Pacific Island Fisheries; Marine Conservation Plan for the Pacific Insular Area for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund, 85605-85606 [2023-27014]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 235 / Friday, December 8, 2023 / Notices of the preference for U.S. industry (Sections I, C, 1; I, F, 1). These facts, without more and if not remedied, would collectively weigh in favor of march-in. Policy & Objectives of Bayh-Dole—Next the agency will consider Bayh-Dole’s policy and objectives in its march-in assessment. As part of this analysis, the agency should consult with the contractor and determine whether the license agreement could be amended to include the preference for U.S. industry and whether the current licensee would be willing and able to manufacture substantially in the U.S. Perhaps the agency could even assist in identifying potential U.S. manufacturers (Would March-In Support the Policy & Objective of Bayh-Dole Section II, A–C). If the contractor and current licensee agree to a U.S. manufacturer or manufacturing facilities, this would weigh against exercising march-in. If they refused, that could weigh in favor of march-in. The agency should also consider whether, if the contractor had submitted a waiver, a waiver would have been granted; and it should inquire as to whether the contractor, following a notice of non-compliance by the agency, submits a domestic manufacturing waiver request (Section I, D). In this scenario, it appears the contractor conducted extensive marketing to find a licensee; suggesting it was difficult to line up a manufacturer anywhere in the world. If the agency, for example, finds that the contractor offered this technology for license under similar terms to companies who were likely to manufacture in the U.S., but none of those manufacturers were interested, then the agency may consider granting a domestic manufacturing waiver and decide not to march-in. If the contractor refused to apply for a waiver, that could weigh in favor of march-in. As part of this assessment, the agency could likewise consider whether there is another prospective licensee able to manufacture substantially in the U.S. (Section I, E). Finally, the agency would consider the wider implications of march-in, including whether exercising march-in—if the contractor refused to amend its license, seek a waiver, or relocate manufacturing—would send a message that the U.S. industry preference provisions of the Bayh-Dole Act will be enforced (Section III, A, 2). [FR Doc. 2023–26930 Filed 12–7–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES [RTID 0648–XD497] Pacific Island Fisheries; Marine Conservation Plan for the Pacific Insular Area for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Dec 07, 2023 Jkt 262001 ACTION: Notice of agency decision. NMFS announces approval of a Marine Conservation Plan (MCP) for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). DATES: This agency decision is effective from the publication of this notice through August 3, 2026. ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the MCP, identified by NOAA–NMFS– 2023–0150, from the Federal eRulemaking Portal, https:// www.regulations.gov and type NOAA– NMFS–2023–0150 in the Search box (note: copying and pasting the FDMS Docket Number directly from this document may not yield search results), or from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, telephone 808–522–8220, https://www.wpcouncil.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Kamikawa, Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, 808–725–5177. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 204(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) authorizes the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), and in consultation with the Council, to negotiate and enter into a Pacific Insular Area fishery agreement (PIAFA). A PIAFA would allow foreign fishing within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) adjacent to American Samoa, Guam, or the CNMI. The Governor of the Pacific Insular Area to which the PIAFA applies must request the PIAFA. The Secretary of State may negotiate and enter the PIAFA after consultation with, and concurrence of, the applicable Governor. Before entering into a PIAFA, the applicable Governor, with concurrence of the Council, must develop and submit to the Secretary a 3-year MCP providing details on uses for any funds collected by the Secretary under the PIAFA. NMFS is the designee of the Secretary for MCP review and approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires payments received under a PIAFA to be deposited into the United States Treasury and then conveyed to the Treasury of the Pacific Insular Area for which funds were collected. In the case of violations by foreign fishing vessels in the EEZ around any Pacific Insular Area, amounts received by the Secretary attributable to fines and penalties imposed under the MagnusonStevens Act, including sums collected from the forfeiture and disposition or sale of property seized subject to its SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 85605 authority, shall be deposited into the Treasury of the Pacific Insular Area adjacent to the EEZ in which the violation occurred, after direct costs of the enforcement action are subtracted. The Pacific Insular Area government may use funds deposited into the Treasury of the Pacific Insular Area for fisheries enforcement and for implementation of an MCP. Federal regulations at 50 CFR 665.819 authorize NMFS to specify catch limits for longline-caught bigeye tuna for U.S. territories. NMFS may also authorize each territory to allocate a portion of that limit to U.S. longline fishing vessels that are permitted to fish under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific (FEP). Payments collected under specified fishing agreements are deposited into the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund (SFF), and any funds attributable to a particular territory may be used only for implementation of that territory’s MCP. An MCP must be consistent with the Council’s FEPs, must identify conservation and management objectives (including criteria for determining when such objectives have been met), and must prioritize planned marine conservation projects. At its 194th meeting held in March 2023, the Council reviewed and concurred with the MCP prepared by the Governor of the