Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska, 72046-72048 [2023-23084]
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72046
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 201 / Thursday, October 19, 2023 / Notices
the return or destruction of proprietary
information disclosed under APO in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.305.
Timely notification of the return or
destruction of APO materials or
conversion to judicial protective order is
hereby requested. Failure to comply
with the regulations and terms of an
APO is a violation subject to sanction.
Notification to Interested Parties
We are issuing and publishing the
results in accordance with sections
751(c), 752(c), and 771(i)(1) of the Act
and 19 CFR 351.218.
Dated: October 10, 2023.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance.
Appendix
List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Orders
IV. History of the Orders
V. Legal Framework
VI. Discussion of the Issues
1. Likelihood of Continuation or
Recurrence of Dumping
2. Magnitude of the Margins of Dumping
Likely to Prevail
VII. Final Results of Expedited Sunset
Reviews
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2023–22881 Filed 10–18–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD381]
Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity
Areas in Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
AGENCY:
NOAA is beginning the
process to identify Aquaculture
Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska
state waters to help sustainably advance
invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea
cucumber) and seaweed (e.g.,
macroalgae, kelp) aquaculture, in
partnership with the State of Alaska.
NOAA requests data, comments, views,
information, analysis, or suggestions
from the public to support the
identification of AOAs in Alaska state
waters, including siting parameters that
can be used to select potential study
areas for further analysis. Please
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:48 Oct 18, 2023
Jkt 262001
respond to the questions listed in the
section, as
appropriate.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before December 18,
2023.
Two webinar-based listening sessions
are scheduled for Alaska.
1. November 14, 2023, 9 a.m. to 11
a.m. (AKST) Alaska.
2. November 15, 2023, 2 p.m. to 4
p.m. (AKST) Alaska.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2023–0113, by any 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–2023–0113 in the Search
box. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written information to
Jon Kurland, Regional Administrator for
Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Records
Office. Mail comments to P.O. Box
21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668.
• Webinar links: Links and toll-free
phone numbers for each webinar can be
found at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/requestinformation-identifying-aquacultureopportunity-areas-alaska.
Instructions: Comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period, may not be
considered by NMFS. Responses to this
request are voluntary. Respondents need
not reply to all questions. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted for public
viewing on https://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).
Please note that the U.S. Government
will not pay for any costs that you may
incur in responding to this Request for
Information (RFI), or for the use of any
information contained in the response.
The documents and information
submitted in response to this RFI
become the property of the U.S.
Government and will not be returned.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alicia Bishop, 907–586–7724,
nmfs.akr.aoainfo@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An AOA
is a defined geographic area that NOAA
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
has evaluated through both spatial
analysis and a programmatic National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
process and determined to be
environmentally, socially, and
economically appropriate to support
multiple commercial aquaculture
operations. On June 1, 2023, NOAA
announced the beginning of the process
to identify AOAs in partnership with
the State of Alaska in Alaska state
waters. This is the beginning of a multiyear process in which NOAA and the
State of Alaska will work to analyze
locations and identify AOAs in Alaska
state waters to help sustainably advance
invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea
cucumber) and seaweed (e.g.,
macroalgae, kelp) aquaculture. NOAA
will not consider finfish aquaculture
during identification of AOAs in Alaska
because it is prohibited by state law.
NOAA has directives to preserve
ocean sustainability and facilitate
domestic aquaculture in the U.S.,
including through the National
Aquaculture Act of 1980, the NOAA
Marine Aquaculture Policy, and the
Executive Order 1321, Promoting
American Seafood Competitiveness and
Economic Growth (May 7, 2020). NOAA
has a variety of proven science-based
tools and strategies that can support
these directives and help communities
thoughtfully consider how and where to
sustainably develop aquaculture that
will complement wild-capture fisheries,
working waterfronts, and our nation’s
seafood processing and distribution
infrastructure.
The areas identified as AOAs will
have characteristics that are expected to
be able to support multiple aquaculture
farm sites of varying types; however, all
portions of the AOA may not be
appropriate for aquaculture or for all
types of aquaculture. Identifying AOAs
is an opportunity to use the best
available science, which includes
Indigenous Knowledge, and supports
the ‘‘triple bottom line’’ of
environmental, economic, and social
sustainability. This approach has been
refined and utilized widely within
states and by other countries with
robust, sustainable aquaculture sectors.
