepared in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM
15FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 31 / Wednesday, February 15, 2023 / Notices
1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) and Council on
Environmental Quality implementing
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508),
as well as NOAA’s procedures for
compliance with NEPA as specified in
the Companion Manual to NOAA
Administrative Order 216–6A.
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/Administrative
Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023–03222 Filed 2–14–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XC746]
Pacific Fishery Management Council;
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
The Pacific Fishery
Management Council’s (Pacific Council)
Coastal Pelagic Species Management
Team will hold one public meeting.
DATES: The meeting will be held
Thursday, March 2, 2023, from 1 p.m.
to 4 p.m., Pacific Standard Time or until
business for the day has been
completed.
ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held
online. Specific meeting information,
including directions on how to join the
meeting and system requirements will
be provided in the meeting
announcement on the Pacific Council’s
website (see www.pcouncil.org). You
may send an email to Mr. Kris
Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@
noaa.gov) or contact him at (503) 820–
2412 for technical assistance.
Council address: Pacific Fishery
Management Council, 7700 NE
Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland,
OR 97220–1384.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessi
Doerpinghaus, Staff Officer, Pacific
Council; telephone: (503) 820–2415.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
primary purpose of this online meeting
is to discuss and develop work products
and recommendations for the Pacific
Council’s March and April 2023
meetings. Topics will include reviewing
the 2022–23 California Current
Ecosystem report and fishery ecosystem
plan initiatives. Other items on the
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:16 Feb 14, 2023
Jkt 259001
Pacific Council’s March and April
agendas may be discussed as well. The
meeting agenda will be available on the
Pacific Council’s website in advance of
the meeting.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in the meeting agenda may be
discussed, those issues may not be the
subject of formal action during this
meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically listed in this
document and any issues arising after
publication of this document 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
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Mr. Kris
Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@
noaa.gov; (503) 820–2412) at least 10
days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 9, 2023.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–03144 Filed 2–14–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XC690]
Pacific Fishery Management Council;
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public online meeting.
AGENCY:
The Coastal Pelagic Species
(CPS) Subcommittee of the Pacific
Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific
Council’s) Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC) will hold an online
meeting to review revisions to the
habitat model for the northern
subpopulation of Pacific sardine and
methods for analyzing and using the
2022 CPS survey. The meeting is open
to the public.
DATES: The SSC CPS Subcommittee’s
online meeting will be held Monday,
March 20, 2023 and Tuesday, March 21,
2023, beginning at 9 a.m. and
continuing until 1 p.m., Pacific Daylight
Time, each day or until business for the
day has been completed.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
9873
The SSC’s CPS
Subcommittee’s meeting will be an
online meeting. Specific meeting
information, including directions on
how to join the meeting and system
requirements, will be provided in the
meeting announcement on the Pacific
Council’s website (see
www.pcouncil.org). You may send an
email to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt
(kris.kleinschmidt@noaa.gov) or contact
him at (503) 820–2412 for technical
assistance.
Council address: Pacific Fishery
Management Council, 7700 NE
Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland,
OR 97220.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Jessi Doerpinghaus, Staff Officer, Pacific
Fishery Management Council;
telephone: (503) 820–2415.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the SSC CPS Subcommittee’s
meeting is to (a) review proposed
changes to the habitat model for the
northern subpopulation of Pacific
sardine, (b) review how the habitat
model is used to assign catches of
Pacific sardine to the northern
subpopulation, (c) review how the
habitat model is used to define the area
covered by the CPS survey that pertains
to the northern subpopulation, and (d)
review methods for analyzing and using
the 2022 CPS survey data given
disruptions. Members of the Pacific
Council’s CPS advisory bodies are
encouraged to attend.
No management actions will be
decided by the SSC’s CPS
Subcommittee. The SSC CPS
Subcommittee members’ role will be
development of recommendations and
reports for consideration by the SSC and
Pacific Council at the April meeting in
Foster City, CA.
Although nonemergency issues not
contained in the meeting agendas may
be discussed, those issues may not be
the subject of formal action during this
meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically listed 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 of the SSC CPS Subcommittee
to take final action to address the
emergency.
ADDRESSES:
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr.
Kris Kleinschmidt
E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM
15FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9872-9873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03222]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Draft Environmental Assessment for the Funding, Procurement, and
Operation of NOAA Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce
(DOC).
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NOAA's Uncrewed Systems Research Transition Office (UxSRTO) in
OAR has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Funding,
Procurement, and Operation of NOAA Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
(UAS). We are making the draft EA available for public review and
comment.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 17, 2023.
ADDRESSES: The Draft EA is available online at https://orta.research.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Draft-PEA-for-NOAA-Small-Unmanned-Aircraft-Systems.pdf. Please submit public comments via
email to [email protected] with the subject line ``Public Comment on
Draft EA for UAS.'' Please be aware that comments submitted may be
posted on a Federal website or otherwise released publicly. Clearly
indicate the section, page number, and line number, if applicable, to
which submitted comments pertain. All comments must be provided in
English. No business proprietary information, copyrighted information,
or personally identifiable information should be submitted. Please note
that the U.S. Government will not pay for response preparation, or for
the use of any information contained in the response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Cole, Director, NOAA Uncrewed
Systems Research Transition Office (email: [email protected] or phone
number: 831-601-2107).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The UxSRTO is often directly or indirectly
involved in the funding, procurement, and operation of small UAS during
the course of its normal office functions. The UxSRTO, and its
predecessor, the NOAA UAS Program Office in OAR, were formally
established to provide guidance and expertise in support of NOAA's
efforts in the testing and development of UAS and to help expand UAS
research, development, and transitions to operations and
commercialization. The draft EA evaluates the potential impacts on the
environment from the types of small UAS platforms and operations
commonly supported by the UxSRTO across NOAA, in any environment for
which NOAA has a mission and potential need for UAS resources to help
meet related mission objectives.
For purposes of the assessment, the use of the term ``small UAS''
follows suit with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA)
definition of ``small unmanned aircraft'' (14 CFR 107.3), which weigh
``less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board
or otherwise attached to the aircraft.'' The geographic scope of the
action area includes the airspace ranging from just above the surface
(for launch and recovery), extending upward to an operational altitude
of approximately 400 ft. above ground level (AGL) for a majority of
applications, but may also include operational altitudes up to as high
as 100,000 ft. mean sea level (MSL) for a few others.
UxSRTO proposes that the support for small UAS operations at NOAA,
as described in the proposed action, would have no significant impact
on the environment. The Draft EA has been prepared in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act of
[[Page 9873]]
1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and Council on
Environmental Quality implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), as well as NOAA's procedures for compliance with NEPA as
specified in the Companion Manual to NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A.
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-03222 Filed 2-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KD-P