CNMI. This MCP was approved on June 20, 2023 and became effective on August 4, 2023 and is currently in effect (88 FR 39831). However, after the MCP was approved by NMFS in June 2023, the CNMI Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) submitted an application to PIRO to use funds from the Western Pacific SFF to implement the MCP. NMFS staff determined that the projects described in the CNMI’s application were not within the scope of the MCP currently in effect. This prompted the CNMI to develop a revised MCP that better addresses the needs of the CNMI and DLNR. The Council reviewed and concurred with the updated MCP at its 196th meeting in September 2023. Then on October 2, 2023, the Governor of the CNMI submitted the new MCP to NMFS for review and approval. The revised MCP contains the following seven conservation and management objectives: 1. Improve fisheries data collection and reporting; 2. Conduct resource assessment, monitoring, and research to gain a better understanding of marine resources and fisheries; E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM 08DEN1 85606 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 235 / Friday, December 8, 2023 / Notices 3. Conduct enforcement training and monitoring activities to promote compliance with federal and local mandates; 4. Promote responsible domestic fisheries development to provide longterm economic growth, stability, and local food production; 5. Conduct education and outreach, enhance public participation, and build local capacity; 6. Promote an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and regional cooperation; and 7. Recognize the importance of island cultures and traditional fishing practices in managing fishery resources, and foster opportunities for participation. The conservation and management objectives of this revised MCP are identical to those included in the MCP currently in effect. Two of the projects identified to fulfill Objectives 3 and 5 have been revised. Please refer to the revised MCP for further detail. The evaluative criteria have also not been revised. This notice announces that NMFS has reviewed the revised MCP submitted in October 2023, and has determined that it satisfies the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and is consistent with the Council’s FEPs. Accordingly, NMFS has approved the MCP for the time period from the publication of this notice through August 3, 2026. This MCP supersedes the one approved previously for August 4, 2023, through August 3, 2026 (88 FR 39831, June 20, 2023). Dated: December 5, 2023. Everett Wayne Baxter, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–27014 Filed 12–7–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public online meeting. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) ad-hoc Klamath River Fall Chinook Workgroup will hold an online meeting. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Dec 07, 2023 Jkt 262001 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– 2280, extension 412 for technical assistance. Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220–1384. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Ehlke, Staff Officer, Pacific Council; telephone: (503) 820–2410. The primary purpose of the meeting is to discuss and develop preliminary recommendations to inform Pacific Council decision-making at the March and April 2024 Pacific Council meetings for the 2024 salmon pre-season management process as it relates to Klamath River fall Chinook management. Additional discussion on Klamath River Dam removal, monitoring, hatchery production, etc. and workload planning may also occur. 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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Special Accommodations [RTID 0648–XD565] SUMMARY: The online meeting will be held Thursday, January 11, 2024, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, or until business for the day concludes. DATES: 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: December 4, 2023. Diane M. DeJames-Daly, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–26916 Filed 12–7–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Procurement List; Additions Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Additions to the Procurement List. AGENCY: This action adds service(s) to the Procurement List that will be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. DATES: Date added to and deleted from the Procurement List: January 7, 2024. ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, 355 E Street SW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael R. Jurkowski, Telephone: (703) 785–6404 or email CMTEFedReg@ AbilityOne.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Additions On 10/20/2023, the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled published notice of proposed additions to the Procurement List. This notice is published pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 8503(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51– 2.3. After consideration of the material presented to it concerning capability of qualified nonprofit agencies to provide the service(s) and impact of the additions on the current or most recent contractors, the Committee has determined that the service(s) listed below are suitable for procurement by the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C. 8501–8506 and 41 CFR 51–2.4. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification I certify that the following action will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. The major factors considered for this certification were: 1. The action will not result in any additional reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small entities other than the small organizations that will furnish the service(s) to the Government. 2. The action will result in authorizing small entities to furnish the service(s) to the Government. 3. There are no known regulatory alternatives which would accomplish the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 8501–8506) in connection with the service(s) proposed for addition to the Procurement List. E:\FR\FM\08DEN1.SGM 08DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 235 (Friday, December 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85605-85606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27014]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD497]