The Secretary of Commerce will
identify AOAs in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
the Interior, the Secretary of
Agriculture, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, other
appropriate Federal officials, and
appropriate Regional Fishery
Management Councils, and in
coordination with appropriate State and
Tribal governments.
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
19OCN1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 201 / Thursday, October 19, 2023 / Notices
NOAA held a 60-day public comment
period in 2020 (85 FR 67519, October
23, 2020) to collect input on where in
the country to focus the science-based,
inclusive process to identify AOAs.
During that comment period, NOAA
received letters of support from
individuals, industry, Alaska Native
organizations, state agencies, and the
state legislature to begin the process in
Alaska state waters.
NOAA cannot conduct spatial
modeling on the scale of the entire coast
of Alaska, and will narrow down to
study areas that will be the focus
moving forward. This will be done
using a combination of spatial mapping,
scientific review, public input gathered
through this RFI, and other relevant
information. NOAA’s National Centers
for Coastal Ocean Science will use
public input and the best available data,
which includes Indigenous Knowledge,
to account for key environmental,
economic, social, and cultural
considerations to identify areas that may
support sustainable aquaculture
development. NOAA will then combine
those data with input from other State
and Federal agencies, Fishery
Management Councils, Marine Fisheries
Commissions, Alaska Native Tribes and
organizations, and the general public to
identify areas that will be considered in
more depth through the NEPA process.
Through this notice, NOAA is
requesting data, comments, views,
information, analysis, or suggestions
from the public to support the
identification of AOAs in Alaska state
waters, including siting parameters that
can be used to select potential study
areas for further analysis. The public
input provided in response to this
request for information will inform
NOAA as it works with Federal, State,
and Local agencies, appropriate
Regional Fishery Management Councils,
and in coordination with appropriate
Alaska Native Tribes and organizations
to identify AOAs. Additional
opportunities for public input will be
provided during the NEPA process.
NOAA may use the information
received through this notice in the
NEPA process. The information could
inform the development of potential
NEPA alternatives, such as different
locations, different aquaculture types in
each location (e.g., seaweed in one
location, shellfish in another location),
and different configurations of farm
locations or farming gear. NOAA
expects to publish a notice of intent
(NOI) to prepare a programmatic NEPA
document. Public notices announcing
the NOI and announcing the availability
of a draft NEPA document will provide
future opportunities for public comment
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:48 Oct 18, 2023
Jkt 262001
on the identification of AOAs in Alaska
state waters.
AOA identification is a planning
process, and does not result in areas
permitted for aquaculture. Future
aquaculture operations proposed within
an AOA would be subject to the same
Federal and State permitting and
authorization requirements as an
aquaculture operation proposed
anywhere else and would be required to
comply with all applicable Federal and
State laws and regulations. Site-specific
environmental surveys may be required
for the permitting process. Additional
NEPA analysis beyond that completed
for identification of AOA(s) may be
necessary as a part of permitting and
authorization processes for individual
operations.
Additional information on identifying
AOAs in Alaska, including frequently
asked questions, is available on NOAA’s
website at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/
aquaculture/identifying-aquacultureopportunity-areas-alaska.
Request for Information
NOAA requests data, comments,
views, information, analysis, or
suggestions from the public to support
the identification of AOAs in Alaska
state waters, including siting parameters
that can be used to select potential
study areas for further analysis.
NOAA proposes using the following
parameters to select study areas in
Alaska state waters:
a. State waters within a 25-mile (40kilometer) radius of coastal community
population centers (based on 2010
census data) as a proxy for needed
infrastructure to support aquaculture
development in Alaska.
b. State waters that do not regularly
experience significant sea ice cover
(based on the 10 year aggregate
maximum sea ice cover reported by the
U.S. National Ice Center).
Figures showing the potential AOA
study areas that would result from use
of these parameters can be found on the
NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal
Ocean Science Alaska AOA study area
website: https://coastalscience.
noaa.gov/news/alaska-aquacultureopportunity-areas/.
These parameters are proposed
starting points, from which NOAA will
select study areas using a combination
of spatial mapping approaches,
scientific review, public input,
Indigenous Knowledge, and any other
relevant information.
Specifically, NOAA is soliciting
information and feedback on:
1. Are the preliminary parameters
(noted above) useful? Are there other
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
72047
parameters NOAA should consider in
identifying initial study areas for the
aquaculture siting analysis? Are there
other distances from population centers/
local infrastructure that should be
considered, and why?
2. Are there size limitations NOAA
should consider for AOAs in Alaska?
How many farms should fit within an
AOA? Should the size of AOAs be
aligned with state economic
development goals for shellfish and
seaweed aquaculture?
3. Are there specific locations within
Alaska state waters that should be
considered or avoided for AOAs? Please
be as specific as possible and include
latitude and longitude or defining
landmarks. Please indicate why such
areas should be considered or avoided,
for example, favorable biological
parameters, water quality (e.g., nutrients
or other constituents that might make an
area favorable), proximity to
infrastructure (e.g., ports, testing or
processing facilities, or hatcheries that
could supply seed for grow-out),
relationship to other planned initiatives,
etc.
4. Are there subsistence harvest
locations, fishing areas, and other
traditionally and culturally important
locations or sacred sites that should be
avoided? Is there available spatial data
or geographic information system (GIS)
layers, or a point of contact for these
data or information?
5. Are there specific locations within
Alaska state waters where the presence
of aquaculture gear may overlap with
sensitive habitats or biologically
important areas for protected species
(e.g., whales, sea otters, sea lions, etc.)?
6. Are there specific locations within
Alaska state waters that should be
avoided because of concerns about
harmful algal blooms (HABs) or
impaired water quality?
7. Is there ongoing environmental,
economic, or social science research
that would assist in the identification of
AOAs in Alaska state waters? If so,
please describe in as much detail as is
available.
8. Is there information that may not be
readily available or accessible online
that would be useful for AOA planning
processes in Alaska state waters? This
includes spatial data or GIS layers
representing subsistence,
environmental, and socioeconomic
considerations, or a point of contact for
these data, for the following categories:
a. Biophysical/oceanographic (ice
cover, temperature, ocean acidification
indices, wave climate, currents,
bathymetry),
b. Natural resources (minerals, energy
resources, fishes and other aquatic
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
19OCN1
72048
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 201 / Thursday, October 19, 2023 / Notices
organisms, protected species and
habitats, marine mammals, kelp beds,
eelgrass beds, biodiversity),
c. Social, historical, and cultural
resources (cultural and subsistence
harvest, community subsistence
hunting, subsistence fishing, culturally
important sites to encourage or avoid,
shipwrecks),
d. Government boundaries,
e. Industry (fishing, energy
production, transportation,
communication cables),
f. Military,
g. Navigation, and
h. Recreational resources (fishing,
hunting, etc.).
9. Are there aquaculture species or
gear considerations that may result in
optimized growth in Alaska state
waters? This might include (but is not
limited to): species or aquaculture gear
depth thresholds, water current
thresholds, temperature thresholds,
salinity thresholds, etc. Are there any
species or gear not currently being used
in Alaska state waters that you would
like to see in the future? Do they extend
any of these (or other) thresholds?
Please be as specific as possible.
10. Is there any additional
information NOAA should consider?
When providing input, please specify:
• The question number(s) you are
responding to; and
• Whether your comments are related
to specific type(s) of aquaculture
(macroalgae, invertebrates, or a
combination of species).
Responses to this request are
voluntary. Respondents need not reply
to all questions.
Authority: E.O. 13921.
Dated: October 12, 2023.
Danielle Blacklock,
Director, Office of Aquaculture, National
Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023–23084 Filed 10–18–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD374]
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to the Ocean Wind
1 Project Offshore of New Jersey
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of issuance of Letter of
Authorization.
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:48 Oct 18, 2023
Jkt 262001
In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) as amended, and implementing
regulations, notification is hereby given
that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has
been issued to Ocean Wind, LLC (Ocean
Wind), a subsidiary wholly owned by
Orsted Wind Power North America, LLC
(Orsted), for the taking of marine
mammals incidental to the construction
of the Ocean Wind 1 Project.
DATES: The LOA is effective from
October 13, 2023 through October 12,
2028.
ADDRESSES: The LOA and supporting
documentation are available 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 below (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kelsey Potlock, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
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, regulations are promulgated
(when applicable), and public notice
and an opportunity for public comment
are provided.