Pacific Island Fisheries; Marine Conservation Plan for the 
Pacific Insular Area for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands; Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of agency decision.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces approval of a Marine Conservation Plan (MCP) 
for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

DATES: This agency decision is effective from the publication of this 
notice through August 3, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the MCP, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2023-0150, from the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, https://www.regulations.gov and type NOAA-NMFS-2023-0150 in the Search box 
(note: copying and pasting the FDMS Docket Number directly from this 
document may not yield search results), or from the Western Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, 
Honolulu, HI 96813, telephone 808-522-8220, https://www.wpcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Kamikawa, Sustainable Fisheries, 
NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, 808-725-5177.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 204(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) 
authorizes the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), and in consultation with the 
Council, to negotiate and enter into a Pacific Insular Area fishery 
agreement (PIAFA). A PIAFA would allow foreign fishing within the U.S. 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) adjacent to American Samoa, Guam, or the 
CNMI. The Governor of the Pacific Insular Area to which the PIAFA 
applies must request the PIAFA. The Secretary of State may negotiate 
and enter the PIAFA after consultation with, and concurrence of, the 
applicable Governor.
    Before entering into a PIAFA, the applicable Governor, with 
concurrence of the Council, must develop and submit to the Secretary a 
3-year MCP providing details on uses for any funds collected by the 
Secretary under the PIAFA. NMFS is the designee of the Secretary for 
MCP review and approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires payments 
received under a PIAFA to be deposited into the United States Treasury 
and then conveyed to the Treasury of the Pacific Insular Area for which 
funds were collected.
    In the case of violations by foreign fishing vessels in the EEZ 
around any Pacific Insular Area, amounts received by the Secretary 
attributable to fines and penalties imposed under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, including sums collected from the forfeiture and disposition or 
sale of property seized subject to its authority, shall be deposited 
into the Treasury of the Pacific Insular Area adjacent to the EEZ in 
which the violation occurred, after direct costs of the enforcement 
action are subtracted. The Pacific Insular Area government may use 
funds deposited into the Treasury of the Pacific Insular Area for 
fisheries enforcement and for implementation of an MCP.
    Federal regulations at 50 CFR 665.819 authorize NMFS to specify 
catch limits for longline-caught bigeye tuna for U.S. territories. NMFS 
may also authorize each territory to allocate a portion of that limit 
to U.S. longline fishing vessels that are permitted to fish under the 
Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific 
(FEP). Payments collected under specified fishing agreements are 
deposited into the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund (SFF), 
and any funds attributable to a particular territory may be used only 
for implementation of that territory's MCP. An MCP must be consistent 
with the Council's FEPs, must identify conservation and management 
objectives (including criteria for determining when such objectives 
have been met), and must prioritize planned marine conservation 
projects.
    At its 194th meeting held in March 2023, the Council reviewed and 
concurred with the MCP prepared by the Governor of the CNMI. This MCP 
was approved on June 20, 2023 and became effective on August 4, 2023 
and is currently in effect (88 FR 39831). However, after the MCP was 
approved by NMFS in June 2023, the CNMI Department of Land and Natural 
Resources (DLNR) submitted an application to PIRO to use funds from the 
Western Pacific SFF to implement the MCP. NMFS staff determined that 
the projects described in the CNMI's application were not within the 
scope of the MCP currently in effect. This prompted the CNMI to develop 
a revised MCP that better addresses the needs of the CNMI and DLNR. The 
Council reviewed and concurred with the updated MCP at its 196th 
meeting in September 2023. Then on October 2, 2023, the Governor of the 
CNMI submitted the new MCP to NMFS for review and approval. The revised 
MCP contains the following seven conservation and management 
objectives:
    1. Improve fisheries data collection and reporting;
    2. Conduct resource assessment, monitoring, and research to gain a 
better understanding of marine resources and fisheries;

[[Page 85606]]

    3. Conduct enforcement training and monitoring activities to 
promote compliance with federal and local mandates;
    4. Promote responsible domestic fisheries development to provide 
long-term economic growth, stability, and local food production;
    5. Conduct education and outreach, enhance public participation, 
and build local capacity;
    6. Promote an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, climate 
change adaptation and mitigation, and regional cooperation; and
    7. Recognize the importance of island cultures and traditional 
fishing practices in managing fishery resources, and foster 
opportunities for participation.
    The conservation and management objectives of this revised MCP are 
identical to those included in the MCP currently in effect. Two of the 
projects identified to fulfill Objectives 3 and 5 have been revised. 
Please refer to the revised MCP for further detail. The evaluative 
criteria have also not been revised.
    This notice announces that NMFS has reviewed the revised MCP 
submitted in October 2023, and has determined that it satisfies the 
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and is consistent with the 
Council's FEPs. Accordingly, NMFS has approved the MCP for the time 
period from the publication of this notice through August 3, 2026. This 
MCP supersedes the one approved previously for August 4, 2023, through 
August 3, 2026 (88 FR 39831, June 20, 2023).

    Dated: December 5, 2023.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-27014 Filed 12-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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