An 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 availability of the species
or stock(s) for taking for subsistence
uses (where relevant). If such findings
are made, NMFS must prescribe the
permissible methods of taking; ‘‘other
means of effecting the least practicable
adverse impact’’ on the affected species
or stocks and their habitat, paying
particular attention to rookeries, mating
grounds, and areas of similar
significance, and on the availability of
the species or stocks for taking for
certain subsistence uses (referred to as
‘‘mitigation’’); and requirements
pertaining to the monitoring and
reporting of such takings. The MMPA
defines ‘‘take’’ to mean harass, hunt,
capture, or kill, or attempt to harass,
hunt, capture, or kill any marine
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
mammal (16 U.S.C. 1362(13); 50 CFR
216.103). Level A harassment is defined
as any act of pursuit, torment, or
annoyance which has the potential to
injure a marine mammal or marine
mammal stock in the wild (16 U.S.C.
1362(18); 50 CFR 216.3). Level B
harassment is defined as any act of
pursuit, torment, or annoyance which
has the potential to disturb a marine
mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild by causing disruption of behavioral
patterns, including, but not limited to,
migration, breathing, nursing, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (16 U.S.C.
1362(18); 50 CFR 216.3). Section
101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and the
implementing regulations at 50 CFR part
216, subpart I authorize NMFS to
propose and, if appropriate, promulgate
regulations and issue an associated
LOA(s). NMFS promulgated regulations
on September 13, 2023 (88 FR 62898)
for the taking of marine mammals
incidental to the construction of the
Ocean Wind 1 Project offshore of New
Jersey. The LOA authorizes Ocean Wind
and those persons it authorizes or funds
to conduct activities on its behalf to take
marine mammals incidental to specified
activities during the construction of the
Project and requires them to implement
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements.
Summary of Request
On September 13, 2023, NMFS
promulgated a final rule (88 FR 62898)
responding to a request from Ocean
Wind for authorization to take marine
mammals (17 species comprising 18
stocks) by Level B harassment (all 18
stocks) and by Level A harassment (10
stocks) incidental to construction
activities occurring in Federal and State
waters off of New Jersey, specifically
within and around the Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management (BOEM)
Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands
for Renewable Energy Development on
the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lease
Area OCS–A 0498 (Lease Area) and
along 2 export cable routes to sea-toshore transition points (collectively
referred to as the ‘‘Project Area’’), over
the course of 5 years (October 13, 2023
through October 12, 2028). The
activities covered under the final rule
include: the installation of 98 wind
turbine generators (WTGs) and 3
offshore substations (OSSs) on monopile
foundations by impact pile driving; the
installation and subsequent removal of
nearshore temporary cofferdams and
goal posts by vibratory pile driving at
the cable landfall sites in Ocean County,
New Jersey and Cape May County, New
Jersey; high-resolution geophysical
(HRG) marine site characterization
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72046-72048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23084]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD381]
Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NOAA is beginning the process to identify Aquaculture
Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska state waters to help sustainably
advance invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea cucumber) and seaweed (e.g.,
macroalgae, kelp) aquaculture, in partnership with the State of Alaska.
NOAA requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, or
suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in
Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be used to
select potential study areas for further analysis. Please respond to
the questions listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, as
appropriate.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 18,
2023.
Two webinar-based listening sessions are scheduled for Alaska.
1. November 14, 2023, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (AKST) Alaska.
2. November 15, 2023, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (AKST) Alaska.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2023-0113, by any 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-2023-0113 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written information to Jon Kurland, Regional
Administrator for Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Records Office. Mail
comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
Webinar links: Links and toll-free phone numbers for each
webinar can be found at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/request-information-identifying-aquaculture-opportunity-areas-alaska.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. Responses to this request are voluntary.
Respondents need not reply to all questions. All comments received are
a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public
viewing on https://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).
Please note that the U.S. Government will not pay for any costs
that you may incur in responding to this Request for Information (RFI),
or for the use of any information contained in the response. The
documents and information submitted in response to this RFI become the
property of the U.S. Government and will not be returned.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia Bishop, 907-586-7724,
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An AOA is a defined geographic area that
NOAA has evaluated through both spatial analysis and a programmatic
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and determined to be
environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate to support
multiple commercial aquaculture operations. On June 1, 2023, NOAA
announced the beginning of the process to identify AOAs in partnership
with the State of Alaska in Alaska state waters. This is the beginning
of a multi-year process in which NOAA and the State of Alaska will work
to analyze locations and identify AOAs in Alaska state waters to help
sustainably advance invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea cucumber) and
seaweed (e.g., macroalgae, kelp) aquaculture. NOAA will not consider
finfish aquaculture during identification of AOAs in Alaska because it
is prohibited by state law.
NOAA has directives to preserve ocean sustainability and facilitate
domestic aquaculture in the U.S., including through the National
Aquaculture Act of 1980, the NOAA Marine Aquaculture Policy, and the
Executive Order 1321, Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and
Economic Growth (May 7, 2020). NOAA has a variety of proven science-
based tools and strategies that can support these directives and help
communities thoughtfully consider how and where to sustainably develop
aquaculture that will complement wild-capture fisheries, working
waterfronts, and our nation's seafood processing and distribution
infrastructure.
The areas identified as AOAs will have characteristics that are
expected to be able to support multiple aquaculture farm sites of
varying types; however, all portions of the AOA may not be appropriate
for aquaculture or for all types of aquaculture. Identifying AOAs is an
opportunity to use the best available science, which includes
Indigenous Knowledge, and supports the ``triple bottom line'' of
environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This approach has
been refined and utilized widely within states and by other countries
with robust, sustainable aquaculture sectors.
The Secretary of Commerce will identify AOAs in consultation with
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary
of Agriculture, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency, other appropriate Federal
officials, and appropriate Regional Fishery Management Councils, and in
coordination with appropriate State and Tribal governments.
[[Page 72047]]
NOAA held a 60-day public comment period in 2020 (85 FR 67519,
October 23, 2020) to collect input on where in the country to focus the
science-based, inclusive process to identify AOAs. During that comment
period, NOAA received letters of support from individuals, industry,
Alaska Native organizations, state agencies, and the state legislature
to begin the process in Alaska state waters.
NOAA cannot conduct spatial modeling on the scale of the entire
coast of Alaska, and will narrow down to study areas that will be the
focus moving forward. This will be done using a combination of spatial
mapping, scientific review, public input gathered through this RFI, and
other relevant information. NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science will use public input and the best available data, which
includes Indigenous Knowledge, to account for key environmental,
economic, social, and cultural considerations to identify areas that
may support sustainable aquaculture development. NOAA will then combine
those data with input from other State and Federal agencies, Fishery
Management Councils, Marine Fisheries Commissions, Alaska Native Tribes
and organizations, and the general public to identify areas that will
be considered in more depth through the NEPA process. Through this
notice, NOAA is requesting data, comments, views, information,
analysis, or suggestions from the public to support the identification
of AOAs in Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be
used to select potential study areas for further analysis. The public
input provided in response to this request for information will inform
NOAA as it works with Federal, State, and Local agencies, appropriate
Regional Fishery Management Councils, and in coordination with
appropriate Alaska Native Tribes and organizations to identify AOAs.
Additional opportunities for public input will be provided during the
NEPA process.
NOAA may use the information received through this notice in the
NEPA process. The information could inform the development of potential
NEPA alternatives, such as different locations, different aquaculture
types in each location (e.g., seaweed in one location, shellfish in
another location), and different configurations of farm locations or
farming gear. NOAA expects to publish a notice of intent (NOI) to
prepare a programmatic NEPA document. Public notices announcing the NOI
and announcing the availability of a draft NEPA document will provide
future opportunities for public comment on the identification of AOAs
in Alaska state waters.
AOA identification is a planning process, and does not result in
areas permitted for aquaculture. Future aquaculture operations proposed
within an AOA would be subject to the same Federal and State permitting
and authorization requirements as an aquaculture operation proposed
anywhere else and would be required to comply with all applicable
Federal and State laws and regulations. Site-specific environmental
surveys may be required for the permitting process. Additional NEPA
analysis beyond that completed for identification of AOA(s) may be
necessary as a part of permitting and authorization processes for
individual operations.
Additional information on identifying AOAs in Alaska, including
frequently asked questions, is available on NOAA's website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/aquaculture/identifying-aquaculture-opportunity-areas-alaska.
Request for Information
NOAA requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, or
suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in
Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be used to
select potential study areas for further analysis.
NOAA proposes using the following parameters to select study areas
in Alaska state waters:
a. State waters within a 25-mile (40-kilometer) radius of coastal
community population centers (based on 2010 census data) as a proxy for
needed infrastructure to support aquaculture development in Alaska.
b. State waters that do not regularly experience significant sea
ice cover (based on the 10 year aggregate maximum sea ice cover
reported by the U.S. National Ice Center).
Figures showing the potential AOA study areas that would result
from use of these parameters can be found on the NOAA's National
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Alaska AOA study area website:
https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/alaska-aquaculture-opportunity-areas/.
These parameters are proposed starting points, from which NOAA will
select study areas using a combination of spatial mapping approaches,
scientific review, public input, Indigenous Knowledge, and any other
relevant information.
Specifically, NOAA is soliciting information and feedback on:
1. Are the preliminary parameters (noted above) useful? Are there
other parameters NOAA should consider in identifying initial study
areas for the aquaculture siting analysis? Are there other distances
from population centers/local infrastructure that should be considered,
and why?
2. Are there size limitations NOAA should consider for AOAs in
Alaska? How many farms should fit within an AOA? Should the size of
AOAs be aligned with state economic development goals for shellfish and
seaweed aquaculture?
3. Are there specific locations within Alaska state waters that
should be considered or avoided for AOAs? Please be as specific as
possible and include latitude and longitude or defining landmarks.
Please indicate why such areas should be considered or avoided, for
example, favorable biological parameters, water quality (e.g.,
nutrients or other constituents that might make an area favorable),
proximity to infrastructure (e.g., ports, testing or processing
facilities, or hatcheries that could supply seed for grow-out),
relationship to other planned initiatives, etc.
4. Are there subsistence harvest locations, fishing areas, and
other traditionally and culturally important locations or sacred sites
that should be avoided? Is there available spatial data or geographic
information system (GIS) layers, or a point of contact for these data
or information?
5. Are there specific locations within Alaska state waters where
the presence of aquaculture gear may overlap with sensitive habitats or
biologically important areas for protected species (e.g., whales, sea
otters, sea lions, etc.)?
6. Are there specific locations within Alaska state waters that
should be avoided because of concerns about harmful algal blooms (HABs)
or impaired water quality?
7. Is there ongoing environmental, economic, or social science
research that would assist in the identification of AOAs in Alaska
state waters? If so, please describe in as much detail as is available.
8. Is there information that may not be readily available or
accessible online that would be useful for AOA planning processes in
Alaska state waters? This includes spatial data or GIS layers
representing subsistence, environmental, and socioeconomic
considerations, or a point of contact for these data, for the following
categories:
a. Biophysical/oceanographic (ice cover, temperature, ocean
acidification indices, wave climate, currents, bathymetry),
b. Natural resources (minerals, energy resources, fishes and other
aquatic
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organisms, protected species and habitats, marine mammals, kelp beds,
eelgrass beds, biodiversity),
c. Social, historical, and cultural resources (cultural and
subsistence harvest, community subsistence hunting, subsistence
fishing, culturally important sites to encourage or avoid, shipwrecks),
d. Government boundaries,
e. Industry (fishing, energy production, transportation,
communication cables),
f. Military,
g. Navigation, and
h. Recreational resources (fishing, hunting, etc.).
9. Are there aquaculture species or gear considerations that may
result in optimized growth in Alaska state waters? This might include
(but is not limited to): species or aquaculture gear depth thresholds,
water current thresholds, temperature thresholds, salinity thresholds,
etc. Are there any species or gear not currently being used in Alaska
state waters that you would like to see in the future? Do they extend
any of these (or other) thresholds? Please be as specific as possible.
10. Is there any additional information NOAA should consider?
When providing input, please specify:
The question number(s) you are responding to; and
Whether your comments are related to specific type(s) of
aquaculture (macroalgae, invertebrates, or a combination of species).
Responses to this request are voluntary. Respondents need not reply
to all questions.
Authority: E.O. 13921.
Dated: October 12, 2023.
Danielle Blacklock,
Director, Office of Aquaculture, National Marine Fisheries Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-23084 Filed 10-18-23; 8:45 am]
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